Coco Montoya
This extraordinary musician is familiar to every blues fan. John Mayall conferred the knightly accolade to Coco when he made him a Bluesbreaker. In this league, he became famous for his guitar duels with Walter Trout. With a biting sound that he once learned from Albert Collins, he established his reputation within short time and after his years with Mayall, Montoya landed a record contract with none other than Chicago´s premier blues label Alligator Records where he recorded several albums. Montoya has recently signed with Ruf and is currantly recording his label debut with Keb Mo producing entitled “I Want It All Back“.
She may carry the name of one of Verdi´s most famous operas but her roots are set amidst the “Deep South”. It’s Soul, baby…Nothing but Soul. The US born entertainer has lived in Europe and currently resides in Canada. Performing Live is her “life blood”. Shakura achieved her big success in the middle of the region where her roots lie: It was in Memphis at the prestigious International Blues Challenge 2008 where she earned the second runner-up position. The Afro-American singer counts Tina Turner among her idols as well as Etta James. Shakura worked with R&B-singer Ruth Brown and has songs of the legendary blues singer Memphis Minnie in her songbook. Her debut with RUF is going to be released soon.
This young woman is deep into the survival stories of blues-rock; the sins of legendary blues singers who co-invented rock & roll accompanying her - Koko Taylor or Etta James: The queen bees of their guild. Not to forget their children, front and center - Janis Joplin. Meena´s real name is Martina. She slipped out of her nest in Upper Austria and moved to Vienna after meeting her most favoured guitar player. RUF spotted her talent and is now working on her career. At the behest of RUF, Meena recently flew to Memphis to record her first international album with producer legend Jim Gaines and the crew of studio musicians that already cut the final studio albums of the late great Luther Allison.
