Area Artist: Site offers Musicians,Public       World-Wide Exposure and Accessibility
Posted: Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 09:32:05 pm EDTBy KATHY KISHBluefield Daily Telegraph

Grady Musick, of Glenwood, has had his song "Trouble Blues"among the top 10 on the daily blues charts at  www.soundclick.comfor more than three weeks now, starting out at No. 1 on April 6.But, he said the exposure is invaluable. At last check, his song    had received 3,758 total plays at the website and he had received4,741 page views. And while Musick is putting off performances fora while as he deals with complications from a  back injury,he has a lot of opportunities ahead of him now.

Musick said he enjoys playing delta blues, country blues andbottleneck blues, all in the style of greats like Robert Johnson,Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell and others."I take a 'bare-bones' approach to my music and to my life.I love the 'raw' sound of one person playing the blues on a acoustic guitar, with no amps, no electronic gadgets,just a powerful, soulful, bluesy sound filling the room andthe soul of the listener."

For this reason, Musick said his songs are recorded live with abasic approach that doesn't sound overly processed or too smooth.

Musick said he has been playing for almost 20 years, mostly as alead guitarist in various classic/hard rock bands, and has performedup and down the East Coast.But now he's playing the blues."I started playing solo acoustic blues about four years ago andbottleneck style about two years ago," he said. "The soloacoustic blues allows me to express my true self and play themusic that really touches my soul.""The birth of my son, Stevie Ray Musick, on March 1, 2003,  reallyopened my eyes and showed me what life is all about," he said."He loves the sound of a resophonic guitar just as much as I do andit warms my heart when he dances to my music."---- Contact Kathy Kish at kkish@bdtonline.com

By Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com

It’s all in his name — Musick.

Whether with a biting electric slide or a soulful acoustic strum, bluesman Grady Musick, of Bluefield, W.Va., brings modern Delta and Chicago blues to life.
“My music is a mix of originals and re-makes — old stuff I beef up a bit,” Musick said of his music in a phone interview Wednesday. “I’ve got 16 originals I'll be doing, along with my last number one hit on the blues chart, ‘Better Off Dead.’”

The solo musician has eight number one hits on the World-Wide Blues charts at www.soundclick.com.

Saturday will be the first time Musick and his music have been to Marietta, but even better, the first time he's performed this far north.

Grady Musick will be performing at 9 p.m. Saturday at Blues Night Out @ Oliver's Upstairs, at Oliver's Fine Food & Spirits, 203 Second St. The program is open to all, with admission $5. For those who come early for dinner at Oliver's (downstairs), there’s a $2 discount.

A recent gig was the Little Chicago Blues Festival at Johnson City, Tenn. in April, but Musick is everywhere playing.

His play list has everything from the Delta Blues of Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters Chicago sound and the infectious boogie of John Lee Hooker.

“I’ve got a bunch of stuff coming up in Charleston, but I'm really excited about coming to Marietta," Musick said. “I enjoy playing blues for anyone, anywhere, in venues large and small.”

Oliver’s spokesman, Jim Heydinger, said local blues aficionado Mike Lucas heard Musick play blues in southern West Virginia and wanted to bring him to Marietta. Oliver’s is the perfect venue, Heydinger said.“When we heard the word from Mike, we plugged this bluesman in,” Heydinger said.Lucas is also a member of the Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society, Inc.Blues Night Out @ Oliver’s Upstairs is new in Marietta this year, with just a handful of performances under the belt, but

Heydinger predicts continued support and a strong venue there for live music. In fact, the idea is going so well that Oliver's Upstairs goes to two nights a month for summer tourist season, the first and third Saturdays of July, August and September.“We’re getting a solid crowd of blues and music lovers, who just want to sit back and appreciate the music,” he said.

Musick, who is president of the West Virginia Blues Society, has been playing music 21 years, mostly traditional and Delta blues, he said.“I started off with classic and hard rock and it was a natural progression to blues,” Musick said.

His favorite guitar is a Martin acoustic, but he has six or seven he uses regularly, including a 1952 Harmony electric.“It just depends on what I'm playing,” he said.What Musick loves about performing is his audience.“I take care of my son (2 year-old Stevie Ray) and play Daddy from Sunday through Wednesday, then hit the road to play music on the weekend,” Musick said. “I like meeting new people, new friends, new musicians, and seeing new areas.”

"Editor's Pick" review from C/Net Download.com,,,,,"Bluesman Grady Musick hails (appropriately)from Bluefield, WV,,,,and he has chops to spare.Whether it's a Biting Electric Slide or a Soulful Acoustic Strum, Grady keeps it real.With his Powerful Voice and Hammer-like Rhythms,this Solo Musician needs no backing band."---Editors at Download.com

Imagine Robert Johnson and Buddy Guy having a Baby,his name is Grady Musick!

Your tunes stick to my mind like glue.
I heard the new song and it had the same effect that all of your songs have-after the songs are over,ten minutes later they're still playing in my head.That's marvelous communication.Some would call it "catchy".

You just may be better than Robert Johnson himself.

Your style is like nothing I've ever seen.Words cannot describe it,the speed and coordination took my breath away.

It's like I said before,you stand right up next to the great ones,Son House,Bukka White and the rest of those Slide Guitarists.
I'm trying not to be effusive but,you're that good!!

you ain't exactly afraid of that Slide......
.......I mean,you got it

Man,the first thing that came to my mind was,"Thats some real Delta-sounding Blues".
Grady,your sound is Golden.
It easily stands up alongside any of the Delta greats.I get that same emotion when I listen to Charley Patton,Son House,Kid Bailey,etc.that I get from listening to you.

The Soul is the most important thing,all the Tech stuff in the world can't help you if you lack the Soul.
Yours is quite good anyway,and most importantly-you got the Soul!!!

I not only like your sound Grady,I love your approach!!

Solid Groove,Nice Vocals,and Tasty licks!!
Good job Grady!