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Albert Castiglia

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Albert Castiglia
Born (1969-08-12) August 12, 1969 (age 55)
New York City, United States
GenresElectric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1990–present
LabelsVarious including Ruf Records
WebsiteOfficial website

Albert Castiglia (born August 12, 1969) is an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. Castiglia has variously worked alongside Junior Wells, Sandra Hall, Aron Burton, Pinetop Perkins, Melvin Taylor, Sugar Blue, Phil Guy, Ronnie Earl, Billy Boy Arnold, Ronnie Baker Brooks, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Larry McCray, Eddy Clearwater and Otis Clay.[1]

AllMusic noted that "Castiglia combines hardcore blues with soul, rock, and country flavors for a sound that will appeal to rockers and blues purists alike."[2] His vocal style has been compared to that of Van Morrison.[3]

Life and career

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Castiglia (pronounced "ka-steel-ya") was born in New York City, United States, to a Cuban mother and an Italian father. He moved with his family to Miami, Florida, when he was five years old and commenced learning the guitar seven years later.[1]

Castiglia joined the Miami Blues Authority in 1990 and was named the 'best blues guitarist in Miami' by the Miami New Times in 1997.[1][4] Following a college education, Castiglia worked for four years for the state of Florida as a social services investigator.[5] Discovered singing by Junior Wells in 1996,[6] he joined his touring band and worked as Wells' lead guitarist until the latter's death in 1998.[1] By now living in Chicago, Illinois, Castiglia found work with Sandra Hall and toured with himself until the end of the century.[1] In 2002, Castiglia joined David Shelley[7] in the Alligator Alley Allstars, a "blues and roots super group"[8] at Alligator Alley,[9] a "Native Florida" restaurant and live music venue (named for the nearby swamp highway).[10]

His first solo work, Burn, was self-released in 2004, followed in 2006 with The Bittersweet Sessions, where he collaborated with Graham Wood Drout. The New Jersey–based Blues Leaf Records then issued Castiglia's 2006 album, A Stone's Throw. It contained his versions of the Junior Wells song, "Hoodoo Man Blues" and The Shadows' "The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt".[11] In April 2008, These Are the Days was released, which included Castiglia's tribute to his former employer Junior Wells called "Godfather of the Blues", as well as cover versions of Bob Dylan's "Catfish", Nappy Brown's "Night Time Is the Right Time", Fenton Robinson's "Somebody Loan Me a Dime", and Little Willie John's track "Need Your Love So Bad".[1] These Are the Days saw Castiglia get a nomination for a Blues Music Award for his self-penned song, "Bad Year Blues."[6] He continued to tour and supported both ZZ Top and Elvin Bishop.[3]

Keepin On (2010), recorded in Dover, New Jersey, featured five tracks written by Castiglia, plus covers of songs by John Lee Hooker ("Goin' Upstairs"), Mack Rice ("Cadillac Assembly Line"), T-Bone Walker ("My Baby is Now On My Mind"), Peter Green ("I Could Not Ask for More"),[3] Robert Nighthawk ("Murderin' Blues") and Bob Dylan ("Till I Fell In Love With You").[2][6] Living the Dream (2012), included contributions on Hammond B3 organ and piano from John Ginty.[12] Roots Music Report bestowed him with the Top Blues Album Award for 2011 and 2012.[13] In December 2013, Castiglia performed at the Bradenton Blues Festival.

In March 2014, Castiglia signed a recording contract with Ruf Records. His seventh album in all and his first on Ruf Records was Solid Ground, which was recorded in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.[13] It contained the Lefty Dizz-penned track "Bad Avenue", Castiglia's version of the blues standard, "Goin' Down Slow", and a cover of the Rolling Stones, "Sway".[5] Solid Ground peaked at number 10 in the US Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.[14]

In 2015, Castiglia made a guest appearance on John Ginty's albums, Bad News Travels and the subsequent Bad News Travels (Live).[15][16][17]

In May 2020, Castiglia won a Blues Music Award in the 'Blues Rock Album of the Year' category for his album, Masterpiece.[18] In 2023, he won two Blues Music Awards as 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year' and 'Blues Rock Album of the Year' for I Got Love.[19]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Record label
2004 Burn Self-released
2006 The Bittersweet Sessions Self released
2006 A Stone's Throw Blues Leaf Records
2008 These Are the Days Blues Leaf Records
2010 Keepin On Blues Leaf Records
2012 Living the Dream Blues Leaf Records
2014 Solid Ground Ruf Records
2015 Blues Caravan 2014 Ruf Records
2016 Big Dog Ruf Records
2017 Up All Night Ruf Records
2019 Masterpiece Gulf Coast Records/Select-O-Hits
2020 Wild And Free Gulf Coast Records
2022 I Got Love Gulf Coast Records

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Albert Castiglia | Biography & History". AllMusic. 1969-08-12. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  2. ^ a b "Keepin On – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  3. ^ a b c "(Featuring Albert Castiglia)". Blues Underground Network. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2016-01-10.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Albert Castiglia – Tickets – Sellersville Theater 1894 – Sellersville, PA – September 17th, 2015 | Sellersville Theater". St94.com. 2015-09-17. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  5. ^ a b "Albert Castiglia – Solid Ground | Album Review". Blues Blast Magazine. 2014-06-09. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  6. ^ a b c "Albert Castiglia". ReverbNation.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  7. ^ Hambright, Courtney (2005-07-28). "Kilmo, Represent | New Times Broward-Palm Beach". Browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  8. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (2012-03-13). "Backstage In South Florida: Native Florida Tap Room & Music Hall Offers South Florida's Coolest New Hangout". Browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  9. ^ "ALLIGATOR ALLEY – Restaurant – BBQ – Tap Room – Music Hall – HOME". Alligatoralleynola.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  10. ^ "David Shelley, Fort Lauderdale blues guitarist, dies". Sun Sentinel. 2015-08-10. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  11. ^ "A Stone's Throw – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2006-04-11. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  12. ^ "Living the Dream – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  13. ^ a b "Albert Castiglia". Albertcastiglia.net. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  14. ^ "Solid Ground – Albert Castiglia | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  15. ^ "John Ginty – Bad News Travels – The Showplace Sessions LIVE DVD". Making A Scene!. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  16. ^ "Albert Castiglia | Credits". AllMusic. 1969-08-12. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  17. ^ "Bad News Travels [Live] – John Ginty | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  18. ^ McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  19. ^ Grein, Paul (May 12, 2023). "Tommy Castro Repeats as Entertainer of the Year at 2023 Blues Music Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Albert Castiglia | Album Discography". AllMusic. 1969-08-12. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
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