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.
Lucky In Love
Tommy Castro Lyrics
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Turns her back when it's my turn to play
But I'm lucky in love
I'm so lucky in love
Never had much luck with the dice
I like to play but can't pay the price
Oh I'm lucky, baby
I'm so lucky
Lucky in love
Tried to turn a buck I got nothin' to show
Keep buying high, selling low
But I'm lucky in love
I'm so lucky in love
I don't need to play the horses
My good fortune comes from better sources
I'm lucky now
Lucky in love
So lucky, yea
Lucky in love
It comes to lovin' I'm no beginner
In my baby's arms you know that I'm a winner
In lovin', I'm such a lucky man
When I hold my baby
I hold a winnin' hand
I got a roof that leaks, a floor that squeaks
A car that breaks down every two or three weeks
But I'm lucky
Lucky in love
I'm lucky now, baby
I'm lucky in love
That's what I am
I'm so lucky
I'm lucky in love
In Tommy Castro's song Lucky In Love, the singer talks about his struggles with luck in every aspect of his life, except for love. He laments that Lady Luck never looks his way, turning her back when it's his turn to play, and that he's never had much luck with the dice. He acknowledges that he likes to play, but can't pay the price, yet emphasizes that he's lucky in love. Although he continually buys high and sells low and tried to turn a buck, he's got nothing to show, but it doesn't matter because he's lucky in love. He explains that he doesn't need to play the horses and that his good fortune comes from better sources. He feels like a winner in love, thanks to his baby.
The singer declares that in love, he's no beginner and that he's a lucky man when he holds his baby in his arms. He reveals that he's got a roof that leaks, a floor that squeaks, and a car that breaks down every two or three weeks, but he's still lucky. He reaffirms that his good fortune comes in the form of love and that he's lucky in it, despite everything else that's happening in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady luck she never looks my way
Fortune never favors me.
Turns her back when it's my turn to play
Luck disregards me when it matters.
But I'm lucky in love
My fortunes change when it comes to love.
I'm so lucky in love
Love blesses me.
Never had much luck with the dice
I've never been fortunate while gambling.
I like to play but can't pay the price
I enjoy gambling, but don't have the money to invest.
Oh I'm lucky, baby
I'm blessed in other ways besides gambling.
Tried to turn a buck I got nothin' to show
Failed to make money.
Keep buying high, selling low
Purchasing things for more than their value and devaluing them while selling.
But I'm lucky in love
Luck favors me in more important matters, such as love
I'm so lucky in love
Blessed by love.
I don't need to play the horses
I don't need to gamble to have good fortune.
My good fortune comes from better sources
I have better means of acquiring good luck.
I'm lucky now
My luck has changed for the best.
Lucky in love
Blessed in love.
So lucky, yea
Extremely fortunate.
It comes to lovin' I'm no beginner
I'm experienced in the matters of love.
In my baby's arms you know that I'm a winner
I feel successful with my romantic partner.
In lovin', I'm such a lucky man
Blessed in the matters of love.
When I hold my baby
When I'm with my romantic partner.
I hold a winnin' hand
I feel victorious and successful with my romantic partner.
I got a roof that leaks, a floor that squeaks
I have a place to live, but it's not perfect.
A car that breaks down every two or three weeks
My car has mechanical issues often.
But I'm lucky
I'm fortunate in other areas of my life.
Lucky in love
Blessed in love.
I'm lucky now, baby
Currently blessed.
I'm lucky in love
Blessed in love.
That's what I am
I'm a fortunate person in matters of love.
I'm so lucky
I'm extremely blessed.
I'm lucky in love
Blessed in love.
Lyrics © WHOLE HOG, INC.
Written by: TOMMY CASTRO, WILLIAM LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind