Alexis P. Suter

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Alexis P. Suter
Alexis P. Suter Band.jpg
Suter performing at the 2013 Waterfront Blues Festival
Background information
Born (1963-02-15) February 15, 1963 (age 60)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres Blues, soul blues
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1990–present
LabelsHipbone Records, others

Alexis P. Suter (born February 15, 1963) [1] is an American blues, and soul blues singer and songwriter, best known for her nomination in the 'Koko Taylor Award' category at the 33rd Blues Music Awards in 2015. [2] She and her backing band have released six albums to date. [3]

Contents

Life and career

Alexis P. Suter is the youngest daughter of Carrie and Albert Suter, and was born in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. [4] She began singing in church at the age of four, and met the Mills Brothers and saw them perform in concert five years later. [4] Her interest in music developed at school where she learned to play the sousaphone, and expanded her knowledge of gospel music when attending different churches in her neighborhood. [4] She was also influenced by the work of Ruth Brown, whom she heard on her family's radio. [5] Suter also credited her mother as a source of musical inspiration, given that she had previously provided backing vocals for Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Harry Belafonte, Mavis Staples and Dionne Warwick amongst others. [4] [6]

Suter released her debut single in 1990, "Slam Me Baby", [7] recorded in a house music setting, which led her to become the first African American woman to be signed to Epic/Sony Records. [4] Years later the track was used on the Live & Remastered compilation album. [8] She later signed with Hipbone Records, releasing Shuga Fix, her debut album in 2005. [4] The same year she and her backing band caught the attention of Levon Helm, who invited them to open for him at his Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, New York. [5] [9]

In 2008, her third album, Just Another Fool, was released by Hipbone Records. [5] It included a guest appearance on piano by Ted Kooshian. [10] Suter has been a guest on The Artie Lange Show and Imus in the Morning , and with her band has opened for artists including Bo Diddley, Dickey Betts, B.B. King, Coco Montoya, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Allen Toussaint, and Emmylou Harris. [4] B.B. King stated "It's a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady". [11]

On June 11, 2014, John Ginty recorded his Bad News Travels Live DVD, which included a guest performance from Suter. [12]

Her five piece musical ensemble, released their sixth effort, Love the Way You Roll, in August 2014. [13] It contained two cover versions: firstly of Big Mama Thornton's "You Don't Move Me No More" and also Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips". [14] The band currently comprises Alexis P. Suter (lead vocals), Ray Grappone (drums), Michael Louis (guitar), Tom Terry (bass guitar) plus Vicki Bell (backing vocals). [15]

Suter and her band have appeared at music festivals including Springing the Blues, Briggs Farm Blues Festival (2007, 2009, and 2011), Musikfest (2011), and Blast Furnace Blues Festival (2012), [16]

In 2015, Suter was nominated in the 'Koko Taylor Award' category at the 33rd Blues Music Awards. [2] Ruthie Foster won the title. [17]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleRecord label
2005Shuga FixHipbone Records
2006Alexis P Suter Band Live at the Midnight RambleLevon Helm Records
2008Just Another FoolHipbone Records
2009Live at the Turning PointFestivalink.net
2011Two SidesHipbone Records
2014Love the Way You RollAmerican Showplace Music

[4] [5] [18] [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950–1993, Volume 2 [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010
  2. 1 2 "Search | The Blues Foundation". Blues.org. June 20, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Alexis P. Suter Band | Benji's BluesDoggle". Bluesdoggle.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Alexis P. Suter biography". Alexispsuter.com. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Richard Skelly. "Alexis P. Suter | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Alexis P. Suter Band at Gwynedd Mercy University". Allaboutjazz.com. February 22, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ "4 to the Bar Featuring Alexis P. Suter – Slam Me Baby! (Vinyl)". discogs. 1989. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Music | Compilations". Ministryofsound.com. July 23, 2014. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ Paul LaRaia (September 2009). The Levon Helm Midnight Ramble. Backbeat Books. ISBN   9781617130519 . Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Just Another Fool – Alexis P. Suter | Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  11. ↑ "B.B. King Blues Club & Grill – ALEXIS P. SUTER BAND – Aug 25, 2014". Bbkingblues.com. August 25, 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ "John Ginty – Bad News Travels – The Showplace Sessions LIVE DVD". Makingascene.org. August 14, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ Akamatsu, Rhetta (August 7, 2014). "Music Review: The Alexis P. Suter Band – 'Love the Way You Roll'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  14. ↑ "The Alexis P. Suter Band – Love The Way You Roll | Album Review". Blues Blast Magazine. November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  15. ↑ "The Alexis P. Suter Band | JazzCorner.com News". Jazzcorner.com. December 12, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Second Blast Furnace Blues fest at SteelStacks changes scale, keeps same sound". The Morning Call. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ "2015 Blues Music Awards Winners". Americanbluesscene.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Alexis P. Suter | Album Discography". AllMusic. February 8, 2005. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Mama – The Alexis P. Suter Band". Grruv.com. February 9, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
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