From Perfect Toy Records, very cool reissue: "Critics and concertgoers love his live performances and call him a living blues legend. Record collectors of soul and funk 45s consider many of his early recordings on wax as a “must have”, some even as “holy grails”. No matter what Roy Roberts means to you, an album which collects his sought after 45rpm single tracks was long overdue.
Roy Roberts grew up in a small town in Tennessee, listening to blues and R&B on WLAC out of Nashville. When he turned 18 he moved to North Carolina. Roy played in makeshift bands until he landed a job with local hero Guitar Kimbers’ Untouchables.
Before long, Solomon Burke, took young Roy under his wing after letting him sit in as a bass player during a local gig. He was soon handling the guitar chores behind the future soul legend on tour. Roberts subsequently picked up touring gigs with such luminaries as Eddie Floyd, “Little” Stevie Wonder, and Otis Redding, while fronting his own band, The Roy Roberts Experience.
Roy began to cut records in the mid-60s, mostly as a session man. The death of Otis Redding inspired him to step up to the mic with a song dedicated to the late crooner. The record was released on Nina Simone’s label and backed by an ace studio band. Roy followed this effort with a string of 45s that carried him well into the 70s.
During the disco years, Roy turned to country music. After a brief hiatus from the scene, Roberts got the blues fever once again in the early 90s. Besides recording his own material Roy continues to record and produce records for his label, and tours the U.S. and Europe regularly."
Out 24 February, LP/CD/digital.
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