Teeny Tucker will release her latest CD, Keep the Blues Alive, on June 15th on TeBo Records. Keep the Blues Alive melds both her blues and soul music influences, and ably showcases her gospel roots, too, as evidenced in songs such as "I Wish We Could Go Back" and "Hush/Keep the Blues Alive." Many of the songs are autobiographical, as one listen to "Make Room for Teeny" and "Daughter to the Blues" will attest; and on "John Cephas," she plays special tribute to the late gospel and blues man of the song's title, whose Piedmont style continues to influence countless musicians. On that tune, as well as the album's closer, "Respect Me and the Blues," Teeny shows that she can get "down-home" with the best of the country blues artists.
Teeny Tucker was born into blues royalty: her late father was rhythm and blues singer Tommy Tucker, whose song, "Hi-Heel Sneakers," not only became a huge hit for him, but was covered by scores of other artists and continues to be a live show standard for blues and rock bands to this day.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Teeny began singing originally in her church choir and by 1994 had appeared on the stage of the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City, where she won over the crowd with her powerful voice, earning standing ovation from the notoriously "tough" audience. During that time, she also began writing poetry and grew up performing major roles in local theatre.
Teeny launched her professional career in 1996 when she was spotted by a German blues promoter and manager who had worked with her dad years before and began bringing her over to Europe for tours. Since then, she's toured all over the world, sharing stages with the likes of B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Keb' Mo' Bobby Rush, John Mayall and The Holmes Brothers.
