Music
Press
Black Highway is an independent masterpiece equal in tone, texture, and meaning to more recent recordings by Marty Stuart (Pilgrim), Rodney Crowell (Fate's Right Hand), Dave Alvin (Ashgrove), and J.J. Cale (To Tulsa and Back) ... it is full of graphic imagery, produced to rural red dirt perfection ... and easily the BEST pure Americana release I've heard to date here at CDBaby. If you're an Americana fan and you don't buy this cd, you're just plain crazy.
- Chris K. Happi Scratch Entertainment
This is asphalt country pure and simple. Bob Rea’s gravely vocal is tough and masculine sounding and the songs he wrote for this album are provoking.
He sings like he has been there and back and I promise you the listener will believe every word he sings. This is a gift every singer/songwriter strives to achieve and Bob Rea has definitely done that with this new Album. Storytelling and music at its best.
- Roots Music Report
The coolest Outlaw-ish (kinda Southern Rock spiced) release I heard
in ages .. it burns!! .. there is TRUTH!!! .. even in Nashville..and it
has my pick for THE SONG of 2005 - "The Law" - "The Law ain't got no
concience .. the Law ain't got no soul... when The Law got a liscense to
kill .. you better break the Law .. before the Law breaks you"
- Lord Litter
Now On Tour 1-04
http://www.nowontour.com
The captivating story-teller Bob Rea sings about Black Highways, Birmingham and a Blue Eyed Girl. Rea, along with a group of talented musicians gives listeners an insight into Americana and Bluegrass world.
If you can picture a man that is as soulful as Willie Nelson with the heart of Johnny Cash, then you can imagine the bluesy feelings felt and expressed by Rea. This creative songwriter is no stranger to the stories he tells. "Black Highway," the intro and title track opens with a whiny dobro played by Randy Kohrs and wholesome words about a traveler that takes a trip down the Black Highway as he moves about city to city, state to state.
"Birmingham" is an honest tune that allows a young boy to face the reality that his father is moving on and not coming back. This song shows that Rea refuses to stay in one frame of mind. He opens his soul and brings into play the trial, tribulations and heartache expressed by anyone at any age.
Pat McGrath on mandolin and Rob Hajacos on the fiddle offer their talent to ease the pain for Rea as he dreams to see his "Blue Eyed Girl" once again. He imagines her a million miles away from him flying into the arms of God and dancing in the rain. It's a moment such as that when he realizes that one must drag their weary soul through the dust of life to be with the one they love.
Rea is a talented musician and songwriter and a true blessing to the Americana and Bluegrass music industry. Rea moves listeners through his honest lyrics and tangy, untainted sound. I encourage anyone interested in Bob Rea to take a personal journey to www.bobreamusic.com . - Lindsey Keen / Now On Tour
Discography
Black Highway (2004) Shiny Dime Music
Black Highway climbed to # 86 on the Americana Music Chart and remained on the chart for 21 weeks. Black Highway Reached #37 on the Roots Music Report top 100.
Photos
Bio
Bob began his career touring with Jerry Jeff Walker some thirty years ago. Since that time he has worked as a cattle rancher, a log-home builder, an oilman, and even spent some time homeless. His songs are distinctive, written not for the market, but as a response to lived experience.
In 1999, Bob arrived in Nashville with a lifetime of songs to his credit. It wasn't long before he drew the attention of people in the business and fellow songwriters alike. "When I started writing songs with Nashville writers, I soon noticed that I didn't write like they wrote," he says. "And soon after, I realized that I wasn't actually writing songs so much as telling little stories and truths about the world as I have known it."
In 2004 Bob released his debut album, Black Highway, a dark and lyrical journey into the heart of America. With its distinctive style and rich songwriting, the album has drawn comparisons to the works of Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen.
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