The GRAVEL ROAD: How The Blues gave birth to Rock & Soul
A rollicking ride, channeling the singers and the stories behind the music that inspired generations.
About The GRAVEL ROAD
Origins
Why "The GRAVEL ROAD"?
Why "The GRAVEL ROAD"?
One hot summer night in Sarasota, the renowned Dan Dembicki Quintet invited Dean Brenneman - a powerful Blues, Rock & Soul singer from Washington, DC - to sit-in and belt out a few songs.
Sparks flew!
Recognizing kindred spirits, they joined forces and formed The GRAVEL ROAD to showcase the “gritty” side of popular music. Their shared passion is delivering rollicking performances of a music that so profoundly shaped the world for generations to come.
This is music that inspires and uplifts people… and makes ‘em wanna’ shake it!
Why "The GRAVEL ROAD"?
Why "The GRAVEL ROAD"?
Why "The GRAVEL ROAD"?
In the deep mists of time a musician of modest abilities, by the name of Robert Johnson, reputedly struck a deal with the Devil at the infamous "Crossroads" of Highways 61 & 49, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. In exchange for his eternal soul, the Devil granted Robert supernatural guitar abilities and a haunting voice. This is the legendary origin story of The Blues!
In fact, the Blues actually formed in the cotton fields a half century earlier. But Johnson added new dimensions and cemented a foundation for all that followed. From this unlikely start, at the intersection of two unremarkable gravel roads, grew the rich traditions of The Blues; eventually migrating to the cities and inspiring the creation of Jazz, along the tumultuous path to an eruption of Rock & Soul Music in the 1950’s.
The GRAVEL ROAD draws inspiration from the giants in each of these musical traditions. They include Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, Gregg Allman, Bob Seger & Bruce Springsteen, to name a few.
But THEIR influences were Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Ray Charles, and so on: right back through the mists of time to Robert Johnson, standing at the Crossroads in the Mississippi Delta, at midnight...
The GRAVEL ROAD celebrates it all - Strap a seatbelt on your barstool to avoid Genre whiplash!