Rob Thorworth

Rob Thorworth – - frontman for the blues-rock trios Gravy and The Rob Thorworth Trio – moves from high-energy roots rock to the music that inspired him back when he was growing up in Mobile, Alabama. Dig it up, Thorworth’s third full-length release on his own Heapin’ Helpin’ records, shows an attention to detail. The detail of songs and songcraft.After a playing the college circuit in the 80s, Thorworth set out to improve his music by studying its root -The Blues. Throughout the 90s he fronted the aforementioned power trios working on his guitar chops and songwriting in the blues form. He was signed to the independent label Kudzu Records and released Gravy’s From the Hip in ’94. After a series of member changes and common music industry pitfalls he released Life is Suffering under his own name and label in ’98.Selling more than 15,000 copies of his first two records, largely on the strength the his live shows, Thorworth received attention from numerous publications including Billboard, Guitar World, Blues Access, Vintage Guitar Magazine and Men’s Journal. During the constant roadwork of the 90s, Thorworth had the privilege of touring and opening for blues greats Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Robert Cray, Jimmy Vaughn, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. "I think the blues thing was indispensable in my evolution as a songwriter as after all, blues really is the root of all popular music. This period also allowed me to develop my guitar style and skills. However, in my mind I think claiming to be a bluesman is a stretch”, Thorworth offers.Although a student of the style, Thorworth never claimed to be a bluesman. In fact, his rootsy music crossed over enough to also land him shows with The Allman Brothers, Joan Osborne, and Widespread Panic. Carlos Santana gave him a “beautiful” thumbs up, and he’s shared the stage with Warren Haynes and the late Alan Woody of Gov’t Mule.After touring behind Life is Suffering, Thorworth decided it was time for a major change. In 2000 he relocated from Alabama to the Baltimore/DC area to focus on his songwriting and build a following in the new direction of his music. Since then, Thorworth has fast become a standout in the local music scene. In 2004, he came from nowhere to win the ONTAP magazine (DC) sponsored singer-songwriter competition, which sent him to Austin, TX, to play at South By Southwest, the nation’s largest music festival.Now settled in Baltimore, Thorworth plans to release and tour behind the new record. Dig It Up offers up a tight mix of blues-tinged ballads and powerful rock and roll. The record proves that Thorworth’s plan to depart from the South and his blues roots will certainly gain him new fans, but old fans won’t be disappointed.After all, you can take the boy out of the South, but if you listen closely, you can still hear a Southern drawl.