Instrumentation:
Chris Fitz - Singer/Songwriter/Guitar player
Jeff Majeau - Bass Player
Steve Wolpe - Drummer
Ken Clark - Hammond B3 Organ
Biography:
The Chris Fitz Band was born out of necessity and burning desire, and for almost 14 years has operated just under the radar as one of Boston's and New England's hardest working and steadiest rising bands. After more than 1,500 gigs, over 10,000 albums sold, a dozen music awards, and a successful European tour under its belt, the band stands seasoned and ready to break out as one the countries Blues-Rock powerhouses!
1994 was the beginning, and Chris was wrapping up his first year as a working musician as the guitar player in a blues cover band called Vykki Vox and the Soul Searcher's. Having founded the band along with singer Vykki Vox after sharing the stage at several Boston area blues open mic nights, Chris soon landed a Thursday night residency for the band at a long since defunct night club in Boston's Back Bay called Waldo's. The weekly gig was a great stepping stone to regular work, but it soon became apparent that Chris and Vykki had different musical visions and aspirations. The two parted ways and the Chris Fitz Band was born.
Inheriting the Waldo's gig, Chris suddenly found himself responsible for keeping the show rolling every week. Scrambling to put a band together, and having never stepped in front of the microphone as a singer, Chris threw caution to the wind and carried on without a hitch. Although he is quick to say that if there are any bootleg recordings of those early shows he would like to have them to burn into eternity. Nevertheless, Chris and his new band plugged away week after week, surviving on blind ambition, spirit, passion, pizzazz, several SRV, Jimi Hendrix and Howlin' Wolf covers and not a whole lot of finesse or maturity. Although a little rough around the edges, the shows were exciting and loaded with energy, and the crowds kept growing. For nearly two years Chris Fitz honed his skills as band leader, singer, songwriter and blues guitar master, all the while slowly building a grass roots audience for his brand of high energy rockin' blues. If "necessity is the mother of invention," the early incarnation of the Chris Fitz Band proved this to be true. However, it was Chris' lifelong passion to be a band leader, guitar player, songwriter and professional musician that has really propelled the band to its current heights!
As the year 2008 quickly approaches, the Chris Fitz Band continues to pave its way toward national and international recognition. Consider the ample list of music awards and accolades the band has received since those early days at Waldo's: 2007 New England Blues Audience Readers Poll Awards "Outstanding Blues Band" "Outstanding Guitar Player"- Chris Fitz "Outstanding Bass Player"- Greg Silva, 2005 Boston Blues Challenge winners and invitee to the 29th annual 2006 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. 2004 "Blewzzy Award" for blues album of the year in recognition of the bands second release This Is My Church. 2004 "Outstanding Acoustic Musician" readers poll award – The New England Blues Audience. 2003 International Songwriting Competition finalist and runner-up for the single "Never Been to Memphis" from the bands highly acclaimed 3rd album Journey of Hope. 2003 selection to perform award winning song with rock icon Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame at the Berklee Performing Arts Center for Ian's Rubbing Elbows Tour, and 2002 Boston Music Award Winners for "Outstanding New Blues Act"!
With no record contract and no distribution, the band has amazingly sold over 10,000 copies of their 4 studio albums, Just Getting' Started (1998), This Is My Church (2000), Journey of Hope (2002) and the new self titled Chris Fitz Band (2007) as well as completed their first European tour in December of 2004. The band is hoping to return to Europe in 2008 to build on the success of their first trip. Make no mistake, the Chris Fitz Band has lost none of its ambition, spirit, energy and pizzazz, only now it is displayed with the finesse, dynamics, and maturity of a well seasoned, top flight professional band. Playing nearly 200 gigs a year, the bands growth in musicianship, songwriting, and all around artistry is stunningly apparent to those who have followed the band since the early days at Waldo's, and to new comers, the band just plain smokes!
The current success enjoyed by the band is clearly a group effort. After ten years, Chris' musical vision and ability to explore the outer edges of blues and roots rock is now fully being realized in the hands of his "Hammer of the God's" rhythm section. Bass player Greg Silva, a Rhode Island native joined the band in mid 2003. Coming off two years on the road as bass player for the world famous Roomful of Blues, his versatility, musicianship, dynamics, energy, sound, and all around good nature, has led to an inspirational musical partnership between Greg and band leader Fitz. The newest member is Drummer Chuck Schuler. Chuck has played professionally for nearly 20 years and still hasn't cracked 40. Most recently he played for Tone Cool Recording Artist's the Radio Kings, touring nationally and overseas. Chris has quickly nicknamed him "The Monster Man", as he delivers one hell of a big sound behind his drum kit. Together, this rhythm section along with Chris' virtuosity and blazing showmanship, gives true meaning to the term "Power Trio". Most impressive is the bands ability to fuse swing, jump blues, funk, soul, jazz, and rock-n-roll into a contemporary yet true to the roots signature sound. If that is not enough, Sevren Records recording artist and Hammond B3 virtuoso Ken Clark has added even further groove and thunder to the bands albums and occasionally on stage.
After 13 plus years of tireless work, the future looks very bright. With a sizzling new CD released in May of 2007 receiving great reviews and accolades, the Chris Fitz Band stands poised and ready for a shot at taking its place along side the rock/blues stars!
Discography:
Singer/songwriter, blues guitar master, and band leader Chris Fitz has self produced four award winning full length studio albums. The raw but sizzling debut Just Getting' Started was released in 1998. "Blues Record of the Year" winner This Is My Church hit the streets in 2000, and the highly acclaimed Journey of Hope, who's single "Never Been to Memphis" was a finalist and runner up in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition, came out in 2002. Finally, after 5 great years of tours and awards, the band has released it's brand new studio album self titled The Chris Fitz Band. Released in May of 2007, the new record contains 15 more Chris Fitz original songs ranging from funky blues/rock to rock-a-billy, to foot in the bucket back porch delta style blues. This is the bands most exciting effort yet and rave reviews are coming in from the music industry and fans alike!!
All four albums have received and continue to receive major radio airplay in the bands hometown of Boston, on 100.7 WZLX, 92.9 WBOS, and 92.5 The River. The records have also had considerable play on college radio, satellite radio, webzine's and blues programs worldwide. The Chris Fitz Band has sold over 10,000 records at their live shows alone. Chris is already writing like crazy for a 5th record.
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