NOTED GUITARIST “SMOKIN'” JOE KUBEK PASSES AT AGE 58

Acclaimed guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek passed away yesterday while on tour in North Carolina.   He was 58.  There’s no question why he was given the nickname “Smokin’.”  He was one of the hottest electric guitar players on the blues scene, with the technique and the chops to burn up any stage.

Kubek was born in Grove City, Pennsylvania in 1956 but grew up in
Irving, Texas. He was leading his own bands and gigging in clubs all
around Dallas when he was a teenager.  By the time he was 19, he was
backing many famous blues players in the area, including playing rhythm
guitar behind legend Freddie King for a while, until King’s death in
December 1976.

Kubek next worked with R&B singer Al “TNT”
Braggs and made a host of new friends, including Albert King, Stevie Ray
Vaughan (with whom Kubek became close), B.B. King and many other blues
icons.

Kubek didn’t hit his stride, however, until he teamed up
with jazz guitarist and singer Bnois King (no relation to Freddie) of
Monroe, Louisiana, in 1989.  They developed into a dynamic musical tour
de force, one of the most talented guitar tandems in any genre, who
thrilled music fans all around the world with their red-hot Texas
rockin’ blues for twenty-six years.  Beginning in 1991 they released a
number of highly-acclaimed recordings, their most recent being Fat Man’s Shine Parlor, released earlier this year on Blind Pig Records.

Bnois
said, “He loved the blues. He was always very serious about the music
and the presentation of the music.  He had a modern style but he really
studied those old cats.  And, he would literally give you the shirt off
his back.  He was a great friend.”

Label President Edward
Chmelewski said, “Joe was truly one of the good guys, a humble, kind
person and an immensely gifted musician. It’s a great loss for all of
us.  We feel privileged to have known him and documented his music.”

Label
co-founder Jerry Del Giudice added, “He was one of the best guitarists I
ever worked with.  His playing was flawless and soulful.  I not only
considered him an excellent guitarist, but also a friend. He will be
sorely missed.”

Blind Pig publicist Debra Regur, who’s worked with Kubek since 2003,
said, “It is with such great sorrow that I write these words for my dear
friend. Joe was an amazing guitar player, producer, and more
importantly – a great friend. Joe was an inspiration to all that met
him. He always had a positive outlook on life. He played every note with
passion – there will never be another like Joe.”

To watch Debra’s iPhone video of Joe playing guitar at Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco several months ago, please click HERE.