Eugene Hideaway Bridges February 2, 2011

Eugene is a nomadic musician living his life on the road. His home is wherever the next performance takes him, and every year this is from America through Europe, to Australia with many other stops in between.

Born in 1963, the son of the blues guitarist Hideaway Slim, Eugene is the fourth child of five. His mother was from the Bullock family (the same as Anna Mae Bullock better known as Tina Turner) and Eugene claims he got his guitar skills from the Bridges side and his voice from the Bullocks. At five he was already playing with his father around Louisiana. With his brothers as The Bridges Brothers he sang gospel and was the musician of his church touring with the Pastor, Elder A. A Edwards. At thirteen Eugene was entering R&B talent shows and had formed his first R&B band The Five Stars.

Eugene moved to Texas to join the Air Force at sixteen, playing in the Air Force band for the next three years. On leaving he joined The New Chosen on guitar and vocals and went on to play with The Mighty Clouds of Joy.

Following a move to Houston, Eugene released Blues, Gospel and R&B recordings by the three bands he was running at the time. These included the first line-up of the Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges Band. They toured the USA from coast to coast.

Eugene then travelled alone to Europe, where B B King Bassist Big Joe Turner spotted him in Paris offering him the position of Guitarist / Vocalist with Big Joe Turners Memphis Blues Caravan.

A year later he left to work under his own name again and formed The Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges Band. Signed to the Blueside label, Eugene recorded Born to be Blue, produced by Mike Vernon. His live performances received rave reviews and Eugene was awarded vocalist of the year by the UK's Blueprint magazine and won the Trophees France Blues 99 Chanteur De L'Annee.

In 2000 Eugene signed to Armadillo and released his next CD Man Without A Home which was played worldwide. He appeared, often headlining, at major festivals in the USA, all over Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia; whipping up a storm wherever he went with his distinctive southern sound.

The 2003 release Jump the Joint reached Number 4 in the US Living Blues Charts, remaining in the charts for three months. Eugene’s songs also appear regularly in The National Association of Rhythm & Blues DeeJays charts. He was nominated for three 2003 US Cammy Music Awards.

In September 2004 Eugene recorded his next CD Coming Home at The Zone Studio in Dripping Springs, Texas; using a full horn section led by Seth Kibel, on several tracks. He also has Texan guitarist and friend Rocky Athas joining him on two cuts.

After four CDs recorded with his full band, his next self titled release Eugene ‘Hideaway ‘ Bridges he went into the studio with friends and fellow musicians met on the road. Lucky Oceans, co-founder of the Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel, plays some fine Pedal Steel on three tracks and Texan legend Ray Wylie Hubbard lays down some fine Slide Guitar on I Can’t Wait. This CD was nominate for two 2008 US Blues Music Awards.

March 2009 saw Eugene in San Antonio to fulfil his fans wishes for a Live CD. With the line up of Bobby Baranowski - Drums, Eric King - Bass, David Webb - Keys, Seth Kibel Sax and Justine Miller - Trumpet you have the real deal.