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{{Short description|American band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{outdated|date=July 2014}}<!-- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rick_Estrin_%26_The_Nightcats&oldid=615599954 suggests that this band was dissolved in 2008. If this can be reliably sourced, the article should be modified to reflect that this is an inactive/defunct/former band. -->
{{outdated|date=July 2014}}<!-- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rick_Estrin_%26_The_Nightcats&oldid=615599954 suggests that this band was dissolved in 2008. If this can be reliably sourced, the article should be modified to reflect that this is an inactive/defunct/former band. -->
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Little Charlie & the Nightcats
| name = Little Charlie & the Nightcats
| image =
| image = Charlie Baty 2007.jpg
| caption = Charles (Little Charlie) Baty in San Diego, 2007
| caption =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Sacramento, California]], United States
| origin = [[Sacramento, California]], United States
| instrument = [[Guitar]], [[harmonica]], [[Double bass|bass]], [[Drum kit|drums]]
| instrument = Guitar, harmonica, [[Double bass|bass]], drums
| genre = [[Electric blues]],<ref name="Music"/> [[West Coast blues]], [[jump blues]], [[swing revival]]
| genre = [[Electric blues]],<ref name="Music"/> [[West Coast blues]], [[jump blues]], [[swing revival]]
| years_active = 1976–present
| years_active = 1976–2008
| label = [[Alligator Records]]
| label = [[Alligator Records]]
| associated_acts =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| website =
| current_members = Kid Andersen<br/>Rick Estrin<br/>Lorenzo Farrell<br/>J. Hansen
| current_members =
| past_members = Charlie Baty <br/>Jay Peterson<br/>Dobie Strange<br/>Brad Lee Sexton<br/>Ronnie James Weber<br/>June Core<br/>Frankie Randall<br/>Joey Ventittelli<br/>Fletcher Fox<br/>Gerald (Jerry) Eddleman
| past_members = Charlie Baty (deceased)<br/>Jay Peterson (deceased)<br/>Liz VanHouten (Peele)<br/>Dobie Strange<br/>Brad Lee Sexton (died 1995)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Brad+Lee+Sexton+3+July+1995&pg=PA95|title=Lifelines; Deaths; Brad Lee Sexton, 47|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=July 29, 1995|page=95}}</ref><br/>Ronnie James Weber<br/>June Core<br/>Frankie Randall<br/>Joey Ventittelli<br/>Fletcher Fox<br/>Gerald (Jerry) Eddleman<br/>J. Hansen<br>Kid Andersen<br/>Rick Estrin<br/>Lorenzo Farrell<br/>D'Mar(Derrick Martin)
}}
}}

[[File:Charlie Baty 2007.jpg|thumb|237px|Charles (Little Charlie) Baty in San Diego, 2007]]
[[File:Rick Estrin 2007.jpg|thumb|237px|Rick Estrin in San Diego, 2007]]
[[File:Rick Estrin 2007.jpg|thumb|237px|Rick Estrin in San Diego, 2007]]


'''Little Charlie & the Nightcats''' (now billed as '''Rick Estrin & the Nightcats''') is an [[United States|American]] four-piece [[electric blues]]<ref name="Music">{{cite book
'''Little Charlie & the Nightcats''' was an American [[electric blues]]<ref name="Music">{{cite book
| first= Paul
| first= Paul
| last= Du Noyer
| last= Du Noyer
Line 28: Line 30:
| location= Fulham, London
| location= Fulham, London
| isbn= 1-904041-96-5
| isbn= 1-904041-96-5
| page= 181}}</ref> and [[swing revival]] [[musical ensemble|combo]], currently consisting of [[guitarist]] [[Christoffer Andersen|Kid Andersen]], [[harmonicist]] and [[singer|lead vocalist]] Rick Estrin, [[bassist]] Lorenzo Farrell and [[drummer]] J. Hansen.
| page= 181}}</ref> and [[swing revival]] [[musical ensemble|combo]], active from 1976-2008. Several members reformed as [[Rick Estrin & The Nightcats]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
Charles Baty (born 1953)<ref name="russell">{{cite book
Charles Baty (1953&ndash;2020)<ref name="russell">{{cite book
| first= Tony
| first= Tony
| last= Russell
| last= Russell
Line 40: Line 42:
| location= Dubai
| location= Dubai
| page= 136
| page= 136
| isbn= 1-85868-255-X}}</ref> was studying mathematics at [[University of California Berkeley]] when he and Rick Estrin (born 1949) formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats in 1976.<ref name="russell"/><ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first= |last= |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p63897/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Steve Huey |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=May 29, 2009}}</ref> Their first [[album]], ''All the Way Crazy'', was issued in 1987.<ref name="AMG"/> It includes the songs "Poor Tarzan", "Suicide Blues" and "When Girls Do It". The following album, ''Disturbing the Peace'' (1988), included "That's My Girl", "My Money's Green", "She's Talking" and "Nervous". They began touring in the United States and internationally.<ref name="AMG"/> They played at the [[San Francisco Blues Festival]] in 1980 and 1982, the [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]], the [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]] Street Scene, [[Seattle]]'s [[Bumbershoot]] Festival and the [[Juneau]] Jazz & Classics Festival in 2002.
| isbn= 1-85868-255-X}}</ref> was studying mathematics at [[University of California Berkeley]] when he and Rick Estrin (born 1949) formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats in 1976.<ref name="russell"/><ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p63897/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Steve Huey |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=May 29, 2009}}</ref> Their first album, ''All the Way Crazy'', was issued in 1987.<ref name="AMG"/> It includes the songs "Poor Tarzan", "Suicide Blues" and "When Girls Do It". The following album, ''Disturbing the Peace'' (1988), included "That's My Girl", "My Money's Green", "She's Talking" and "Nervous". They began touring in the United States and internationally.<ref name="AMG"/> They played at the [[San Francisco Blues Festival]] in 1980 and 1982, the [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]], the San Diego Street Scene, [[Seattle]]'s [[Bumbershoot]] Festival and the [[Juneau]] Jazz & Classics Festival in 2002.


Their 1993 album, ''Night Vision'', was [[record producer|produced]] by [[Joe Louis Walker]], who also perfomed on it.<ref name="russell"/> The album included "My Next Ex-Wife," which won a [[Blues Music Awards|W.C. Handy Award]] for Song of the Year.<ref name="AMG"/> The band's [[drummer]], Dobie Strange, was replaced by June Core in 1996.<ref name="AMG"/>
Their 1993 album, ''Night Vision'', was [[record producer|produced]] by [[Joe Louis Walker]], who also performed on it.<ref name="russell"/> The album included "My Next Ex-Wife," which won a [[Blues Music Award|W.C. Handy Award]] for Song of the Year.<ref name="AMG"/> The band's drummer, Dobie Strange, was replaced by June Core in 1996.<ref name="AMG"/>


In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement and no longer [[concert tour|tours]] with the band, except for reunion tours and shows in [[Europe]] and select [[North American]] festivals. Baty performed with [[JW-Jones]] at the Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Piazza Blues in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in July 2009. Estrin continued with the band, which was renamed Rick Estrin & the Nightcats. Baty was replaced on guitar by Chris "Kid" Andersen (born 1980), originally from [[Telemark]], [[Norway]]. Andersen had backed [[Charlie Musselwhite]] and Terry Hanck and had fronted his own band.
In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement and no longer [[concert tour|tour]]ed with the band, except for reunion tours and shows in Europe and select [[North American]] festivals. Baty performed with [[JW-Jones]] at the Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Piazza Blues in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in July 2009. Estrin continued with the band, which was renamed Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Baty was replaced on guitar by Chris "Kid" Andersen (born 1980), originally from [[Telemark]], Norway. Andersen had backed [[Charlie Musselwhite]] and [[Terry Hanck]],<ref>{{cite web|title = BLUES JUNCTION Productions – Kid Andersen|url = http://bluesjunctionproductions.com/kid_andersen|website = Bluesjunctionproductions.com|accessdate=June 6, 2016}}</ref> and had fronted his own band.


Baty's most recent blues [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] was as a guest on JW-Jones's ''Bluelisted'' (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his [[harmonica]] playing on a recording and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, [[Junior Watson]], had recorded together on the same tracks.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}
Baty's most recent blues [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] was as a guest on JW-Jones's ''Bluelisted'' (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his harmonica playing on a recording and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, [[Junior Watson]], had recorded together on the same tracks.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}


In 2013, Estrin was nominated for a [[Blues Music Award]] in the categoy B.B. King Entertainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees|title=Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards|publisher=Blues.org|accessdate=2013-03-21}}</ref> He was nominated again in 2014 for the same award, and the ensemble was nominated for Band of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm |title=2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners |publisher=Blues.about.com |date= |accessdate=2014-05-16}}</ref>
In 2013, Estrin was nominated for a [[Blues Music Award]] in the category B.B. King Entertainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees|title=Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards|publisher=Blues.org|accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref> He was nominated again in 2014 for the same award, and the ensemble was nominated for Band of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm |title=2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners |publisher=Blues.about.com |accessdate=May 16, 2014}}</ref>

Charlie Baty died on March 6, 2020, aged 66, in [[Vacaville, California]] following a [[heart attack]].<ref>[https://bluesmatters.com/r-i-p-charlie-baty/ "R.I.P. Charlie Baty", ''Blues Matters'', March 7, 2020]</ref><ref>Hudson, Jeff. [https://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/popular-bluesman-little-charlie-baty-dies/ "Remembering Little Charlie: Popular bluesman Charles Baty passes away"], Davis (CA) Enterprise, 9 March 2020 (accessed 11 March 2020).</ref>


==Selected discography==
==Selected discography==
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|-
|-
|1987
|1987
|''All the Way Crazy'' (reissued)
|''All the Way Crazy''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1988
|1988
|''Disturbing the Peace'' (reissued)
|''Disturbing the Peace''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1989
|1989
|''Big Break''
|''The Big Break''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1991
|1991
|''Captured Live [Live]''
|''Captured Live''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1993
|1993
|''Night Vision''
|''Night Vision''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1995
|1995
|''Straight Up!''
|''Straight Up!''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1997
|1997
|''Deluxe Edition''
|''Deluxe Edition'' (compilation)
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|1998
|1998
|''Shadow of the Blues''
|''Shadow of the Blues''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|2002
|2002
|''That's Big''
|''That's Big!''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|2005
|2005
|''Nine Lives''
|''Nine Lives''
|Jazz, Blues
|Jazz, blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|-
|2009
|''Twisted''
|Jazz, Blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|2012
|''One Wrong Turn''
|Jazz, Blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|-
|2014
|''You Asked For It...Live''
|Jazz, Blues
|[[Alligator Records]]
|}
|}


Line 128: Line 118:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://rickestrin.com Rick Estrin & the Nightcats]
*[http://rickestrin.com Rick Estrin & The Nightcats]
*[http://www.alligator.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=14 Alligator Records review]
*[http://www.alligator.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=14 Alligator Records review]
*[http://jazzinternet.com/vegasjazz/gallery/nightcats.htm Nightcats photos]
*[http://jazzinternet.com/vegasjazz/gallery/nightcats.htm Nightcats photos]
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[[Category:American blues musical groups]]
[[Category:American blues musical groups]]
[[Category:West Coast blues musicians]]
[[Category:West Coast blues musicians]]
[[Category:Alligator Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Sacramento, California]]

Latest revision as of 06:43, 27 May 2024

Little Charlie & the Nightcats
Charles (Little Charlie) Baty in San Diego, 2007
Charles (Little Charlie) Baty in San Diego, 2007
Background information
OriginSacramento, California, United States
GenresElectric blues,[1] West Coast blues, jump blues, swing revival
Instrument(s)Guitar, harmonica, bass, drums
Years active1976–2008
LabelsAlligator Records
Past membersCharlie Baty (deceased)
Jay Peterson (deceased)
Liz VanHouten (Peele)
Dobie Strange
Brad Lee Sexton (died 1995)[2]
Ronnie James Weber
June Core
Frankie Randall
Joey Ventittelli
Fletcher Fox
Gerald (Jerry) Eddleman
J. Hansen
Kid Andersen
Rick Estrin
Lorenzo Farrell
D'Mar(Derrick Martin)
Rick Estrin in San Diego, 2007

Little Charlie & the Nightcats was an American electric blues[1] and swing revival combo, active from 1976-2008. Several members reformed as Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.

Biography[edit]

Charles Baty (1953–2020)[3] was studying mathematics at University of California Berkeley when he and Rick Estrin (born 1949) formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats in 1976.[3][4] Their first album, All the Way Crazy, was issued in 1987.[4] It includes the songs "Poor Tarzan", "Suicide Blues" and "When Girls Do It". The following album, Disturbing the Peace (1988), included "That's My Girl", "My Money's Green", "She's Talking" and "Nervous". They began touring in the United States and internationally.[4] They played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1980 and 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the San Diego Street Scene, Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival and the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival in 2002.

Their 1993 album, Night Vision, was produced by Joe Louis Walker, who also performed on it.[3] The album included "My Next Ex-Wife," which won a W.C. Handy Award for Song of the Year.[4] The band's drummer, Dobie Strange, was replaced by June Core in 1996.[4]

In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement and no longer toured with the band, except for reunion tours and shows in Europe and select North American festivals. Baty performed with JW-Jones at the Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Piazza Blues in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in July 2009. Estrin continued with the band, which was renamed Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Baty was replaced on guitar by Chris "Kid" Andersen (born 1980), originally from Telemark, Norway. Andersen had backed Charlie Musselwhite and Terry Hanck,[5] and had fronted his own band.

Baty's most recent blues recording was as a guest on JW-Jones's Bluelisted (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his harmonica playing on a recording and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, Junior Watson, had recorded together on the same tracks.[citation needed]

In 2013, Estrin was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the category B.B. King Entertainer.[6] He was nominated again in 2014 for the same award, and the ensemble was nominated for Band of the Year.[7]

Charlie Baty died on March 6, 2020, aged 66, in Vacaville, California following a heart attack.[8][9]

Selected discography[edit]

Year Title Genre Label
1987 All the Way Crazy Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1988 Disturbing the Peace Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1989 The Big Break Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1991 Captured Live Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1993 Night Vision Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1995 Straight Up! Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1997 Deluxe Edition (compilation) Jazz, blues Alligator Records
1998 Shadow of the Blues Jazz, blues Alligator Records
2002 That's Big! Jazz, blues Alligator Records
2005 Nine Lives Jazz, blues Alligator Records

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  2. ^ "Lifelines; Deaths; Brad Lee Sexton, 47". Billboard. July 29, 1995. p. 95.
  3. ^ a b c Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 136. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Biography by Steve Huey". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "BLUES JUNCTION Productions – Kid Andersen". Bluesjunctionproductions.com. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners". Blues.about.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "R.I.P. Charlie Baty", Blues Matters, March 7, 2020
  9. ^ Hudson, Jeff. "Remembering Little Charlie: Popular bluesman Charles Baty passes away", Davis (CA) Enterprise, 9 March 2020 (accessed 11 March 2020).

External links[edit]