Alice Stuart
"On Can't Find No Heaven, Alice Stuart proves
she deserves mention in the same breath as Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block as a
blues interpreter."
-Acoustic Guitar Magazine Way ahead of her time, Alice
Stuart blazed the trail for women in rock and roll as one of the only females
in the country to write her own music, front a male band, and play lead
guitar on national and international circuits. Blues Hall of Fame inductee,
Dick Waterman, once remarked, "There would be no Bonnie Raitt without
Alice Stuart." Alice spent the mid-60's and 70's, one of the most creative
musical periods of the century, making music with some of the greatest
artists of that time. She toured the US and Europe with her band Snake and as
tour support for Van Morrison. The list of artists she played with in that
period of time is an awesome one. They include Michael Bloomfield, Jerry
Garcia, John Prine, Albert King, Asleep at the Wheel, Richard Greene, Elvin
Bishop, Sonny Terry, Tower of Power & Commander Cody. During this period,
Alice also appeared on The Dick Cavett Show, with George Carlin as guest
host, and won rave reviews from Billboard, Guitar Player, and Rolling Stone magazines
for her recordings and performances. Alice began performing professionally in Seattle during the
early 60's. In 1964, Alice was introduced to California audiences at the
Berkeley Folk Festival, then the biggest festival on the West Coast. There she
met and subsequently toured and performed with many artists like Joan Baez,
Doc Watson, Jack Elliott, Phil Ochs, Rosalie Sorrells, Mississippi John Hurt
& Jerry Ricks. In the next few years, she also met and played with blues
greats Lightnin' Hopkins, Jesse Fuller, Albert King and The Chambers
Brothers. In 1965, Alice joined forces with Frank Zappa during the formation
of the Mothers of Invention. Her LPs on Arhoolie (1964) and Fantasy Records
(1970 and 1972) are landmark recordings. One of her songs, "I Ruined
Your Life" from her 2002 Burnside release Can't Find No Heaven
was part of the soundtrack for the film "The Station Agent"
(Miramax, 2003) Her songs have been recorded by many other artists, some of
whom are Jackie DeShannon, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Rabbit and the late Kate Wolf. In 1970 after recording Fulltime Woman for Fantasy
Records, Alice formed her first all electric band, "Snake," which
included Bob Jones (We Five, Southern Comfort), and Karl Sevareid (Robert
Cray). They played many noteworthy venues (Winterland, The Fillmore, Golden
Gate Park Concerts)in the Bay Area in the 4 years, plus 2 successful European
tours. In 1972 they recorded "Believing" for Fantasy
Records. When listening to Alice Stuart today, her broad range of
experience both vocally and instrumentally is obvious. After her extended
hiatus in the 1980s to raise her family, she returned to recording and
performing in 1996. Her first release after returning to music, was
"Really Good," a joint effort with bass player, singer and songwriter,
Prune Rooney. 1999's "Crazy With the Blues," followed and won rave
reviews. "Can't Find No Heaven," was released on the Portland,
Oregon label, Burnside Records, in 2002 and was nominated for both a Grammy
and a Handy Award in 2003. This CD was chosen as "Best NW CD" by
the Washington Blues Society in 2004. She has won multiple awards for her
songwriting. She and the Formerlys were chosen by the Seattle Weekly readers
at Seattle's Best Blues Band in 2004 & 2006. In 2005, Alice was given the
award for "Seattle's Best Guitarist." She has worked as a studio
musician on many albums. She has also appeared on many compilations with
other artists. The latest being a Byrds Tribute album called Timeless
Flyte and 2 tracks on "Blues Guitar Women" released in October
2005 by Ruf Records. Sue Foley is busy at work writing a book about the women
on this CD In December 2005,
she and her band, The Formerlys, released their live double CD "Live at
the Triple Door." Their new release (June 2007) "Freedom", was
recorded in Memphis, TN at famed Ardent Studios. Produced by Jim Gaines
(www.jimgaines.com) and engineered by John Hampton, it boasts 11 original
songs and 2 covers. The band is in top form here and the music captures more
than ever Alice's musical essence. From the bluesy title track to the rocker
“Highway Blues”, and from the jazzy instrumental to the highly personal “I’ve
Got Something For You”, Stuart brings her fresh soulful vocals and
dynamically skillful guitar work to fans worldwide. Click here to see this month's tour schedule. Visit Alice on the web at www.alicestuart.com
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