Featured Artist - Fat Daddy

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Featured Artists
November, 1997

Each month we showcase the work of exceptional new artists. Typically these recordings are found on small independent labels. . . and often times are not found in mainstream distribution. So we will introduce you to them here. . . . We think that you will be pleasantly surprised by the talent we've discovered.

Fat Daddy
"Back Where I Started From"

	In the 70's Plainfield Ct. wasn't a bad place to be if you were in the music scene. It was just a couple of hours to New York, Boston, Providence, Hartford, and New Haven; and the nightclubs were abundant. Places like Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Bunraddys, and the Shabboo Inn were running national acts through their doors weekly, and great legends like Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and B.B. King made these places a regular stop. In most bands, members come and go. Mine was no different. I was working these clubs with as many as seven pieces, getting that big band sound with horns, keyboards, and rhythm section. With persistence, longevity, and a lot of practice we earned the privilege of opening the show for all those legends I just mentioned, some I didn't mention, and some more than once.
We were paying our dues, playing the blues, when I met the woman I was destined to spend the rest of my life with. Along with her came two children and the need to raise a family in an environment conducive to producing the fine upstanding adults they have grown to be. This also explains why I ended up in Moneta, Va. Suddenly fifteen years later, and having worked almost as many unfulfilling jobs, and with my music on the back burner, I found myself sitting in front of the tube watching Seinfeld realizing I was missing the boat. My wife, being the angel of support that she is, agreed. And so I immediately set out in search for musicians, dedicated to the blues, who had the same desire as myself. The time off had done me good. I had matured, not just in my thinking, but in my approach to my music. The influences of all the musicians I played with, past and present, the music by the Legends I emulated, had helped me round out my own style of writing. Married life rounded out my character as well as my waistline. My son referring to the latter afectionately titled me "Fat Daddy" - and so here I am today. Working clubs that are not so different from the ones that I played in the 70's, with some of the finest musicians I have ever worked with anywhere, meeting new people who continuously influence my life and the songs I write. I've likened my life to one big taxi cab ride, getting off at different stops, keeping the meter running, and coming back out to find the cabby still waiting, only to do it again. So far it has been a great ride, and I am anxious to see where I'll go next. But life and music eventually come around full circle, and I know that eventually i will end up... Back where I started from. So join me won't you? The meter is running. THE SELECTIONS: Cab Driver Blues* (4.44) Going To Plainfield* (4.25) Son Of Jump (4.41) Let Me Be* (7.56) Caldonia (4.33) Mannish Boy (5.28) Seeing Eye Dog* (6.49) Slick Bottom Shoes* (2.47) She's Got What It Takes* (3.32) Crawdad (3.35) Take Me Home Via Dobro (3.53)
Written by Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers* Recorded by - Tom Ohmsen / Flat 5 Press And Recording Co. Engineered by Tom Ohmsen / Flat 5 Press And Rec. Co. Promotion - Sal Crisafi / CRISAFI PROMOTIONS Bob Schamerhorn - Graphic Artist / INFINITY GRAPHICS Group Photo - Jill Desaulniers Eileen McCall - All Other Photographs
*Cab Driver Blues (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers)* I got me a taxi and I'm going to every bar in town Yea I got me a taxi and I'm going to every bar in town Get me home safely, cabby don't you let me down The first girl I met, I didn't waste any time I said let's cut to the chase honey will it be your place or mine She said buy me a drink first and your place will be just fine So I called the bartender, buddy would you help me please. This girl is so hot she got me feeling weak in the knees Give me a double shot and anything the lady please. She ordered. 1 shot of bourbon 2 shots of gin A bottle of tequila for the mood she was in A triple manhattan, easy on the ice, A round for the bar, just for being so nice, A beer for the door man, A shot for the cop, Bartender keep it coming, don't let it stop. After a while she told me she was ready to leave I said OK Momma that sounds alright by me, But when I picked up the tab I saw a bill I couldn't believe Because, The 1 shot of bourbon, The 2 shots of gin The bottle of tequila, for the mood she was in, The triple manhattan, easy on the ice, The round for the bar just for being so nice The beer for the door man, A tip for the tab, I didn't have a quarter left to call me a cab. I said cabby are you waiting, Cabby are you waiting Cabby are you waiting 'cause I'm barely getting out with my life The next thing you know she's walkin' right out front door She was leaving with some fella that I never seen before She said thanks for the drink, but I really I better go So I was hitch hiking home when a taxi pulled up next to me It was the same old cabby and he said he'd let me ride for free He said I just got off work, won't you let me buy you a drink He ordered, 1 shot of bourbon, 2 shots of gin, A bottle of tequila, for the mood he was in. A triple manhattan, easy on the ice A round for the bar just for being nice A beer for the door man, A quarter for the phone he called another cabby just to get us both home He said, cabby are you waiting, Cabby are you waiting Cabby are you waiting 'cause I'm barely getting out with my life *Going to Plainfield (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers)* I'm going back to Plainfield, 'Cause when I left my best friend stayed I'm going back to Plainfield, 'Cause when I left my best friend stayed We used to get drunk in the night time And play the blues all the next day But down here in Virginia, I stay sober all of the time But down here in Virginia, I stay sober all of the time I got me a real job Just trying to please that little woman of mine When we get back from Plainfield, It'll be just like old times again When we get back from Plainfield, It'll be just like old times again We'll be gettin' drunk in the night time And making music with my friends Now after a week or two I'm gonna ask my buddy to move right in Yea after a week or two I'm gonna ask my old buddy to stay I'm gonna get rid of the wife and the real job 'Cause I'm much happier when I play *Son Of Jump (By James Montgomery & G.B. Bernatch)* Catalina Music Let Me Be (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers) Chorus Let me be, let me be, Let me be the man I used to be Let me be, let me be, Let me be the man I used to be You had to go and change a good thing Look at the mess you made of me On the first night we met You saw what you had Now at the time we'd been drinking And it didn't seem all that bad, But now we've tied the knot All you do is complain Well I'm trying to please you But you're driving me insane Chorus Let me be, etc... At first it was a hair cut And I said "what the heck" But then you threw out my old blue jeans And put a tie around my neck Got rid of my high heel boots Made me wear wing tips I only got one question baby When is it going to quit Chorus Let me be, etc... You said to change all my friends Now that's going too far You made me trade in my old pick up And buy you some kind of foreign car Took away all my drinking gambling and cigarettes And like the dying man that you made me You took away my last request Chorus Let me be, etc.... Caldonia (By Fleecie Moore) Cherio Corporation Mannish Boy (By Muddy Waters) Blue Sky Music Seeing Eye Dog (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers) I gotta get me a seeing eye dog to help me see when my baby ain't no good I gotta get me a seeing eye dog to help me see when my baby ain't no good She must think she's livin' with a blind man 'Cause she don't treat me the way she should She says that she's lovin' only me But she been seen on the other side of town But she been seen on the other side of town She says the prices are goin' down at Wal-Mart over there But I don't think it's the prices that's been goin' down She don't work no regular job, But she always got money to spend She don't work no regular job, But she always got money to spend When I ask her where she's been gettin' it She says she's being gettin' from a friend Telephone ringin' off the wall, Sounds like the voice of another man Telephone ringin' off the wall, Sounds like the voice of another man When I ask her who it was She says just another wrong number again So I bought me a seeing eye dog To help me see when my baby is evil Yea I bought me a seeing eye dog To help me see when my baby is evil 'Cause if this blind man can't keep his woman at home Then I know, This 120 pound, AKC registered, black and tan german shepherd, with the hair standing up on the back of his neck, foaming at the mouth, teeth gnarling, furniture chewing, hole digging, flea bittin', officially police trained seeing eye dog certainly will *She's Got What It Takes (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers)* She gets up in the morning Sharper than a knife She's got her act together She's getting high on life She's a natural, she's a winner She's on top from the moment she wakes And when it comes to dealing with life Yea she's got what it takes A million dollar smile Hair that's perfect too Clothes are right in style She knows just what to do She's a natural, she's a winnner There ain't nothing about her that's fake And when it comes to looking good Yea she's got what it takes Bridge: She can't be bought but she can be had She's not the kind of woman that ever gets mad If there's something she don't like, she'll walk the other way If she can't say something good, she's got nothing to say Lovin her comes easy She's never been untrue She loves me in the mornin' Loves me in the night time too She's a natural, she's a winner She's the finest that the good Lord makes And when it comes to making love Yea she's got what it takes Everybody knows her They love her special ways And if you were to ask them this is what they'd say She's a natural, She's a winner She's on top from the moment she wakes Yea she's got what it takes There ain't nothing about her that's fake Yea she's got what it takes She's the finest that the good Lord made Yea she's got what it takes *Slick Bottom Shoes (By Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers)* I'd been working all week and the mood was just right To take my baby dancing and to hold her tight So I called her on the phone and said how 'bout a date Pick you up at seven honey don't you be late There's a band in town and they're playin' the blues So honey won't you wear your stick bottom shoes When I got to her house she was right on time She was dressed to kill, she was looking fine When we got to the spot all our friends were there Drinking and dancing like they didn't care Out on the floor we had all the right moves 'Cause we were both wearing our slick bottom shoes When the bar closed down we didn't go straight home 'Cause neither one of us felt like being along So we took a little drive under the stars that night Huggin' and kissin' and holdin' her tight I said let's tie the knot we've got nothing to lose Now 10 years later in our little country home When the kids are in bed and we're all alone in front of the couch on the hard wood We get the kind of feeling like we had before We turn up the record of our favorite blues And do the boogie woogie in our slick bottom shoes Crawdad (By J. C. Slim and Greg "Fat Daddy" Desaulniers) Instrumental Take Me Home Via Dobro (By J. C. Slim) Instrumental *Acknowledgments & Thanks* "Some things in life are just meant to be." We have all have heard it said at one time or another generally when our luck has gone bad, and we're trying our best to rationalize why a specific event turned out the way it did. When our original guitarist left the band after recording the first five songs, I was the one trying to rationalize the bad luck by saying it was meant to be. Little did I realize that good fortune was about to strike. I needed a guitarist that knew how to play the blues, and was immediately available to record and gig. J.C. Slim was just that man and he welcomed the opportunity. He also introduced me to Ron Baisden, who came up from Tennessee with a couple of sax's and a great feel for the music. Their contributions were a natural compliment to the foundation that already existed with "Killer" Kevin Shawver on drums and Dan "The Bulldog" West on Harmonica. Both "Killer" and "Bulldog" are original members of my Fat Daddy band. Their natural ability to improvise regardless whether we are playing shuffles, swing, or up beat jump blues, demonstrates their overall versatile musicianship. Killer provides me with a groove and a rock solid beat that I can lock my bass into. As a singer/bass player that kind of backbone is something I rely on and Killer never lets me down. Now I've got the Killer beat some slick guitar, and some soulful sax. What could be better to top off the blues than some Butterfield style Chicago harp. Bulldog displays his remarkable versatility with his jump style harp on "Son of Jump", grinds it out on "Mannish Boy", and "Going to Plainfield" (as song written for a former harp playing brother from Connecticut), and plays like a dog without a bone on "Let Me Be". You can also hear him give me some vocal backup on "Cab Driver Blues", "Caldonia", and "Mannish Boy". Together we accomplished what had been a life long dream not only for me, but for the rest of us as well. It was one of those things in life that was just meant to be. Over the years many people in my life have paid the price to see this project come true. It starts with my parents, who realized at the early age of 9 that I had a need for music. They bought me lessons and my first guitar, chaperoned my earliest band to the gigs before we were old enough to drive, and always encouraged me to be the best I could be. My wife and children have certainly paid the price by sacrificing countless weekends (because I had a gig), their loss of sleep, (because of late night rehearsals), and vacations canceled at the last minute so I could play at a club or festival I'd been trying for months to book-and most of all for putting up with me. I was a dad, over tired from too little sleep and too much stress. I must say thanks to my employers who put up with me coming in late, and leaving early just so I could play on the weekends. And to my many friends and fans who week after week came out, paid the cover charge and supported the band through its many changes, I have to say, "You're the greatest." I know that without the support of all of my family and friends I would not be here today. To all of you I say "Thank you, l love you all very much". My special thanks to Billy, "Man you don't know what your contribution means to me" Ron- Thanks ain't good enough but what else can I say except "'til the next time" Harry and Terry- thanks for your help in providing assistance to Billy. Without that, things would have been a lot different. Sal Crisafi- thanks for believing in me and giving me your support. Dwayne Hodges- My inspiration for Slick Bottom Shoes and my thanks for watching the shop all of those extra hours. John (my son)- thanks for a name no one forgets. Michele (my daughter)- thanks because you insisted I record "Caldonia". Jill (my wife)- my inspiration for "She's Got What it Takes", and for being my reason for living, my angel of support, and thanks for all the band photos you've done over the years for just a thank you and a pat on the back. "You're the greatest!"

Eileen McCall - photographer/cover photos
Bob Schamerhorn - graphic artist
Tom Ohmsen and Todd from Flat 5 - for your enthusiasm and great work.
Jill Desaulniers - group photo
Roger Doss - for your expertise in writing this text.
To all of you I say "Thank You, I love you very much" This project is dedicated to all the musicians who I have had the honor and pleasure of making music with, since my very first band. You all know who you are.
Infinity Graphics (540) 586-0576

© 1997 Greg Desaulniers All Rights Reserved
For booking or CD information contact:
The Fat Daddy Band
c/o Kevin Selfe
2012 Maiden Lane SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
(540) 344-6386

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