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Roy Roberts' "Sicily Moon": A Carolina bluesman's soulful inspiration

(PRLEAP.COM) As a house-rocking ambassador for Southern American blues stylings, Roy Roberts has been performing in Sicily for many years, and has a huge fan base on that enchanting Italian isle. While performing there last Summer at an outdoor venue, he was inspired by the beauty of the moon shining down on the water. He wrote the title song of his new CD, "Sicily Moon" in awe of that moment.

The whole CD is charged with that same spirit of inspiration. In the words of popular "beach and shag" deejay Butch Halpin of Carolina Sounds, "From spicy lyrics to soulful rhythms, Roy has got it here. For a smooth shag groove, try out one of my favorites "If You Can’t Put It Out". Then try out "Soul On Fire", another one here I think has excellent possibilities. And yes, there’s another here that got my attention - the radio friendly "Let Our Love Last Forever". "Turn That Thang Around" is another one that should get some club play. It’s reminiscent of the late Tyrone Davis’ hit, "Back That Thang Up" … All in all, I am really impressed with this CD. And guess what y’all? All songs are Roy Roberts’ originals. How cool is that?"

Roy in not only an accomplished blues musician, singer and songwriter, but he also has a rich background in southern soul and beach music. As a young man in the sixties and early seventies, he toured the legendary beach and soul venues of the Carolinas with Guitar Kimber’s Untouchables. In the years that followed, he was mentored by the great Solomon Burke and became his lead guitarist. He later went on to form The Roy Roberts Experience and tour with such luminaries of R&B as Stevie Wonder, Dee Clark, Eddy Floyd and Otis Redding.

Over the decades, Roy has recorded many records on regional labels in North Carolina, which has long been a haven for powerful blues and soul artists. The most noted and sought-after 45 he recorded was "Got to Have Your Love" released on BoRo Records. Later the song was reissued on the Ninandy label. This record is still being played both in Europe and the US today by "Northern Soul" deejays.

Roy now has his own label, Rockhouse Records, headquartered in Greensboro NC. In addition to his own current catalog of recordings, Rockhouse offers CDs that Roy has produced for other terrific blues musicians, including Chick Willis, Lou Pride, Priscilla Price, Skeeter Brandon and Floyd Miles.

From a review by M. Francis Solomon of Frost Illustrated, Fort Wayne IN: "It’s always a thrill to pop in a CD sent to me for review and hear real horns, real drums and real musicians playing them. Suffice it to say, I’ve got a real hangup about folks who claim they play real blues and soul without real souls playing along with them. "Fortunately, that’s not the case with " Sicily Moon" by Roy Roberts. Roberts checks in with the real deal through and through. … Roberts isn’t a shouter. He’s one of those soulful blues singers who has taken the growl of Bobby Blue Bland and smoothed it out without giving up anything in the way of emotion. Roberts rests comfortably in the music, singing like he’s taking a leisurely stroll through a beautiful southern countryside on a sunny day. Works for me!"

The critics are right — this is definitely music that satisfies the soul, and also stirs you into action: either toe/finger tapping or all out dancing. A CAMMY-Award-winning singer and guitarist, Roy Roberts is best known in the Southeastern states for his "shaggin’ soul" hit, "I Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love". Although his fan base in the United States at the present time is largely regional, without a doubt, he is a national treasure. The proof of this statement can be found in abundance on "Sicily Moon".

For more on Roy Roberts and "Sicily Moon" go to
http://www.odjuke.com/sicily_moon_splash.htm

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