Freddie Pate - I Got the Blues (2017)

This project has been something I’ve wanted to do for years and being on the Delbert McClinton cruise for years just stirred the desire even more. That’s where I met Mike Zito and we quickly became musical brothers and great friends. Mike has been encouraging me for several years, “man we need to cut a blues record on you”. So we finally did!!! Mike built a studio and I am honored to be the first project out of the MARZ studio. This is the result of the labor of love of all the guys that played on it and all the folks behind the scenes. When I moved from Los Angeles to Houston Texas in 1975 I met and picked with some of the best in the country music community. I lived in Houston for 18 years before moving to Louisiana to work with Wayne Toups in 1990. Then in 2015 we recorded my cd “Crossroads” a country record that was a dream come true. So I started to head over to Texas to promote the record. While I was doing that I started making the rounds around the clubs to reacquaint myself to old friends and make some new ones. I was drawn to the blues clubs and started sitting in with some folks and meeting some great people and some great pickers. The blues community welcomed me with open arms and I am eternally grateful for their love and support. For an ol’ country guy like me it is such a blessing. The clubs as well, Emmit’s, Katie’s, The Green Oaks Tavern and Birroperettis just to name a few you folks have blessed me beyond words and I sincerely appreciate the kindness you’ve shown me.

When Mike and I started to discuss this record I just kept saying, “it has to be authentic”, that was important to me out of respect to the genre, the pickers, my blues friends and to the music! I did not want this to come out as a country singer trying to do a blues album. Mike was a big part of making that happen and keeping it honest. Thanks to Mike, Terry Dry and Matt Johnson for sharing their love and talent to help me bring you, “I Got The Blues”.