Oklahoma born and raised singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Griffin is not only the tallest man in the blues (standing 6 feet and 10 inches), he is de facto a true giant of the business. Being an imposing figure on stage with his weight of 385 pounds, Griffin is a highly respected recording artist with three Waldoxy albums to his credit and a touring pace of 225 nights a year, and nothing is said of the various session jobs! With Little Milton and Mike Bloomfield as his biggest influences, Griffin left the blues circuit of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1986 and relocated in Nashville, Tennessee. There he formed his famous Unknown Blues Band in 1987 after meeting like-minded musicians at weekly jams. His signing with Malaco sibsidiary Waldoxy in 1992 proved to be the turning point for Mike Griffin & The Unknown Blues Band. They were no longer just regional favorites, as they toured steadily after their "Back on the Streets Again" album debut and the fact that their songs got played on blues radio shows nationwide. After meeting his idol Little Milton in 1993, Griffin was invited to be a featured artist and a sideman for the monthlong "Malaco Europe '93" tour, which also included Denise LaSalle and Latimore. For him it was like a dream come true. In 1997 with his Waldox contract about to expire, Griffin started thinking about the fascinating idea of recording an album just for Harley Davidson fans. He always wanted to do a biker's project, but it was the driving force of his brother and the stimulation of his own gang that finally got the ball rollin'. Entitled "Harley in the Rain", Griffin recorded a well-balanced mixture of originals and all-time classics like Lowell George's "Willin'" and Alain Toussaint's "Get Out Of My Life Woman". With a no-nonsense production and a strict four piece line-up he offers the 10 numbers in a direct muscular guitar sound that is equally suited to blues, soul, rock and funk. "Harley in the Rain" marks the stunning crossover release of the artist Big Mike Griffin that truly confirms him as a major talent on the current scene.
lineup:
Mike Griffin - Guitar, lead vocals Steve Vines - bass guitar Johnny Bird - Drums Jim Michie - Keyboards
Tracks: 1. Harley In The Rain 2. Figure of Speech 3. Self Defense 4. Willin’ 5. Shovel Head 6. Harley Blues 7. You’ll Know 8. Ain’t Superstitious 9. Get Outta’ My Life 10. Old Maid
