Band mates JIM ASHWORTH and BRYAN FREEZE formed Dr. Wu’ in 2002 after growing up and playing in various bands starting in the late 60’s. The name was taken from a favorite Steely Dan song that encourages us to live life to the fullest and strive to be the very best that we can be. With this as their goal, they set out to record their “Texas Blues” Project Volume I “Fort Worth Artists”… a long ov
erdue recorded history utilizing guest appearances by musicians who have made Fort Worth a global mecca of top players… especially great “guitar slingers”.
The first being BUDDY WHITTINGTON , a multi-talented guitarist and singer with an endless bag of guitar licks, sounds, and tricks that are always refreshing and are inspiring. Buddy is a permanent member of blues legend, John Mayall’s BLUESBREAKERS band. Buddy lends his talent to three tracks on the CD, including a live version of the popular Gary Nicholson song… “JACKSBORO HIGHWAY” an infamous strip on the Northside of Fort Worth which in the 50’s and 60’s was lined with nightclubs like THE SKYLINER BALLROOM where under aged teens could get in to see their blues heroes like Jimmy Reed, Ray Sharpe, Delbert McClinton and countless others on any given Saturday night.
After a chance meeting at The 6th Street Bar & Grill, a local Fort Worth blues venue, long time friend STEPHEN BRUTON instantly agreed to add his creativity to a track. Stephen, a “star” in his own rite, has been a player early on with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, and countless other greats.
Home-grown JAMES PENNEBAKER added his tracks from his home studio in Nashville due to his busy schedule and much sought after talent as a guitar, fiddle, and pedal steel master. James has been a member of the Delbert McClinton, Leroy Parnell and more recently….Big & Rich bands.
James is now the Artist Representative for FENDER GUITARS, NASHVILLE.
Hammond B-3 master, “RED YOUNG" lends his “classic” B-3 sound on two tracks, teaming up with Stephen Bruton on “Come Back Baby” and guitarist Danny Hubbard on the Charlie Bassham scorcher, “Storm Watch Warning.”
“Red” is currently on the road with Eric Burden and the “Animals” and has also toured with Linda Rondstadt, Sonny and Cher, Joan Armatrading, Tanya Tucker, Delbert, and is the front man for his own band, the ever popular.... RED and the RED HOTS.
Long time friend CHARLIE BASSHAM, original drummer for THE ATOMIC CLOCK and LEE PICKENS GROUP was enlisted as the
third member of DR. WU' after it was apparent that he was the "voice" that was needed to give the "TEXAS BLUES" PROJECT that special magic that would push the project to new levels of "BLUESDOM".
The core element of DR. WU' music is is established with the help of MIKE KENNEDY on drums (early on with FREDDY KING),
DANNY HUBBARD on guitar, and JERRY HANCOCK on bass...collectively a popular FORT WORTH group, "THE SIDEMEN."
Other GREAT musicians who added their individual talents to the project inlude:
"MOUSE MAYES" guitarist for BLACK OAK ARKANSAS and POINT BLANK in the 80's and later THE VOODOO KINGS...more recently teams up with BUDDY WHITTINGTON when not on tour with JOHN MAYALL.
LEE PICKENS of “D.O.A.” and BLOODROCK fame, adds his licks on two tracks
“ROLLO” SMITH laid down a tasty traditional slide guitar on “I DON’T CARE BLUES”
BOBBY COUNTS…..Fort Worth’s “OFFICIAL BLUES AMBASSADOR”
and bassist extraordinaire contributes on two tracks and…..
RANDY CATES the bass man on the popular “LIVE” version of “JACKSBORO HIGHWAY”
GARY "OWA" OWEN ...an original member of The LEE PICKENS GROUP...plays his vintage '66 Fender Precision bass on two tracks including the theme song of the album...NOTHIN' LIKE TEXAS BLUES
RUSTY BODEN , an original member of THE LEE PICKENS GROUP and THE PARTY CRASHERS plays KEYS on two cuts
Drummer DANNY COCHRAN “Fort Worth Shuffles” his way on “HIGH MAINTENANCE BABY”
MICHAEL HAMILTON grooves on the keyboards along with THE SIDEMEN on “JACKSBORO HIGHWAY"
RODNEY BOWENS of PROFESSOR D fame, blows sax on the new dance craze... “THE FOOL AROUND”
YOLANDA WALKER sings soulful backup on “ STOP YOUR LYIN’ ”
...and Last but not least….. “THE WORLDS GREATEST BLUES HARMONICA PLAYER"..
GARY GRAMMER plays on three..
Quite the collection of “World Class Musicians” to come from FORT WORTH and be featured on
The first Volume of “TEXAS BLUES” PROJECT !
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -
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