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Big Mike Griffin grew up in southern Oklahoma, where he was introduced to music
at an early age. " My Dad played so there was always a guitar or fiddle laying
around the house. It seems like I've been playing as long as I've been alive."
Later, he began listening to blues artists like T-Bone Walker, Paul Butterfield,
and Mike Bloomfield. His blues education was further enhanced by late night highway
trips to Texas to catch legends like Freddie King, Albert King, and Albert Collins.
When the economy faltered in Oklahoma, Griffin set out for Nashville where he
began playing wherever he could while finding players along the way who would
make up the nucleus of the Unknown Blues Band. As their popularity grew,
the band began to appear in front of larger audiences and to perform at such prestigious
festivals as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the W.C. Handy Festival. They
also expanded their regular touring schedule, travelled to the East Coast and
then out West.
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In 1992 his Back on the Streets Again debut
served to further advance the band which was on the road to building a reputation
as an original blues ensemble. They have appeared with such great names as Ray
Charles, Lonnie Mack, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. |
In 1993, Gimme What I Got Comin' brought the
band further acclaim as a solid force on the blues scene. The album grabbed
the attention of blues fans, critics, and DJs and snagged a high-ranking spot
on Living Blues Magazine's national radio chart.
Fifth of Whiskey, Case of the Blues, a song from the album, was nominated
as Song Of The Year for the 1994 W.C. Handy Awards.
Major touring dates on both U.S. coasts and Canada, as well as Europe, served
as a catalyst to broaden the fan base for the band. Griffin also played on the
month-long "Malaco Europe '93" musical extravaganza, where he shared the stage
with legends like Little Milton, Denise LaSalle, and Latimore. He then
worked with Artie "Blues Boy" White, laying down tracks for his "Different
Shades of Blue" release, as well as providing explosive guitar work on James
Peterson's "Don't Let The Devil Ride" album.
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In 1996 came his
third release, Sittin' Here With Nothing,
a refreshingly contemporary approach to the time-honored tradition of the blues.
From start to finish, it captures the incredible power of Mike Griffin's brilliant
guitar work, smoky vocals and finely tuned songwriting talents.
"He plays a Les Paul guitar, but it looks like a ukulele in his hands," says
Claypool, who also is on the board of directors of the Beale Street Blues Society.
"We've been trying for a long time to find him a T-shirt big enough to put the
Blues Society logo on. I know he wears a 5X shirt. "He's a good guitarist, and
he's got a good voice," Claypool says. "And of course, he's got that great stage
presence."
Sittin' Here With Nothing features five original compositions, a couple
of Little Milton Campbell songs and a few others from the Waldoxy publishing
arm. Griffin receives great backup from the Unknown Blues Band, which
features Clayton Ivey on piano and Hammond organ, David Hood on
bass and Memphian Pat O'Connor on drums.
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In 1997 Griffin started thinking about the fascinating idea of recording an
album just for Harley Davidson fans. He always wanted to do a biker's
project, but it was the driving force of his brother and the stimulation
of his own gang that finally got the ball rollin'.
Entitled "Harley
in the Rain", Griffin recorded a well-balanced mixture of originals
and all-time classics like Lowell George's "Willin'" and Alain Toussaint's
"Get Out Of My Life Woman". With a no-nonsense production and a strict
four piece line-up he offers the 10 numbers in a direct muscular guitar sound
that is equally suited to blues, soul, rock and funk. "Harley in the Rain"
marks the stunning crossover release of the artist Big Mike Griffin that truly
confirms him as a major talent on the current scene.
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To be updated with BIG Mike Griffin's CD Twin
Brothers of Different Mothers. |
To be updated with BIG Mike Griffin's latest CD LIVIN'
LARGE . |
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