Andy
Walo, grew up in Stockholm, Sweden as the youngest
of five children. As each of his siblings grew
up and left home, he would listen to all of
the great pop records they left behind...mostly
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and
a lot of Motown. For Andy it was like discovering
hidden treasure. At age five he spent nearly
everyday at the turntable listening to The Beatles
White Album, over and over again. His was a
household filled with music. His father played
lots of traditional Jazz records such as Louis
Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman.
His mother was more into Hymns/Spirituals and
Gospel like Mahalia Jackson, but also played
a lot of Classical music. Andy got his first
guitar at age 11 and joined his first band at
age 14, playing Beatles and Stones songs note
for note. A few years later, Jimmy Page and
Led Zeppelin became huge influences as well.
After high school Andy leaned more and more
towards Blues and early Rock and Roll. Andy
remembers, "I saw Albert King on TV one
time...and after that it was all over! Next
it was Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush
and Albert Collins. They all became great influences
in my music." Andy went on to establish
himself as a full-time musician living and performing
in Denmark and England from 1989-1993.
Fast forward. While touring Denmark in 1992,
Chicago Blues artist Aaron Burton (formerly
w/Albert Collins) and his band happened to catch
Andy playing guitar and singing the Blues in
a downtown Copenhagen bar. Aaron and his band
were so impressed by what they saw and heard
that they spent the next three days (and nights)
convincing Andy to return with them to "Blues
Metropol" in Chicago. Per Mr. Burton's
and especially drummer Tino Cortes' invitation
Andy Walo came to Chicago in the spring of 1993
where he quickly established himself in the
legendary Chicago Blues scene. He started out
by sitting in with all the greats, including
Buddy Guy, Jimmy Johnson, Big Time Sarah, Shirley
Johnson and soul singer Otis Clay. Things started
moving rapidly for Andy Walo. On his first American
tours, Andy shared stages with Bo Diddley, J.J.
Cale, Canned Heat, John Hammond Jr., Koko Taylor,
The Ohio Players and classic rock heroes the
Blue Oyster Cult. Andy had the chance to record
his first 10 song CD in 1994 at a Chicago studio.
In 1995, Andy became the lead guitarist for
the late great blues legend Junior Wells. He
spent the next two years touring the world with
Junior Wells and his band. Milestone performances
included the 1996 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage
Festival with the Allman Brothers Band and B.B.
King, performing for audiences of 85,000 and
playing at the prestigious Blue Note Club in
Tokyo, Japan. Andy Walo played on the last recording
Junior Wells made before he died. That album
was, "Junior Wells Live at Buddy Guys Legends"
and was nominated for a Grammy in 1997. The
Junior Wells Alumni Tribute Band played at the
1999 Chicago Blues Festival where Andy, along
with the Band, brought the crowd to a standing
ovation with the classic song, "Love Her
with a Feeling". He also plays lead guitar
on the 2002 newly released CD, "Junior
Wells Around The World."
After five years on the Chicago Blues scene,
Andy relocated to Los Angeles where he co-led
local band The Mama's Boys for two years, recording
two CD’s and assisting the band in becoming
winners of Southern California's Best Unsigned
Blues Band at the 1999 Doheny Blues Festival.
In 2001, Andy Walo started his own band, The
Andy Walo Group. The Andy Walo Group showcases
Andy’s original songs in the Classic Rock
vein of Free and Led Zeppelin coupled with Classic
Chicago Blues. This powerful trio plays 4 to
5 shows a week and performs all over Southern
California where they have built a strong following
after only one year. The Andy Walo Group frequently
visits Chicago, performing at world famous Buddy
Guy’s Legends, where they recently packed
the house for two sold-out nights.
Andy Walo has earned a loyal following in Chicago
and throughout Southern California, as well
as a world-wide reputation among his fellow
musicians as, “The best thing since Peter
Green and early Jimmy Page.” In June 2002
Andy Walo played dates in Tahiti, French Polynesia,
Andy Walo is experiencing international success
and is currently planning to tour the U.S. and
Europe in support of the new CD, "Live
Your Life." Due to strong independent airplay
in Australia 2003-2004, "Live Your Life"
was released by Philadelphia based label Canadian-American
Records for worldwide internet distribution
on all major online record stores in March of
2004.
In August 2004 Andy Walo Group including Dug
Mug & The Thugs played six shows at the
annual Sturgis Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rally
in South Dakota, other artists included Kid
Rock and ZZ TOP.
Andy Walo started working on his new CD for
release in 2006. Stay tuned for more Andy Walo...
the best is yet to come.
"Live
your life the way you want to...Don't live another
man's dream...it won't be for you."*
~Dark,
Bill Messick
[email protected] |
