Randy Garibay
and
Cats Don't Sleep
Critics Page
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY IN SAN ANTONIO...
"With a voice reminiscent of Bobby Bland, a guitar style that fuses slick picking and fat chords, a repertoire that ranges from bilingual originals to big band blues obscurities and the ability to entertain the most esoteric of crowds, Garibay is a Texas blues treasure.
"...There are priceless jewels among the 10 cuts on Barbacoa Blues. The title track, "Too Close to the Border" and "Viuda Negra (Black Widow Woman)" are as good as any contemporary blues. His cover of the Bland classic "Two Steps From the Blues" would make Bland sweat--and applaud."
--Jim Beal, Jr., San Antonio Express News
"Garibay isn't short of admirers, from The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley remarking, "I immediately thought of the great Bobby Blue Bland") to Doug Sahm ("The consummate Chicano blues man. He still sings in the tradition of Little Willy John, Joe Hinton, Junior Parker, Bobby Blue Bland. He's totally unique") and Sonny Ozuna ("He's my mentor")... Barbacoa Blues is blistering stuff... Announcing his identity with the first track, "Chicano Blues Man", Garibay's 10 tracks are mostly originals, pillars of his live show such as "Barbacoa Blues" and "Too Close to the Border," leavened by "I Can't Stop Loving You Baby" and Bland's "Two Steps From The Blues."
--John Conquest, Third Coast Music
(formerly Music City Texas)
"Randy Garibay is San Antonio's premier purveyor of Chicano blues--a style Garibay proudly helped pioneer... At 57, Garibay can still coax sinfully soulful sounds from his guitar with seemingly effortless ease, and his voice has lost none of its rich timbre."
--Bill Ramsey, San Antonio Current
"Randy is truly the "Chicano Bluesman," and while "Barbacoa Blues" might sound like a title to a Tejano record, don't ever be fooled. Cuts on Randy originals such as "El Chupacabra" and the title cut, "Barbacoa Blues," and "Chicano Blues Man" are suggestively chicano, and even bi-lingual in places, but the music is "puro pinche blues." Randy couldn't change if he wanted to. He is as much a part of the blues as Bobby Bland and Junior Parker.
"Garibay's blues guitar is right on the money, and his singing voice is simply beautiful. If that sounds corny, tough shit. That's just how he sounds. And tunes from the album such as "Too Close to the Border," and "Viuda Negro" ("Black Widow Woman") are strictly big time works."
--Sam Kindrick, Action Magazine
"...A 'don't miss act.. Randy Garibay is 'The Godfather' of San Antonio Blues... Randy is without a doubt one of the five best guitar players in the South Texas area..."
--C.J. Berkman, San Antonio News
"A living San Antonio legend from the tough streets of the South Side, Randy Garibay is considered by many of peers (including Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers of the Texas Tornadoes) as the standard bearer of the local music scene."
--Tracey Eckhardt, San Antonio Blues Society
"He still sings R&B classics in the same Jackie Wilson - Ray Charles - Bobby "Blue" Bland hybrid style he did when he started."
--Marc Leffler, San Antonio Express News
AND WHAT WAS SAID IN LAS VEGAS
"Randy Garibay, whose guitar lets out powerful notes that make the whole musical ensemble they (Los Blues) have been known for, is endowed with pure showbiz, mature crooning full of a soul that has been compared with some of the best and placed higher than many of those now ranking in the charts."
--Las Vegas Star
"Los Blues, that most celebrated funky-soul group that has rocked the Sahara Casbar Theater for so many years..."
--Forrest Duke, Las Vegas Star
Liner notes on 'Barbacoa Blues' CD by Randy Garibay to be released in May, 1997:
"From the first time I saw Randy years ago in a club in Anaheim, California, I was blown away at how soulful he sounded - I immediately thought of the great Bobby Blue Bland."
--Bill Medley, The Righteous Brothers
"Randy is one soulful, chirpin' fool!"
--Bobby Hatfield, The Righteous Brothers
" I snapped to what a great voice Randy has back in the '50s. Randy is the consummate Chicano blues man. He still sings the blues in the tradition of Little Willy John, Joe Hinton, Junior Parker, and Bobby Blue Bland, He's totally unique."
--Doug Sahm, Texas Tornados
"Randy is the Chicano Jackie Wilson."
--Clifford Antone, Antone's, Austin TX
"Randy Garibay is my mentor. To watch Randy perform, so natural on stage, is a treat."
--Sunny Ozuna
"Randy's performance is true magic. As you watch Randy perform, several things are evident: his passion for his music, his love of all people, and his sheer joy of living!"
--Wild Bill Riley, Radio KONO, San Antonio
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Last revised:
November 23, 2002