Music
Press
With a tight combo of weathered journeymen to back him up, Roulette has staked his claim for wider notoriety. The singer-songwriter is not an idle bluesman either. His contemporary edge has been crafted from miles of travelling and gathering experiences from wherever he’s plugged in his axe – from Vancouver to Memphis to Toronto and back to his native home of Turtle Island. His skill at delivering real blues with lyrics that consider his aboriginal roots makes this a special kind of record that takes the form on a ride in a sweet new direction” - Winnipeg Free Press
“There are any number of reasons to recommend a trip to see the Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band, and near the top of the list is how the team handles so many roots styles with authority” - Edmonton Journal (Peter North)
“Mel Reimer’s harmonica work is tremendous, and it’s nice to see it featured front and centre on songs traditionally ruled by the guitar” - Uptown Magazine
“Mel Reimer has been a mainstay in the local blues community for quite a spell now. His powerful and precise harp stylings add a unique dimension to the performances of any combo he works with.” - Blues News - Manitoba Blues Society
“Clyde stands on his own as a Blues artist and accomplished guitarist, an Aboriginal combination of Muddy Waters and Chet Atkins” - Seabird Jazz Festival
Discography
Let's Take A Ride
Catalogue# SCR2007
File under: Blues
Redman
Young Man’s Blues
I Went Down To Memphis
Goin’ To Brownsville
Long Way From Home
Love of Mine
Natural Ball
No Time For You
Still Called The Blues
Further On Up The Road
It’ll Be A New Day
Wall To Wall
Magnolia Blossom
Ben Wilson Boogie
Clyde Roulette - vocals, guitar
Mel Reimer – harmonica
Jeff Smook - acoustic/electric bass
Ken McMahon – drums
Produced by: The Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band
Recorded by: Lloyd Peterson
at MCM Studios
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Mastered by: Scott Pinder
Clyde at a very early age discovered that his life’s journey was a musical one. Stepping upon this path has led him across the land of his ancestors, Turtle Island. Clyde, like all good songwriters, writes what he knows, and he writes like he plays, honest, from his heart and from his life. Songs like Redman, Young Man’s Blues and It’ll Be A New Day were taken from his rich Ojibway/Anishinabe ancestry. No Time For You and Magnolia Blossom are filled with love and heartache. The country/blues groove of I Went Down To Memphis tells of his life in Memphis where he met and performed with Ben “Mr. Guitar” Wilson which influenced the instrumental Ben Wilson Boogie.
It’s been a long and wonderful journey to The Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band’s debut album Let’s Take A Ride. It’s a CD to be proud of, recorded live off the floor; it’s real it’s the true live sound of The Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band!
Their single "No Time For You" has been on Manitoba’s NCI (Native Communications Inc) radio, "National Aboriginal Top 30"
"Let's Take A Ride" has been in the top 10 on Natch'l Blues, CKUA's (Alberta) longest running blues show hosted by Holger Petersen. They have also been featured on Holger Petersen’s CBC Saturday Night Blues and D.J. Brian Highhorse from KILI Radio 90.1 FM in Porcupine South Dakota has been receiving requests from as far away as Hawaii. Their album has also been featured on CBC’s Galaxie Music Network Blues Channel.
Photos
Bio
2007 WINNER for “Let’s Take A Ride”
"Best Blues Album" - Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards
2007 Nominations for “Let’s Take A Ride”
"Outstanding Aboriginal Recording Of The Year" - Western Canadian Music Awards
"Best Blues CD" - Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards
"Best Blues Jazz Recording" - Native American Music Awards
Slidin’ Clyde Roulette
Clyde Roulette's roots are in Manitoba but he has also lived in Toronto, Vancouver and Memphis Tennessee. He is known across Canada as a premier blues guitar player and has played professionally for the past 33 years. Around Winnipeg he is known as "Slidin Clyde", a name given to him by local bluesman Big Dave McLean.
At age seventeen he performed with Willie Mabon who wrote “I Don't Know” which was recorded by The Blues Brothers and James Cotton and guest recorded with Shuggie Otis on Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (juno nominated Blues Boss Boogie).
While living in Vancouver he was awarded "Best Blues Guitarist of the Year" and performed with Tom and Jack Lavin, Big Joe Houston, Jim Byrnes and Frankie Lee to name a few.
While living in Memphis, Clyde played on world famous Beale Street where he performed house gigs at Willie Mitchell’s Legends and W.C. Handy's Blues Hall (quite often with The Hollywood Allstars) and “Mr. Guitar” Ben Wilson in Wild Bill’s (Ben Wilson Boogie). He became one of the originating members of The Bluesmasters, performed with Bill “Dr. Thrill Good” Coday, J. Blackfoot, (one of Stax Records’ last biggest artists), Big Joe Turner, Little Howling Wolf and many others.
In 2005 when Clyde Roulette returned to Manitoba, he and Mel Reimer formed the Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band.
He can play the most moving Delta Blues, the Funkiest Memphis groove, flat pick the Orange Blossom Special, then ride the slide guitar, all Clyde Roulette style. He is the driving force behind all of his projects, whether it be television, radio, band leader or session musician. Clyde's history is one of dedication and hard work and he takes pride in being true to the art form.
Mel Reimer
Mel Reimer; a dedicated disciple of the blues has played professionally for 27 years. He is as well known for his devotion to Winnipeg’s music community as he is for his earlier bands; The Boogie Men, Dr. Zak and the Terminally Thrilled, and Bad Weather. Their release of little bit of...Bad Weather has been noted for its excellence. He also toured with and managed Vancouver based Double D and the Double Dare Devils. They recorded their debut album “Belly Rubbin’ Music” which received the award Best Debut Blues CD by The Real Blues Magazine’s Real Blues Awards.
He has been featured, not only as a musician but also a vocalist on CBC’s Wired & Holger Peterson’s Saturday Night Blues (CBC radio). Mel has served as sideman for: Big Dave McLean, Brent Parkin, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, The West Coast Flyers (Willie MacCalder, Robbie King), Dutch Mason and has made numerous guest appearances with the likes of Lamont Cranston Band, Phil Guy, Louisiana Red, Russell Jackson (BB King), Lou Pride, Shirley King, Lazy Lester, The Twisters, Phillip Walker, Teddy Morgan (Lazy Lester), John Campbelljohn and many more.
Mel’s many years of firm musical focus and his rich, authentic harmonica tones give the band its depth and power.
Ken “K-Mac” McMahon
After 20 years of professional playing Ken has played and recorded with a long list of Canadian and International artists including: The Rockin' Highliners, Pinetop Perkins, Duke Robillard, King Biscuit Boy, Sue Foley, Jack Dekeyser, Carlos Del Junco, Philip Walker, Big Dave McLean, Brent Parkin, Harpdog Brown, Ray St. Germain, Lou Pride to name a few. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ken has toured extensively throughout North America as well as two tours to Europe. He has been nominated for the Maple Blues Award for "Canadian Drummer of The Year" three times.
Also he plays on numerous award winning recordings including a Juno nominated CD with The Rockin' Highliners.
Jeff Smook
Hailing from the tiny hamlet of Vita, Manitoba, Jeff has been a professional composer, programmer, producer and freelance electric and acoustic bassist/guitarist based in western Canada since 1993. He has worked with a wide variety of artists and clients spanning many genres and aspects of music across 3 continents, which has culminated into a diverse body of work and experience. Jeff has played with such artists as: The Rockin' Highliners, Captain Tractor, Duke Robillard, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Dawn Tyler Watson, Jodie Williams, Eddie Bo, Jimmy "T-99" Nelson, Harpdog Brown, Donald Ray Johnson and Brent Parkin to name a few.
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