At least it did if you if you added up all the years spent individually plying their trade in blues and R&B. The players in this tight Toronto-based unit have all had long musical careers that included stints with some of the most recognizable names in these genres.
Fathead's brand new CD (released Mar. 21, 2000), Where's Your Head At? (Electro-Fi 3365) features 13 original songs plus one cover, a scorching rendintion of Howlin' Wolf's "Commit A Crime". Their sound is steeped heavily in the blues married with elements of r&b, funk, soul, gospel, rock'n'roll and just a dash of Cajun spice. Everyone in the band contributes to both the writing and arranging with the result being a unique ensemble sound that is immediately recognizable as their own. Fathead has developed a distinctive sound that is characterized by solid grooves, unforgettable melodies, and ace musicianship.
Formed in 1994 by harp player/tenor saxophonist Al Lerman, the band boasts the Georgia-nurtured lead vocals of John Mays, Teddy Leonard's stinging soulful guitar, and the skin tight grooves of innovative bassist Omar Tunnoch with drummer-deluxe Ed White.
A lot of people took note of Fathead with the 1995 release of their self titled debut CD. It garnered rave reviews as well as some radio airplay that resulted in a recording contract with Electro-Fi Records. In 1998 Blues Weather was released and picked up the afore mentioned Juno for "Best Blues Album", beating out the heavily favored Colin James' Little Big Band II. Fathead has since received a 1999 Jazz Report Award for "Blues Group Of The Year' (they also won the same in 1997 ), to go along with some other trophies including a 1998 Maple Blues Award for "Electric Act Of The Year" and a Westcoast Blues Award in 1996. They were repeat winners at the 2000 Maple Blues awards with yet another statue for "Electric Act Of Year" and Teddy Leonard won kudos for "Guitarist Of The Year".
In concert they have backed blues luminaries such as Charlie Musslewhite, King Ernest and were featured on two albums by Chicago bluesman Little Mack Simmons. Fathead recently opened for the great B.B. King at Toronto's famed Massey Hall and their perfomance knocked everybody out.
This band has travelled the country playing blues rooms, concert halls and major music festivals from coast to coast recruiting a large fan base along the way. In turn, their CD sales have risen considerably; In Canada, Blues Weather made Festival Distribution's Top Ten List for best sellers (blues category). Outside of Canada, their albums are now available at better record stores across the U.S., Europe, U.K., Japan, and Scandinavia.
Fathead is a MUST SEE/MUST HEAR band. Their incendiary live show always get them invited back wherever they play. If you haven't heard them lately,
WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT anyways!!?
