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The Hollywood Fats Band

The Hollywood Fats Band combined the classic styles of 40's,'50's and 60's blues, boogie woogie and jazz with an "in the moment exciting modern edge" to create some of the best and most visionary music of it's kind. Their one and only album, "Hollywood Fats Band" recorded in 1976 and released in 1979 (PBR international, London, England) is considered around the world to be a seminal moment in modern era blues music. 
   
In the early 1970's it was Buddy Guy who affectionately gave Fats his stage name. Before forming his own band, in 1975, Fats toured extensively for over 5 years, being seriously schooled playing in the bands of seminal blues artists- J.B.Hutto, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Albert King and Jimmy Witherspoon. Clearly, this unique education paid off in spades.

Tragically, in December 1986, at the young age of 32,Hollywood Fats died - cutting short a life that had he lived, was destined for super stardom. Upon his death Guitar Player magazine wrote in a tribute to him: "He was the greatest blues guitarist to come along in the last 25 years." In December 1992, Dave Rubins of Guitar Player wrote in his article From Roots To Rock - 25 Electrifying Guitarists You May Have Missed "...Fats' solos will drop your jaw."Muddy Waters said "there ain't nobody walking the earth that can play better than him." In a tribute to Hollywood Fats music writer and critic Jim Washburn wrote "though a consummate backing musician,giving arrangements a spark without any ego flash to detract from a songs structure, Fats could always be counted on to step forward when it came time to solo and pour out chorus after chorus of incendiary playing.Along with a mastery of the breath of blues styles,he would also work into his solos modern jazz and Hendrix inspired touches. And through hundreds of gigs in unsung bars he was never repetitious,never uninspired, always pushing to make music that said something more.When Fats was"on" there wasn't a better blues player alive.

Hollywood Fats was clearly a transcendent blues artist. A real genius in a world of far too many posers and so called geniuses. Fats departed this world more than 25 years ago and no one has come along to take his place. Clearly blues music has never been the same since!
David Mac-Blues Junction Productions
Hollywood Fats, Guitar
Al Blake, Vocals,Harmonica , Richard Innes, Drums
Freddy Kaplan, Piano, Larry Taylor, Bass

Recorded at Ted Brinson Studios- Los Angeles, CA, 1976.This is the same studio where the legendary rap artist, Rudy Ray Moore recorded his classic stories of Dolomite in the 1960's.