Mike Sanchez
Encyclopedia
Jesus Miguel "Mike" Sanchez (born 17 February 1964) is a rhythm and blues
singer, pianist and songwriter of Spanish-English
heritage. Sanchez is known for his work with the Big Town Playboys
and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
, and also for his solo career. He is noted for his authenticity to the work of post-war blues shouters and piano players.
, Worcestershire
area.
As a teenager, Sanchez took up playing the guitar and soon formed a rockabilly trio, The Rockets. Shortly thereafter, Sanchez developed a strong love for 1950s roots music, and also took up playing the piano.
Sanchez was introduced to former Savoy Brown
, Steve Gibbons
and Chicken Shack
, band member Andy Silvester
through Led Zeppelin
frontman Robert Plant
. This introduction is what lead to the 1984 formation of the Big Town Playboys
. Additionally, Procol Harum
pianist Gary Brooker
, who was a fan of the Big Town Playboys
, introduced Sanchez to Amen Corner
's Andy Fairweather-Low
, along with Eric Clapton
(whom the band later opened up for at various shows, including concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
). Fairweather-Low was recruited as the band's guitarist.
The Big Town Playboys
made a number of recordings, but the most noteworthy has been the collaboration with Jeff Beck
, which spawned the release of Crazy Legs
.
Sanchez and the Big Town Playboys
have headlined many a European music festival, and have worked with many noteworthy musicians, such as Jimmy Nelson, Lowell Fulson
, Carey Bell
, Don and Dewey
, Little Willie Littlefield
and Joe Hughes
.
near Christmas of 1999 due to management issues, and also to pursue a solo career. His first solo album was cut while still with the Big Town Playboys
, and was titled, Just A Game. It was released in 1997. In 1998, Sanchez became a member of Bill Wyman
's Rhythm Kings (replacing pianist Gary Brooker
).
In recent years, Sanchez formed a seven-piece rhythm and blues
outfit along with guitarist Andy Silvester
, vocalist Imelda May
, bassist Al Gare, drummer Mark Morgan (also formerly of the Big Town Playboys
, The Harlem Horns (Al Nicholls and Pete Cook), and also with England's Doo Wop vocal group, The Extraordinaires.
In 2003, Sanchez produced and recorded soundtrack material for the film I'll Be There, which starred Charlotte Church
and Craig Ferguson
.
The noteworthy Blues in Britain magazine named Mike Sanchez as UK Keyboard Player of the Year from 2000-2004.
Sanchez also collaborated with Swedish blues artists, Knockout Greg and Blue Weather. They recorded an album based on authentic jump blues
and blues shouters, such as Young Jessie
, Roy Brown
and Wynonie Harris
. The album, along with his release Blue Boy, and 2003 DVD Release Red Hot...LIVE! was released on his own label, Doopin' Records.
Currently, Sanchez is fronting a six-piece outfit known as Mike Sanchez and his Band. The group features former Biscuit Boy bass player Al Gare, Oliver Darling on guitar, former Big Town Playboy Mark Morgan on drums, Martin Winning (Van Morrison
) on tenor saxophone and baritone saxophonist Nick Lunt (Jools Holland
's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra). He also regularly performs with a four-piece lineup called "The Portions".
In December 2007, he opened up for Led Zeppelin
during their noted reunion show at London's O2 arena, alongside his old musical mate Bill Wyman
as a part of the Rhythm Kings.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer, pianist and songwriter of Spanish-English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
heritage. Sanchez is known for his work with the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings are a blues-rock band founded and led by former Rolling Stones bass guitarist Bill Wyman. Together with his lifelong musical partner Terry Taylor, The "Dirty Boys" duo produce, arrange and compose original material for the award winning band.The Rhythm Kings are known for...
, and also for his solo career. He is noted for his authenticity to the work of post-war blues shouters and piano players.
Early career
Sanchez was born in London and spent the first 11 years of his life residing in the city. His family later moved to the BewdleyBewdley
Bewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
area.
As a teenager, Sanchez took up playing the guitar and soon formed a rockabilly trio, The Rockets. Shortly thereafter, Sanchez developed a strong love for 1950s roots music, and also took up playing the piano.
Sanchez was introduced to former Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown, originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, are a British blues rock band, formed in 1965, in Battersea, South West London...
, Steve Gibbons
Steve Gibbons
Stephen William Gibbons , Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Bendigo, Victoria...
and Chicken Shack
Chicken Shack
Chicken Shack are a British blues band, founded in the mid-1960s by Stan Webb , Andy Silvester , and Alan Morley , who were later joined by Christine Perfect in 1968.-Career:...
, band member Andy Silvester
Andy Silvester
Andrew Frederick 'Andy' Sylvester is a bassist and multi-instrumentalist. Sylvester has played in various bands during his career, most notably as co-founder of both Chicken Shack and Big Town Playboys as well as a tenure in the British blues band Savoy Brown and Los Angeles based soft rock...
through Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
frontman Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
. This introduction is what lead to the 1984 formation of the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
. Additionally, Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
pianist Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
, who was a fan of the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
, introduced Sanchez to Amen Corner
Amen Corner (band)
Amen Corner were a successful Welsh rock group, formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales.-Career:The band was named after The Amen Corner, a weekly disc spin at the Victoria Ballroom in Cardiff, Wales, where every Sunday night Dr...
's Andy Fairweather-Low
Andy Fairweather-Low
Andrew Fairweather Low is a Welsh guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. He was a founding member of 1960s British pop band, Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.-Early career:Fairweather Low first found fame as a...
, along with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
(whom the band later opened up for at various shows, including concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
). Fairweather-Low was recruited as the band's guitarist.
The Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
made a number of recordings, but the most noteworthy has been the collaboration with Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, which spawned the release of Crazy Legs
Crazy Legs (album)
Crazy Legs is a studio album by Jeff Beck and the Big Town Playboys, released on June 29, 1993. The recording is an album of Gene Vincent songs...
.
Sanchez and the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
have headlined many a European music festival, and have worked with many noteworthy musicians, such as Jimmy Nelson, Lowell Fulson
Lowell Fulson
Lowell Fulson was a big-voiced blues guitarist and songwriter, in the West Coast blues tradition. Fulson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also recorded for business reasons as Lowell Fullsom and Lowell Fulsom...
, Carey Bell
Carey Bell
Carey Bell was an American blues musician, who played the harmonica in the Chicago blues style. Bell played harmonica and bass for other blues musicians during the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s before embarking on a solo career...
, Don and Dewey
Don and Dewey
Don and Dewey were an American rock and roll duo, comprising Don "Sugarcane" Harris and Dewey Terry . Both were born and grew up in Pasadena, California....
, Little Willie Littlefield
Little Willie Littlefield
Little Willie Littlefield is an American R&B pianist and singer.-Career:By 1947, at the age of sixteen, Littlefield was already a local attraction on many of Houston's Dowling Street Clubs and was recording for local record shop proprietor Eddie Henry who ran his own label "Eddies".Influenced by...
and Joe Hughes
Joe Hughes
Joe Hughes may refer to:*Joe Hughes , baseball player for the Chicago Cubs*Joe "Guitar" Hughes, American blues musician...
.
Solo career
Sanchez left the Big Town PlayboysBig Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
near Christmas of 1999 due to management issues, and also to pursue a solo career. His first solo album was cut while still with the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
, and was titled, Just A Game. It was released in 1997. In 1998, Sanchez became a member of Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
's Rhythm Kings (replacing pianist Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
).
In recent years, Sanchez formed a seven-piece rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
outfit along with guitarist Andy Silvester
Andy Silvester
Andrew Frederick 'Andy' Sylvester is a bassist and multi-instrumentalist. Sylvester has played in various bands during his career, most notably as co-founder of both Chicken Shack and Big Town Playboys as well as a tenure in the British blues band Savoy Brown and Los Angeles based soft rock...
, vocalist Imelda May
Imelda May
Imelda Mary Higham, Clabby , known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 15 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar...
, bassist Al Gare, drummer Mark Morgan (also formerly of the Big Town Playboys
Big Town Playboys
The Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
, The Harlem Horns (Al Nicholls and Pete Cook), and also with England's Doo Wop vocal group, The Extraordinaires.
In 2003, Sanchez produced and recorded soundtrack material for the film I'll Be There, which starred Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
and Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
.
The noteworthy Blues in Britain magazine named Mike Sanchez as UK Keyboard Player of the Year from 2000-2004.
Sanchez also collaborated with Swedish blues artists, Knockout Greg and Blue Weather. They recorded an album based on authentic jump blues
Jump blues
Jump blues is an up-tempo blues usually played by small groups and featuring horns. It was very popular in the 1940s, and the movement was a precursor to the arrival of rhythm and blues and rock and roll...
and blues shouters, such as Young Jessie
Young Jessie
Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie , is an African American R&B and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flairs and a brief stint in The Coasters...
, Roy Brown
Roy Brown
Roy Brown may refer to:*Roy Brown , English professional footballer who was the first black player to play for Stoke City.*Roy Brown , English footballer...
and Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris , born in Omaha, Nebraska, was an American blues shouter and rhythm and blues singer of upbeat songs, featuring humorous, often ribald lyrics. With fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952, Harris is generally considered one of rock and roll's forerunners, influencing Elvis Presley...
. The album, along with his release Blue Boy, and 2003 DVD Release Red Hot...LIVE! was released on his own label, Doopin' Records.
Currently, Sanchez is fronting a six-piece outfit known as Mike Sanchez and his Band. The group features former Biscuit Boy bass player Al Gare, Oliver Darling on guitar, former Big Town Playboy Mark Morgan on drums, Martin Winning (Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
) on tenor saxophone and baritone saxophonist Nick Lunt (Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra). He also regularly performs with a four-piece lineup called "The Portions".
In December 2007, he opened up for Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
during their noted reunion show at London's O2 arena, alongside his old musical mate Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
as a part of the Rhythm Kings.
Discography
- Playboy Boogie, Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
(1985 - Making Waves) - Now Appearing, Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
(1990 - Blue Horizon) - Crazy LegsCrazy Legs (album)Crazy Legs is a studio album by Jeff Beck and the Big Town Playboys, released on June 29, 1993. The recording is an album of Gene Vincent songs...
Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
with Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
(1993 - Epic) - Hip Joint, Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
(1994 - Blue Horizon) - Ready To Rock, The Big Six (1995 - Vinyl Japan)
- Struttin' Our Stuff, Bill WymanBill WymanBill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
's Rhythm Kings (1997 - BMG/RCA) - Just A Game (1997 - MS-001)
- Off The Clock...Live!, Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
(1997 - Eagle) - Six Pack, Big Town PlayboysBig Town PlayboysThe Big Town Playboys are a six-piece acoustic British rhythm and blues revival group. Founded by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester in 1984, they covered American music from the 1940s and 1950s, such as that of Amos Milburn and Little Walter....
(1998 -BTP) - Anyway The Wind Blows, Bill WymanBill WymanBill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
's Rhythm Kings (1998 - BMG/RCA) - On The Road Again, Bill WymanBill WymanBill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
's Rhythm Kings (2002 - Ripple Records) - Just Can't Afford It (2000 - Doopin')
- Blue Boy (2001 - Doopin')
- Women And Cadillacs (2003 - Doopin')
- You Better Dig It (2008 - Doopin')
- Babes and Buicks (2010 - Doopin')