Teeny Tucker Band profile picture

Teeny Tucker Band

Teeny Sings Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle!

About Me

The Official Teeny Tucker Web Site' http://www.roberthughes.net/teeny_12-16-07/music.htm ____________________________________________________________ __

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Teeny Tucker BIO

    Many Blues singers claim to be Authentic. Teeny Tucker doesn’t make that claim. Teeny Tucker is already the real deal!

Let’s see what other industry giants have to say about her;

“Teeny satisfies on all accounts. Killer Band, superior sound, impressive songs, and a singer with pipes, taste and control.” Blues Review Magazine

“Not simply a powerful voice, Teeny Tucker is a wonderful singer who knows when to shout and when to whisper.” D C Blues News

“She knows how to work the crowd. Teeny is blessed with Genuine Star Quality.” Columbus Monthly Magazine

“A big voiced Blues singer. “First Class Woman” puts Teeny firmly in the front ranks of women Blues singers and heralds a major talent. Jeff Harris of Bad Dog Blues

“One of the outstanding up-and-coming female Blues artists on the scene today. I am expecting great things of her in the future.” Bruce Igluaer Alligator Records

“Teeny has what everybody likes to hear. She’s got the low-down for Blues; she’s got the swing for a jazzy sound. She’s got Gospel, and a lotta soul, she’s very musical. Teeny can paint a picture with words.” Kaz Kazanoff

TEENY TUCKER BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Although Teeny was born into Blues royalty, (Daughter of Tommy Tucker) one need only to hear Teeny to know that she has cultivated and developed her “gifts” into her very own uniquely compelling “world-class” package.

As a child, this Dayton Ohio native began singing in the church choir. This experience, like so many other “soulful” success stories, undoubtedly began to chart the course of Teeny’s music career. The paths which would lead to her abilities to musically interpret with soulful, bluesy, and uniquely stylistic renderings were set.

A 1994 performance at the Apollo Theatre won over the notoriously cruel and scrutinizing audience which earned Teeny a standing ovation. Encouraged by the Apollo experience, Teeny started her professional singing career in November 1996 when she caught the attention of a German Blues promoter and manager who had promoted European tours for her Father. Since then, her musical journey has seen Teeny performing at many of the major Blues Festivals in the US, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. Teeny was selected to appear on the cover of July/August 2004 edition of King Biscuit Time Magazine accompanied by a featured story of her musical journey.

Teeny has been invited to appear on the same bill with great blues artists such as: BB King, KoKo Taylor, Etta James, Buddy Guy, The Holmes Brothers, Calvin Owens, Robert Cray, and many others.

Teeny wrote 8 of the 11 songs on her second CD, titled “First Class Woman.” which can be heard in rotation on XM Satellite, Music Choice and Blues radio stations all over the country. Her songwriting abilities earned Teeny a place as a top-ten finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Teeny is a two-time, top-three finalist in the International Blues Challenge which is held annually in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 2005-2006 Teeny recently took some time off after a long eight year tour and has emerged with an exciting, and unique, third CD project. The goal of the new CD is to honor and pay tribute to two underappreciated, great and talented female Blues Giants of the past: Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle.

Teeny, who spent a year in research and development, sees this CD as a “labor of love.” Teeny, is aided by Robert Hughes who serves as executive producer on the project. Robert is a blues historian, guitar player, and world renowned photographer. Although Teeny has received admirable recognition for her projects prior to this CD, this is the one that should clearly catapult her into the ranks of the great women blues singers who have “paid the “heavy load” dues.”

It may be an understatement to declare that Teeny possesses that rare vocal quality which can effectively “deliver” most any type of music style. Teeny’s personal choice is to inject her music with that “bluesy” feel.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the Teeny Tucker experience. Teeny is most definitely one of America’s most gifted and finest musical resources.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/19/2007
Band Website: roberthughes.net/teeny_12-16-07/index.htm
Band Members:
Influences:
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MY INFLUENCES: - By Teeny Tucker

My influences include:

    Tommy Tucker who is my father (See info below) Etta James Big Maybelle Ko Ko Taylor

Tommy Tucker is better known as the “Hi Heel Sneaker Man.” Tommy Tucker (born Robert Higginbotham, March 5, 1933 - January 22, 1982) was an American blues singer and pianist. He was born in Springfield, Ohio. He is best known for the 1964 hit "High Heel Sneakers" that went to number 11 on the Top 40 U.S. chart.

Over 200 artists have recorded this song. These include Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis on a youtube.com video and numerous LP's and CD's, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCarthy, Sammy Davis Jr., Janis Joplin, Jose Feliciano, Tom Jones, John Lee Hooker, Cleo Laine, Pharoah Sanders, Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead and Ramsey Lewis.

There are many videos on youtube.com with performances by The Searchers on Shindig!, Zsa Zsa Gabor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Sting, The Mummies, a garage band, and many more. The song has appeared in several documentaries, for example The Who's Quadrophenia, the HBO special The Promiseland, motion pictures, e.g. Lion of Africa, Lackawanna Blues, Frankie's House, commercial jingles and television such as Late Night with David Letterman, sitcoms Rags to Riches, Redd Foxx Show, plus sporting events such as the women's NCAA Basketball Championship. In England there is a racehorse named High Heel Sneakers, in the Netherlands a musical group also.

Tommy Tucker’s follow-up, 'Long Tall Shorty', was less successful. Robert Higginbotham is also the father of an up and coming Blues artist by the name of "Teeny Tucker", real name Regina Westbrook, and a cousin named Joan Higginbotham a U.S. female astronaut launching November 2006 on the space shuttle Discovery

Famous entertainers that have played on his LP's are Louisiana Red, Willie Dixon, Donny Hathaway, etc. Robert Higginbotham was also a freelance journalist for a local magazine in East Orange, N.J. while selling real estate. Robert Higginbotham also co-wrote a song with Atlantic Records founder executive Ahmet Ertegun called 'My Girl (I Really Love Her So). High Heel Sneakers was voted in the Top 5 as a rhythm and blues standard.

Tommy Tuckers material continues to appeal to generations of fans. He still has four albums selling in Europe and over the internet through the Red Lightnin' label owned by Peter Sherster. The opening stanza "Put on your red dress, mama/'cause you're going out tonight" was used as the theme song at the beginning of a mid-1980's TV commercial for Fresh Start laundry detergent. The action: a mother receives a phone call from her husband saying that they were going out, the woman searches frantically for her red dress, only to find her daughter wearing it while playing "grown up". The mother then washes it quickly in time to "go out tonight


Sounds Like: Teeny Tucker Official Web Site

To purchase the new Teeny Tucker CD, Please use the following link: http://www.roberthughes.net/teeny_12-16-07/index.htm ____________________________________________________________ __

Links & Reviews:

Review in the Inland Empire Blues Society

http://www.ieblues.org/Teeny_Tucker_Review.html

Review on Bad Dog Blues

http://www.baddogblues.com/archives/10.03/reviews2.htm

Mentioned in Jazz Now

http://www.jazznow.com/0804/0804B%26B.html

Interview in Blues Revue

http://www.bluesrevue.com/tucker.html

Credited by Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff

http://www.markkazanoff.com/credits.html

Pictures of Teeny and her band on Dance Columbus

http://www.dancemetonight.com/snapz-teeny_drivin_wheel.htm

Article in Ohio Magazine

http://www.ohiomagazine.com/OhioTravel/teenytucker

Bob Hughes (Myspace reference) http://www.myspace.com/hughesmuse
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

See CD Reviews at this site

www.roberthughes.net/teeny_12-16-07/biography.htm - 11k
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Wed, 21 May 2008 06:40:00 PST

Teeny Interviews With Upcoming Blues Revue Magazine

www.bluesrevue.com/upcoming.html   ..TR> Upcoming Issue Coming soon: Our August/September 2008 issue will feature a cover story on guitarist Sonny Landreth. We'll also interview West Coast bl...
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Wed, 21 May 2008 06:14:00 PST

Teeny Plays the Colony Theatre in Marietta, OH

http://www.colonytheatre.com/
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:33:00 PST

Click below for website on Teeny Tucker

..TR vAlign=top> The Official Teeny Tucker Web Site' http://www.roberthughes.net/teeny_12-16-07/music.htm ..TABLE>...
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Thu, 01 May 2008 06:09:00 PST

Blues Foundation, Memphis TN

http://www.blues.org/
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:14:00 PST

Teeny Plays on XM Satellite Radio (Bluesville)

http://www.xmfan.com/guide.php?q=Teeny%20Tucker&mode=art istContact Bill Wax at XM Satellite Bluesville to hear your favorite blues!...
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:40:00 PST

Teeny Tuckers "Two Big Ms"

http://usabluenews.com/bluesartists/teenyt.htm
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:43:00 PST

Teeny Featured in Women In Jazz South Florida, Inc

http://www.fyicomminc.com/jazzwomen/newsletter/2008/february 08.htm ...
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:05:00 PST

2008 Monterey Bay Blues Festival Line Up

http://www.montereyblues.com/schedule.html
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:12:00 PST

Teeny Tucker Band playing each Sunday on Jazz 103.5

Please listen for weeks to come.  Teeny Tucker CD "Two Big M’s" is playing each Sunday night in Columbus, Ohio. Fritz the Nite Owl Jazz. Smooth Jazz WJZA 103.5FM/104.3FM Sunday 9pm to 12 M...
Posted by Teeny Tucker Band on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:44:00 PST