Al Gamble
Al Gamble in Memphis (2011)
Al Gamble in Memphis (2011)
Background information
Birth nameJohn Allen Gamble Jr.
Also known asAl Gamble
Born (1969-03-11) March 11, 1969
Columbus, Georgia, United States
GenresSoul, R&B, rock, pop
Instrument(s)Hammond B-3 organ, piano, clavinet, Wurlitzer
Years active1987-present

John Allen "Al" Gamble (born March 11, 1969) is an American, Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama based, session musician, playing Hammond B-3 organ and keyboards. He is currently the keyboard player for St. Paul and The Broken Bones.[1]

Early life

Gamble was born in Columbus, Georgia, United States, but his family moved to his parents' home town of Tuscumbia, Alabama (near Muscle Shoals), where he was raised. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1991 he lived in Tuscumbia, until moving to Memphis in 1994 to pursue a career in music.

Career

Gamble grew up listening to his father's record collection, which included Jimmy Smith, Ray Charles, Jack McDuff and other jazz and soul artists on the Verve and Blue Note labels.[2][3] He played in various bands during high school and college, and in 1992 joined the Shreveport-based Bluebirds, featuring Buddy Flett on guitar.[4] Gamble spent a few years in Memphis as a Beale Street musician, backing such artists as Preston Shannon and A-440. In 2001, he formed the Gamble Brothers Band with his younger brother Chad Gamble (drums), Art Edmaiston (saxophone) and Will Lowrimore (bass). The band recorded three albums from 2001 to 2007. The first album, 10 Lbs. of Hum (2001), was released independently and featured Lowrimore on bass.[5] The last two albums, Back to the Bottom (2003) [6] and Continuator (2006), were released on the Memphis-based label Archer Records. Back to the Bottom was the last recording to feature Lowrimore on bass, who left the band shortly after the album's release. Continuator featured bassist, Blake Rhea, who joined the band in 2003 to replace Lowrimore.

In 2003, the Gamble Brothers Band beat out more than 1,200 other artists to win the Billboard-sponsored Independent Music World Series award.[7]

Edmaiston joined the Jacksonville-based touring band JJ Grey & MOFRO in 2007,[8] and soon after that, the Gamble Brothers Band played a show opening for the Black Crowes in October 2007 at Mud Island Amphitheatre in Memphis,[9] their final live performance for 12 years. The band reunited for a show at the Crosstown Theater in Memphis on December 21, 2019.[10] Earlier in 2007, while Edmaiston was on a break from touring, he joined Gamble, Memphis guitar player Joe Restivo, and drummer George Sluppick to form The Grip, a four-piece jazz instrumental band specializing in boogaloo music.[11] The Grip recorded the EP Grab This Thing for Archer Records (2007).[12]

The road took Edmaiston away again, and Gamble continued to play with Restivo and Sluppick as a three-piece, forming the band The City Champs.[13] The City Champs released two albums on Scott Bomar's Electraphonic label: The Safecracker (2009) and The Set Up (2010).[14] The City Champs have toured regularly and opened for other acts, including the North Mississippi Allstars and Huey Lewis. The members' other musical projects took them in different directions, but after a long hiatus they reunited to create the critically acclaimed Luna '68, released in 2021 on Big Legal Mess Records.[15]

The City Champs' music has been featured in the MTV series "$5 Cover"[16] and in the Emmy Award-winning documentary film I Am A Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life.[17]

On November 29, 2010, The City Champs took part in the filming of a new Memphis music documentary. Titled Take Me To The River, this Cody Dickinson/Martin Shore-produced film, released Sept. 12, 2014, showcases icons of the Memphis' music scene playing with up-and-coming young bands. The City Champs collaborated with harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood on bass to film a segment at Electraphonic Studios in Memphis.[18] The film, which includes contributions from Terrance Howard and Snoop Dogg, was honored at the Raindance Film Festival awards ceremony in London as the Feature Film.[19]

In January 2013, after learning about St. Paul and The Broken Bones from friend and guitarist Browan Lollar, Gamble was asked to add organ overdubs on the band's debut album Half The City, recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.[20] Later that year, Gamble joined the band full-time, prior to the release of the record in February 2014.[21] St. Paul and The Broken Bones have toured extensively in the United States and Europe and opened two shows (June 9 in Atlanta; and July 11 in Buffalo, New York) for The Rolling Stones on the band's 2015 Zip Code Tour.[22] In January 2016, St. Paul and the Broken Bones played a sold-out Carnegie Hall show as part of a four-concert series curated by Rosanne Cash called Carnegie Hall's Perspectives.[23]

In February 2017, St. Paul and the Broken Bones headlined the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party in West Hollywood, California.[24]

Gamble has recorded on more than 50 albums and on various film scores. He is credited with writing or co-writing more than 40 songs, according to BMI.[25] He has toured with The City Champs, singer/songwriter Charlie Mars, John Paul Keith and the 145s,[26] Louisiana soul singer Marc Broussard, Charles Walker and the Dynamites, The Bo-Keys,[27] and St. Paul and The Broken Bones.[28]

Personal life

Al Gamble currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Al Gamble and his brother Chad are listed as "Music Achievers" in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.[29]

Discography

YearAlbum details
1995Alex Chilton - A Man Called Destruction
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Ardent Records
  • Songs: Sick and Tired, Devil Girl, Lies, It's Your Funeral, You're Lookin' Good, Don't Know Anymore
1995Pat Ramsey - It's About Time
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Rampat Records
1995Lucille - Lucille
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Blues Works Records
  • Songs: Saucey
1996The Bluebirds - South from Memphis
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Icehouse Records
1998Larry Garner - Standing Room Only
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Ruf Records
1998Junkyardmen - Scrapheap Full of Blues
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Inside Memphis
1998Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers - Switching Gears
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Blind Pig Records
  • Songs: Monkey, I Got to Be Strong
1998Whitebread featuring Carlos Ecos - Everybody Wants
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Nustar Entertainment
1999"Big" Bill Morganfield - Nineteen Years Old (A Tribute To Muddy Waters)
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Taxim Records
  • Songs: Why Do People Act Like This, Caldonia, Child of Mercy
2001Gamble Brothers Band - 10 lbs. of Hum[30]
  • Released: 2001
  • Produced by: Keith Sykes
  • Songs: Blue Beat Years, Bring 'em Back, Don't Turn Your Burner Down, Everything I Do, The Booster, City in the Sky, Numbers Never Lie, What's Wrong Now, Point the Finger, Don't Do It, You Gotta Be Kiddin'
2001Deborah Coleman - Livin' on Love
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Blind Pig Records
  • Songs: Livin' on Love
2002Rufus Thomas - Live in Porretta
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Soul Dispenser
  • Songs: The World is Round
2003Gamble Brothers Band - Back to The Bottom[31]
  • Released: Sept. 2, 2003
  • Produced by: Ross Rice
  • Label: Archer Records
  • Songs: Record Store, Back to the Bottom, Love is Alive, Share, Tiki Bar, Come on Sam, One Stone, Escape Alley, Old New One, Land of Soul, Little Criminals, Cadillactopus
2003Ana Popovic - Comfort to the Soul
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Blind Pig Records
  • Songs: Love Me Again
2003Jimmy Thackery - Guitar
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Ruf Records
  • Songs: Roy's Bluz
2005Mike McClure Band - Camelot Falling
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Smith Entertainment
2006Gamble Brothers Band - Continuator[32]
  • Released: Feb. 21, 2006
  • Produced by: Jeff Powell
  • Label: Archer Records
  • Songs: Overboard, Hold Out 'Til Monday, Back to School, E. Parkway Rundown, Heart's Not In It, Right Direction, Vinyl, Durty Walt, Shopping Cart, Theme From "Little Champ," Threw it All Away, All Skate, Best Defense
2007The Grip - Grab This Thing[33]
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Archer Records
  • Songs: Grab This Thing, Jan Jan, Tutwiler, Controversy, Farewell to Cheyenne
2009The City Champs - The Safecracker
  • Released: March 17, 2009
  • Label: Electraphonic Recording
  • Songs: The Safecracker, Takin' State, Love is a Losing Game, Poppin', The Whap-A-Dang, Pretty Girl, Comin' Home Baby, You Can't Win, Four Score, Ol' Man River
2009John Paul Keith and the 145s - Spills & Thrills
  • Released: April 14, 2009
  • Label: Big Legal Mess
2009Jimbo Mathus - Jimmy the Kid
  • Released: Aug. 22, 2009
  • Label: Hill Country Records
2009Zach Williams and the Reformation - Electric Revival
  • Released: 2009
2010Sid Selvidge - I Should Be Blue
  • Released: June 8, 2010
  • Label: Archer Records
  • Songs: I'll Be Here in the Morning, Fine Hotel, A Blonde Headed Girl (In A Convertible Automobile), You're Gonna Look Just Like a Monkey (When You Get Old)
2010The City Champs - The Set Up
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Electraphonic Recording
  • Songs: The Set Up, Drippy, Ricky's Rant, Crump St., Chinatown, Rigamarole, Local Jones, Break It Up, A Beautiful Mine (Theme from Mad Men), Comanche, The Sanctimoneous Kid, Shishido Jo
2011John Paul Keith and the 145s - The Man that Time Forgot
  • Released: June 21, 2011
  • Label: Big Legal Mess
2011The Bo-Keys - Got to Get Back!
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Electraphonic Recording
2011The Scruffs - Kill! Kill!
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Scruffsville
  • Songs: Take Me Downtown
2012Jeb Rault Band - Sweet Dancer
  • Released: Mar. 2012
2013The Yellow Hope Project - Fifty Shades of Yellow
  • Released: May 12, 2013
  • Songs: Could You Find It in Your Heart to Love Me?
2013John Paul Keith and the 145s - Memphis Circa 3AM
  • Released: Sept. 17, 2013
  • Label: Big Legal Mess
  • Songs: You Really Oughta Be with Me, We Got All Night, Everything's Different Now, Ninety Proof Kiss, Walking Along the Lane, True Hard Money, New Year's Eve, There's a Heartache Going 'Round, If You Catch Me Staring, Last Night I Had a Dream About You, She's Almost You, Baby We're a Bad Idea
2014Jesse Aycock - Flowers and Wounds
  • Released: Jan. 21, 2014
  • Label: Horton Records
  • Songs: Out to Space, Paint Me Different Colors, Flowers and Wounds
2014St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Half the City
  • Released: Feb. 28, 2014
  • Label: Single Lock Records
  • Songs: Call Me, Half the City, Broken Bones and Pocket Change, Like a Mighty River, Don't Mean a Thing, Grass is Greener, I'm Torn Up, Dixie Rothco, Let it Be So, That Glow
2014The Hold Steady - Teeth Dreams
  • Released: Mar. 25, 2014
  • Label: Washington Square/Razor & Tie
2014John Nemeth - Memphis Grease
  • Released: Mar. 25, 2014
  • Label: Blue Corn Music
2014You, Me & Apollo - Sweet Honey
  • Released: May 9, 2014
  • Label: Self Released
  • Songs: Trains (Feat. Al Gamble)
2014Jimmy Thackery - Extra Jimmies
  • Released: Oct. 14, 2014
  • Label: Blind Pig Records
  • Songs: I Got to Be Strong, Monkey
2014The Bo-Keys - Electraphonic Singles Vol. 1
  • Label: Electraphonic Recording
2014Louise Hoffsten - Bringing Out the Elvis
  • Label: Warner Music Sweden
2015Darren Hanlon - Where Did You Come From?
  • Released: Mar. 24, 2015
  • Label: Yep Roc Records
  • Songs: Trust Your Feelings (When You Wake)
2015The Libras - Skies Are Grey
  • Released: Nov. 13, 2015
2016The Bo-Keys - Heartaches By The Number
  • Released: April 29, 2016
  • Label: Electraphonic Records
2016St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Sea of Noise
  • Released: Sept. 9, 2016
  • Label: Records
  • Songs: Crumbling Light Posts Pt. 1, Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like), Midnight on Earth, I'll Be Your Woman, All I Ever Wonder, Sanctify, Crumbling Light Posts Pt. 2, Waves, Brain Matter, Tears in the Diamond, Is It Me, Crumbling Light Posts Pt. 3
2016Robert Finley - Age Don't Mean A Thing
  • Released: Sep. 30, 2016
2016Jim Mize - Jim Mize
  • Released: Dec. 1, 2016
  • Label: Big Legal Mess Records
2017Lauren Barth - Forager
  • Released: May 5, 2017
  • Label: Horton Records
2018Nicki Bluhm - To Rise You Gotta Fall
  • Released: June 1, 2018
  • Label: Compass Records
2018St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Young Sick Camellia
  • Released: Sept. 7, 2018
  • Label: ATO Records
2018Al Green - Produced by Matt Ross-Spang (Amazon Original)
  • Released: Sept. 13, 2018
  • Songs: Before the Next Teardrop Falls
2018Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors - Good Light
  • Released: Dec. 10, 2018
  • Label: Magnolia Records
2019Amy LaVere - Painting Blue
  • Released: Aug. 16, 2019
  • Label: Archer Records
  • Songs: No Battle Hymn, Not in Memphis
2019Foy Vance - To Memphis
  • Released: Sept. 6, 2019
  • Label: Gingerbread Man Records
2020St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Live from Wichita
  • Released: June 5, 2020
2020Mark Edgar Stuart - Folk Beef
  • Released: July 14, 2020
2020Don Bryant - You Make Me Feel
  • Released: June 19, 2020
  • Label: Fat Possum Records
2020Daily Worker - Hometown Hero
  • Released: Dec. 1, 2020
  • Songs: I Got Hypnotized, Ghost (About This Place)
2020Bailey Bigger - Let's Call It Love
  • Released: Dec. 4, 2020
  • Label: Big Legal Mess Records
  • Songs: Weight of Independence, Let's Call It Love
2021John Paul Keith - The Rhythm of the City
  • Released: Feb. 19, 2021
  • Label: Wild Honey Records
2021The City Champs - Luna '68
  • Released: Mar. 19, 2021
  • Label: Big Legal Mess Records
2021Foy Vance - Signs of Life
  • Released: Sept. 10, 2021
  • Label: Gingerbread Man Records
  • Songs: People Are Pills, Resplendence
2021Alexa Rose - Headwaters
  • Released: Sep. 17, 2021
  • Label: Big Legal Mess Records
2021Gervin - Chance Music EP
  • Released: Dec. 2, 2021
2022St. Paul and the Broken Bones - The Alien Coast
  • Released: Jan. 28, 2022
  • Label: ATO Records
2022The Love Light Orchestra - Leave the Light On
  • Released: Feb. 18, 2022
  • Label: Nola Blue Records
  • Songs: 3 O'Clock Blues, After All, Follow the Queen
2022Mark Edgar Stuart - Until We Meet Again
  • Released: Feb. 25, 2022
  • Label: Madjack Records
2022Gervin - No. 10 Funk EP
  • Released: Feb. 28, 2022
2022Dedicated Men of Zion - The Devil Don't Like It
  • Released: Mar. 4, 2022
  • Label: Bible & Tire Recording Company
2022Nicki Blum - Avondale Drive
  • Released: June 3, 2022
  • Label: Little Knickers Records
  • Songs: Love to Spare, Mother's Daughter
2022Elizabeth King - I Got A Love
  • Released: June 25, 2022
  • Label: Bible & Tire Recording Company
  • Songs: Stand By Me, Move A Little Higher, My Robe, My Time Ain't Long
2022Gervin - Benchwarmer
  • Released: Sep. 2, 2022
2022Herman Hitson - Let the Gods Sing
  • Released: Sep. 25, 2022
  • Label: Big Legal Mess Records
2023Max Kaplan and the Magics - Mind on My Heart
  • Released: Mar. 24, 2023
2023St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Angels in Science Fiction
  • Released: Apr. 21, 2023
  • Label: ATO Records

Television performances

References

  1. "St. Paul & the Broken Bones tease 'em, please 'em during sold-out concert at Alabama Theatre". AL.com. November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  2. "Review of the Gamble Brothers Band's 'Continuator'". Keyboard Magazine. April 30, 2006
  3. "Review of the Gamble Brothers Band's 'Continuator'". Keyboard Magazine. April 30, 2006.
  4. "The Bluebirds". Thebluebirds.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  5. Baker, Jackson (March 15, 2002). "Sound Advice | Music Features | Memphis News and Events". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. "Gamble Brothers Band Bio, History, Info on JamBase". Jambase.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  7. Billboard Magazine. August 16, 2003.
  8. "JJ Grey & MoFro Saxophonist Art Edmaiston joins AMT Roster". Appliedmicrophone.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  9. "The Black Crowes". Jambase.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  10. "Gamble Brothers Band & CYC at Crosstown Theater". Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  11. "The Grip Not Backing Off on the Boogaloo". The Commercial Appeal. September 14, 2007.
  12. "With grinding organ, pounding drums and soulful grooves, the Grip has asserted itself as Memphis' true boogaloo band". Archer-records.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  13. "The City Champs: Championing the 'Comeback' of the Jazz Age". Memphis Magazine. May 2009.
  14. "Discography". Electraphonicrecording.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  15. "Luna '68". Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  16. "$5 Cover - Artists/Cast Members". Mtv.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. "Secret Stages : City Champs (Memphis, TN)". Secretstages.net. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  18. "The City Champs Score High with 'The Set Up'". CHC Network. December 19, 2010.
  19. Rosser, Michael (October 6, 2014). "Take Me To the River wins at Raindance | News | Screen". Screendaily.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  20. "Interview: St. Paul & The Broken Bones". Soundcheckmagazine.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  21. Bob Mehr (November 26, 2014). "Bob Mehr's Memphis Music Beat: St. Paul and the Broken Bones at Minglewood Hall". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  22. "Start it up: St. Paul & the Broken Bones to open 2 shows for Rolling Stones in Atlanta & Buffalo, NY". AL.com. May 22, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  23. "Rosanne Cash to Curate Music Series as Part of 2015-16 Carnegie Hall Season". Broadwayworld.com. September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  24. "St. Paul & the Broken Bones to perform at Oscars viewing party for Elton John AIDS Foundation". Al.com. February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  25. Gamble, Al. "Songwriter/Composer: GAMBLE AL". song writing. BMI. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  26. "Right Place, Right Time: John Paul Keith finds he's still progressing", The Commercial Appeal (Memphis), September 19, 2013
  27. "Bo-Keys Release New Singles, 'Making of' Video", The Commercial Appeal (Memphis), November 12, 2013
  28. "Birmingham-based soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones quickly attracting attention". The Tuscaloosa News. July 12, 2013
  29. "Music Achievers – G". Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012.
  30. "10 lbs. of Hum". Archer Records. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  31. "Back to the Bottom". Archer Records. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  32. "The Continuator". Archer Records. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  33. "The Grip – Biography". Archer Records. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
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