Ty Curtis is consumed by his music. There is no other way to explain how, at such a young age, this 23 year old, Salem Oregon based, vocalist/guitarist/song writer has amassed a recording catalogue of three critically acclaimed albums, earned 2nd place, in the prestigious 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and is nightly thrilling audiences from the Pacific Northwest to Montreal.
Blessed with a classic voice and blazing guitar technique, Ty discovered Blues music in his early teens, listening to favorites Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chris Cain, Roy Rodgers, and Malford Milligan among many others. A true student of the Blues, Ty pursued his music with a passion and “legendary focus” that amazed those around him. Ty played and wrote the Blues, as the music flowed out of him. Practicing with raw finger tips was not a problem that a little Superglue could not fix.
Ty was just out of High School in 2006, when he wrote, recorded and released his first album “Stubborn Mind”. It was the beginning of his meaningful collaboration with Ty Curtis Band drummer Davis Brown. Featuring passionate vocals and driving guitar, a hallmark of the band, this CD presented a depth of feeling and sound that was way beyond their age. Radio programmers from around the country were getting their first taste of the Ty Curtis Band and liking what they heard.
It was the second album “Down on My Luck” in 2008 that solidified the front line of the Ty Curtis Band with the introduction of Hank Shreve, harmonica, keys, vocals. Again, Ty wrote the music, but there was Hank, another old Blues soul, in a young man’s body providing masterful harmonica and sharp vocal harmonies that serve as a dynamic musical counterpart to Ty’s other worldly musical facility. “Down on my Luck” appeared nationally on a number of 2009 top Blues album lists as did Ty’s song “Cherry City Boogie”.
The 2nd place in the prestigious 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis catapulted the Ty Curtis Band on to the world stage. The Challenge started with more than 2,000 bands in nine countries and 36 states. One hundred bands earned the right to come to Memphis, ten made it to the Finals and The Ty Curtis Band was voted 2nd place by a panel of judges made up of industry professionals.
Blues Challenge panelist and Grammy award winning producer David Z (Prince, Etta James, Jonny Lang) took a special interest in the band, which lead to his work as producer/engineer on Ty and the band’s latest and most notable album “Cross That Line”. The 2010 released album is climbing up the charts on hundreds of radio station throughout North America, Europe, Australia and South America. “Fools Game” and “What He Don’t Know” are just two of multiple tracks on the air.
Described by a music critic as… “A multi-talented line-up, that is packing blues-lovers in and keeping them on their feet”. The Ty Curtis Band plays a mix of blues, blues-rock, funk and swing that grabs the audience’s attention and doesn’t let go. Their multi-talented line-up and three part vocal harmonies have been enhanced by the addition of the bands newest member, world class bass player Willie Barber (Blues Brothers, Steve Miller, Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones).
Along with the success of the new album, accolades keep coming. The Ty Curtis Band was won 2010 Muddy Awards from the Cascade Blues Association for Best Contemporary Blues Act and Best Northwest Recording for “Cross that Line”, and Ty Curtis was named Best Male Vocalist, adding to past Muddy’s received in 2009 for Best Regional Act and Best Harmonica Player to Hank Shreve and Best New Act in 2008. The band was awarded a Rainy Day Blues Society Rooster Award for Best Contemporary Blues Act in 2010 and Best New Act in 2009.
No strangers to the big stage the Ty Curtis Band has been privileged to open for Chris Cain, Coco Montoya, The Doobie Brothers, Roy Rogers, George Thorogood, Los Loneley Boys, Paul DeLay, Curtis Salgado, Walter Trout, Big Monti and Lloyd Jones. They have performed at Montreal Jazz Festival, 3 years running at Portland’s Water Front Blues Festival (this year on the main stage), the Winthrop Blues Festival. Joseph Bronze & Blues, Rogue Valley Blues Festival, Central Oregon Blues Festival, The Red, White & Blues Festival, The Oregon State Fair, Redwood Run and many others.
The Ty Curtis Band is coming your way. This young band is all Blues intensity, full of heart and proving to be unstoppable
“They’re really great; probably the best young blues act to come out of the Northwest in a generation.”
Peter Dammann, Talent Coordinator of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, OR
“They are a pretty tight and polished band that are young and do have a traditional feel about them. They play some damn good blues."
Joe W. Whitmer, coordinator of the International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN.
“Finding an artist that is an originator has always been a rare thing. Ty Curtis Band is a bright new unique talent.” - David Z, Grammy Award Winning Producer
“The blues are in good hands with Salem's Ty Curtis Band, a young group that took second in the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Led by Curtis, a sizzling guitarist and vocalist, this group is bound for bigger things.”
Portland Oregonian, Portland, OR
“Ty Curtis and his fellow musicians bring us really tight sounds as if they have been playing together for a decade on many podia with their combination of power blues & funk.”
Roots Time, Belgian Blues Magazine
“They were young, energetic and played a type of music that made you feel good as you
listened.” Jonny Weber, Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania
The Ty Curtis Band is young, fresh, and full of new sounds clearly based on Blues and Blues-Rock-Funk traditions, not guitar shredding Rock. Blues fans will delight at their wonderful second CD featuring thirteen original songs.”
James “Skyy Dobro” Walker is a noted Blues writer and DJ at WKCC 91.1 FM Kankakee, IL
"It is startling exactly how talented this young man is as a musician and songwriter. He's amazing."
Curt Kipp, Chairman, Wilsonville Rotary Summer Concerts, Wilsonville, OR
“Ty’s lyrics and music show growth and these tunes shouldn’t just appeal to the blues crowd, they’re fully capable of crossing over, just as indicated by the CD’s title, Cross that Line.”
Greg Johnson president of the Cascade Blues Association, Portland, OR
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