Root Doctor

Root Doctor is an award winning Michigan based blues and soul band who are a popular live attraction and have released half a dozen albums to date. There have been personnel changes over the years but James Williams and Freddie Cunningham have remained consistent.

Root Doctor
OriginMichigan, United States
GenresBlues
LabelsRocket 88,Big O Records, RD Records
Websitewww.rootdoctorband.com
MembersFreddie Cunningham
Bobby Gardner
Bill Malone
Mike Skory
James Williams

Origin and background

The music the group plays is a mixture of classic soul and traditional blues. A good portion of their material are original compositions.[1]

The group started out as the Downtown Blues Band in 1989. They changed their name to Root Doctor as there was another group around called The Uptown Band and they wanted to avoid any confusion. Their name comes from the song "Root Doctor" which was recorded by Buddy Ace.[2] Two of the founding members were Freddie Cunningham and James Williams.[3] Cunningham is from the Lansing area and grew up there. In those years it was a hard time for blues singers as Motown was the in thing.[4] Williams is the brother of Lamar Williams who was the bass player in The Allman Brothers and Sea Level.[5]

Career

By 2005, the group was in its 16th year of the group's existence. Freddie Cunningham and James Williams had been there right from the beginning.[6] That year Greg Nagy was asked to join the group. He had been playing in bands since he dropped out of graduate school in 1993. At the time he was a stay at home father of two and wasn't looking at joining another group. But Root Doctor asked him to join and he did so on the proviso that they record an album of original material. The timing was right because this is what the group had been thinking about doing.[7]

In 2006, their album Been a Long Time Coming was released on the Big O Records label.[8] Living Blues magazine said it was a beautifully executed project.[9]

By July 2007, the group consisted of Freddie Cunningham, Rick Bole , Greg Nagy, James Williams, and Jim Alfredson.

In 2009, following a difficult decision to leave Root Doctor, guitarist Greg Nagy left the group to pursue a solo career. He released his solo album Walk That Fine Thin Line in May that year which earned him a nomination from the national Blues Foundation for best new artist.[10] Also that year, the group appeared in one of the episodes of Backstage Pass.[11][12]

In 2011, their album Joy was released. It featured guest musicians such as Lisa Smith, Jamison (Jamo), and Lamar Williams Jr..[13] For the release of their album, they had a Blues Cruise CD release party on the Michigan Princess on October 15th and a week later on the 22nd, they had one at the Green Door Blues Bar and Grill.[14]

In 2013, their album Attitude was released. Other musicians to pay on the album were Dave Matchette on harmonica, Mike Lynch on accordion, Andy Wilson on trumpet, Len'i Glenn on baritone saxophone, Jerrick Matthews on trombone, Chad Bement on tenor saxophone, Michael Dease on trombone, and R. Gardner on washboard. The tracks included "Rear View Sight", "Set Me Free ", "Bring It Back", "You're Gonna Lose " and "Land Of The Free ".[15] Also that year they were one of the acts to appear at the 2nd annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue event, held at Birch Run Township which ran from August 22nd to August 25th.[16]

In 2014, they were playing at the Michigan BluesFest, an event that runs on a Friday and Saturday in September. Other artists at the event included Big Boss Blues Band, Harper & Midwest Kind, Greg Nagy, Mike Morgan with Hank Mowery & the Hawktones, and the Marci Linn Band.[17]

Members
  • Jim Alfredson ... keyboards
  • Rick Bole ... drums
  • Freddie Cunningham ... lead vocals
  • Bobby Gardner ... drums and vocals
  • Bill Malone ... guitar and vocals
  • Greg Nagy ... guitar
  • Mike Skory ... Hammond organ, keyboards, vocals
  • James Williams ... bass and vocals[18][19]

Discography
Albums
Title Release info Year Notes
The Doctor Is In Rocket 88 #17 1997
Been a Long Time Coming Big O Records 2406 2006
Change Our Ways Big O Records 2407 2007
Live at the Cadillac Club Big O Records 2409 2008 [20]
Joy RD Records 59515 2011
New Attitude CD Baby 19967 2013 [21]
Compilation albums
Title Release info Year Notes
Cadillac Blues 2007 [22]
gollark: Precisely as planned.
gollark: ÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆAA *do not spread such memetics*.
gollark: In a metaapiaristic way.
gollark: Wow, that's pretty apioformic.
gollark: "Apioformic" in a good or bad way?

References
  1. WKAR - Root Doctor | BackStage Pass
  2. Local Spins, May 1, 2014 - Michigan’s Root Doctor: Born with a passion for the blues and ‘a good time’ (Story, podcast, video) by John Sinkevics
  3. Insurgent Country - Root Doctor featuring Freddie Cunningham, 'New Attitude' by Johanna B. Boddeby
  4. Lansing State Journal, Thursday, September 15, 2005 - Page 52 Blast of Blues, Old Town hosts musicians from around the nation - By Mike Hughes
  5. Rocktimes.de, 17.09.2014 - Doctor / New Attitude - Joachim 'Joe' Brookes
  6. Lansing State Journal, Thursday, September 15, 2005 - Page 52 Blast of Blues, Old Town hosts musicians from around the nation - By Mike Hughes
  7. South Bend Tribune, July 20, 2007 - Root Doctor has cure for what ails your soul - ANDREW S. HUGHES
  8. Discogs - The Root Doctor – Been A Long Time Coming
  9. Laketown-center.com - PRESS RELEASE July 10, 2007
  10. Mlive.com, December 10, 2009 - Former Root Doctor guitarist Greg Nagy earns Blues Foundation nomination for best new artist By John Sinkevics | The Grand Rapids Press
  11. PBS - BackStage Pass, Root Doctor
  12. Lansing State Journal, Thursday, February 25, 2010 - Page 23 'Backstage Pass' puts local artists on TV
  13. Lansing State Journal, Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Page 33 Root Doctor's latest CD is a 'Joy'-ful family affair
  14. MSU Today, Oct. 6, 2011 - Arts + Campus, Root Doctor releases new album
  15. Rocktimes.de, 17.09.2014 - Doctor / New Attitude - Joachim 'Joe' Brookes
  16. Mlive.com, August 18, 2013 - Birch Run Blues, Brews and Barbecue on tap with Michigan beers, ribs and a carnival By Darcie Moran
  17. Lansing State Journal, Sept. 18, 2014 - Michigan BluesFest comes to Old Town - Anne Erickson
  18. Root Doctor website - Bio
  19. South Bend Tribune, July 20, 2007 - Root Doctor has cure for what ails your soul - ANDREW S. HUGHES
  20. AllMusic - Root Doctor , Live at the Cadillac Club back cover
  21. AllMusic - Root Doctor, Discography
  22. Big City Blues Mag - Big (Cadillac) Rack of Blues Deal!
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