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Michael
Packer Blues Band
Singer-songwriter, guitar and keyboardist Michael
Packer has been playing professionally for over 40 years.
Packer was discovered and signed to Atlantic records by
Ahmet Ertegun in 1969 with his group Papa Nebo which
included tenor sax player Bob Mintzer who later became
leader of The Yellowjackets. In the 70's Packer recorded
three albums for Buddah and RCA record and toured
extensively with the likes of Johnny Rivers, Atlanta
Rhythm Section, Doug Sahm and Clifton Chanier. In the 80's
Packer opened for John Hammond but due to chronic
alcoholism Michael Packer soon hit the skids and found
himself living on the streets of New York. Packer was in
and out of jail much of his life and finally had to do
some time at Rikers Island. In prison Packer had a band
and did shows for the inmates and was included in the HBO
documentary ' The Prisoners of Rikers Island '. Prison was
actually the turning point of his life. Packer got clean
and sober and good things started to happen for him.
Packer has been sober 15 years and has recorded seven
albums. His band, The Michael Packer Blues Band, has
earned critical acclaim. The band has opened for Levon
Helm, Bettye LaVette and Commander Cody, and has toured
with the Pete Best Band. Many contemporary artists such as
pianist David Maxwell, Blues Brother Lou Marini, and Bob
Mintzer have sat in with the band. Jimmy Vivino, guitarist
from The Tonight Show, has also performed with Michael,
and is quoted as saying "Some musicians do the blues.
Michael Packer is the blues."
Michael Packer has recently begun backing 94-year old
Delta Blues legend David "Honeyboy" Edwards,
playing 2nd guitar for occasional gigs, including
upcoming gigs at Briggs Farm Blues Festival and
Mississippi Railroad Picnic, and a recent gig at Larry
Holmes Ringside Restaurant.
The Michael Packer Blues Band consists of Ed Jackson -
percussion and vocals, King Bear - bass, and Bad Eddie
Suozzo - drums
Quotes
"Michael Packer is the Blues." -Big
City
Blues Magazine
"Four Aces" -
Blues Revue
"The musicianship is exciting!"
-Elmore Magazine
"Impassioned"
-Living Blues
"NYC Blues at it's best" -Blueswax
"Michael Packer has lived the blues and now he
plays them with style." -Village
Voice
Testimonials
"a prolific songwriter who is well
versed in the blues and country-inflected Americana
roots music. His four albums with his bands from the
1970's are cult classics and his Michael Packer
Blues Band releases (coming fast and furious since
the late 1990's), are a wonderful mixture of
semi-obscure cover songs and totally in the pocket
original compositions. Michael Packer IS the blues
and, he's the keeper of the flame in New York City!"
-Michael Adams (Halt Music Co.)
"If todays Blues had a face, it would be the face of
Michael Packer." -David E. Jones
Sound
Clips
Video
Clips
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Michael Packer -
Free Beer
Style: Blues
Michael Packer has been a
staple of the New York City Blues and Folk music
scene since he was 15 years old and playing at the
Bitter End in Greenwich Village. This well-known
and respected member of the New England Blues
community brings you his latest recording “Free
Beer,” a strong blues-rock album including an
eclectic mix of originals and classics, all firmly
rooted in NYC blues traditions with a touch of
Chicago Blues flare.
Catalog #4513
(Released February 16, 2010) |
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