True Blue Press Kit

For Immediate Release 3/25/04

www.truebluegrass.com

True Blue returns to the
Freight & Salvage on

Sat, April 17th 8PM
Freight & Salvage
1111 Addison Street in Berkeley
Tickets: $15.75/adv, $16.75/door
510-548-1761

To schedule an interview, or to obtain a complimentary press pass, or for additional information, please contact Allison Fisher @ 510-845-7310, or respond to this email addess.

True Blue
is as traditional as a band can get: not soft or polite, but compelling in a way that is both fresh and familiar. They bring together the three crucial elements of good bluegrass: instinctive harmonies, soul, and an organic rhythmic feel reminiscent of Flatt & Scruggs. This band is an example of what can happen when four people share a musical sensibility and joy in what they are doing.

photo by Seymour Chatman

For a taste of True Blue's live show, check out this short film clip of the January concert at Great American Music Hall:

Music Samples

Performance History

Press Material & Photos

Timeless Tradition video created by Jeff Zieba

"True Blue takes the gold medal
in the men's trio!"

-- Tom Diamant, Panhandle Country, KPFA Radio

"True Blue is traditional bluegrass music at its best!"
-- Gary Henderson, WAMU-FM/BluegrassCountry.Org, Washington, D.C.

On February 7, 2003, True Blue released our first CD, "Years Gone By" on the BlueWest label.

What critics have to say:

Read more reviews

"Upon listening, I'm reminded of 1964, going out to Stockton from Berkeley, to rehearse with Vern & Ray. What you have here is a wonderful choice of some of the best bluegrass I've heard in a mighty long time. . . California and the rest of the bluegrass community should be very proud of all of you. I know I am."
- Herb Pedersen, Los Angeles 2003

" 'A' for Awesome!!!"
- Kevin Lynch, WWUH-FM. W. Hartford, CT

"From every aspect, 'Years Gone By' is a significant collection of mainstream bluegrass that truly respects tradition and is guaranteed to expand the reputation of True Blue far beyond the boundaries of the Golden State. Make no doubt about it, this is the genuine article." - Bluegrass Unlimited, Sept 2003

"What a good cracking CD this is! The tracks are very well laid down: Natural-sounding, good trad' stuff with some sparkling instrumentation. Quite frankly, I'm hard-pressed to single out the gems because, unlike so many of the CD's which we buy, there are simply NO tracks which I don't like and they're all excellent."
- Northwest Bluegrass News (UK)

True Blue Bios Del Williams, True Blue’s lead singer and guitarist, was born in Stockton, California in 1954. Del grew up in a bluegrass environment with his father, Vern, and Ray Park playing around the house. His father taught him how to play Little Brown Jug on the mandolin at age 5. He took up guitar at age 10, and has been playing it ever since. After Del graduated from school, he joined Vern to form the Vern Williams Band, which toured the West Coast for 15 years. They recorded Bluegrass from the Gold Country for Rounder Records, and two albums with Rose Maddox on the Arhoolie label before disbanding in 1992. Del is a devoted bluegrass music lover, and has never cared for any other style of music. Del has joined his friends in this band because they, too, are very devoted to the music, and they play traditional styles with energy and emotion. Del's Discography: Vern Williams Band, Bluegrass from the Gold Country, Rounder, 1996 Rose Maddox & the Vern Williams Band, Beautiful Bouquet, Arhoolie 1983 Rose Maddox, Rose of the West Coast Country, Arhoolie 1980 & 1982	photos by Janet Delaney
Ed Neff is known to all Northern California bluegrass fans as the premier fiddler and mandolin stylist in the traditional vein. He has been a fixture in the Bay Area bluegrass scene for over 30 years, playing with such stalwarts as High Country and the Vern Williams Band, with whom he spent 15 years. Although Ed has been primarily acknowledged as a fiddler, True Blue provides a vehicle for his stellar mandolin work, and authoritative lead and tenor vocals. Ed's Discography: High Country, Dreams, Warner Bros/Raccoon Records, 1972 Done Gone, The Done Gone Band, Police Records, 1979 Rose Maddox & the Vern Williams Band, Beautiful Bouquet, Arhoolie 1983 Kazuhiro Inaba, Shore to Shore, Hay Holler Records, 1986 Kazuhiro Inaba, Hard Times, Red Clay, 1988 High Country, Blue Highway, Turquoise Records, 1987 Roanoke, Thoughts of Home, Iris Cool Records, 1996 Vern Williams Band, Bluegrass from the Gold Country, Rounder, 1996 Butch Waller, Golden Gate Promenade, Rebel, 1999 Chris Brashear, Wanderlust, Copper Creek, 1999 Lone Prairie, Desert Flower, self-produced, 1996
Avram Siegel is widely regarded as the most original banjo player to emerge from the Bay Area bluegrass scene. His bluesy, syncopated rhythm is always fresh and exciting without forsaking the traditional Scruggs style. He shows remarkable restraint and taste in every musical situation. Over the past 20 years, Avram has performed in a wide variety of bands, from Grant Street to Vern Williams to the Kathy Kallick Band, with whom he currently tours nationally and internationally. Avram lends his vocal talents to the baritone part in True Blue’s trios. Avram's Discography: Kathy Kallick, My Mother's Voice, Copper Creek, 2001 Butch Waller, Golden Gate Promenade, Rebel, 1999 Kathy Kallick Band, Walkin in My Shoes, Live Oak 1998 Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Stay Awhile, Rounder 1995 Tammy Faessart, Just Passin' Through, Strictly Country 1994 Scott Freed , Farther Down the Line, 1994 Avram's home page
Allison Fisher rounds out the quartet on bass. She has always gravitated toward the traditional side of bluegrass, making her a natural choice as anchor for the True Blue rhythm section. Her energy and solid sense of time contribute to the band’s overall feel and drive. She also furnishes tenor vocals to some of the band’s duets and trios, and brings original songs to the band's repertoire.
www.truebluegrass.com