C. W. Stoneking

C. W. Stoneking, full name Christopher William Stoneking ( b. 1974 in Katherine, Northern Territory ) is an Australian blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjo player. He lives in Melbourne and performs both solo and accompanied by his Primitive Horn Orchestra.

Life and Music

Stoneking was born to American parents in March 1974 in northern Australia and grew up to the age of nine when his father, the writer and teacher Billy Marshall Stoneking, in the Aboriginal community at Papunya. Then they moved to Balmain, a suburb of Sydney. At age eleven, Stoneking began playing the guitar and from thirteen he played in various bands mainly acoustic blues. In 1995 he moved from Sydney to Naroghid in rural Victoria and 1997 to Melbourne where he began to perform solo as a blues singer and guitarist in the style of the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1998, C. W. Stoneking with The Blue Tits a band whose occupation consisted of double bass, clarinet and mandolin with Stone King on guitar and vocals. However, the band split one and a half years later after the death of mandolin player. Although the Blue Tits had recorded an album for the Melbourne radio station 3CR, but this was never released commercially. Stoneking made ​​first as a solo artist on. Under the title of King Hokum he took in 2005 on an album of his own compositions, in 2007 by the Swiss record label Voodoo Rhythm Records in Europe was ignored by the critics much after its release in Australia in 2006 and. Radio host Tim Ritchie chose it as album of the year 2006 on Radio National Breakfast. Other awards in Australia followed. Published in 2008, Stoneking Jungle Blues album, which was equally successful. A guest appearance on one track here, the singer Kirsty Fraser.

C. W. Stone Kings music is a mix of popular styles from the first half of the 20th century. He plays with his Primitive Horn Orchestra, a mixture of Hokum Blues, New Orleans jazz, calypso and country Yodels, presented in matching vintage style with a voice that is strongly reminiscent of quieter pieces of Tom Waits.

Awards

• Radio National Breakfast: King Hokum as " Album of the Year 2006"
• ARIA Awards 2007: King Hokum nominated as " Best Blues / Roots Album "
• AIR Awards 2007: "Best Independent Blues Release " for King Hokum
• ARIA Awards 2009: Jungle Blues nominated as " Best Blues / Roots Album ", " Best Independent Release ", " Best Male Artist" and " Best Album Cover "
• AIR Awards 2009: "Best Independent Blues / Roots Album " for Jungle Blues. Also nominated as " Best Independent Album 'and' Independent Artist of the Year".

Discography

• C. W. Stone King ( 1998)
• C. W. Stoneking & The Blue Tits (live - 1999)
• Mississippi & Piedmont Blues 1927-1941 (2006)
• King Hokum (2006)
• Jungle Blues ( 2008)
• Hiram and Huddie - Vol 1 & 2 ( Compilation - 2009)