Sandy Atkinson & The True Loves
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Sandy Atkinson & The True Loves

Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States | INDIE

Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States | INDIE
Band Blues Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Artist of the Day July 6, 2010"

When you think about the blues in Tampa Bay, one of the first names that comes to mind is Sandy Atkinson.

One of the area's most active blues musicians, Atkinson once hosted an hour long TV show called Gator Blues and News, about blues music. She's a veteran of local festivals like Tropical Heatwave and Dunedin Wines the Blues, and can frequently be spotted performing her own blend of slinky, R&B-influenced blues at venues like the Ringside Cafe and Dave's Aqua Lounge.

Over the years, Atkinson has worked with, and paid tribute to, a number of Florida blues legends in her music. She tapped the late blues harmonica great Rock Bottom to produce her 1999 album Why Baby Why, which contained a song called She Rocked that paid tribute to the late Diamond Teeth Mary. In all, she has four albums.

This weekend, Atkinson will attempt something completely new: Record a live CD. The show will take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Tickets are $10-$12. Click here to buy.

"I've never done a live one, so I'm excited about this," she said. "I'll be doing some songs from my other CDs as well as new originals and some covers I like.

Backing Atkinson will be her band, the True Loves, featuring keyboardist and organist Dean Germain, guitarist Cannon Quinn, saxman Frank Bowman, bassist Ben Jammin and drummer Phil Christman, with guests T.C. Carr, Scott Myers and DJ Marvelous Marvin. - Tampa Bay Times


"Sandy Atkinson"

The 22 tracks of "From There To Here" (own lable) by Sandy Atkinson mix old and new songs from this seriously under-rated mainstay of the Florida blues scene. She ranges from solo folk and blues items through raggy East Coast blues (the late great harmonica player Rock Bottom crops up on one track here) and on to full blown retro rock and roll, via all kins of blues, fronting at tough little down-home combo on several tracsk and even introducing a honky tonk flavour on a couple of others.

The tracks are unfailingly interesting and Sandy's voice can adapt to the demands of each song equally well from an intimate whisper to a sassy squall. It says alot about the state of the blues recording industry that some enterprising label has not picked up on her yet. If there is any justice, this release should change that situation.

Rating: 9 - Blues In Britain Volume 1 Issue 50 by Norman Darwin


Discography

Sandy Atkinson, self titled 1995
Why Baby Why 1999
Million Dollar Baby 2003
From There To Here2005
Sandy Atkinson & The True Loves 2010

New CD recorded live at the Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, FL
Check out the new CD at CDbaby.com/sandyatkinson

Photos

Bio

Inspired to sing by her Mom who was a big Elvis fan, Sandy while on a cruise with her parents at the age of 4, asked the band if she could sing. The band accepted and she danced and sang Blue Suede Shoes. The crowd loved her. She was never shy about being on stage and she often sang in church.

She started writing at 14 when she got her first guitar. She didn't start performing professionally until she moved to Florida in 94 where she met some great musicians who liked her songs and in 95 she released her first CD. She just released her 5th, (and first live CD) in October 2010 with her new band, The True Loves which is a combination of studio sessions and a live recording from a show at the Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, FL.

She has played venues and festivals in the US & Norway including House of Blues, Orlando, Sarasota Blues Festival, Sarasota, Hell Blues Fest, Norway and the Muddy Waters Blues club in Oslo.

Influences include Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Joplin, Motown, Classic Rock of the 60s and much more.

Perform Solo, duo or with her new band, The True Loves, a group of very talented seasoned musicians and good friends:
Dean Germain Keyboard
Cannon Quinn Guitar
Ben Jammin Bass
Phil Christman Drums