Roomful of Blues
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Roomful of Blues is an American jump blues and swing revival big band based in Rhode Island. Formed in 1967, the group has toured worldwide and recorded many albums over a career spanning more than 50 years. The band has earned five Grammy Award nominations and seven Blues Music Awards, including Blues Band Of The Year in 2005.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Westerly, Rhode Island, United States
- Founded
- 1967
- Current size
- Eight-piece unit
- Current leader
- Chris Vachon (guitar)
- Longest-serving member
- Rich Lataille (tenor and alto sax, since 1970)
- Grammy nominations
- 5
- Blues music awards
- 7
Facts from the source article.
History
Roomful of Blues began in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1967 when guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley formed a band playing tough Chicago blues. They soon moved toward the swinging jump blues, R&B and jazz of the 1940s and 1950s, adding a horn section in 1970 that included Rich Lataille. The group built a devoted New England following and performed with Count Basie in 1974. Songwriter Doc Pomus helped secure their first record deal and co-produced their 1977 self-titled debut on Island Records, which brought national attention.
Duke Robillard left in 1980, replaced by guitarist Ronnie Earl; singer Lou Ann Barton joined around that time. The band toured nationally and released albums on their own Blue Flame label and Varrick during the 1980s. In 1994 they issued Dance All Night, the first album featuring guitarist Chris Vachon and harpist/vocalist Sugar Ray Norcia. The Grammy-nominated Turn It On!
Turn It Up! (1995) brought their greatest radio and sales success. A major personnel turnover in 1997 saw five members depart; the new lineup released There Goes the Neighborhood in 1998. Roomful of Blues joined Alligator Records with the Grammy-nominated That’s Right! in 2003, followed by Standing Room Only (2005), Raisin’ A Ruckus (2008), Hook, Line and Sinker (2011) and 45 Live! (2013).
Personnel
More than 50 musicians have played in Roomful of Blues over four decades of continuous touring and recording. Rich Lataille, on alto and tenor saxophone, is the only remaining member from the original line-up. The current eight-piece unit is led by guitarist Chris Vachon and includes singer D.D. Bastos (who replaced Phil Pemberton in 2024), trumpeter Christopher Pratt, bassist Lou Bocciarelli, drummer Mike Coffey, baritone and tenor saxophonist Craig Thomas, and keyboardist Jeff Ceasrine.
Notable former members include guitarist Duke Robillard (1967–1980), guitarist Ronnie Earl (1980–1988), singer Lou Ann Barton (early 1980s), harpist/vocalist Sugar Ray Norcia (1991–1998), and trombonist Porky Cohen, whose career began in the 1940s and included work with Charlie Barnet, Artie Shaw, Lucky Millinder and Tommy Dorsey. Bassist Rory MacLeod, who played from 1985 to 1987, died on December 6, 2025 after being hit by a car while walking his dogs; he was 70.
Other past members include vocalist Phil Pemberton (2009–2024), keyboardist Al Copley (1967–1984), bassist Preston Hubbard (deceased), trumpeter Bob Enos (deceased), and many others listed in the band’s partial personnel roster.
Discography
Roomful of Blues released their self-titled debut album in 1977 on Island Records, later reissued as The First Album. Subsequent releases include Let's Have a Party (1979), Hot Little Mama! (1981), Dressed Up To Get Messed Up (1984), Dance All Night (1994), the Grammy-nominated Turn It On!
Turn It Up! (1995), Under One Roof (1997), Roomful of Christmas (1997), There Goes the Neighborhood (1998), and Watch You When You Go (2001). The band moved to Alligator Records for That’s Right! (2003), Standing Room Only (2005), Raisin' a Ruckus (2008), Hook, Line & Sinker (2011), 45 Live!
(2013), In a Roomful of Blues (2020), and Steppin' Out! (2025). Live albums include Live at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (1987), Live at Wolf Trap (2002), and 45 Live! (2013). Compilations include Swingin' & Jumpin' (1999), The Blues'll Make You Happy Too (2000), and Essential Recordings: Jump Blues Classics (2009).
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Roomful of Blues (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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