Author Rod Evans, left, with blues legend Grady Gaines.
New book examines life of Houston blues legend
Bay Area Houston Magazine contributing writer Rod Evans is the co-author of the recently released book titled “I’ve Been Out There: On the Road with Legends of Rock ‘n Roll” with Houston saxophone legend Grady Gaines. The book, published by Texas A&M University Press, examines the amazing 60-plus year career of Gaines, who speaks candidly about life on the road supporting some of the biggest names in blues, soul and R&B.
This annotated autobiographical account contains anecdotes about life on the road and in the studio, along with archival photos. It affords readers a glimpse into the creative makeup of a man whose distinctive sax playing powered some of the most popular songs of the 1950s, helped define the genre and mesmerized countless audiences.
“I had seen Grady and his band perform a few times since the early ‘90s, but I didn’t know he had played with so many iconic performers until about four years ago,” Evans said. “We had worked together on an article for a music magazine and after we finished that, I asked him if he’d ever considered writing a book about his life. His distinctive sound played a huge role in the birth of rock ‘n roll and he continues to enjoy an astounding career.”
In the 1950s, as the leader and musical director of the Upsetters, the original backing band for rock pioneer Little Richard, Gaines first exposed the music world to his unique brand of “honkin’” bombastic, attitude-drenched saxophone playing during Richard’s biggest hit-making era.
In the 1960s, the Upsetters became the backing band for Sam Cooke and Little Willie John and crisscrossed the country as the go-to-band for revue-style tours featuring James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Supremes, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John and Etta James. Grady continues to perform today as leader of Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters.
The book is available online at Gradygaines.com, TAMUpress.com and Amazon.com.
