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• ø • ∆ • PROGRESSIVE BLUES FOR THE 21st. CENTURY • ∆ • ø •
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"MONICA DUPONT SINGS LIKE MUDDY WATERS
AND LOOKS LIKE MARY TYLER-MOORE !"
~ RALPH J. GLEASON, 1968.
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WALTER Q. FOXX, HAD TO FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF.
HERE IS THE REVIEW HE WROTE IN 1981, FOR
REVIVAL MAGAZINE, HOLLAND,
"I was nursing a beer at the bar waiting for Monica Dupont
and her band to start their first set.
How can a woman “sing like Muddy Waters & look like
Mary Tyler Moore�
That’s what I wanted to find out.
I had to see and hear her in person and that’s what
dragged me down to the club. I’ve always had a soft
spot for weird combinations.
When she sang, her voice was deep but nothing
like I’d expected. There is no husk or rough edge
in Monica’s voice. It is as smooth and sweet as
pumpkin pie with whipped cream and a tall glass
of buttermilk. When she reached for a high note,
the sounds sent chills down my spine !
She has a unique style, totally original even when
doing someone else’s song.
She isn’t a Blues Lady in the mold of the famous ones.
She doesn’t play the same kind of songs, doesn’t carry
herself like them, doesn’t speak of the black woman’s
experience, yet, Monica Dupont, is just as much an
authentic part of the Blues as any of the Great Ladies !!"
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TOM MAZZOLINI, 1983
founder, SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL
Monica Dupont is a guitarist and singer whose unusual
vocal delivery has resulted in some extraordinary singles
- especially her sardonic, "Try to find Another Man"!
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LEE HILDEBRAND, 1980
Monica Dupont is a deep voiced young woman who sounds
like she was born in Mississippi 80 years ago."
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"ROOTSTIME", MARCIE, 2008
"When you hear the voice of Monica Dupont, it makes you
think of the deep, dark blues voice of someone like
Howlin' Wolf, but not of a female blues voice.
This is a really great thing.
Monica plays guitar and with her low, soulful, experienced
voice she brings deepness and feeling into all of her songs."
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"BLUES BLAST", 2008
JAMES "SKYY DOBRO" WALKER
"Since literally everyone has a unique voice sound, is it possible
for some people's voices to be "more unique" than others?
In Monica's case, "yes!"
If ever there was a voice made to sing the blues, she has one."
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* A B O U T * M O N I C A * D U P O N T *
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Legendary Blues singer/guitar player/songwriter, Monica Dupont
returns after a 25 year absence from music, at the age of 60, with
a CD of diverse and thoroughly modern Blues. Her exceptional,
original songs showcase her powerful, unique vocal style.
She has had quite a career, fronting bands led by Blues greats,
Johnny Heartsman, Luther Tucker, Mel Brown, Bobby Forte',
Tom McFarland and many others.
Her drummer for several years was Ron Wilson, of the Surfaris,
the man responsible for the classic drum solo on " Wipeout ".
She recorded several notable 45 rpm records, including, " Try
To Find Another Man ", " Screamin' For My Freedom " and her
1975 first recording of, "Too Much Alcohol ".
She's on Blues compilation records, such as JSP Records',
"Going to California ", with Roy Brown and Sugarcane Harris.
Monica was a respected bandleader, singer and guitar player
throughout her career, as well as being well known for her
excellent, original material, which was performed by many local
bands, such as " Lamb "and Janis Joplin.
While on the thriving Oakland/San Francisco Blues scene, from
1975 until 1983, she played all of the Blues clubs and after hour
juke joints, while also appearing at the top venues in the area.
She is especially proud of the fact that she got the chance to play
at the world famous, original, " Hungry i ", in San Francisco's,
North Beach and that her band was the only Blues band chosen
by BAM Magazine to play at the historical,"Rock Against Racism".
Her band at the time , consisted of her husband, Bard Dupont,
former bass player for "The Great Society",( Grace Slick's first
band), the legendary, infamous, "Fast Floyd", from Mink Deville
on guitar - and the master of the chromatic harmonica, Red
Archibald, who sadly passed away just before he could record
on this new CD of Monica's. She played 4 to 6 days a week in
those days and when not fronting her own band, she was hired,
regularly as a guitar player by many top Blues musicians.
Monica gave up music in 1983, at the height of her career, when
she suffered a stroke. Owner of " Eli's Mile High Club ", and close
friend, Troyce Key, would not let her stop. He believed in her and
helped her through almost 8 months of grueling physical therapy
to prepare for what was to be her last performance, the 1983
San Francisco Blues festival, with Blues royalty, Willie Dixon
Albert King and more. She was not able to play her guitar, JB
(named after her friend, JB Hutto), due to the damage the stroke
had done to her hands, but managed to sing 2 songs.
" It was a great way to retire ! " she is quoted as saying.
Monica, then moved to Hollywood and became a successful
Television writer and show host, as well as creating and
publishing a book of art and Beat poetry, entitled " Windows ".
It was sold exclusively at prestigious places like, The Los
Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and City Lights Books, in
San Francisco.
In early 2000, she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to
peacefully live with her cat and her memories. This was not to
be, as in 2004, some of her early recordings were reissued on a
CD titled, " Early Eighties " released by Hoddyman Records.
Soon, Monica started getting favorable reviews, airplay all over
the world, plus fan letters and gifts in the mail.
Encouraged by all this, she called old friends, musicians that
she hadn't spoken to in over 25 years and asked them if they
would record a new Blues album with her.
Every one of them agreed eagerly. All of the talented players
on this album added their talents out of love and respect for
Monica and her music. Some of them contributed their finest
work ever,
This album is a beautiful and inspired musical gathering !
Monica wrote 7 of the 10 songs on this CD and they were
written specifically to showcase the diversity of her music
and of Blues music in general. They are each very different, but
share the Blues root. Peel away the layers of each tune, (except
for " The Man from New Orleans ", which is stripped down to 2
guitars playing classic Delta Blues) and you have a standard
Blues with lively embellishment and an original fresh approach.
" Life Goes On " is being critically acclaimed as Monica Dupont's
finest work to date and we hope it gets your feet tapping and
brings a smile to your face !!!
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" LIFE GOES ON "
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BLUES ART JOURNAL, MARIA BAINER, 2008
" Truly a showcase of diverse, great Blues, featuring
astounding performers and great production values.
Monica's powerful vocals are mature, deep, rich,
unforgettable and full of surprises.
The shades of blues are positive and the feeling is there.
This is a musical statement from a strong woman
who really has something to say!! "
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BLUES BLAST, JAMES "SKYY DOBRO" WALKER, 2008
" Blues fans take note: this album is real-deal and well worthy
of your attention. "
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BLUES ART JOURNAL, NORMAN DARWEN, 2008
" This is a fine and exciting set of classy blues, both rough
and smooth ."
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CAVETT HUGHES, "THE RAVINES", 2008
" LIFE GOES ON" has grooves that will never wear out,
no matter how hard you try. "
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RON THOMPSON'S guitar playing on "LIFE GOES ON"
by EDDIE NEON, 2008
"I'm a Blues guitar player with a discerning ear - you gotta have the
real stuff to impress me and the first time I saw Ron Thompson play,
I became a fan. I've seen many of his shows over the past decade
and I am always amazed by his proficiency in style and the way he
compliments the melody of a song.
His varied talents are displayed to the max on "Life Goes On",
from the title track, a powerful slow Blues with an outstanding solo,
to the hard drivin' boogie, "When I'm Gone" to "The Man from
New Orleans", which is pure, raw roots music at it's best. It's a
wonderful testament to Ron's versatility as a guitarist, switching
from traditional, acoustic slide Delta Blues to full force electrified
tones in a heartbeat.
His work is sterling on this CD - stand out quality !!!"
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Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting Here is contact information for all the musicians on the CD
RON THOMPSON,Guitar~myspace/ronthompsonblues6699ff
MITCH WOODS, Piano~myspace.com/mitchwoodsrocket88s
MARK HUMMEL, Harmonica ~ www.markhummel.com
MICROWAVE DAVE, Guitar ~ myspace/mdandn
WOLFIE WITCHER,[email protected]
BLAINE HOOPES, Saxophone ~ www.sense.net/~blaine/
BOBBIE WEBB, Saxophone~myspace/bobbiewebb
KENNETH NASH, Percussion.~ myspace/kennethnash
BUZZY LINHART, Vibes ~ myspace/buzzylinhart
SHAWNKA SHEPARD, Piano ~ R.I.P.2008
BOBBY YOUNG, Guitar ~ myspace/thebobbyyoungproject
JIMI JAMES, Guitar [email protected]
VICTOR PUEBLA,[email protected]
NANCY LEE ERICKSEN,Backup Vocals, contact through Monica
CAVETT HUGHES,The Ravines,Backup Vocals~myspace/ravines
GRIF TORRES, The Ravines, Backup Vocals ~ myspace/ravines
PRODUCED by GARY NOVAK, [email protected]
Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Drums, Backup Vocals and everything else
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( please point arrow at the middle of each picture to see name of musician )
TOP FRIENDS ~ THE GREAT MUSICIANS ON "LIFE GOES ON"
