Whelan

“…a definitive return of a great
musician.” – Blues Matters

"It was a
delightful and refreshing experience to do the horns for THE STORY OF IKE
DUPREE. Sid has a unique way of telling a story. He is one of the giants of
modern blues. He keeps the genre alive and vibrant. He could have gotten
anybody to do the job. I'm proud he chose me." – Fred Wesley

  “Whelan is a voice that sounds like Tab Benoit and
twists and turns it into something not worth forgetting… ‘Flood Waters Rising’, the title of
the album, is where Whelan shines. The Blues song could be mistaken for
a classic.”

– American Blues Scene

A blues-influenced Americana
guitarist and songwriter, Sid Whelan cut his teeth on rock & roll and
charted on Midwestern indie college radio in the mid ‘80’s with his song “NY
Taxi.”  Early in his career, Whelan was lead guitarist with various
world music acts including the Lijadu Sisters and later Afroblue, which also
experienced regional indie radio success with their cover of Jimmy Cliff’s “You
Can Get it if You Really Want.” Following the breakup of Afroblue, Sid left his
guitars in their cases for the better part of a decade while he made a life and
family in New York City.  Now he’s back
and again on the radio and web with Americana and Blues show airplay around the
country of “Frisco Lines,” the rollicking country-blues opening track on his
comeback album “Flood Waters Rising.”

The comeback started in July 2012
when Sid’s niece Lora-Faye - the 2012 NPR Mountain Stage Songwriting Contest winner - called him to replace her previous lead guitarist.  Sid joined her for a baptism-by-fire return to
performance for a string of gigs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Rejuvenated, he
began writing music again, returning for inspiration to his love of pre-1960 American
music, particularly the blues but also country, folk, bluegrass, Tin Pan Alley,
Broadway and jazz. His songs tackle difficult themes of contemporary American
life.

In 2013 He created the band
“Whelan,” featuring Naido Vargas on keys and harmonica; Richard Huntley on
drums; and Doug Berns on bass. The group’s first CD “Flood Waters Rising,” a
blues-inspired collection of nine songs, was released October 2013.  Songs
from that disc are part of the band’s current live show, as is repertoire from
the upcoming disc “The Story of Ike Dupree,” which began tracking in August
2014 and will be the first Whelan album to feature a horn section.  Speaking of horns, Funk pioneer Fred Wesley
(James Brown, Parliament, the Count Basie Band, Bootsy Collins, De La Soul),
who was part of the legendary horn section with Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis
has done eight of the horn arrangements and also played on the tracks for the
new recording.  “The Story of Ike Dupree”
will mark a major milestone is Sid Whelan’s evolution as a songwriter and –
even before its release – has resulted in two songwriting commissions for Sid
from more established singers who loved his latest work.

For more information: http://www.thesidwhelanband.com

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