Eric Gales (born October 29, 1974), also known as Raw Dawg, is an American

blues rock Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes w ...

guitarist, originally hailed as a

child prodigy A child prodigy is defined in psychology research literature as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to young people who are extraor ...

. , Gales has recorded nineteen albums for major record labels and has done session and tribute work. He has also contributed vocals on several records by the Memphis

rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

groups

Prophet Posse Prophet is an independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, formerly owned by DJ Paul and Juicy J. As a group act, Prophet Entertainment goes by the stage name Prophet Posse. From 1991 to 1994 it launched new independent musical artists ...

and

Three 6 Mafia Three 6 Mafia is an American Hip hop music, hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip hop group, they would eventually go on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album ''Mys ...

under the name Lil E.

Career

Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (

Little Jimmy King Emmanuel Lynn Gales (December 4, 1964 – July 19, 2002), known professionally as Little Jimmy King, was an American Memphis blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. A left-handed guitarist who played the instrument upside down, he concocted hi ...

), taught him songs and licks when he was young, in the style of

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

Albert King Albert Nelson (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992), known by his stage name Albert King, was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps b ...

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

and others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him on bass. Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the bass E string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother, who is left-handed, and never second-guessed the untraditional technique. In late 1990, Eric and Eugene Gales signed with

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...

, and together with the drummer Hubert Crawford released ''The Eric Gales Band'' (1991) and ''Picture of a Thousand Faces'' (1993). ''Guitar World'' magazine's Reader's Poll named Eric the "Best New Talent", in 1991. During this time he had two rock radio hits, "Sign of the Storm" (number 9, U.S.

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent the middle ground between classic rock and active rock ...

) and "Paralyzed" (number 31, U.S. Mainstream Rock) and had spots on television programs such as ''

The Arsenio Hall Show ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' is an American syndicated late-night talk show created by and starring comedian Arsenio Hall. There have been two different incarnations of ''The Arsenio Hall Show''. The original series premiered on January 3, 1989, ...

''. In 1994, Gales performed with

Carlos Santana Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán (; born July 20, 1947) is an American guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of Rock and roll and Latin American jazz. Its sound featured ...

Woodstock '94 Woodstock '94 was an American music festival held in 1994 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock festival of 1969. It was promoted as "2 More Days of Peace and Music". The poster used to promote the first concert was r ...

. In 1995, Gales teamed up with both of his brothers to record an album, ''Left Hand Brand'' (released in 1996), as the Gales Brothers. In 2001 Gales released his album ''That's What I Am'' on

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

. Gales has released the albums ''Crystal Vision'', ''The Psychedelic Underground'', ''The Story of My Life'' and ''Layin' Down the Blues'' on the

Shrapnel Records Shrapnel Records is an American record label founded in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. History Guitarist Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth and Cacophony), one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album ''Unsu ...

label. ''Relentless'' (2010) was followed by ''Transformation'' (2011) and ''Live'' (2012). In 2004, he contributed a cover of "May This Be Love" to the album '' Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix''. In 2008, he and other guitarists participated in the touring tribute to

, ''Experience Hendrix''. The touring group of musicians included

Billy Cox William Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix. Cox is the only surviving musician to have regularly played with Hendrix: first with the experimental group that backed Hendrix at Woodstoc ...

Eric Johnson Eric Johnson may refer to: Music *Eric Johnson (guitarist) (born 1954) an American guitarist and recording artist * Eric D. Johnson (born 1976), member of multiple indie-rock bands including Fruit Bats, The Shins and Califone Politics * Eric Joh ...

Chris Layton Christopher Layton (born November 16, 1955), also known as "Whipper", is an American drummer who rose to fame as one of the founding members of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Te ...

Doyle Bramhall II Doyle Bramhall II (born December 24, 1968) is an American guitarist, producer and songwriter best known for his work with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters. He is the son of the songwriter and drummer Doyle Bramhall. Early life Bramhall was born ...

Brad Whitford Bradley Ernest Whitford (born February 23, 1952)Putterford, Mark (1991) ''The Fall and Rise of Aerosmith'', Omnibus Press, Strong, Martin C. (2001) ''The Great Metal Discography'' (2nd edn.), MOJO Books, , p. 11-13 is an American musician who i ...

and

Mitch Mitchell John Graham "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 194612 November 2008)In his book about the Experience, Mitchell states he celebrated his 21st birthday while on tour on 9 July 1967, which makes his birth year 1946.Mitchell's obituaries in ''Billboard' ''T ...

(it was the last tour that Mitchell played on). In the winter of 2010, Gales returned to the touring circuit in Europe with

TM Stevens Thomas Michael "T. M." Stevens (born July 28, 1951) is an American bass guitarist from New York City. Stevens has worked with an array of rock, R&B, and pop acts as a session musician, and also leads his own groups and works as a solo performer ...

on bass guitar and

Keith LeBlanc Keith LeBlanc is an American drummer and record producer, and is a member of the bands Little Axe and Tackhead. His record " No Sell Out" was one of the first sample-based releases. The song was a success, charting at No. 60 on the UK Singles ...

on drums. The tour was billed as ''VooDoo Chile'' and featured works of Jimi Hendrix as well as original material from both Gales and Stevens. In February 2013,

Magna Carta Records Magna Carta Records is an independent record label located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label, named for the 1215 English document advancing democracy, '' ...

released the album ''Pinnick Gales Pridgen,'' produced by Mike Varney and featuring Gales on guitar and vocals,

Doug Pinnick Douglas Theodore Pinnick (born September 3, 1950), sometimes stylized as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and songwriter for the hard rock and progressive metal band King's ...

on bass and vocals, and

Thomas Pridgen Thomas Armon Pridgen (born November 23, 1983) is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta from October 2006 until October 2009. He is touring with rapper Residente and is the drummer for hardcore punk band T ...

on drums. The 13-track album featured one

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

song, "

Sunshine of Your Love "Sunshine of Your Love" is a 1967 song by the British rock band Cream. With elements of hard rock, psychedelia, and pop, it is one of Cream's best known and most popular songs. Cream bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce based it on a distinctive b ...

", originally by

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

, one short instrumental based on

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

's "

Für Elise Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO59, Bia515) for solo piano, commonly known as "Für Elise" (, ), is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. It was not published during his lifetime, only being discovered (by Ludwig Nohl) 40 year ...

", and the remaining songs written by some combination of Pinnick, Gales, Pridgen and Varney. The follow-up album, ''PGP2'', was released in July 2014. In 2017, Gales released his fifteenth studio effort, ''Middle of the Road'', featuring numerous artists, including

Gary Clark Jr. Gary Lee Clark Jr. (born February 15, 1984) is an American musician from Austin, Texas. He is known for his fusion of blues, Rock music, rock and soul music with elements of hip hop music, hip hop. In 2011, Clark signed with Warner Bros Records ...

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...

and others, as well as his own brother and mother. The album became his first to chart on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

s Top Blues Album chart, peaking at No. 4, while Gales' following album, ''The Bookends'', topped the chart at No. 1. On May 9, 2019, he won the

Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...

for 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year'. In his acceptance speech, he said he was celebrating three years of sobriety. In May 2020, Gales won his second consecutive Blues Music Award as the 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year'. On October 21, 2021, Gales released the single "I Want My Crown," featuring

Joe Bonamassa Joseph Leonard Bonamassa ( ; born May 8, 1977) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He started his career at age twelve, when he opened for B.B. King. Since 2000, Bonamassa has released fifteen solo albums through his inde ...

. The song serves as the lead single from his upcoming album ''Crown.'' Produced by Bonamassa and

Josh Smith Joshua Smith (born December 5, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Entering the NBA straight out of high school, Smith played nine seasons with the Atlant ...

, the album was released on January 28, 2022. The album highlights Gales' “struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism.” Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on the ''

'' Blues Album chart, his second to do so. It also garnered Gales his first

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nomination for

Best Contemporary Blues Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album was awarded from 1988 to 2011 and from 2017 onwards. Until 1992 the award was known as Best Contemporary Blues Performance and in 1989 was awarded to a song rather than to an album. The award was ...

Discography

*1991: ''The Eric Gales Band'' (

) *1993: ''Picture of a Thousand Faces'' (

) *1996: The Gales Brothers: ''Left Hand Brand'' (

House of Blues House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers''. The first location opened at ...

Records) *2001: ''That's What I Am'' (

) *2006: ''Crystal Vision'' (

) *2007: ''The Psychedelic Underground'' (Shrapnel Records) *2008: ''The Story of My Life'' ( Blues Bureau International) *2009: ''Layin' Down the Blues'' (Blues Bureau International) *2010: ''Relentless'' (Blues Bureau International) *2011: ''Transformation'' (Blues Bureau International) *2012: ''Live'' *2013: Pinnick Gales Pridgen, ''Pinnick Gales Pridgen'' (Magna Carta) *2013: Eric Gales Trio, ''Ghost Notes'' (

Tone Center Records Tone Center Records is a record label devoted to jazz fusion. It was founded by Mike Varney, who started the rock music label Shrapnel Records in 1980. The label grew out of Varney's admiration for the jazz fusion of the 1970s and groups such as ...

) *2014: Pinnick Gales Pridgen, ''PGP2'' (Magna Carta) *2014: ''Good for Sumthin'' (

Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records is an American independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1992 by Brian Perera. The record label has since grown into a family of labels, including Hypnotic Records, Purple Pyramid Records, Dea ...

) *2016: ''A Night on the Sunset Strip'', two discs (Cleopatra Records) *2017: ''Middle of the Road'' (Provogue/Mascot) *2019: ''The Bookends'' (Provogue/Mascot) *2022: ''Crown'' (Provogue/Mascot) Gales also performed on the following albums: *1994: ''L.A. Blues Authority: Cream of the Crop'' *1994: ''Hard Love: 14 Original Metal Ballads'' *1999: ''Project Pat: Ghetty Green'', uncredited verse on the song "Up There", as Lil E (

Hypnotize Minds Hypnotize Minds is an American record label created by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia in 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. The label serves as the successor to Three 6 Mafia's previous label, Prophet Entertainment, which was co-founded by DJ Paul ...

) *1999: ''Whole Lotta Blues: Songs of Led Zeppelin'' *1999: ''Parker Card & The Sideman Syndicate'', Parker Card, with

Shawn Lane Shawn Lane (March 21, 1963 – September 26, 2003) was an American musician who released two studio albums and collaborated with a variety of musicians including Ringo Starr, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Reg ...

(Orchard Records) *1999: ''This Ain't No Tribute Blues Cube'' *1999: ''Blues Power: Songs of Eric Clapton'' *1999: ''Blue Power: Song of Eric Clapton, This Ain't No Tribute'' *1999: ''Triple 6 Mafia: Underground Vol. 2 (Club Memphis)'', with "Lil E – Half on a Sack or Blow" (

Prophet Entertainment Prophet is an independent record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, formerly owned by DJ Paul and Juicy J. As a group act, Prophet Entertainment goes by the stage name Prophet Posse. From 1991 to 1994 it launched new independent musical artists ...

) *2000: ''Blue Haze: Songs of Jimi Hendrix'' *2000: ''Hypnotize Camp Posse: Three 6 Mafia Presents...Hypnotize Camp Posse'', uncredited verse on the song "We Bout to Ride", as Lil E (

) *2000: ''Triple 6 Mafia: Underground Vol. 3 (Kings of Memphis)'', with "Lil E – The Powder he Higher Version and "Lil E – Niggaz Down 2 Make Some Endz" (

) *2001: ''Hellhound on My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson'' *2002: ''Led Zeppelin: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues'd Up!'' *2002: ''Eric Clapton: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues'' *2002: ''A Salute to the Delta Blues Masters'' *2003: ''Presents, Vol. 1'' *2003: ''Highway 60's 70's Blues Revisited'' *2003: ''Got Blues!'' *2003: ''Wall of Soul'':

Lance Lopez Lance Lopez (born September 30, 1977) is an American blues rock and Texas blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Lopez has been influenced by Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jeff Beck has described Lopez as "a very exciting ...

*2004: ''Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix'' *2005: ''Show You a Good Time'' *2005: ''Rock Revisited'' *2005: ''Get Down Workout'' *2005: ''Blues Interlude'' *2005: ''Lottery: Diamonds-N-Da-Ruff'' *2006: ''Wes Jeans – Forest of the Pine'' *2006: ''Viva Carlos: Supernatural Marathon Celebration'' *2006: ''A Walk on the Blues Side'' *2006: Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, ''The Band of Gypsys Return'' *2014:

Eli Cook Eli Cook (1814–1865) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the he ...

, ''

Primitive Son ''Primitive Son'' is the sixth album by Virginia-based blues rock artist, Eli Cook. It was released in April 2014. The album leans more to the grunge/ hard rock side of Cook's work, and features a slew of guest musicians such as Leslie West an ...

References

External links

Eric Gales official websiteShrapnel Records official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gales, Eric 1974 births Living people Prophet Entertainment African-American guitarists African-American rock musicians American blues guitarists American male guitarists American child musicians American rock guitarists People from Memphis, Tennessee Singers from Tennessee 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American guitarists Guitarists from Tennessee 20th-century African-American male singers 21st-century African-American male singers Provogue Records artists