THE BEAT DADDYS
As everyone knows, the blues come in many shades, from traditional Delta blues and Chicago blues to low down Texas blues and raucous southern blues. That's where The Beat Daddy's come in. Not content to be pigeon-holed with one sound, the band delivers a solid energetic blend of blues and rock 'n' roll carefully crafted into a sound that is uniquely their own. As bandleader Larry Grisham explains, "There's a fine line between categories of music. It comes from wanting to say what's on your mind. It's all music, American music. Country, rock and blues all have the same background."
After playing the blues for over 30 years together, The Beat Daddys signed with Jackson, Mississippi-based Malaco/Waldoxy Records. Their debut album "No, We Ain't From Clarksdale", propelled the Indiana band into the national spotlight. The release featured not only the band's strong songwriting talents, but also showed the diversity of their musical tastes, ranging from full throttle blues-rock to haunting ballads. In reviewing the album, Spin Magazine wrote, "It feels like Johnny Winter and Carl Perkins meet Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder." Grisham also had the opportunity to work with songwriting legend Carl Jackson, who penned "Down Home Blues" for Z. Z. Hill and "Old Time Rock and Roll" for Bob Seger, among many others. The band soon began a relentless touring schedule which included sharing the stage with blues greats such as Little Milton, B. B. King, and Johnny Winter.
In 1994, The Beat Daddys released "South To Mississippi", their second record for Waldoxy. It garnered rave reviews nationally, it also charted on the alternative radio publication The Hard Report, and was spotlighted on the nationally syndicated "House Of Blues" radio show hosted by Dan Aykroyd (one of the original blues brothers). Once again, the band displayed their versatility, playing slow blues tunes brimming with emotion, then rocking out on high-spirited, honky-tonk blues. Blues Review Magazine, while comparing the band's swampy sound to ZZ Top, praised Grisham's warm, gruff vocals. The songwriting was built on traditional blues themes, then woven with Grisham's own contemporary yarns throughout each song.
The Beat Daddys are also featured on one of Malaco's compilation albums "Z. Zelebration - A Tribute To Z. Z. Hill" released in 1994. The group has also added two tracks to "Southern Shades Of Blue Volume I and II", which is a compilation album showcasing Waldoxy's artists.
Song Clips