Tas Cru - Criticism, Eclecticism and Blues

2016-11-07 18:16

TAS CRU

(Rick Bates)

Criticism, Eclecticism and Blues

Cru grew up in a very musical and generally unquirky family (except for him). Unlike his talented brother and sisters, he did not pursue music in school. A brief attempt to play the trombone abruptly ended after being kicked by his 7^th grade music teacher. Cru says he deserved it. Cru instead explored and developed his talent by taking up with a rougher crowd of older, self-taught musicians where he was introduced to the songs of the Sun Records legends. Cru's first foray into the blues came after leaving the US Navy when he was asked to join a band formed by a former shipmate named Delray Streeter, a bluesman of unlimited bravado and attitude but limited singing and harmonica skills. Streeter was raised in El Dorado, Arkansas and claimed a rich blues heritage from his upbringing. This partnership, though shot-lived, proved to be very influential as Streeter's repertoire tended toward the older and much rawer country blues. Cru's schooling in country blues later served him well and is infused into his original songs along with his Sun Records and rock-blues influences.

Based out of upstate New York. Cru performs in a variety of formats ranging from solo acoustic to a 7 piece-backing band. Tas Cru appears at a number of festivals and major blues venues throughout the US and Canada. Tas Cru's discography includes seven albums of original songs - "Biscuit" (2006), "gravi-Tas "(2008), "Grizzle n' Bone" (2009), "Jus' Desserts" (2010), "Tired of Bluesmen Cryin" (2012) "You Keep the Money" (2015) and his brand new Simmered & Stewed. In addition to these recordings is Cru's 2009 release, "Even Bugs Sing the Blues,’ an album of original blues music for kids and in 2016 he released a blues album for dog lovers called Doggone Blues.