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Johnny Vernazza's upcoming full-length, Lions and Thieves, slated for release on local Blindspot Records, will feature an all-star lineup of contributors and players, including Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Daniels, Albert Lee, and famed L.A. Wrecking Crew producer Don Peake.
The album will include originals, tunes written by friends, blues standards, and a cover of “Black Coffee” by Humble Pie.
"I have engaged the service of my good friend Don Peake as my producer," says Vernazza. "Don started his career playing guitar with the Everly Brothers in 1961 and was later hired by Ray Charles in 1964, a gig that lasted well into the '90s. In the '60s...Don later composed the music for the Knight Rider TV series."
Also twisting knobs will be Route 44 Studio owner Harry Gale (Lloyd Jones, George Thorogood & the Destroyers). "I've worked with Harry on many projects," says Vernazza. "He's brilliant, innovative, [and] always brings great ideas to the mix. He has no fear of pushing the boundaries to achieve something new. Harry contributes so much to everything he's involved with."
In addition to Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Daniels, and Albert Lee, Vernazza says "There will be a few surprise guests along the way who will lend their talents to make this a fun and outstanding CD. I have penned twelve tunes myself, and there are four songs contributed by some of my talented friends. These, along with a cover or two, will provide plenty of music to choose from."
Johnny Vernazza toured with a gospel band in the '70s and has recorded and toured with Commander Cody, Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Steve Miller, Charlie Daniels, George Thorogood, Luther Tucker, Sunnyland Slim, Carlos Santana, Coco Montoya, Jerry Garcia, and Norton Buffalo, among others.
His stint with the Elvin Bishop band lasted for six albums, including the recording sessions for the 1976 hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” (which rose to #3 on the charts) and “Struttin’ My Stuff.” He performed ten times with Bishop on NBC’s Midnight Special, some of which can be seen on the DVD reissues of the program, one of which shows him being recruited on-air by Van Morrison, who arrived for a taping without a band.
He earned a gold record (500,000 sold) for his signature guitar part on “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” and the song can be heard in numerous movies (Boogie Nights, Big Daddy) and TV shows (Entourage, Brotherhood).
Vernazza moved to San Diego in 2001 and currently lives in Carlsbad. His solo album Jungle Out There was recorded in 2009 at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo.
Aside from playing with local axe-slinger Len Rainey, Vernazza played the Zydeco-and-blues fest Gator by the Bay in May 2011, which included reunion sets with former bandmates Elvin Bishop and Norton Buffalo. It was only the second such reunion with Bishop since Vernazza left the Elvin Bishop Band in 1978.
Johnny Vernazza appears on Thursday, September 27, at Patricks Gaslamp Pub.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/23/32044/
Johnny Vernazza's upcoming full-length, Lions and Thieves, slated for release on local Blindspot Records, will feature an all-star lineup of contributors and players, including Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Daniels, Albert Lee, and famed L.A. Wrecking Crew producer Don Peake.
The album will include originals, tunes written by friends, blues standards, and a cover of “Black Coffee” by Humble Pie.
"I have engaged the service of my good friend Don Peake as my producer," says Vernazza. "Don started his career playing guitar with the Everly Brothers in 1961 and was later hired by Ray Charles in 1964, a gig that lasted well into the '90s. In the '60s...Don later composed the music for the Knight Rider TV series."
Also twisting knobs will be Route 44 Studio owner Harry Gale (Lloyd Jones, George Thorogood & the Destroyers). "I've worked with Harry on many projects," says Vernazza. "He's brilliant, innovative, [and] always brings great ideas to the mix. He has no fear of pushing the boundaries to achieve something new. Harry contributes so much to everything he's involved with."
In addition to Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Charlie Daniels, and Albert Lee, Vernazza says "There will be a few surprise guests along the way who will lend their talents to make this a fun and outstanding CD. I have penned twelve tunes myself, and there are four songs contributed by some of my talented friends. These, along with a cover or two, will provide plenty of music to choose from."
Johnny Vernazza toured with a gospel band in the '70s and has recorded and toured with Commander Cody, Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Steve Miller, Charlie Daniels, George Thorogood, Luther Tucker, Sunnyland Slim, Carlos Santana, Coco Montoya, Jerry Garcia, and Norton Buffalo, among others.
His stint with the Elvin Bishop band lasted for six albums, including the recording sessions for the 1976 hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” (which rose to #3 on the charts) and “Struttin’ My Stuff.” He performed ten times with Bishop on NBC’s Midnight Special, some of which can be seen on the DVD reissues of the program, one of which shows him being recruited on-air by Van Morrison, who arrived for a taping without a band.
He earned a gold record (500,000 sold) for his signature guitar part on “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” and the song can be heard in numerous movies (Boogie Nights, Big Daddy) and TV shows (Entourage, Brotherhood).
Vernazza moved to San Diego in 2001 and currently lives in Carlsbad. His solo album Jungle Out There was recorded in 2009 at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo.
Aside from playing with local axe-slinger Len Rainey, Vernazza played the Zydeco-and-blues fest Gator by the Bay in May 2011, which included reunion sets with former bandmates Elvin Bishop and Norton Buffalo. It was only the second such reunion with Bishop since Vernazza left the Elvin Bishop Band in 1978.
Johnny Vernazza appears on Thursday, September 27, at Patricks Gaslamp Pub.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/23/32044/