Hamilton Loomis
March 10, 2005
Hamilton Loomis has taken his blues nationally, now he is ready to take it internationally. So much of his time is spent on the road and that made it difficult to pin him down for this interview. The interview should help us to understand how Ham became the popular artist he is today.
Hamilton Loomis is a hard working man. I don`t care what the lyrics say! (“Workin` Real Hard” ‘doin` nothin` at all` - Kicking` It on Blind Pig) Ham has shared the stage with blues legends and unfortunately, some of those great artists are no longer with us. This experience in his young life has fashioned a wide-ranging style in his music although, his roots are fundamentally blues. His latest CD, Kicking` It is soulful, funky and bluesy. On this CD, besides lead, the multi-talented Ham plays rhythm guitar, harmonica, bass, vocoder and power drill!
Let`s go to dialogue:
I noticed that you are based in South Texas. Are you a native Texas boy?
I was born and raised on Galveston Island. I was engulfed in the gulf coast blues scene with guys like “Gatemouth” Brown, Joe “Guitar” Hughes, Johnny Copeland, and Albert Collins. What a rush to be able to play with those guys…
Wow. Being able to share the stage with those guys and having the influence of their guitar styles, harmonica and original blues lyrics, who or what do you think is the most influential to your music?
Joe Hughes was probably the most influential on my guitar playing…he was a total guitarist and knew so much about the instrument. All those guys taught me quite a bit about playing with other people…how to not “hog” the stage and leave space and other “stage etiquette”. It goes along with life in a way…you interact and communicate on stage the same way you do with people everyday…with courtesy.
You have shared the stage with some big names in the blues world - Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland. Please tell us about these opportunities.
Bo has been so generous…he`s given me so much exposure and encouragement. We`ve been friends now for about 13 years. I call him at home…one time he left me a message and I played it for my friends just to blow their minds (ha ha). It`s so flattering and somewhat surreal to have a rock & roll legend call you on your cell phone, you know? Damn I`m lucky.
Albert and Johnny both have passed away, but their legacies live on and I`m proud to say that I have shared the stage with them. I used to do a jam with Houston legend Joe Hughes, and it wasn`t uncommon for Johnny to just walk in and start playing. He told me that his daughter was coming up in the scene and that he wanted me to be on her first album…he passed away about 4 months later or so. Nowadays, Shemekia Copeland is a household name among blues lovers, and I would`ve loved to see that opportunity become a reality, but the rest is history so they say.
What an honor to have known those legends. Shemekia is energetic, has a powerful voice and a lot of emotion in her music. She can move an audience. Having known Johnny, would you say that talent is hereditary?
Oh, of course it is in her case. In general, who knows? I think your environment and whatever you`re surrounded by is definitely a factor in what you become, but on the other side of the coin, some people just have it.
March 10, 2005
Hamilton Loomis has taken his blues nationally, now he is ready to take it internationally. So much of his time is spent on the road and that made it difficult to pin him down for this interview. The interview should help us to understand how Ham became the popular artist he is today.
Hamilton Loomis is a hard working man. I don`t care what the lyrics say! (“Workin` Real Hard” ‘doin` nothin` at all` -
Let`s go to dialogue:
I noticed that you are based in South Texas. Are you a native Texas boy?
I was born and raised on Galveston Island. I was engulfed in the gulf coast blues scene with guys like “Gatemouth” Brown, Joe “Guitar” Hughes, Johnny Copeland, and Albert Collins. What a rush to be able to play with those guys…
Wow. Being able to share the stage with those guys and having the influence of their guitar styles, harmonica and original blues lyrics, who or what do you think is the most influential to your music?
Joe Hughes was probably the most influential on my guitar playing…he was a total guitarist and knew so much about the instrument. All those guys taught me quite a bit about playing with other people…how to not “hog” the stage and leave space and other “stage etiquette”. It goes along with life in a way…you interact and communicate on stage the same way you do with people everyday…with courtesy.
You have shared the stage with some big names in the blues world -
Bo has been so generous…he`s given me so much exposure and encouragement. We`ve been friends now for about 13 years. I call him at home…one time he left me a message and I played it for my friends just to blow their minds (ha ha). It`s so flattering and somewhat surreal to have a rock & roll legend call you on your cell phone, you know? Damn I`m lucky.
Albert and Johnny both have passed away, but their legacies live on and I`m proud to say that I have shared the stage with them. I used to do a jam with Houston legend Joe Hughes, and it wasn`t uncommon for Johnny to just walk in and start playing. He told me that his daughter was coming up in the scene and that he wanted me to be on her first album…he passed away about 4 months later or so. Nowadays, Shemekia Copeland is a household name among blues lovers, and I would`ve loved to see that opportunity become a reality, but the rest is history so they say.
What an honor to have known those legends. Shemekia is energetic, has a powerful voice and a lot of emotion in her music. She can move an audience. Having known Johnny, would you say that talent is hereditary?
Oh, of course it is in her case. In general, who knows? I think your environment and whatever you`re surrounded by is definitely a factor in what you become, but on the other side of the coin, some people just have it.
