Susan Tedeschi can truly be called a Blues superstar. With a gold record under her belt, two Grammy nominations, hot guitar chops, and golden voice, there is no question she is the Blues flag-bearer for a new generation of artists.
Nov 9, 1970
Boston, MA
Born in Boston, Susan was exposed to a rich musical scene that included a surprising amount of Blues for a city in the northeast US. It was only a matter of time before her talent floated to the top and she was noticed by industry insiders. what they noticed was an astonishing voice with a maturity well beyond her years. Immediate comparisons were made to Bonnie Raitt and, to her credit, has been able to live up to those lofty expectations.
Susan is married to guitar wizard Derek Trucks.
In 1998 Tone-Cool Records released Susan's debut record Just Won't Burn. Included in the record is a cover of John Prine's Angel From Montgomery, a song which Bonnie Raitt made famous. If you didn't get the Bonnie connection before, this confirmed it. With the help of Atlanta's Sean Costello on guitar, the record went gold (a rarity for a Blues Artist) and proved that Susan could stand toe-to-toe with her centenaries.
Susan's accolades have rolled in.
- 2000 Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist"
- 2003 Grammy nomination for "Best Female Vocal Rock Performance"
- Six W.C. Handy Awards
- The Orville H. Gibson Award for Guitar
- Film and TV soundtracks
- Three appearances on Austin City Limits
Susan's sophomore release in 2002 Wait For Me was just that. Her fans had to wait four years for this one. Teamed with her new husband Derek, her sound broadened to more R&B grooves, and at times Gospel. Included was a clever adaptation of Dylan's Don't Think Twice, proving she could put her stamp on the classics.
Susan and Derek have a son Charlie.
It can be very hard for a modern artist to have a distinctive voice in the Blues. Some fans expect a certain approach that relates to the artists of the past. Susan Tedeschi has shown that she can take that approach and create new grooves and sounds that are approachable, yet knee-deep in the spirit of the Blues.
