Jim Suhler (born December 30, 1960, in Dallas, Texas, United States) is an American Texas blues guitarist. Suhler has been playing professionally since the 1980s and has performed with a variety of Blues legends that include George Thorogood, Johnny Winter, AC/DC, Buddy Whittington, Billy F. Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop, and Buddy Guy along with many other notable musicians. He resides in Dallas, Texas and plays locally in and around Texas' major cities, especially Dallas/Fort Worth with his own band, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, in addition to the remainder of the United States and also Canada.
He and his band have also gained a large following in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, England and Ireland.
The current Monkey Beat lineup includes: Shawn Phares on keyboards/accordion (joined in 2000); Patrick Smith on bass (joined in 2019); and Beau Chadwell on drums/percussion (joined in 2011). Former members include Jimmy Morgan & Paul Hollis (both on drums) and also Carlton Powell on bass guitar/vocals (co-founding member), as well as Christopher Alexander on bass guitar.
Jim Suhler was born in Dallas, Texas on December 30, 1960. He grew up in the Lakewood area of Dallas, Texas and attended Hillcrest High School. His first exposure to music was by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and other British Invasion bands on Dallas AM top 40 radio station KLIF in the 1960s. His major influences at that point were Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, ZZ Top, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin and Rory Gallagher among others. During these formative years, Suhler was exposed to Texas guitar talent performing in local North Texas nightclubs like Bugs Henderson,[2]Stevie Ray Vaughan, Anson Funderburgh, Jimmie Vaughan and Rocky Hill. Suhler played in an array of forgotten cover and original bands during these years, initially backing other vocalists or guitarists. He knew at an early age he definitely wanted to be a musician (he started playing guitar at the age of 14) but it wasn't until a trip to Mississippi where he met the legendary artist, Son Thomas, that he knew for certain that he wanted to play the blues. Suhler said of this visit, "He was really gracious – he let me come in and we played together. It was really special."
Suhler never had the privilege of sharing the stage with Stevie Ray Vaughan, but he did get the opportunity to meet the blues legend on a couple of occasions, initially in 1989 at his father's jewelry store in Dallas when Vaughan stopped in to have a watch repaired. When Suhler's father asked Stevie if he had any advice for his musician son, his reply was "Yeah, keep it clean" – meaning stay clear of drugs, advice which Suhler took to heart. When Vaughan didn't return to pick up the watch, Suhler decided to try to return it to him – "Vaughan was playing in Dallas at Fair Park, I take his watch to him, get backstage and he's very amused that I'm even there bringing him his watch—he was very polite, a very sweet, soft-spoken man. And I'm not big on vibes and auras and stuff like that but I swear on everything that's holy to me that when Stevie walked up to me he radiated a light, he had an aura about him. And I don't even like to say things like that because people say 'Yeah, sure' – but he was a big inspiration to me".[3]
Suhler's first bar band was called Stray Kats. They played a few gigs in 1980 at St. Christopher's, one of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Dallas venues at that time. Suhler played guitar for the hard rock band Overlord in 1985, playing Dallas' punk/underground venues including the Twilite Room, Theater Gallery and also Nairobi Room. Suhler then co-fronted the Road Hogs from 1986 to 1988, with harmonica player/vocalist Memo Gonzalez,[4] recording a long lost 45rpm for Pee Wee Records, "Dogged & Driven b/w "Hot & Bothered". Suhler was playing a much more traditional form of blues than he is now known for, much in the style of T-Bone Walker, Magic Sam and B.B. King. Following the demise of the Road Hogs, Suhler's next band was The Homewreckers.[5] This lineup played together from 1989 to 1991, recording a cassette only release called "Hit It & Git It". It was during this period Suhler was a DJ at Dallas' KNON radio station, hosting a three-hour weekly blues show called "Radio Mojo" every Tuesday night (1987–1990).
While later playing a Homewreckers set at a Memphis, Tennessee club called Huey's,[6] he was discovered by George Thorogood, eventually joining the Destroyers in 1999. Thorogood was impressed with Suhler's playing, arranging and songwriting skills, and consequently the two struck up a friendship. After the Homewreckers imploded in mid-1991, Suhler formed power trio Monkey Beat, with drummer Paul Hollis and bassist/vocalist Carlton Powell. At that time, Suhler sent a four-song demo to Thorogood's producer/engineer Terry Manning, after Thorogood told Suhler, "Terry would love you guys".[citation needed] Manning was impressed with Monkey Beat, agreeing to engineer and release an album on Manning's fledgling label, Lucky Seven Records. The albums Radio Mojo (1992) and Shake (1995) were the result of this initial collaboration. Several tours opening for Thorogood & the Destroyers across North America in 1993–95 followed. Thorogood also had Suhler appear with him on numerous radio shows and make in-store appearances with him to get Monkey Beat more exposure.[7] Suhler became a full-time member of George Thorogood & The Destroyer's in 1999 and has appeared on every release by the band since then, playing rhythm/lead guitar, as well as co-writing some of the band's material.
After the recording of the Mike Morgan/Jim Suhler CD Let The Dogs Run, Monkey Beat went to the Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas to again record with Manning. Shake soon followed. For the next few years, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat toured throughout the United States and Europe, playing clubs, theaters and festivals for an ever burgeoning fan base.
Bad JuJu, which was produced by Jim Gaines[8] was the most fully realized Monkey Beat album to date, and released by Lucky Seven Records in 2001.
Tijuana Bible was released in 2009. It was recorded in Nashville with Tom Hambridge producing, & includes guest artists Elvin Bishop, Jimmy Hall and Joe Bonamassa. Tijuana Bible included covers by Rory Gallagher, AC/DC, and Elvin Bishop, as well as 13 of Suhler's originals. The album was nominated for the Blues Music Award in the category of best blues-rock recording.[9]
"Live At The Kessler (produced by Suhler), featuring 16 tracks (including two new songs) was recorded at the historic theater in Dallas on November 28, 2015, and released on June 16, 2016, also on Underworld Records.
Also on Suhler's resume is scoring the PBS documentary Larry vs. Lockney,[11] and having his compositions used in major motion picture releases and television worldwide. In 2002, Suhler fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing two shows with AC/DC during their Stiff Upper Lip Tour, in Helsinki, Finland and Hamburg, Germany.
Suhler co-produced an album in 2010 for another Texas-based blues band, Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch (Jason Elmore: Lead Guitar/Vocals, Brandon Katona: Bass, Mike Talbot: Drums) entitled Upside Your Head,[13] which received widespread acclaim.[by whom?] He also contributed consulting/performance work on Hoodoo Witch's second album, Tell You What,[13] which was released on March 19, 2013. This album was nominated by Blues Blast magazine for Best Blues Rock Album for 2013.[14]
On June 19, 2013, the Dallas Observer named Suhler number 4 on the list of "The 10 Greatest Dallas Blues Artists".[15]
Personal life
In 2002, Suhler and Lauri Miles were married by the Reverend Willy G, aka Billy F Gibbons in Houston, Texas. Gibbons became ordained in order to perform the ceremony and has subsequently married several other couples.
In 2007, Suhler had his divorce decree from the aforementioned wedding "blessed" by Texas humorist/writer/musician/politician Kinky Friedman.
Also in 2002, Suhler's daughter Brittany was killed in an automobile accident. Suhler started the Brittany Suhler Memorial Foundation in her honor. The acoustically driven Dirt Road was released by Topcat Records later in the year, shortly after his daughter's death.[citation needed]
Discography
Monkey Beat (denoted with *) and collaborations with other artists:
Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat at the Granada – Real Time Live in Texas* DVD (2008)[19]
Tijuana Bible* (2009) with Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop[16] The album was in 2010 for the Blues Music Award in the category of best blues-rock recording.[20]
Texas Scratch (2011) with Buddy Whittington, Vince Converse (Released June 2, 2023 in digital format only on Quarto Valley Records)[21]
Panther Burn* (2014) The album was nominated by "Blues Blast" magazine for Best Blues Rock Album for 2014.[22]
Stephen Ray Vaughan was an American musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Although his mainstream career spanned only seven years, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was the younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.
George Lawrence Thorogood is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Wilmington, Delaware. His "high-energy boogie-blues" sound became a staple of 1980s USA rock radio, with hits like his original songs "Bad to the Bone" and "I Drink Alone". He has also helped to popularize older songs by American icons, such as "Move It on Over", "Who Do You Love?", and "House Rent Blues/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer".
Theodore Roosevelt "Hound Dog" Taylor was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer.
Jimmie Lawrence Vaughan Jr. is an American blues rock guitarist and singer based in Austin, Texas. He is the older brother of the late Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Tommy Shannon is an American bass guitarist, who is best known as a member of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Shannon moved to Dumas, Texas when he was nine, where he originally started as a guitarist, though he started playing bass at the age of 21. He appeared with Johnny Winter at Woodstock in 1969. He later joined Double Trouble in 1981 and became a permanent member of Double Trouble until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon and bandmate Chris Layton later formed supergroups such as the Arc Angels.
Double Trouble is an American blues rock band from Austin, Texas, which served as the backing band for singer-guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The group was active throughout the 1980s and contributed to reviving blues music, inspiring many later blues and rock acts. Formed in Austin, Texas in 1978, the group went through several early line-up changes before settling on a power trio consisting of Vaughan, Chris Layton (drums), Tommy Shannon (bass). They became a four-piece by 1985 after adding Reese Wynans (keyboards). Whilst with Vaughan they were billed Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Rooted in blues and rock music, the group worked in various genres ranging from ballads to soul, often incorporating jazz and other musical elements.
Albert Cummings is an American blues musician who has recorded with Blind Pig Records. He has played alongside B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy.
The Sky Is Crying is the fifth and final studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, compiling songs recorded throughout most of their career. Released 14 months after Vaughan's death in 1990, the album features ten previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1984 and 1989. Only one title, "Empty Arms", appeared on any of the group's previous albums. The tracks were compiled by Vaughan's brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and was Vaughan's highest charting album at number 10.
Charles Wayne Sexton is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Sexton is best known for his years as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band, though also has become well known as a music producer. Sexton co-founded Arc Angels and created the Charlie Sexton Sextet. He was still a teenager when he gained fame for his 1985 hit, "Beat's So Lonely", from his debut album, Pictures for Pleasure.
The Hard Stuff is the thirteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on May 30, 2006, on the Eagle Records label. The album peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard charts. It was their first album recorded after the departure of long time saxophone player Hank "Hurricane" Carter, a 23-year member of the band.
Wesley Curley Clark was an American blues musician. He is known as the "Godfather of Austin Blues" for his influence on the Austin, Texas blues scene since the late 1960s.
Ride 'Til I Die is the twelfth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released in 2003.
Doyle Bramhall was an American blues singer, guitarist and drummer with deep roots in the Austin, Texas music scene.
Alan Haynes, born in Houston, Texas, is an American Texas blues guitarist. Haynes has been playing professionally since the 1970s and has performed with a variety of blues musicians that include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Albert King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Otis Rush among others. He now resides in Austin, Texas, and plays locally in and around Texas' major cities, especially Houston, occasionally in Dallas and Fort Worth, and also Europe, where he has a following in Scandinavian countries, Germany, Denmark and Israel.
"The Sky Is Crying" is a blues standard written and initially recorded by Elmore James in 1959. Called "one of his most durable compositions", "The Sky Is Crying" became a R&B record chart hit and has been interpreted and recorded by numerous artists.
Huary Perry "U.P." Wilson was an American electric blues guitarist and singer who performed Texas blues. He recorded five albums for JSP Records, the first being Boogie Boy! The Texas Guitar Tornado Returns! He was known for playing a style of deep Southern soul blues that was gospel inflected.
In the early morning of Monday, August 27, 1990, American musician Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed in a helicopter crash near East Troy, Wisconsin, at age 35. He was one of the most influential blues guitarists of the 1980s, described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as "the second coming of the blues".
The Chessmen were an American garage rock band from Denton, Texas, near Dallas, who were active in the 1960s. They were one of the most popular bands in the region and recorded for Bismark Records, where they recorded three singles including, "I Need You There", which is now considered a garage rock classic. The band is notable for including several members who went on to greater fame. Jimmie Vaughan, brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan was briefly a member, joining after the death of original band leader, guitarist, and vocalist, Robert Patton, who died in a boating accident in 1966. Drummer Doyle Bramhall later played with and wrote songs for Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Bill Etheridge later played bass with ZZ Top. Following the breakup of the Chessmen, several of their members, including Jimmie Vaughan, went on to form a group that would come to be known as Texas Storm, which eventually included Stevie Ray Vaughan on bass.
Rocky Athas in Texas, is a blues songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with Black Oak Arkansas, Glenn Hughes, Buddy Miles, Double Trouble and John Mayall.
Lance Lopez is an American blues rock and Texas blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Lopez has been influenced by Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jeff Beck has described Lopez as "a very exciting and intense blues guitarist". Lopez has spoken over the years about being mentored by both Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter. Lopez was aged 16 at the time he met Gibbons, and they have remained friends throughout.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
