Eric Gales (aka Raw Dawg) (born October 29, 1974, Memphis, Tennessee) is an American blues-rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. As of 2011 Gales has recorded ten albums on major record labels, and has done session and tribute work. He has also contributed vocals on several records by the Memphis rap groups, Prophet Posse and Three 6 Mafia.
Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (Little Jimmy King), took to teaching him many songs and licks at a young age, in the style of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B. B. King and others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him on bass.
Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the E-bass string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother who is left-handed and never second-guessed the untraditional technique.
In late 1990, Eric and Eugene Gales signed with Elektra Records, and together with drummer Hubert Crawford released 1991's The Eric Gales Band and 1993's Picture of a Thousand Faces. Guitar World magazine's Reader's Poll named Eric Gales as "Best New Talent", in 1991. During this time he scored two rock radio hits, "Sign of the Storm" (#9 U.S. Mainstream Rock) and "Paralyzed" (#31 U.S. Mainstream Rock) and had spots on television programs such as The Arsenio Hall Show.
In 1994, Gales performed with Carlos Santana at Woodstock '94. In 1995, Eric Gales teamed up with both of his brothers to record an album under the band name of The Gales Brothers. Left Hand Brand was released in 1996. 2001 saw Gales return with his album That's What I Am on MCA Records.
Gales has released the albums Crystal Vision, The Psychedelic Underground,The Story of my Life and Layin' Down the Blues on the Shrapnel Records label. Relentless (2010) was followed by Transformation (2011) and Live (2012).
Eric Gales in the 2008 Jimi Hendrix Tribute tour
He maintains a strong friendship with record producer Mike Varney. Gales has two daughters, Jasmine Gales (born 1992) and step daughter LaAsia Chandler (born 1996) and is married to LaDonna Gales from Greensboro, North Carolina.
In 2004, he contributed a cover of "May This Be Love" to the album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. In 2008, he, along with other guitarists, participated in the touring tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Experience Hendrix. the touring group of musicians included Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Chris Layton, Doyle Bramhall II, Brad Whitford, and was the last tour that Mitch Mitchell played on.
In the winter of 2010, Gales returned to the touring circuit in Europe with TM Stevens on bass guitar and Keith LeBlanc on drums. The tour was billed as Voodoo Chile and featured works of Jimi Hendrix as well as original material from both Gales and Stevens.
In February 2013, Magna Carta released the Mike Varney produced Pinnick Gales Pridgen, featuring Gales on guitar and vocals, Doug Pinnick on bass and vocals, and Thomas Pridgen on drums. The 13 track album featured one cover song, "Sunshine of Your Love", originally by Cream, one short instrumental based on Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" and the remaining songs written by some combination of Pinnick, Gales, Pridgen and Varney.
Discography:
- 1991: The Eric Gales Band, Elektra Records
- 1993: Picture of a Thousand Faces, Elektra Records
- 1996: The Gales Brothers: Left Hand Brand, House of Blues Records
- 2001: That's What I Am, MCA Records
- 2006: Crystal Vision, Shrapnel Records
- 2007: The Psychedelic Underground, Shrapnel Records
- 2008: The Story of My Life, Blues Bureau International
- 2009: Layin' Down the Blues, Blues Bureau International
- 2010: Relentless, Blues Bureau International
- 2011: Transformation, Blues Bureau International
- 2012: Live
- 2013: Pinnick Gales Pridgen, Magna Carta
Eric Gales is a very well rounded musician that has played along side some of the greats. I personally enjoyed his guitar skills when I heard him LIVE in 2010 when he was in Rockville, Maryland traveling with the Jimi Hendrix Experience Concert Team. His stage appearance was by far the most entertaining of all the artists who performed that evening. Up until then, I had never heard of him or his music so I really enjoyed that concert.
Now next on my “Hot List”, is an American musician who plays guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most of his solo tours and albums. The artists name is Daryl Mark Stuermer (born November 27, 1952) and has been playing the guitar since 1975. If you continue to follow me along trip covering the artists from my “Hot List”, you’ll learn more and more about each of them as I am. I hope you decide to follow along.
Daryl Mark Stuermer
Until next time, remember to help “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .
MUSICIAN by Night
GOD Save “The Blues”
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