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Michael Packer Blues Band

Michael Packer     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

Michael Packer - Free Beer 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)

$12.99
 
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