Greg Serrato

Greg has joined the pretigious Native American Record Label - Spirit Wind Records. As a result the label will distribute most of Greg's previously released cds as well as the new cd set for release sometime in early 2006. - For Immediate Release - January 2006

"A combination of torrential lick-storms and blues, rock, country and jazz textures tell the tale of one Greg Serrato. This solo debut album is strong in all areas. No shortage of talent on this cd...This child of the blues does it with the best of them." - Guitar Player Magazine

Left-handed blues guitarist Greg Serrato has been playing for as long as he can remember.
On the wall of Serrato's home is the proof: a framed black & white photo taken of him at the age of 3.
In it, he is beaming beneath a cowboy hat and gripping a flipped-over guitar across his tiny lap.
Serrato put the photo in the same frame with his debut solo CD "Child Of The Blues." Music from the album, released Tuesday, will be showcased Friday when he performs at the Granada Theater.
Of course, Serrato say's he won't be flipping over any guitars that night. He now plays a custom left-handed Fender Stratocaster that is, oddly enough, strung like a flipped-over guitar.
Habits are hard to break for Serrato, who learned to play that way on his father's acoustic - the one in the photo.
"My dad wouldn't change the strings around because we only had one guitar in the household," he says.
So Serrato did what Jimi Hendrix did by pointing the neck to the right and strumming with his left hand.
In the process, he taught himself to play blues.
Blues music was always being played in our house," he says. He remembers his mother singing Muddy Waters tunes as she cleaned the house.
But it was his older brother who introduced Serrato to the blues after buying him an electric guitar at the age of 11.
A short time later, Serrato was playing parties with a band.
It wasn't until Serrato was asked to back actress/singer Susan Anton on guitar in Nashville that music started to sound appealing.
"That was the spark that got me to want to play blues music again," he says.
And so Serrato put together The 4th Street Blues Band. The band cut two CDs before Serrato decided to go on his own and record "Child Of The blues," a collection of different style. "I had learned so many different styles on the guitar that I wanted to do an album that would really show people that." he says. Serrato filled the album with original country, rock, traditional and contemporary blues songs. There is even a song he wrote about his life called "Child Of The Blues."
"I'm telling the story of who I am, where I come from and when I started playing the guitar" he says. Turning his attention to his childhood picture on the wall, he says "And that picture there has a lot to do with it."
- The Daily Bulletin 1998 / Sandra Barrera

Holy Smokes is the new album from electric Bluesman Greg Serrato. This talented lefty struts his stuff all over the place. You can hear the Buddy Guy and Albert King influences virtually dripping from his solos. This is one of the best electric blues albums that we've heard all year. It was exceedingly difficult to pick the best songs, but we think that you'll like: That Ain't Right, Holy Smokes, Crying Like A Fool, Jump Baby Jump, Warrior Of Peace and Cheatin' Hand. - Friday Morning Quarterback

Featured in the December issue, Greg Serrato has a new recording out that includes eleven of his originals, plus one tribute to Jimi Hendrix. His crew - bassist Phil Fistori and drummer Alan Cater - is supplemented by guest horns, a keyboard, and blues harp on several tracks.
The combination makes for a full sound that complements his easy-to-like vocal charm. Cool and collected, his ballads roam over a peaceful landscape. Burners such as "Locomotive Strat" and "Phil-Billy Stomp," however, provide contrast for the session.
Serrato's fluid pickin' and fiery fills add excitement. While the title track deals with heartbreak, it's fitting that he's decided to use it as the album's title. Serrato's fiery guitar serves as a tornado that moves confidently over the rolling hills produced by his song writing. using underlying themes that resemble Old West chanteys, he superimposes a storm of electric guitar excitement for each. Highly recommended, Serrato's latest album is for everyone. - Southland Blues Magazine / Jim Santella

Pomona will host a motorcade and victory celebration for favorite son "Sugar" Shane Mosely, the newest WBC Welterweight Champion of the World, at 10:00am Saturday.
The motorcade starts in the 3200 block of Temple Avenue and travels along Valley and Holt Boulevards and Garey Avenue to the Pomona Civic Center for the victory celebration.
Mosely will be joined by members of his family, city and state officials and past boxers Mike Weaver, Albert Davila, Richie Sandoval and other celebrity guests.
Music by GREG SERRATO & HIS BAND will start on the city's mobile stage at 9:30am. - Los Angeles Times

When you unite a young guitarist with a drummer who backed classic rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone and Robin Trower, the results can't be overlooked.

Greg Serrato is of the fortunate few. Although he has gigged in Canada and other areas of the US, there are spots on the globe needing to hear his fretboard virtuosity. Primarily Serrato works the California club circuit with some gigs in Hawaii and points beyond.

A left-handed player, Serrato is a fret burner whose name should be a household word and can stand toe to toe with slingers in the same trade. With bassist Mark Fry and keyboardist Chris DeSoto, the Lordan/Serrato cd "Eyes Of A Woman" has enough guitar dynamite to torch a rainforest.

Serrato's vocalizations are a healthy marriage with his high octane licks. Opening track "The Real Thing" comes out of the starting gate like a burst of dirty lightning. Instrumental "BL's Groove" features drummer Bill Lordan's hammer and nail beats with the rest of the band snaking along in a funkified state. Working with Lordan, Greg can't resist covering Robin Trower's "Into Money." For just a couple of minutes, its the 1970's all over again. Serrato nails this sucker recreating Trower's wildcat snarl leads.

The beast still roars in "Your Guilty Conscience" that sees Greg working his pedal box, dripping notes in orgasmic blues-rock euphoria. Aside from Robin Trower, the other main influence is Jimi Hendrix and Serrato is worthy as the next man in dancing with Jimi's ghost. Where other guitarists are overdoing "Red House" and "Voodoochile" to death, Serrato really does his homework and almost replicates Hendrix' "Room Full Of Mirrors" into a psychedelic custard pie.

Ending track "Blues For Jimmy"
is Greg's way of delivering a eulogy for Robin Trower's old bassist/singer James Dewar who went to rock 'n' roll heaven a couple of years ago. It was Dewar's singing that gave Trower's "Day Of The Eagle" anthemic status and passing the Hendrix scepter for Trower to carry. When Greg sings of crossing "The Bridge Of Sighs," not only is the reference obvious, but a grim reminder another link was taken from the chain.

Lordan/Serratos "Eyes Of A Woman" moves forward in time. The train stops on occasion to pick up its ghost riders James Dewar and Jimi Hendrix and proceed to a musical realm constructing a newer bridge of sighs.

- Gary Weeks / Blues On Stage

GREG SERRATO:

Native American Music Awards
Nomination for Best Blues Album
of 2003.

Ravenhawk Productions
Silver Arrow Award - 2004 & 2005
For Outstanding Acheivement in Music by a Native American.

Canada South Blues Society - 2002
Honourary Lifetime Membership.





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It's always interesting to hear a live recording of a performance that you attended. I was lucky enough to attend Greg Serrato's performance at the Coach House on February 4th, 2005 ( in fact, my band was one of the opening acts.)
I knew before receiving the cd that the performance was amazing, so I was more concerned about how it came out in the recording.
The sound quality was very well mixed, and it captured both the great sounds of Greg and his band, and the shouts and applause of the audience. Greg performed a great show from beginning to end, with Alan Cater and Phil Fistori backing him up brilliantly. Besides my favorite Greg Serrato tunes (Holy Smokes, and Child of The Blues), there are some special highlights on the cd, including a version of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Life By The Drop, and a version of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child with guitarist Robb Howell) of the band Peace Machine) on the 2nd lead guitar.
Listening back to this cd really brought me back to that night, and it truly captured the sound of that performance. You really feel the crowd, and the atmosphere of a live performance on this cd, which is where Greg really shines. This cd came out so well, I'd recommend that his next move should be a live DVD - I'd buy it! - By Joe McGaha - Live Magazine May 2005

We do have it all: local blues bands that prove reliable all year round, big name artists who create a blues sensation on their frequent visits, and venues in every corner of the Southland to get us together with them as often as we wish.

The Coach House has always played host to the best of both worlds. As local guitarist Greg Serrato proves on this, his 10th album, he's already graduated with his band from Southland favorite son to a national force to be reckoned with. His high-powered guitar knocks the walls down. Self-taught, starting at the age of five, performing in his first band at age eleven, playing left-handed, but with the strings arranged for a right-handed guitarist, Serrato stands apart from the rest.

Recalling the passion and strength of Stevie Ray Vaughan, he stuns the Coach House audience with a program that includes emotional originals such as "Like A Tornado," "Child Of The Blues," "Your Guilty Conscience," and "Backfire." With bassist Phil Fistori, drummer Alan Cater and rhythm guitarist Anthony Villaran, Serrato sings and plays with authority. His guitar say it in no uncertain terms. With Robb Howell joining him on 2nd lead guitar on "Voodoo Child," Serrato and the band move into blues/rock territory with firepower sufficent for raising the roof. It's a trip, and we're fortunate enough to have bands such as this one close at hand all year long. - Southland Blues Magazine June 2005 - by: Jim Santella