Early In the Morning - Al Hill & the Love Butlers

Al Hill is a soul singer, a blues/boogie piano master, and an guitarist. Ace song writing and a funky horn section complete the package.

Genre: Blues: Rhythm & Blues http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alhilllb

Al Hill is what blues, rock, country and jazz have in common. Thumping a shuffle, rocking the 88s, or honeydripping a ballad, his American roots music grabs a careening modern world and brings it back to earth. Al's debut CD “Willie Mae” blended blues, soul and some expert boogie-woogie on eight rootsy originals and four reworked classics. "Willie Mae" was voted "Best CD" at the Motor Cities Blues Awards in '99, Al and his band won the "Best Unsigned Band" competition, held at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago in 2000, and Al was voted "Outstanding Blues Artist" at the Motor City Music Awards in 2005. All Music Guide says "One of the most exciting of the roots blues bands to ever come from Ann Arbor/Metro Detroit, pianist/guitarist/vocalist Hill has everything going his way. He has a clear, distinctive, soulful voice, his guitar or piano playing tasty and literate... Highly recommended..." In 2008 Al was inspired to move south and now calls Nashville home.

Since 2002 Al has been music director for two-time Grammy nominee Bettye Lavette. Since then, the Lavette band has played festival and concert venues throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Japan and Australia, with Al often opening the show. The Lavette band has performed on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Austin City Limits.

Al is currently collaborating with long-time Lee Rocker guitarist Brophy Dale on a record of roots-rock rhythm & blues. A mutual friend who passed away two years ago wanted them to make the record they never did when they were tearing up the Southeast Michigan scene in the '80s, and the project is a gift to her. With Al in Nashville and Brophy in L.A., they're finding time to record between their respective tour dates. A record release and live shows will be announced.

When not touring with Ms. Lavette, Al accompanies his wife Whit Hill in her alt-folk-country band The Postcards, releasing "We Are Here" in 2003, and "Farsighted" three years later. He also finds time to perform and record his own songs, collaborate with friends, work as a freelance sideman and teach.

Al has performed or recorded with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Johnny Johnson and Wanda Jackson, Delbert McClinton, Lazy Lester, Marva Wright, T. Graham Brown, Detroit blues luminaries Johnnie Bassett, Alberta Adams and Sir Mack Rice, Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Kermit Ruffins, Harper, and rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef. http://www.alhillblues.com/bio.html Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.