The Pauline York Band

Genres: blues, blues rock, female vocalists, bluesrock, Female Guitarist

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About The Pauline York Band

Pauline York - Guitar and vocals Jim Billmeier - Bass Jeff Ruffin - Drums The Pauline York band is based in the Joliet, IL area. Varying between a three and four piece band headed by guitarist and vocalist Pauline York, the band plays a mix of guitar blues. Pauline's influences include Stevie Ray Vaughn, Janis Joplin, John Fogerty, and Tab Benoit. Since jumping into the Chicago music scene in 1997, Pauline York has been putting her personal spin on American Roots & Blues Music. York, lead guitar and vocals, and her band deliver pure, honest, from-the-heart music. No pedals, guitar tricks, or frills here, just real music for real people. At age 14, Pauline was exposed to the driving “Texas Sound,” which inspired her to explore the roots of that music. Rather than becoming another “Power Blues” copycat, she dug deeper, into the music of Freddie King and Jimmy Reed. York then went stylistically from Texas to Louisiana, where she fell in love with the Cajun sound, and to Memphis for some of that Stax Soul. The result is a fresh new sound…a style all her own. Blackberry Wine (2001), Pauline’s critically acclaimed debut CD is a blend of her many influences, including Folk-Rock, Blues, and Cajun music. Her 2004 follow-up, Muddy Water, takes her unique style one step further after building chops and confidence on the road between records. Her new release, Get Down and Ride! (2007), showcases her determination to push her music into a new direction. Pauline and her band have performed at many clubs and festivals throughout the country, including Buddy Guy’s Legends, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, and the Kalamazoo Blues Festival. Aside from York’s own club dates and headline gigs, the band has warmed up the stage for a variety of Blues artists. From the Chicago styling of Lonnie Brooks, to the traditional Mississippi Delta Blues of Paul Wine Jones, to the swampy Louisiana sounds of Tab Benoit, Pauline’s gigs are as diverse as they are impressive. York, along with bassist Jim Billmeier and drummer Jeff Ruffin, have been together as musicians and friends since meeting on the neighborhood open mike circuit over 5 years ago. Balancing full-time “day” jobs, mortgages, and families, the trio has managed to create and perform music, somehow transforming from “bar band” to “working musicians.” The same trio that plays the yard parties and roadhouses performs at the large festivals and prestigious clubs. Pauline’s “less is more” philosophy applies to the business end as well – she has been known to negotiate shows for “good barbeque” and books every show and tour herself. As an innovator of contemporary Roots music, Pauline blends the traditional and the modern aspects of Blues with a love of all types of music, daring the listener to pigeonhole her. From club dates, to festivals, to stages both large and small, York, her trio, and her “no fuss no muss” philosophy are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Catch her on the way up.

Taken from Last.fm

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