Romeo Presutti - Drums
Jim Werts - Keys
Mark Yinger - Bass
Influences
Starting with James Burton, Dwane Eddy, The Ventures, Roger McGuinn, Clapton, Page, Beck, Hendrix, B.B. King and Wes Montgomery
Vocal Influences Van Morrison, Wilson Pickett Jack Bruce & James Brown
Richard P. Boals & The Soals
Richard played his first professional job with a band, at eleven years of age and knew immediately what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. So he listened to everything that was available. He studied the styles of James Burton, Chuck Berry, Roger McGuinn, Steve Cropper, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and B.B. King.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1973, he toured with George Westermeyer III doing a nightclub show. That was his introduction to the record business. (George Westermeyer and Together Live at the Sangria: Kare Records, 1974) By 1980, he had a band of his own called “Buckskin”. They released a single on the “Blue Ash” label and toured regionally, opening shows for the likes of Waylon Jennings, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Terry Gibbs and Silvia. Over the next thirteen years living in Columbus, Ohio, Richard earned a degree from Ohio State University, played fairs and festivals with “Sugar & Spice and the Studebakers” and did resort work with “The Paradise Island Band”.
In 1985, he started a blues jam session, which continues to this day, every Monday night at “The Dolphin Lounge” in Gahanna, Ohio. Over the years, the jam session not only drew the attention of local musicians wanting to learn how to play blues but was also visited by touring professionals like Oklahoma Blues legend, D.C. Miner, world renouned pick-up designer, Seymour Duncan, and Ronnie Taylor of “Chitterling Circuit” fame.
Richard moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995. There, he took a hiatus from the music business and worked as a lifeguard and scuba instructor. During their time in Denver he wrote, arranged and recorded “Mystic City Mantras” and prepared to enter the world of touring Blues bands. Then, he moved to Albuquerque, having been welcomed with open arms by the local music scene, and worked hand in hand with the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.
Richard’s company, Growlin Bare Records, released “Mystic City Mantras” in October 1997, throwing a huge CD release party at the “Newport Music Hall” in Columbus, Ohio. Then in February of 1998, he made a five-week promotion tour of the Deep South and part of the east coast and plans were made for a year of touring. The band found great success in nearly every club they played. In spring of 1998, they recorded “Pieces From the Eclipse” and made preparations to tour again. The band continued to make headway getting more gigs, larger crowds, and the notice of people from Tone Cool Records, Alligator Records, Icehouse Records and management people throughout the country. Richard’s partners at Growlin Bare Records made an unprecedented decision to release his acoustic CD, “On A Different Path” on July 1, 1999 and then, “Access Denied” on October 1, 1999.
While on tour in Florida supporting “Access Denied”, Richard met up with Geoffrey Blumenauer whom he had introduced himself to when he promoted “Mystic City Mantras”. Geoff became excited listening to “Access Denied” and within two months he had secured a deal with JSP Records of London, England for an album working with “Handy Award” winning producer, Jimmy Morello. The CD, “That’s the Truth”, recorded at Pacifica Studios in Los Angeles, California in February of 2000 and the album met critical acclaim worldwide. After 6 years of touring 200 dates a year the decision was made to cut back the tour schedule and once again Richard is calling Columbus, Ohio home.
In June of 2000 Richard once again took the reins of the Monday Night Jam Session at the Dolphin Lounge less than a mile from where he grew up in Gahanna, OH. and in April of 2001 Richard recorded “Live @ the Dolphin” in hopes of capturing some of the feel that the room has developed over the years of blues it has supported on Monday nights. The CD was released on Growlin Bare in September 2001 and has enjoyed strong acceptance among Richard’s fans, the numbers of which continue to grow. The session continues to grow and prosper
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