In a relatively short time period, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, Tommy Castro has gone from playing local venues to international fame. For at least two years, he has even been a part of the B.B. King Festival Tour, which this year played thirty-nine different domestic venues. He has also been the house band on NBC-TV’s Comedy Showcase, for three seasons. Working as the house band on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, airing after Saturday Night Live, only boosted his visibility and name value. Castro’s music has also been featured in network television programs such as “Nash Bridges” and “The Young and the Restless.” He has won regional awards and has been featured on the cover of a national blues magazine, “Blues Revue.”
Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Castro started playing guitar at the tender age of ten. Initially inspired by Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Elvin Bishop, he started the inevitable journey into the roots of his heroes and discovered and quickly became enamored of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King. His vocal styling came from constant listening to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Otis Redding.
Castro spent many years playing with bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Castro joined Warner Brothers artists The Dynatones in the late 1980s. The much-loved rocking soul band had a huge fan base and toured the U.S. constantly. He honed his chops with the band on the road for two years, performing live all across the country and backing major artists like Carla Thomas and Albert King.
Returning to San Francisco, he formed the Tommy Castro Band in 1991, which was named Club Band Of The Year for the Bay Area in 1993, and again in 1994. Regular band members have included Randy MacDonald (bass/vocals), Keith Crossan (saxophone/vocals), Billy Lee Lewis (drums/vocals), and Chris Sandoval (drums/percussion).
In 1997, he won Bammies for Outstanding Blues Musician and for Outstanding Blues Album for his debut release on Blind Pig Records, Exception to the Rule. The band continued to record with Blind Pig over several albums. Can’t Keep A Good Man Down received continuous airplay and regular fan requests on well over 400 radio stations nationwide.
Live at the Fillmore was released in early 2000, and with everyone from industry insiders to B.B. King singing his praises, Castro appeared to be headed for bigger and better things. Blind Pig closed the books on their association with Castro in 2002 by releasing the career retrospective The Essential Tommy Castro.
In 2001 the Tommy Castro Band moved over to 33rd Street Records for Guilty Of Love and then to Heart And Soul for 2003’s Gratitude, a cover album of Castro’s greatest heroes, followed by Triple Trouble (with Jimmy Hall and Lloyd Jones) later that same year from Telarc.
The eclectic flavour of 2005’s Soul Shaker, marking his return to Blind Pig, featured more original compositions from Castro, who wrote or co-wrote all the tracks. Although horns and guitars still dominated, the fusion was more varied. Notable tracks included the wistful “Anytime Soon” and “The Crossanova”, characterised by Crossan’s funky flute.
Tommy Castro and his brilliant band have captured a hold of legions of fans and critics alike around the world with their mesmerizing blend of rock, blues and Memphis soul. On the next release – Painkiller – they continued to explore the boundaries of American roots music.
On this CD, Castro teamed up with producer John Porter, renowned for his work with a Who’s Who list of artists such as Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, adn Buddy Guy. Said Castro, “When I started looking for a producer, I realized that John had produced some of my favorite records of the last ten years. After working with him in the studio, I understand now why that is. With John, everything just seems to be right; all the parts work and flow together.” With the Tommy Castro Band anchoring the sessions, Porter fashioned a most tasteful album from the many talented parts of Castro’s patented rock ‘n’ soul music. Special guests Coco Montoya, Angela Strehli, David Maxwell, and Teresa James join the fun.
In 2009, Alligator Records has set an August 11 street date for Hard Believer, the label debut from Tommy Castro.
Anytime Soon
Tommy Castro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I pray that the day will come I won’t have to hurry.
When a little piece of mind won’t be so hard to find.
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
The kids can run and play round the neighborhood
Without a care in the world like children should.
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
Chorus
I can see a time when the future looks so bright.
I can see a time when nobody’s got a reason to fight.
I can see a time when I’m singin’ a diffferent tune
Oh yes I will.
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
Solo
Maybe I’m a fool to keep on believin’
And I suppose it’s true that I’m only dreamin’
You know that I hope and I pray
That I live to see that day
People that love will find a way anytime soon.
The lyrics to Tommy Castro's song Anytime Soon depict a sense of hope and optimism despite an awareness of struggle and hardship in the world. The singer expresses a longing to live in a world where worry and hurry are no longer necessary, where children can play carefree and walk to school safely. Although the singer acknowledges that this idyllic world may not come anytime soon, they continue to believe in the possibility of a brighter and more peaceful future.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that they reflect the singer's personal experiences and desires, but they could also be understood as a commentary on society at large. The mention of children's safety and the desire for a world without fighting could indicate a concern for the well-being of future generations. The overall message of the song seems to be one of persistence and faith in the potential for positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that a time will come I won’t have to worry
Tommy Castro is aware that a day will arrive when he won't have to worry anymore
And I pray that the day will come I won’t have to hurry.
Tommy Castro deeply desires for the day to arrive when he won't need to hurry anymore
When a little piece of mind won’t be so hard to find.
Tommy Castro hopes for a time when it's easier to find inner peace
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
Despite his wishes, Tommy Castro believes that it won't happen in the near future
The kids can run and play round the neighborhood
Tommy Castro observes how carefree children play in the neighborhood
Without a care in the world like children should.
Tommy Castro feels that children should live carefreely like they do
Walk themselves to school just like we used to do
Tommy Castro reminisces how he used to walk himself to school
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
Despite his wishes, Tommy Castro believes that it won't happen in the near future
I can see a time when the future looks so bright.
Tommy Castro envisions a future when things look very promising
I can see a time when nobody’s got a reason to fight.
Tommy Castro imagines a world when no one has a significant reason to quarrel
I can see a time when I’m singin’ a diffferent tune
Oh yes I will.
Tommy Castro anticipates a time when he'll be more optimistic about life
But I don’t believe it’s comin’ anytime soon.
Despite his wishes, Tommy Castro believes that it won't happen in the near future
Maybe I’m a fool to keep on believin’
Tommy Castro understands that he might be foolish to maintain his beliefs
And I suppose it’s true that I’m only dreamin’
Tommy Castro acknowledges that he could be fantasizing
You know that I hope and I pray
Tommy Castro has faith and wishes
That I live to see that day
Tommy Castro wishes to be alive when that longed-for time comes
People that love will find a way anytime soon.
Tommy Castro hopes that people that love each other will eventually be able to reconcile
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.