Stan "The Man" Hedges

"Two Mule Parade" is longtime Tennessee Blues Guitar-Slinger Stan “The Man” Hedges’ first solo project. For Hedges, now 52, it’s been a long time coming! However, from what people are exclaiming after hearing this 12 song project (11 originals, most written in the last two years), its well worth the wait!
Hedges, primarily known as a guitarist, has drawn accolades a-plenty over the years for his guitar work. Now with the release of “Two Mule Parade”, it’s very obvious that “The Man” is the complete package, a singer/songwriter, storyteller/guitarist that has paid his dues and developed an enamoring style that’s all his own.

This project in its entirety is a gem, with its own earthy provocative feel, mixing New Orleans grooves and Kansas City shuffles with “Fat Back” rockers, gritty storytelling and stunning guitar work.
From the eerily nostalgic acoustic-swamp-jazz narrative of the title track “Two Mule Parade”, to the story of a misunderstood ex-con who probably won’t last much longer on the outside in “Angola Cowboy”, it’s plain to see that this CD is rich in character.
“I Can Hear the Delta” is a picturesque longing for a rich musical culture that is slowly dying (reflected by the guitarist’s killer slide work).
Slightly stepping out of his blues bag, the “Americana-esque” “Garden of Pain-Requiem for Billy Collins, Jr.” tells the heart-wrenching true story of Nashville’s Golden Boy boxing contender Billy Collins Jr.’s maiming in the ring of Madison Square Garden by a dishonest opponent’s manager in 1983. The guitar solo and the coda-solo on this song are very strong and emotional, with an almost epic quality.
“Waiting for the Sky to Fall” is a John Lee Hooker type of blues with lyrics that stick; “Sometimes late at night, I hear you call my name, but it’s just the wind outside, bringin’ in the rain”.
“Reach the Light-Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe” is an up-lifting, hand-clapping Gospel vamp that slams home the quest of reaching the one true light.
The grooving minor-blues “Won’t stand the Light of Day” is a scalding attack on racism-past and present-with some great Chromatic Harp lent by “Chicago Charlie” Fink.
In the past, Hedges has exhibited a sly sense of humor and does not disappoint his listeners with the Jump Blues “Snappin’ Turtle Blues”, exhibiting more than an acquaintance with the West Coast swing style and to his better judgment, left clinkers and all in on this first- taker!
“Butter Yo’ Biscuits takes you to the Delta with a smile on your face in this resonator slide number.
The instrumental “Kentucky Skin Tag Salad” is a grooving “Organ Trio Type”, head-cutting contest where Stan and keyboardist Shannon Wickline absolutely “cut loose”!
While not an original, the unique blues version of the traditional spiritual “Wade in the Water” should have most listeners out of their seats and singing with the choir!
This CD should thrill a lot of people searching for something different, but also for those longing for something satisfying and real. What is amazing to see and is really unheard of in this day and age, is the fact that every single song on the CD has received "Airplay in Rotation"!! Not one or two songs, but every song has appealed to the listeners, radio programmers and DJ's around the world. This is a tremendous testament to the legacy this CD is leaving in the minds and hearts of Blues, Americana, Root's, Rock, Alternative, Gospel fans everywhere!!

Updates, Radio Play and Recent Quotes on Stan “The Man” Hedges and Two Mule Parade:

Two Mule Parade hits 11 in Living Blues Magazine April 08 issue Radio Charts!Two Mule Parade hits 11 in “Roots Music Report” Jan 2008

DJ’s Top Picks ’08 Dec. 08 Jan, 09. Steve Cagle “Blues Spectrum”:
“Two Mule Parade” in Steve’s Top Ten List for the Year!!

“Garden Of Pain” signed as soundtrack to Movie “Cornered” due out in April, 2008

“La Hora Del Blues” Vicente Zumel in Barcelona Spain:
"I have been pleasantly surprised with this CD that shows the good work of a musician named Stan Hedges. He is a very professional sensitive musician who displays a wide creativity, together with strong expressiveness on his lyrics, which makes him an acute storyteller…….Attention all talent scouts, you are facing a gifted blues expert. GREAT!!"

The Columbus Dispatch “17 on C.B. Roy's Top 25 CD’s for 2008 Two Mule Parade by Stan Hedges

GTFM 107.9 Rhydyfelin, PONTYPRIDD, CF37 5EA, So. Wales:
“The Blues Show” Bob: 1-8-08 “I have to say that I'm very impressed. The musicianship and the writing are quality. Without question, it's the best new CD I've heard this year!” emailed 1-20-08 to say "I've managed to play your CD a number of times now and confess to remaining very impressed. We'll be playing the track Angola Cowboy on tomorrow night's Blues Show (airing from 10 to midnight - UK Time) to introduce you to our listeners that follow that show. Following this we'll make you our Featured Artist on next week's show and we'll play three tracks from the CD and advise on how to make a purchase. Cheers Bob!” 1-28-08 during “Featured CD Show” Bob says "I think Stan "the Man" is absolutely brilliant, just brilliant. He’s vocally comparable to someone like JJ Cale". Norm says "Yeah, his voice is deep, laidback and just muddy, but I think he sounds like Stan "the Man” Hedges"

“A Great guitar player with a lot of soul”
-Robert Jr. Lockwood

KUNR 88.7 “University of Reno” Reno, NV. Roger Slugg: “I find your music pleasantly different and will be playing the first cut “Won't stand the light of day" on this weekend's show, I would like to do a CD giveaway as a promotion .thanks and keep up the good work thanks again, Roger 01-22-08: I liked your CD so much I programmed two cuts for next week instead of one. Thanks. /1-22-08 "A fine CD. Strong stuff" “I'm featuring your music on 3 different stations!!"
WSHA 88.9 “Shaw University” (Primarily Jazz) Raleigh, NC:
DJ Chella says, "Great CD. Stan “The Man” has Soul. I’m going to put him in our 'Legends' stack." “CD is Absolutely something different and real."
-Brad Martin: Tennessee Press Association, Nov. 2007.
“….startlingly good, both for the quality of the music and the breadth of its territory…… Ought to win a Grammy (seriously)”!
WBOR 91.1 Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. DJ Mike Halmo:
“Man, the CD is just great! Blues the way it should be played with that down home groove and strong but not overbearing vocals.”
-Music City Blues Society “Bluesletter”:
“Makes the hair on your neck standup…a local treasure….possibly Nashville’s most underrated guitarist”
Music City Blues Society Bluesletter.. Review 2-08-08 written by Don Crow:
“A most excellent release…Mighty playing and strong “makes you think” lyrics… Our two favorites, the first being “Garden of Pain- Requiem for Billy Collins Jr.” shows a brilliantly poignant side to Stan’s songwriting, the other is a deep look into inequities, and racial inequalities that have been around for Centuries and don’t seem to be going away in “Won’t stand the light of day”……”Stan Hedges has always been the picture of the consummate bluesman--- a dynamite guitarist and vocalist with a knack for turning a mean lyric. Check out “Two Mule Parade” and …… ENJOY!!!"
WDST 100.1 “Big Joe Fitz” Woodstock, NY:
“Played "Two Mule Parade" Sunday Night 12/30/07; "Nice job on the CD, Stan. Would love to do an interview and feature the CD one night."
WQLN 91.3 Erie, PA. Al Lubiejewski:
“I Love it, “Two Mule Parade” our featured CD on Saturday Blues Show 1-12-08”.
WYEP 91.3 Pittsburgh, PA. Howard Kozy:
“Two Mule Parade” our featured CD for Sat. 1-12-08. It’s a great CD!”
Radio Plus 92.8 Ciechocinek, Poland:
Przemek Draheim says, "I took a good listen to the album and I am very impressed with the music – it is blues, but with a lot of radio potential, thanks to it’s memorable melodies; plus it is so uplifting! Especially the gospel-tinged songs. Stan is a seasoned player and a good leader – his singing is confident and his guitar playing is very tasty – I’m simply in love with the song “Two Mule Parade”. Also not many blues artists today release discs full of their original compositions. Not only that, but Stan’s lyrics are really strong. Together with a professional band made of great players and singers including the gospel voices of David Dansby and Summer Boyd Stan has recorded a CD that deserves to be heard!”
“Arguably, the best Blues Guitarist in the Southeast”
-Miranda Louise: Blues Artist- Planet Records, Nashville, TN
WUTC 88.1 “University of TN. Chattanooga”, Chattanooga, TN:
Cleveland Carlsen says “Dude U sound like Dr.John, It’s Great!! I have been playing it on my show the last two weeks. I think it’s really good. As good as anything Dr John would do!!”
WWCU 90.5 Cullowhee, NC “CB Roy”:
"Two Mule Parade" listed 3 on Top 25 Mostly Blues Airplay.
WLRH 89.3 Huntsville, AL “Microwave Dave Show” UAH Campus
“Has been in rotation for Months now! Stopped playing it for a week but got so many requests, had to put it back in rotation!!!!”
“ROOTSTIME” Belgium Freddy Celis
“Great Guitarist in the mode of Albert Collins or Jimmy Vaughn”, “Blues out of the Blue!”
“There are six songs on this CD that should win Grammy’s” -John Jackson: IPA (CD Baby Review)
KIOS 91.5 Omaha, NE, Mike Jacobs “Blues in the Afternoon”:
Jan 2008: Charted 5; Mar 2008 “Two Mule Parade” charted 18 in Top 25
Blues Beat Satellite Radio: Feb 2008: “Angola Cowboy” listed as 6 on playlist.
WNSI 105.9: Atmore, AL:
Jan 2008: Several Songs in Rotation.
Blues Deluxe Satellite: 1-13 thru 1-19-08 “Won’t Stand The Light of Day” in rotation.
5EFM 88.3 BluesBeat Radio Victor Harbor, Australia. Geoff Pegler
Feb 2008 Bluesbeat Radio: "Snappin' Turtle Blues" listed as 13 on Top 25 Blues Radio Chart reported to Living Blues, Mar 2008 "Bluesbeat Radio" "Snappin' Turtle Blues" charted 17 on Top 25 Blues Radio Chart reported to Living Blues.
WMEB 91.9 “University of Maine” Orono, Me.”Murph” Murphy:
“I've been playing the title track on my show over the past several weeks, we just love it ”.
KZUM 89.3 “Highway Blues Show”, Lincoln, NE,
We've been playing it quite a bit actually", Jan 2008: 3 songs on playlist "I Can Hear the Delta", "Butter Yo’ Bisquits", and "Hammer Down".
”Brilliant”….. “Kentucky Skin Tag Salad (Instrumental) should be required travel music.”
-Brad Martin: Tennessee Press Association, Nov. 2007.
WRVU 91.1 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN:
Several songs in rotation since 12-10-07.
KXCI 91.3 Tuscon:
“Reach The Light” on play-list since 12-29-07, “I can Hear the Delta” on play-list since 1-12-08.
KSJS 90.5 San Jose, CA:
“Garden of Pain” in rotation since 12-10-07.
KVNF 90.9 “World-Wide Net Radio Show” Paonia, CO:
“I Can hear the Delta” in rotation since 12-18-07.
KAFM 88.1 Grand Junction, CO:
“I Can Hear The Delta”, and “Reach The Light” on “Spinitron” rotation since 1-15-08.
WHUS 91.7 Storrs, CT:
Charted 14 in “Top 25” as of Dec 2007. As of 1-31-08, cd charted 13 on “Top 25”. Reported to “Living Blues” magazine 2 months in a row!
KKCR 90.9“Deja Blues Radio Show” Kapaa, HI:
“Redbrick” Meredith “really enjoying CD”, CD on rotation since 1-6-08.
WICN 90.5 “Saturday Night Fish Fry Show” Worcester, MA:
“Two Mule Parade” in rotation since 1-12-08.
WITR 89.7 Rochester, NY “Bad Dog Blues” Gary Reinhard:
“Two Mule Parade" listed 6 on "The Amazing Top 30" Bad Dog Blues Show for March 2008
WHFR 89.3 College Radio, Dearborn, MI:
“Two Mule Parade” on playlist from 1-11-08 to present with various selections being played.
KMSU 89.7 “Minnesota State Univ.” Mankato, MN:
Dec 2007: listed CD 8 on “Living Blues Report”.
KSJS 90.5 San Jose, CA, “Unconscious Desires Show”:
“Garden of Pain” has been played since 1-11-08.
WNTI 91.9“Rocket Science Show” Hackettstown, NJ:
“Greetings! Great new music tonight from Stan 'The Man' Hedges”.
WUSB 90.1 Stoneybrook, NY:
“This CD is Great!”
WWCU 90.5 “CB Roy” Cullowhee, NC:
“I am enjoying this CD, keep your eye on the Living Blues Charts!”
KMOD 97.5 “Smokehouse Blues” Paul Rowlett, Tulsa, OK:
“I Love it, CD hasn't left my CD player. We have been playing it since we got it."
KRVM 91.9 “Sunday Morning Blues” Eugene, OR:
Steve Spoulos, “Love CD, will be playing “Hammer Down” on Sunday Show.”
WKSQ 88.9 DJ Goodtime Charlie Selinsgrove, PA:
Jan 2008: Two Mule Parade charting 15
WQLN 91.3 Erie, PA. Al Lubiejewski, DJ Goodtime Charlie:
“I Love it; “Two Mule Parade” our featured CD on Saturday Blues Show 1-12-08”.
WXPN 88.5 “Blues and Beyond” Philadelphia, PA. Johnny Meister:
“light rotation after MLK day. “Won’t stand the light of day”
Featured song on MLK Day”
WYEP 91.3 Pittsburgh, PA. Howard Kozy:
“Two Mule Parade” our featured CD for Sat. 1-12-08. "It’s a great CD!”
WETS 89.5 Eastern TN State Univ. Johnson City, TN:
“Added 'Two Mule Parade' to our Americana Charts 19.
KTEP 88.5 “University of Texas El Paso” El Paso, TX, Norma Martinez:
Has played cuts from the CD on “The Friday Night Blues Show” since 12-14-07.WIZN 99.9 “Blues for Breakfast” Burlington, VT. Charles Frazier:
“Great CD…Featured CD on our Sunday morning show 1-20-08.”
WVGN 107.3 St. Thomas, VI. Doug Lewis:
“Thank you for this CD”
WUCF 89.9 “Smokestack Lightnin” Show”:
“Top 25 Blues CD” for January 2008. (playing “Waiting for the sky to fall” a lot.)
WBSD 89.1 Burlington, WI. Terry Havel:
“This CD has been played on our Blues Programs since we received it and is being reported to Living Blues”.
WORT 89.9 Madison, WI. Art Schuna:
“01-11-08: "Stan, you really are the Man!! I'll get Two Mule up on my next show."
WWSP 89.9 Stevens Point, WI. David Carrigan:
01-14-08: "Two Mule Parade on "Blues Cafe" New Year Eve Show; 01-13-08: added "Wade in the Water to playlist"; recently added "Butter Yo' Bisquits" to the rotation.”
RADIO HOSTELBRO 97.4, Hostelbro, Denmark. Kjell Andreassen:
12-21-07 "Really Great album!", " Will send playlist" “I Can Hear The Delta, and others played since Xmas”
Offener Kanal Bremerhaven 90.7, Bremerhaven, Germany, Erhard Albrecht:
01-16-08 “Thank you very much for sending this fine CD! Your doing a great job.”
Alphen Stad FM 105.4 Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands, Joost Van Steen:
12-16-07: "It will really fit in on the Show, It will be his pleasure to play it and will give it the honor of playing it on the Christmas Day Show; 01-15-08: 'Reach the Light" on playlist 01-08-08.”
WECS 90.1 Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT “Rockin’ the Blues Show”:
“Blues Top 25 @WECS 90.1, “Two Mule Parade” charted at 21 as of 12-31-07. Living Blues”.
”Brilliant….. “Kentucky Skin Tag Salad (Instrumental) should be required travel music.”
-Brad Martin: Tennessee Press Association, Nov. 2007.
and http://cdbaby.com/cd/stanthemanhedges and I-Tunes
- Born in 1957 in the coal mining country of Morganfield (Union County), KY; raised in Uniontown and Paducah, KY; Stan’s was raised in a musically rich environment.
- Stan started playing guitar at 11 years old, learning Folk, Blues, and Country songs by ear. He never had a formal lesson but learned Blues from an old janitor at school named Jessie Carter. After playing any kind of music to make a living, in 81' he decided to concentrate on the music he loved, The Blues.
- While playing on a “Cowboy” Jack Clement produced session for Celinda Pink in the late 80’s, Hedges met harmonica ace “Chicago” Charlie Fink and found a partner in the blues and together immediately started rehearsing Fink’s old band, The Businessmen, and began playing Nashville blues clubs. Charlie married Stan's sister, Nan.
- During a trip to Chicago in 1988 while sitting in with local Blues-man Jimmy Burns at James Cotton’s Cotton Club, Hedges was heard by Blues legend Buddy Guy who tried to persuade Stan to move to Chicago to “ put him to work”, but Stan didn’t relish the idea of living in such a big city and stayed in Tennessee. Also around this same time Hedges was offered the lead guitar spot in an upcoming band "The Kentucky Headhunters" but Stan wanted to stay true to the blues. However, by the early 90’s Hedges had formed his own band, The Mojo Men with harp player and friend, Will "the Hammer" Rhodarmer, Chucki Burke, Abe White, and Dennis Taylor, but continued to play with Chicago Charlie in The Businessmen. He also played with Celinda Pink, Blues Co-Op, Miranda Louise, Homesick James and his Broomdusters, Bobby Bradford, and the 15 piece New Orleans R& B band Hal Newman and the Mystics of Time.
- In the 90’s Stan played with or opened up for a veritable Blues Who’s Who including B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Son Seals, Etta James, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, Pinetop Perkins, Rufus Thomas, The Jelly Roll Kings, Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets with Sam Myers, James Harmon, Billy Branch, Lonnie Mack, Snooky Pryor, Tracy Nelson, Robert Jr. Lockwood, The Thunderbirds, Jackie Pearson and Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers, Dr. John, Jerry “Boogie” McCain, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Various members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie, Jimmy Hall, Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Johnny Shines, The Band, The Kinsey Report, C.J. Chenier, Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, George Thorogood, Frank Frost, Gatemouth Brown, Fingers Taylor, and many others.
- In 1995, The Mojo Men recorded their first CD entitled “Meat n’ Three”. It garnered rave reviews from critics, including Nashville’s supreme critic Robert Oermann. The all original CD is still being played by Blues Stations across the country and Europe and is considered by many to be a classic. With many favorites including “Gas Tank for a Love Machine”, “I Don’t Know If It's True But It Happened to Me”, and “TV Dinner Blues”. In 2003 The Mojo Men were nominated for Nashville’s “Best Electric Blues Band” by the Music City Blues Society.
- Along the way Hedges has lent his guitar to many CD’s and projects including “ Heavy Harp” with Sam Myers and Billy Branch, Miranda Louise’s first release, Hal Newman’s “ Riverboat Rhythm and Blues”, released a Country- Blues project with friend Damon Wherry called "The Hedges Wherry Project", lent his talents to gospel recording artists, The Quicks, and has worked with the country’s best producers including Dan Penn, Cowboy Jack Clement, Joe Scafe, Ronald Lynn, and Randy Liago.
- Hedges is a published songwriter, whose songs have appeared on Dan Ackroyd’s weekly Radio National Blues Hour, King Biscuit Time, and other Blues Stations all over the world.
- Stan’s guitar playing has received accolades from various artist’s and organizations:
“Arguably The best blues guitarist in the Southeast” Miranda Louise
“ A great guitar player with a lot of soul” Robert Jr. Lockwood (Famous blues artist, Chess Records staff guitarist, original performer on King Biscuit Time, and the step-son of Blues fore-father Robert Johnson)
“Nashville’s most underrated Guitarist”, “ Makes the hair on your back stand up”, "A local treasure" “ Possibly one of Nashvilee's most underated guitarists” "A Dynamite Guitarist" Music City Blues Newsletter ROOTSTIME” Belgium Freddy Celis 2-18-08 “Great Guitarist in the mode of Albert Collins or Jimmy Vaughn”,br
- Hedges has performed at The Chicago Blues Festival, The King Biscuit Blues Festival ( 7 times), B.B. King’s Annual Homecoming Blues Festival, The W.C. Handy Blues Festival, The Crawfish Blues Festival, Florence Blues Festival, Birmingham Blues Festival, The Martin Luther King Blues Festival, Down Home Blues Festival, The Legendary Blues Festival, Selma Blues Festival, Nashville’s Summer Lights, Dancin in the District, B.B. King’s Blues Spectacular, Grinders Switch Bikes and Blues, Sonny Boy Williamson Blues Benefit’s, The Exit Inn, 3’rd & Lindsley, Bluesboro, The Sutler, and other National and Regional Blues Clubs.
- Has also done several Live Radio broadcast’s on “ King Biscuit Time” (the legendary radio show that has been broadcasting throughout the Mississippi Delta for 65 years), has appeared on Nashville’s Lighting 100, Vanderbilt’s WRVU Sunday Night Blues Show, as well as the late Charlie Garner's live radio show in Centerville (Broadcast on Centerville's FM 96.7 every Saturday morning at 10:00 am).
With Chicago Charlie & The Businessmen, Stan is currently touring the festival circuit and recording a new Businessmen project (as of yet untitled).
- He has recently lent his guitar talent to several songs by gospel recording artists, The Quicks. Sally Quick is sister to Stan's wife Sandy. You can hear this music at www.thequicksonline.com.
- He surrounds himself with his family; wife of 22 years Sandy, oldest son Dylan 33 and wife April, Jeremy 29 and partner Karen and Jordan 21, along with 28 month old Bernese Mountain Dog "Jaco". Stan is now a proud Grandpa of little man, Skylar.
-Many of you know Stan as the owner of Hedges Fine Art, a wholesale supplier of fine oil paintings www.hedgesfineart.com.