Popa Chubby

It’s A Mighty Hard Road

Popa Chubby Productions

Theodore Joseph “Ted” Horowitz a.k.a. Popa Chubby was born in The Bronx in 1960. His first instrument was the drums but after listening to the Rolling Stones he soon switched to guitar. He was mostly influenced however by Jimi Hendrix and The Cream. He won a national talent search by a local California radio station and was chosen as the opening act at the 1992 Long Beach Blues Festival. He self-released his debut “It’s Chubby Time” on his own Laughing Bear label in 1994. A year later he signed with Sony/Okeh Records and recorded his first major-label album “Booty and the Beast” produced by the legendary Tom Dowd. In 2000 Horowitz signed with Blind Pig Records. He has also recorded for the Cleopatra, Prime, Lightyear, Shanachie, Provogue and French Verychords record labels. He is an International recording artist, just as big in Europe as in the states. This is his twenty-eighth album overall.

On the recording Popa plays all guitars, bass on nine tracks, drums on eight, and keyboards and harmonica on one track each. He also sings all lead and background vocals. His band includes Dave Keyes, piano and organ; and either Brett Bass or V.D. King, bass; and either Steve Holley or Don Castagno, drums.

Although a master guitarist Popa is not thinking about his solos. Instead he concentrates on melody and lyrics. His song titles reflect his sense of humor. And so we are treated to grinners like “The Flavor is in The Fat”; “Buyer Beware”; “Gordito” and “Why You Wanna Bite My Bones?”. On the title track and again on “I’m the Beast from the East” Popa sings about his New York roots. He adds “I’m half human, half beast, 300 pounds of muscle and man… grew up hard, too big to run”. His obvious talent and sense of self help to complete him. On the spacious “Let Love Free the Day” he plays fluid guitar, bass and drums. Popa also includes two specially selected covers. “I’d Rather Be Blind” written by Leon Russell and first recorded by Freddie King in 1972; and Prince’s “Kiss” recorded in 1986.

Popa concludes “My Friends, Brothers, Sisters, Nieces and Nephews. My humble offering to you. Fifteen tracks of my very bestest. No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter what you believe, we are all the same and It’s a Mighty Hard Road”. He signs the liner notes “Theodore Horowitz, Don Chubblione, The Master of Disaster, The Beast from The East”. You just gotta love him.

Richard Ludmerer