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.
Had Enough
Tommy Castro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if I don’t, wind up on the street
Well I’ve had enough
I’ve had enough of the blues
I’m so tired of being used people
I’ve had enough of the blues
Landlord’s knockin’, he’s got to have the rent
Well I’ve had enough
I’ve had enough of the blues
So don’t bring me no bad news people
I’ve had enough of the blues
Sometimes I feel just like I want to cry
You know I’ve been believin’ a great big lie
And I wonder, I wonder if there ever comes a time
I want to know, oh, if I’m going to get by
I’ve got to do the very best I can
I sing these blues cuz I’m a workin’ man
I’ve had enough, yes I’ve had enough of the blues
So don’t bring me no bad news people
I’ve had enough of the blues
I’ve had enough, hey hey
I’ve had enough of the blues
I’m so tired of being used people
I’ve had enough of the blues
The lyrics of Tommy Castro's song "Had Enough" tell a story of a man who is fed up with the struggles of everyday life. He works seven days a week just to make ends meet, but still finds himself in danger of losing everything if he can't pay his rent. Despite his hard work, he feels used and overlooked. The repetition of the line "I've had enough of the blues" emphasizes his weariness with this endless cycle of hardship.
The chorus of the song makes it clear that the character is not just talking about literal blues music, but the metaphorical blues of life's struggles. The verses are full of vivid descriptions of the character's hardships, like his landlord knocking for rent before he even gets paid. The bridge speaks to the character's hopelessness, wondering if things will ever get better.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the often-overlooked struggles of working-class life. It's a reminder that while the blues may be a genre of music, it's also a metaphor for the difficulties we all face.
Line by Line Meaning
Got to work seven days a week
I have to work nonstop without any break
And if I don’t, wind up on the street
If I am unable to work, I won't be able to pay rent and will be homeless
Well I’ve had enough
I am tired and no longer willing to tolerate this situation
I’ve had enough of the blues
I am tired of feeling sad and unhappy all the time
I’m so tired of being used people
People take advantage of me and I am tired of it
Landlord’s knockin’, he’s got to have the rent
My landlord is demanding the rent money
Before I get my paycheck, it’s already spent
Before I can even get my salary, my money is already gone
So don’t bring me no bad news people
I don't want to hear about any more problems
Sometimes I feel just like I want to cry
I feel so sad that I feel like crying
You know I’ve been believin’ a great big lie
Something I believed turned out to be false
And I wonder, I wonder if there ever comes a time
I am curious and unsure if there will ever be a better time
I want to know, oh, if I’m going to get by
I am unsure if I will be able to survive financially
I’ve got to do the very best I can
I am trying my hardest to do well
I sing these blues cuz I’m a workin’ man
I sing about my struggles because I am a hardworking person
I’ve had enough, yes I’ve had enough of the blues
I am done feeling sad all the time
I’ve had enough, hey hey
I have reached my limit and I am done with this
I’m so tired of being used people
People are constantly taking advantage of me and I am done
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.