Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood
Jeff Pitchell is a nationally acclaimed, dynamic singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.. Jeff achieved national recognition when his last CD, Heavy Hitter (Pyramid Records/EMI) reached #7 on the Billboard Blues Charts and Jeff sold more CDs than Delbert McClinton, Robert Cray, Etta James, Tab Benoit & Jimmy Thackery, Johnny Lee Hooker & Muddy Waters, Tyrone Davis, Willy Clayton, and Little Milton. In addition, Jeff’s Heavy Hitter was on 147 radio stations throughout the US and the CD stayed on the Billboard charts for 12consecutive weeks! Jeff has also been the 3rd most requested Artist on the Beef Stewshow on WCCC in Hartford CT…(1st Jimi Hendrix, 2nd Johhny Winter)… Jeff has recorded with such greats as Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, James Cotton and Clarence Clemons and now appears in a new movie entitled Cathedral Pines!
Critics such as Art Tipaldi, in Blues Revue wrote: “Pitchell can sling heat with anyone…and wrings passion,..while..his voice delivers!!!!!” Steve Zimmerman, a critic with “The New Herald” in Florida wrote a critique entitled, “Move over BB, here comes thePitch!” The uniqueness of Jeff’s act is that he interacts with the audience and emotes. Jeff enjoys entertaining his audiences and particularly enjoys the interplays he has had in live performances with Rick Derringer, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Bo Diddley, Clarence Clemons, The Commitments, etc…..Jeff is at his best when he is creating. He has been greatly influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King but the best advice he ever received was “to be himself and have his own distinctive sound”… So, with his energetic style, Jeff has written over 200 songs, recorded many of them, and received acclaim. Jeff has played primarily in the Northeast, Florida, the Midwest, Europe , and the Carribean!!
Since organizing his band 1988, his career has skyrocketed. Pitchell was voted "BestBlues Player" in Connecticut in Metro magazine and the band was voted "#1 Blues Band" in the Hartford Advocate Reader's Poll as well as “Best Guitarist” and “Best Singer.”Within Connecticut, Jeff had made frequent live appearances on popular rock radio stations WHCN, WPLR and WCCC; as well as WBOS in Boston. Pitchell and his Band have appeared at the prestigious Memphis Bluestock Festival where the Band was recognized nationally as one of the Country's Top 50 Blues Bands. Shortly thereafter, they released Fat Cigars, their first CD, featuring a duet with Clarence Clemons. The group has headlined at a number of major clubs and venues, including House of Blues (Cambridge, MA), BB King’s (New York City), Chicago Blues (New York City), Toad's Place (New Haven, CT), The Sting (New Britain, CT), Natick Arts Center (Natick, MA) and Riverside Amusement Park (Agawam, MA),headlined a New Years Eve show at Foxwoods Casino’s BB King room, the Blue Note, Jupiter FL, etc Jeff’s second CD, One Day Away, features a duet with Rick Derringer, and has been voted the Number One Requested BluesAlbum on the popular Rock Station WCCC (106.9 FM - 1290 AM). Both CD's have received critical acclaim in such national publications as Blues Review.
Pitchell's story is a classic example of being persistent about using the talents he was given, namely singing at age 3, playing the classical piano at age 12, then switching to the guitar, then writing songs..then recording his writings and singing and playing intricate solos at the same time." He has built his career on his love for music and his desire to play for audiences, from 10 to 10,000+. In addition to Clarence Clemons and Rick Derringer, Jeff has performed and recorded with such prominent musicians as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Cocker, Leslie West, J. Geils, Jeff Healey, James Cotton, Roomful of Blues and Marshall Tucker Band. He has appeared on the same bill with such greats as Tower of Power, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ted Nugent and opened for the legendary B.B. King eleven times receiving standing ovations. Jeff is a college graduate who also taught school…but his love for performing has made Jeff devote his entire life to doing what he loves best…writing, singing, playing, acting, and entertaining audiences…