Big Mike Griffin - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Big Mike Griffin grew up in southern Oklahoma, where he was introduced to music at an early age. " My Dad played so there was always a guitar or fiddle laying around the house. It seems like I've been playing as long as I've been alive." Later, he began listening to blues artists like T-Bone Walker, Paul Butterfield, and Mike Bloomfield. His blues education was further enhanced by late night highway trips to Texas to catch legends like Freddie King, Albert King, and Albert Collins. When the economy faltered in Oklahoma, Griffin set out for Nashville where he began playing wherever he could while finding players along the way who would make up the nucleus of the Unknown Blues Band. As their popularity grew, the band began to appear in front of larger audiences and to perform at such prestigious festivals as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the W.C. Handy Festival. They also expanded their regular touring schedule, traveled to the East Coast and then out West. Big Mike was signed to Malaco Records in 1991 and released three albums under the Waldoxy Label ("Back on the streets", "Gimme What I got Comin" and "Sittin here with Nothin". After playing on his label mates records, and a W.C. Handy song of the year nomination for "Fifth of Whiskey and a case of the blues", he left Malaco in 1997 to start Chrome Link Records with long time friend, John Tubbs and has not looked back. Eight releases ( three on Malaco/ Waldoxy and five on Chrome Link) with thousands of Cd's sold have made him one of the most popular touring acts on the Blues Festival and Bike rally circuit. Some of the artists Big Mike has played with Ray Charles, Dickey Betts, the Swampers, David Allan Coe, Warren Haynes, Mickey Jones, Little Milton, Artie "Bluesboy" White, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Roy Buchannan, Denise LaSalle and Benny Latimore to name a few.2007 finds Big Mike in the AWARD WINNING documentary " Iron City Blues" in which he wrote the original score and stars in. Check out www.ironcityblues.com or go to www.bigmikegriffin for a complete discography and schedule.Booking number is Chrome Link Entertainment (615) 202-6863object width="425" height="350"

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/22/2006
Band Website: bigmikegriffin.com
Band Members: Johnny Bird, "Mighty" Morris McKnight, Fish, Keith Robertson,Rob Price, Steve Vines and Honorary Members, Buddy Miles, Mickey Jones and Bob Babbitt and Chris Tofield
Influences: Mike Bloomfield, Jimi Hendrix, Hollywood fats,Tal Farlow,MuddyWaters, Hubert Sumlin, T-Bone Walker, Howard Roberts, The Three Kings( Albert, B.B.and Freddie) Lightnin Hopkins, Little Milton,Winonie Harris, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, and all bluesmen that make it shake!!
Sounds Like: Big Mike Griffin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Record Label: Chrome Link Records / 580-357-7373 for CD's
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Building a few custom guitars

Hey Ya'll Im building a few new guitars and setting up a website. Check it out at www.bigmikesmightyfineguitars.com If you need a S or T style guitar let me know. Or if you want to talk about a custom...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:16:00 PST

Summer Riding

I know most of you are really hurting from the increase in gas prices during the last couple of months. Trust me, I feel your pain. Its getting harder and harder to tour, especially in the northeast. ...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Wed, 14 May 2008 03:24:00 PST

A little Rant

Its been a while since I have posted a blog, so I'm in the mood to rant a little. Not about music, but the state of our nation. I grew up in a time when the USSR (Russia) and China were our deadly ene...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:47:00 PST

Relic guitars

Call me crazy, but the price that Fender and Gibson custom shops charge to beat your guitar up for you is ludicrous. I guess its the American way to buy crediblility. I remember a day that you tr...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:54:00 PST

My country

I was listening to the radio today and found myself wanting to go back to the 20th century, when I knew that I lived in the safest, most progressive and finest country in the world. I used not t...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Sat, 19 May 2007 10:16:00 PST

Watch out for the Scooter trash

Its that time of year again. Its the season that makes us scooter trash want to get out there and twist the throttle. We can't help it. We are inexplecibly drawn to ride on two wheels and feel the fr...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:55:00 PST

Custom Shop Stuff

When I was learning to play there was only really two choices of electric guitar. Gibson or Fender. We had a big Fender dealer in my town, so everyone played Fenders. The other store had a small ...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:53:00 PST

Guitar Pedals

Ive gotten some requests to discuss pedals. Im not a big pedal guy but I do have my favorites. I have to say my old and trusty Ibanez TS-9 is my favorite all time overdrive. I just use it mostly as a ...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:00:00 PST

Pride and my Prejudice

I have always been a tube amp devotee. Period. And I love the way a vinyl record sounds on a turntable. Of course I dont have a turntable anymore, but I have 3 or four CD players and a phone that...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:42:00 PST

Fender Verses Gibson

People often ask me which is better, Fender or Gibson? I started on a Fender Stratocaster and have always had several Strats and Tele's in my road rig, but that being said, I have always gra...
Posted by Big Mike Griffin on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:39:00 PST