Curtis Salgado Fine By Me

May 10, 2024

Curtis Salgado

Fine By Me

Little Village Records

This new album by Curtis Salgado has been recorded at eight different studios, four of them in Portland, Oregon; while the remaining four were recorded in California, one each at Taylor Made Studios in Los Angeles; one at Sound Design in Santa Barbara; one at Jesi-Lu Studios in Canyon Country; and one at “Kid” Andersen’s Greaseland in San Jose. Suffice it to say, many different musicians were used in the making of this album, due out on June 30th, 2024.

Curtis Salgado was born in the town of Everett, Washington in 1954. By 1980 he was already a member of The Robert Cray Band and helped to launch Cray’s career as he plays on Cray’s debut recording “Who’s Been Talkin'”. Salgado is also credited for turning John Belushi onto the blues and transforming him into Joliet Jake of The Blues Brothers. Salgado left Cray in 1982 and two years later began fronting “Roomful of Blues”. He appears on Roomful’s 1987 album “Live At Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel”.

In 1991 Salgado fronted his own band and released “Curtis Salgado and The Stilettos. In 1992 he toured with Steve Miller; and two years after with Santana. He released “More Than You Can Chew” in 1995; and collaborated with Terry Robb on 1996’s “Hit It N’ Quit It”. In 1999 Salgado signed with Shanachie Records and released “Wiggle Outta This”. Then in 2000 Salgado released his fifth album, “Soul Activated”, and a year later received his first Blues Music Award nomination.

Subsequent releases include 2008’s “Clean Getaway”; 2012’s “Soul Shot”, his first recording on Alligator Records; 2016’s “The Beautiful Lowdown”; 2018’s “Rough Cut” with guitarist Alan Hager; and 2021’s Damage Control”; and the brand new “Fine By Me”.

Nine songs were written or co-written by Salgado. He opens with “My Girl’s A Nut” written with Charles Seluzicki, and David Duncan (with whom he won a Blues Music Award for Song of The Year”). The song features Salgado, vocal and harmonica, with a stripped down band including drummer, Jimi Bott; acoustic bassist, Keith Brush; and Hager on guitar. On it Salgado sings “my woman’s half crazy…she wears two different socks…all we do is laugh”.

“Better Things To Lie About” was co-written with Gary Nicholson and features Salgado’s vocal and harmonica, Derrick “D’Mar” Martin on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass, “Kid” Andersen on guitar and keyboards and the horn section of Joe McCarthy, trumpet; Lars Campbell, Trombone; and Tim Bryson, tenor and baritone saxophones. The horn arrangements are by McCarthy and Salgado.

“I’m Gonna Forget About You” is a cover of an O.V. Wright penned classic with the addition of Jim Pugh on Hammond B-3 and piano; Jerry Jemmott on bass; and Robert Cray joining Salgado, on vocals and guitar.The title track, “Fine By Me”, features the same musicians but with co-writer George Marinelli on guitar, and the addition of background vocalist Lisa Leuschner.

“Niki Hoeky” has drummer Paul Revelli replacing Martin; while “Hear The Lonely Hearts” features The Sons of The Soul Revivers, James, Walter, and Dwayne Morgan joining Salgado on the vocal. “The Big Chagrin” was co-written with bassist Terry Wilson, and includes guitarists Billy Watts and Snuffy Walden, pianist Jeff Paris and background vocalist Teresa James.

The “Cheap Stuff”, co-written with Hersel Yatovitz and Alby Alan, includes the lyric “I get no pleasure from the cheap stuff”. Also co-written by Wilson “You Give the Blues A Bad Name” includes guitarist Anson Funderburgh and drummer Tony Braunagel. “Under New Management” which closes the album features the lyric “you must be heaven sent, I’m under new management”.

Salgado states “when I write a song, itis made from all the musical influences I grew up with, so it’s American music. Gospel is the mothership and the rest of it follows: blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, soul, rock ‘n’ roll. I love and respect ALL of it”.

Salgado has won many Blues Music Awards including “Entertainer of The Year”. This is just one more reason to seek out and enjoy this marvelous recording.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music