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Joe Survival Caruso
Joe Caruso grew up in a New Orleans musical family. The legendary Club Desire, just across the street from Joe’s house, was where he first learned the sounds of Blues and Rhythm and Blues. In the Summer of ’69 Joe received his draft notice and spent a year in the tropical paradise of Viet Nam. Later, Joe moved to Oakland in 1984 and had many successful years playing there until he moved back home to New Orleans in 1992.
In September of 2005, Joe left New Orleans with his elderly mother on a Friday to play a gig with Al "Little Fats" Jackson at the Grand Casino in Kinder, Louisiana, located in the northwest part of the state. While there, Joe received a telephone call from a friend in New Orleans warning him not to come back home because a storm was approaching. Joe didn't know then that this storm would become the very powerful Hurricane Katrina and that everything he owned would be lost except for his love of his family and the Blues.
Joe moved his Mom to his sister’s house in Deltona, Florida, to keep his family together and safe. Always a “Survivor,” Joe has created this collection of his songs for your enjoyment and wishes to dedicate it in memory of his Mother, Verdadelle Adams, born in 1928, who passed away during the making of this recording.
Albums
Brand New blues with an All-Star cast!
11 new songs all recorded here inside the Lakehouse; featuring Ms Bootsy Taylor as guest vocalist. From New Orleans to Florida, Second Line to Sunshine, this release is all Blues, Blues Blues!
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Latest Review from INK 19 Magazine:
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All eleven songs on Sunshine Blues were written or co-written by guitarist/lead vocalist Caruso. The Big Easy native is backed by Adam Kornecki on piano and organ, Kuroki Gonzalzles on bass, Aaron “Pop” Watson and Simo Bergado on drums, Paul Palizzolo on harmonica and Harriet “Bootsy” Taylor on backing/lead vocals. Before I even heard the lyrics on the opening track, I was thinking “down-home blues.” Sure enough, Caruso sums up his own style perfectly in “Call It What You Want” – you can call it what you want but I call it ‘down-home blues’. His understated tones feature a swirl of influences including his deep New Orleans roots, delta blues, boogie-woogie, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock. There’s no bells and whistles here and nothing over the top – just straight-up, old-time blues at its finest with a little edge. The throwback sound is quite refreshing and there’s no sitting still when you hear this music.
“Something Strange” is one of my favorites, with a real ’70s vibe at the beginning followed by echoes of Albert King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign.” The boogie-woogie/jazz influence really shines on “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” while “What You’re Doing To Me” and the title track, “Sunshine Blues” showcase the blues/jazz side. If you live in Florida as Caruso and I do, the lyrics to “Sunshine Blues” are really funny. I mean, how much sunshine and beautiful weather can one person take? Everybody down in Florida, they got the Sunshine Blues. “Too Many Women” boasts a great melding of harp, keys and guitar with funny lyrics to boot: I got too many women and they all wanna be my wife. “Blue Star” opens with tasty harp and features the strong, soulful vocals of Harriet “Bootsy” Taylor (who also co-wrote the song with Caruso). Followed by the very bluesy “Hoodoo Love,” the record finishes with “Foodstamp Lovin’ Blues,” a classic delta blues combo of guitar and harp.
Caruso has never sounded better than he does on this release. There’s a little something for everyone. If you dig clean, old-time blues, you will really dig this record.
www.lakehouserecords.com/joe-survival-caruso
Michelle Wilson
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Listen to Joe Survival Caruso Now!
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Reviews
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Caruso has never sounded better than he does on this release. There’s a little something for everyone. If you dig clean, old-time blues, you will really dig this record. - Michelle Wilson, INK 19 Magazine
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"True-to-life, deep-south, blues by a man that has lived the life. New Release by Lakehouse Records Showcases Joe Caruso as Writer and Performer. Let Joe tell YOU his story!"
- Leonid Auskern, Jazz News - Europe
“As evidenced by his latest recording, I Gotta Tell Somebody, the sounds of New Orleans are imprinted on Caruso’s DNA. Echoes of Earl King, an early mentor, and Gatemouth Brown, whose Texas swing drifted across the border, resonate in his taut, cleanly burning guitar riffs. His tenor vocals, too, resound with Bourbon Street bonhomie, flavored with a touch of menace.
- Bob Weinberg, Jazz Blues Florida Magazine
“In the Blues Capital of Florida, Joe Caruso embodies the old-style blues sound that crosses generations, throwing in some boogie-woogie and a touch of rock and roll. When Joe gets into his groove, you can't stay in your chair. Gotta get up there on the dance floor!”
- Dick Conklin, Daytona Beach Nightlife Examiner