SDCXTRA RADIO

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Eugene Hideaway Bridges

Born in New Orleans, Eugene is a nomadic musician living his life on the road travelling from America through Europe, to Australia with many other stops in between. A towering man with a huge voice, playing an unparalleled brand of blues, oozing enough genuine charm to light up a small city. If you like your blues music laced with soul, funk, gospel and rock, delivered with buckets of class and warmth take a listen to Eugene’s musical catalogue.





In 2000 Eugene signed to Armadillo Music and released his CD, Man Without A Home, which got worldwide airplay. Eugene appeared, often headlining, at major festivals in the USA, all over Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia, whipping up a storm wherever he went with his distinctive southern sound.

The 2003 release, Jump the Joint, reached Number 4 in the US Living Blues Charts, charting for three months. Eugene’s songs also appeared regularly in The National Association of Rhythm & Blues DeeJay charts. He was nominated for three 2003 US Cammy Music Awards.

In September 2004 Eugene recorded his next CD, Coming Home, at The Zone Studio in Dripping Springs, Texas, using a full horn section on several tracks, led by Seth Kibel. Texan guitarist and friend Rocky Athas also joined him on two cuts.

After four CDs recorded with a full band, Eugene’s next self titled release Eugene Hideaway Bridges was recorded in the studio with friends and fellow musicians met on the road. Lucky Oceans co-founder of the Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel plays Pedal Steel on three tracks and Texan legend Ray Wylie Hubbard lays down some fine Slide Guitar on I Can’t Wait. This CD was nominate for two 2008 US Blues Music Awards.

March 2009 saw Eugene in San Antonio to fulfil his fans wishes for a Live CD. With the line up of Bobby Baranowski on Drums, Eric King Bass, David Webb Keys, Seth Kibel Sax and Justine Miller on Trumpet, you have the real deal. Live in San Antonio was nominated for two 2011 Blues Music Awards in the Soul Blues Album and Soul Blues Artist Categories.

January 2011 Eugene is back in the Zone Studio, Dripping Springs, Texas with Pat Manske as Producer. Pat who has previously produced both of Eugene’s Blues Music Award nominated albums. The new CD Rock And A Hard Place is Eugene and his big band. Horns again led and arranged by long time collaborator and maestro Seth Kibel. David Webb on Keyboards, Hammond B3, Piano and Wurlitzer, Lloyd Maines on Pedal Steel, Eric Lollipop King on Bass Guitar, Calep Emphrey on Drums, Seth Kibel on Alto, Tenor, Baritone Saxophones and Flute, Shane Pitsch on Trumpet and Mark V Gonzales on Trombone. Blues, Soul, Jump, Funk, Gospel, Rock and Beach Music all make Eugene’s CD an upbeat journey through all the musical influences that have made Eugene the seasoned and versatile performer we have today.

 Rock And A Hard Place charted at No 4 in The Living Blues Radio Chart for July 2011 and Eugene was a triple 2012 Blues Music Award nominee in the following categories; Album of the Year for Rock And A Hard Place, Soul Blues Album for Rock And A Hard Place and Soul Blues Artist. The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded to musicians and songwriters within blues music.  Turning fifty in 2013, Eugene wanted to put together an eclectic, retrospective collection of thirteen of his own songs and four covers.

Moving from a traditional song learnt in church as a young child, to songs about his life, travel, lost loves and a treasured 1981 Datsun 720 truck Nelly Bell! Here we have Roots & Vines.

Eugene’s 2015 release Hold On A Little Bit Longer features a full horn section on several songs led by John Mills with Kevin Flatt on Trumpet and Jon Blondell Trombone. Bobby Baranowski is back on Drums, Otto Williams Bassist who first played with Eugene 15 years ago. Australian Clayton Doley plays Hammond B3 & Piano. Guesting on the title song, playing slide guitar, is Micky Moody, better known for his time with Whitesnake.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Richard Smith-Beverly









“I am so thankful and thrilled to be releasing my first single this year - it seems like it’s been a long time coming - but I guess like every artist - it takes time to find the right sound.” Richard Smith-Beverly releases a holiday classic “Jingle Bells” with a new spin on iTunes and Amazon November 2015 via digital download. The single showcases a slick pop production reminiscent of a Justin Bieber or Mariah Carey record. The song features doo-wop style background vocals, lush strings, and a horn arrangement that is sure to be a jolly good time for all. “Jingle Bells” was mastered by Grammy-Award Winning mastering engineer Bob Ludwig at Gateway Studios. “I want to pinch myself because I still can’t believe that I am so fortunate enough to have worked with someone of his caliber.” “I really love this single - it makes me want to dance when I hear it - and I hope that it will make everyone around the world want to rock and dance when they hear it too.” The song will be one of five standards featured on the forthcoming LP that will comprise half standards and half originals. Full Christmas Album will be released in November 2015. 

“I honestly couldn’t say enough about my teachers who generously gave of their time and expertise; and who have shaped me into the musician I am today - I am eternally grateful for the energy spent, hard work, and investment in me.” Richard received his vocal training from the Baltimore School for the Arts under the tutelage of Joyce Hubbard and Robert Cantrall. He went on to study music composition in Philadelphia under commercial composers Rick Hall and Chuck Butler, the later of which trained him extensively in all genres of commercial production. Richard explored internet collaboration with Russian Sound Composer Roman Olegov which produced the song ”One More Night”; and in 2009 it spawned the album “Earth Elements” - a theme album that featured a Pop/Rock sound. “Collaborating with Roman was an awesome experience - I had the opportunity to explore a Pop/Rock sound and I was able to fuse my vocal arrangement over his production - which had a really cool Euro sound - and it was just fun to collaborate with someone from halfway around the world.” In December of 2011, Richard released a holiday classic featuring a more Pop/R&B sound that received a huge PopScore on the internet radio site Jango and sparked the idea for a full album.


“After realizing how many people loved the single “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” I decided to stick with a Pop/R&B sound for the next song I would record. This year, Richard returns with a new holiday single entitled “Christmas Is Only Christmas With You” that was just recorded in October of this year that will warm your hearts this holiday season. The single is stripped down to the basics and features an amazing jazz piano arrangement, opulent strings, and tells the story of a loved one coming home for Christmas. The single is one of many newly written holiday songs that will be featured on the forthcoming album. The song will be available for digital download between mid November and early December 2015. “I really love this new single, it warms my heart when I listen to it and definitely makes me think of the holidays when I hear it and I hope it will warm everyone’s heart around the world when they hear it too.”