Sugar Ray Norcia Interview

Sugar Ray Norcia started to play blues harp in high school. Once Norcia had relocated to Providence, Rhode Island, he formed the Bluetones which secured a residence as the house band at a local nightclub. They backed touring acts, such as Big Walter Horton, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and Roosevelt Sykes in nearby clubs. During the latter part of the 1970s the band backed Ronnie Earl before he left to join Roomful of Blues.

Norcia's solo recordings included the EPs Sugar Ray and the Bluetones (1979); Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters featuring the Sensational Sugar Ray (1982), plus a couple of releases on Rounder Records, Knockout (1989) and Don't Stand In My Way (1991). Don't Stand In My Way was the first release by the Bullseye Blues label. The Bluetones also backed Miki Honeycutt on her initial album, Soul Deep.

In 1991 Norcia joined Roomful of Blues as their lead vocalist. They issued three albums with Norcia and undertook extensive touring duties. Norcia also undertook work away from the group. He appeared on a Bullseye Blues album from trombonist Porky Cohen, Rhythm and Bones, (1996) and on the LP Little Anthony and Sugar Ray: Take It From Me, (1994). Also in 1994 Norcia appeared on Otis Grand's Nothing Else Matters album.

In 1998 Norcia exited from Roomful of Blues, and issued Sweet & Swingin', which featured songs written by Hank Williams, Arthur Alexander and Big Walter Horton; plus a guest appearance from The Jordanaires. In 1999 Norcia participated with James Cotton, Billy Branch and Charlie Musselwhite, on the Grammy Award nominated album, Superharps.

More recently, Norcia contributed his harmonica playing on records by Pinetop Perkins and Doug James, in addition to touring along with the 'Sugar Ray Norcia Big Band'. In June 2007, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones released their seventh studio album, My Life, My Friends, My Music on Severn Records.

This interview was held in January of 2012 in Oakland, California.

Videos Include: Sugar Ray's Early Years; The Bluetones, Big Walter Horton and Roomful of Blues; Sugar Ray's; Current Schedule; Essential Artists to Study; Improvising; Accompaniment Playing; Bending and Music Theory; Tongue Blocking; 1st Position Playing; 3rd Position Playing; Chromatic Harmonica; Vocals and Stage Presence; What do you like to hear when Listening to other Harmonica Players?; Sugar Ray's; Equipment; Closing