Susan Tedeschi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Tedeschi
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Tedeschi in the Netherlands, 2006
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 9, 1970 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues, Americana |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
Susan Tedeschi, born on November 9, 1970, is a talented American singer and guitarist. She has been nominated for many Grammy Awards. Susan is a key member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, which is a supergroup formed from her own band, her husband Derek Trucks' band, and other amazing musicians.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Susan Tedeschi was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 9, 1970. She grew up in Norwell, Massachusetts. Her family has Italian roots. Susan's great-grandfather, Angelo Tedeschi, started a chain of stores called Tedeschi Food Shops.
Susan started performing very early. When she was just five years old, she was an understudy in a Broadway musical. As she grew up, she loved singing for her family. She also listened to her father's collection of old vinyl records. These records featured blues musicians like Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin' Hopkins.
Susan found her musical inspiration in church. She attended mostly African-American Baptist churches. She felt the music there was "less repressed and more like a celebration of God." By the age of 13, she was already playing in bands. At 18, she formed her first band that played original songs, called the Smokin' Section.
After finishing high school, Susan Tedeschi went to the Berklee College of Music. There, she sang in a gospel choir. She also performed show tunes on a ship called the Spirit of Boston. She earned her degree in musical composition and performance when she was 20. During this time, Susan started joining blues jam sessions at local music spots. She became deeply involved in the music scene in Boston.
Susan's Music Career
Starting Her Own Band
Susan Tedeschi formed the Susan Tedeschi Band in 1993. The band included Adrienne Hayes, Jim Lamond, and Mike Aiello. In December 1995, they released their first album, Better Days, for local fans.
Later, in 1997, recording sessions produced by Tom Hambridge led to a new album. This album, Just Won't Burn, was released in February 1998 under Susan Tedeschi's name. It featured young guitarist Sean Costello and received great reviews from music critics and blues magazines.
In 1999, Susan Tedeschi performed at the Lilith Fair, a music festival that featured only women artists. Throughout 1998 and 1999, she toured all over the United States. Her concerts attracted larger and larger crowds.
Opening for Famous Artists
Susan Tedeschi soon began opening concerts for very famous musicians. She performed before John Mellencamp, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal, and Bob Dylan.
In 2000, her album Just Won't Burn (from 1998) sold over 500,000 copies in the United States. This earned it a Gold record status, which is quite rare for a blues album. She also recorded two songs with Double Trouble band members Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon for their album.
In 2003, Susan opened for The Rolling Stones. This gave her a lot of national attention. In 2004, she was featured on the PBS television show Austin City Limits.
Soul Stew Revival and Meeting Derek Trucks
Susan Tedeschi met Derek Trucks in New Orleans in 1999. At the time, she was opening for the Allman Brothers Band, and Derek was their slide guitarist. He was also the leader of The Derek Trucks Band.
Susan and Derek started a personal relationship and also began touring together. Their joint project was called Soul Stew Revival. This group included members from both The Derek Trucks Band and Susan's band, plus other musicians. In 2008, they added a three-piece horn section to the group.
Forming the Tedeschi Trucks Band
In 2010, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks decided to take a break from their solo bands. They formed a brand new group called the Tedeschi Trucks Band. This band performed at many big music festivals, including Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival and the Fuji Rock Festival.
Unlike their earlier project, Soul Stew Revival, the Tedeschi Trucks Band focuses on writing and performing their own original songs. This new band became the main focus for both Susan and Derek.
In 2021, the Tedeschi Trucks Band released Layla Revisited (Live at LOCKN'). This album is a live recording of the entire Derek and The Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. They performed it with Trey Anastasio at the Lockn' Festival in Virginia in 2019.
Personal Life
Susan Tedeschi married Derek Trucks on December 5, 2001. They have two children together. Their son, Charles Kahlil Trucks, was born in March 2002. He is named after famous musicians Charlie Parker and Charlie Christian, and author Kahlil Gibran. Their daughter, Sophia Naima Trucks, was born in 2004. Her middle name comes from a song by John Coltrane, named after his first wife. The family lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
Susan Tedeschi also helped Adrianne Lenker, the lead singer of the band Big Thief, get a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music.
Musical Influences
Susan Tedeschi's singing voice is often described as a mix of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. She says both of these artists have influenced her. Her guitar playing is inspired by musicians like Buddy Guy, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, and Doyle Bramhall II.
On her album Just Won't Burn (1998), Susan Tedeschi listed many artists who inspired her. These included Irma Thomas, Etta James, Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert, Aretha Franklin, Otis Rush, Ronnie Earl, Otis Clay, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, and Mahalia Jackson.
Awards and Recognition
Grammy Award Nominations
Susan Tedeschi has been nominated for several Grammy Awards:
- 2000: Nominated for Best New Artist.
- 2003: Nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
- 2004: Nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Wait For Me.
- 2006: Nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Hope and Desire.
- 2010: Nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Back to the River.
- 2017: Nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Live from the Fox Oakland (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
Awards Won
Susan Tedeschi has won many awards for her music:
- 2012: Won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album for Revelator (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
- 2014: Won the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year.
- 2014: Won the Blues Music Award for Band of the Year (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
- 2014: Won the Blues Music Award for Rock Blues Album of the Year for "Made Up Mind" (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
- 2017: Won the Blues Music Award for Rock Blues Album of the Year for "Let Me Get By" (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
- 2017: Won the Blues Music Award for Band of the Year (with Tedeschi Trucks Band).
- 2017: Won the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year.
- 2022: Received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for her contributions to American music and for sharing messages of hope.
Susan Tedeschi also served as a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards.
Discography
Albums as Leader or Co-Leader
- Better Days (1995)
- Just Won't Burn (1998)
- Wait for Me (2002)
- Live from Austin, TX (2004)
- Hope and Desire (2005)
- Back to the River (2008)
With the Tedeschi Trucks Band
- Revelator (2011)
- Everybody's Talkin' (2012)
- Made Up Mind (2013)
- Let Me Get By (2016)
- Live from the Fox Oakland (2017)
- Signs (2019)
- Layla Revisited (Live at LOCKN') (2021)
- I Am the Moon (2022)
Guest Appearances on Other Albums
Susan Tedeschi has also appeared as a guest artist on many other albums, including:
- Welcome to Little Milton (1999), Little Milton
- Joyful Noise (2002), Derek Trucks Band
- Already Free (2009), Derek Trucks Band
- Truth (2007), Robben Ford
- Skin Deep (2008), Buddy Guy
- "Space Captain", The Imagine Project (2010), Herbie Hancock with Derek Trucks
- "Burn it down", Tin Can Trust (2010), Los Lobos
- "Bright Lights, Big City" Roots (2011) Johnny Winter
- "Mixed Drinks About Feelings", Mr. Misunderstood (2015), Eric Church
- "Ain't No Thing", Wynonna & the Big Noise (2016), Wynonna Judd
- "Color of the Blues", For Better, or Worse (2016), John Prine
- Song of Lahore, The Sachal Ensemble with Derek Trucks (2016)
- "Cortez The Killer", 2019, Dave Matthews Band
- The sky is crying (2023) Jeff Beck Tribute
See also
In Spanish: Susan Tedeschi para niños
