Tad Robinson snags two Blues nominations

Friday, December 14, 2007

Greencastle's godfather of the blues has never really contained his fame and talent to Putnam County but now it seems he's gotten some national attention for his work -- again.

Tad Robinson was nominated for a pair of Blues Music Awards -- the so-called Grammies of blues - for his performance on his 2007 album release, the Blues Foundation announced Thursday.

Robinson's "A New Point of View" was among five nominees for Best Soul Blues Album of the Year. He was also nominated for the Best Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year.

He received the same two nominations in 2005 when he released his last album "Did You Ever Wonder."

Robinson said that since his new disc is even better than his 2005 effort, the nominations came more as a relief than as a surprise.

Even if he doesn't win the award at the May 8 ceremony in Memphis, Tenn., the nominations give him much-needed recognition and clout when it comes time to book gigs, he added.

Robinson said the nominations are a particular honor for him since they are picked by a group of blues industry insiders.

"The awards themselves are more of a popularity contest," he said.

Soul blues, which Robinson has been playing since the 1970s when he rode to some small success on the Blues Brothers, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker blues renaissance, is a gospel-influenced strand of the traditional American genre.

It typically strays from the standard 12-bar structure of the blues and focuses more on vocals and a wide array of instrument arrangements rather than relying on guitar, Robinson said.

Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Etta James and Sam Cook are some of the most popular gospel blues artists.

Robinson's album is available on Amazon.com for $14.99 and for $9.99 on iTunes.

Anyone interested in hearing Robinson play live can check him out Dec. 20 at the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis.

He will perform at Old Topper in Greencastle from 9 p.m. to midnight Dec. 21.

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