Jacksonville, FLA. (Top40 Charts/ Jomar Records) - Tucker, an electric guitar virtuoso in the mould of a
Jimi Hendrix or a Stevie Ray Vaughan, is a veteran musician of 20 years. He has been endorsed by none other than legendary Gospel singer Larry Norman, and received rave reviews for his previous album,
Kings of Cannelburg Road, recorded as Ken Tucker and Back Porch Pilgrims (a duo made up of Tucker and Josh Hammond).
Looking For A Brighter Day is a collection of smoking blues songs based around Tucker's playing, which is technically immaculate at the same time as being truly soulful. Tracks such as a riotous blues romp Guitar Man are sure to get audiences' feet tapping, while Call Me Up is a Bo Diddley-esque piece of loud blues-rock.
Like any bona-fide blues musician, Ken is all about authenticity and putting his heart and soul into the music: "As far as my playing and singing goes, it comes down to believing what I am playing and singing about. When I play, I try to bleed every note I play and when I sing, I try to be the person in the song and feel what they feel, be it joy or anxiety. I write songs that are in direct relation with my life and experiences on a daily basis."
Ken was in love with music from an early age thanks to a mother who taught him the piano, and his father's record collection. But it was at 13, after hearing his brother's copy of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, that he knew music was what he wanted to do with his life. He started obsessively playing guitar with friends, was a member of several bands and gradually learnt the trade of being a performer.
In 1999 he opened for Larry Norman, who remains one of Ken's big admirers. Norman said of him: "I've known a lot of Christian artists in my life. It's hard to describe exactly what it is I feel about Kenny, but I know that regardless of any impact he might have upon the gospel music scene, he will have a much larger effect on the secular citizens he walks among".
Ken's influences, besides Norman, include The Beatles, Ben Harper, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Jim Seprodi. The biggest influence on his life though, is Jesus Christ.
Ken has come into his own recently as a musician. After 20 years playing music for other people as a sideman, Ken is now a solo artist with the freedom to stretch his legs and run. Looking for A Brighter Day is the sound of a man realizing his potential and finding his voice. Ken recently won the coveted Muzak Emerging Artist Award at the renown Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival in West Helena, Arkansas.
