Grammy Award winning rock legend Boz Scaggs has put the finishing touches on his first album of new studio material in five years titled Memphis. This album is a blues infused love letter to the city on a river, showcasing both original songs and choice covers.
Memphiswas produced by Steve Jordan (who has worked with rock icon John Mayer) and was recorded at Willie Mitchell’s legendary Royal Studio in Memphis, where the late Mitchell recorded Al Green and other hit music artists. Joining Scaggs on Memphis are Willie Weeks (bass), Ray Parker Jr. (guitars), Spooner Oldham (keyboards), the Memphis Horns, Lester Snell (string arrangements) and Steve Jordan (drums).
The record will be released in Australia on March 8 2013.
“It’s one of the easiest projects I’ve ever had. I sang songs that feel entirely comfortable to me,” Scaggs told Rolling Stone US. “We recorded the 13 tracks to this record in three days. It just sort of fell out easily in the nicest way.”
Rolling Stone US says of the first single, “Mixed Up Shook Up Girl,” finds Scaggs’ deep, soulful vocals highlighted by a soft beat that brings to mind another soul icon, the Drifters.
Born in Texas and raised with an abiding respect for a wide spectrum of Americanroots music, Scaggs has combined rock, jazz, R&B and blues to create a trademark sound. With an extensive and distinctive career that has spanned 30 years and many accolades, Scaggs continues to prove himself as one of music’s most creative and original artists.
William Royce “Boz” Scaggs began a long and storied career in 1965 with the release of his first solo recording Boz. Scaggs quickly developed into an iconic singer songwriter cutting his teeth playing with Steve Miller (who will be playing Bluesfest 2013) on several highly successful projects and honing his rock and R&B chops working with the likes of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Duane Allman. Scaggs hit it big in 1976 achieving multi-platinum success with Silk Degrees and its follow-ups.
Scaggs continued on a lauded and multi-genre musical journey with successes in film soundtracks and even a #1 jazz project. He and his band continue to tour worldwide and Scaggs also performs alongside Donald Fagan (Steely Dan) and Michael McDonald (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers) in their band billed as The Dukes of September.
While no concrete information has been given for when Mr. Scaggs will reach Aussie shores, it is promised to be before the year’s end with more details coming soon.
