Rise of Beatles inspired guitarist Tommy Lee Cook
Buckingham Blues Bar owner has been playing for years
By Juan Buitrago - jbuitrago@news-press.com
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Tommy Lee Cook and The Allstars are not your typical Sunday night band.
Their brand of Southern-tinged Chicago blues could be considered raucous and muddy.
Cook, 55, is a Virginia native who has lived in Southwest Florida since his family moved here in the late 1960s. He grew up when the Beatles invaded and found himself in the grasp of music for the rest of his life. He picked up a guitar and has been playing ever since.
The Allstars are a combination of three different bands, Cook says. The band features August Zona on bass, Billy Canti on drums, Harry Cassano on keyboards, slide player Justin "The Kid" Richey, Scott "Big Daddy" Johnson on harp, Terry Gable on trumpet and Rex Bongo on lead guitar.
Cook owns the Buckingham Blues Bar, where he and the Allstars play every Sunday and on Open Jam Wednesdays. The bar is at 5641 Buckingham Road in east Fort Myers.
Q: How would you describe your musical style?
A: We play Chicago style Albert Collins Blues. Dilbert McClinton, we play that type of blues. A lot of the Allman Brothers, too.
Q: What are the rewards of playing live every week?
A: Seeing the crowd get into what you're doing, stamping their feet. It's all about the fun of playing with a crowd and seeing their reaction.
Q: How would you describe the music scene in Southwest Florida?
A: I travel around, see what's out there. Rockin' Jake is a good one.
There're very good local artists, all different kinds.
There's a few good places around town, they know who they are.
Q: CDs, digital or vinyl - why?
A: CDs, I like handling them. I use mp3s to send to promoters but I still like handling the product, reading the liner notes.
Q: What song or songs do you like to perform the most?
A: Anything by Delbert McClinton specifically, "The Blues as Blue Can Get."
A lot of my own stuff too.
Tommy's Air Play on these Stations
TOMMY LIVE ON YOU TUBE VIDEO OF SOUTHERN SOUL @ BUCKINGHAM BLUES BAR
BLUES CD's
EVENTS
BOOKS
PHOTOS
REVIEWS
GUESTBOOK
The World Famous Buckingham Blues Bar Website
World Famous
Tommy Lee Cook
Blues Artist
5641-Buckingham Road
Fort Myers, Florida U.S.A.
(239) 693-7111
tommylcook@aol.com
Design by Advanced Design of SW Florida, Inc. Kent Turner and Tommy Lee Cook
Copyright: Advanced Design of SW Florida, Inc. 2011 International Copyright-Protected 2011-12©.
