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All Genres > Blues > Texas Style > BENNY VALERIO AND TEXAS THUNDER: Surrounded By The Blues

Benny started playing guitar at the age of 14 with money he had earned from his newspaper route. From the beginning all of his style was learned on his own or from records. He has never taken any guitar lessons. Another fact of interest about Benny is that he is a Southpaw player like his biggest influence, Jimi Hendrix.

Within a few years he and brother Danny were hosting jams at clubs around Houston which included such future stars as Johnny & Edgar Winter and Billy Preston. These are times Benny & Danny talk about alot as very influential in their styles and tastes in music.

After a tour of Vietnam with the Marines in the late '60s Benny returned to Houston in 1969 to concentrate on good ol' Texas Blues being very glad to be alive when alot of the guys he had known in Vietnam did not make it back at all.

Having played with several different bands in the early '70s, including Rattlesnake with Johnny Winter, Benny came to the attention of Freddie King and was honored to be able to play in Freddie's band for a while in 1972.

Thru it all Benny's first love is Texas Blues which you will find plenty of on "Surrounded by the Blues" along with some tasty blues rock. With the help of Kaz Kazanoff on sax, Riley Osborne on keyboards and Derek O'Brian on guitar Benny has made a very diverse blues album with "Surrounded by the Blues".

Benny lost his battle with liver cancer and passed away
January 11, 2006. His take no prisoners style will
be missed by his many fans, a truly gifted guitar player.
Peace Be With You Benny

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.wolftraxrecords.com

Track List:
1. Wolf Talk
2. Lik It 'n' Stik It
3. Stopo Being a Fool
4. Mucho Mojo
5. Texas Thunder
6. Rollin' Up 290
7. Burning Up the Night
8. Love Me or Leave Me
9. Honey Bee
10. I Got What You Need
11. Satisfied
12. Surrounded By the Blues

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