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.
Make It Back to Memphis
Tommy Castro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis
I'll never do nothin' like this
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
I went down to the corner, I called by buddy Ray
Said it's a bad idea, but let's do it anyway
A hurried note to my baby, I swear I'll be right back
We started headin' south on highway sixty one
Been a long time, since we made this run
They got riverboat gamblin', and tunes along the Mississippi
Now I'm praying to god, lady luck is with me
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis
I'll never do nothin' like this
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
Had a little luck, early in the night
I was up a thousand dollars, high as a kite
Then I blew all on one last hand of Texas hold'em
I should have listened to my gut, and it said fold'em
Wasn't keeping track, of just how much I drank
Should have stashed another twenty in Ray's gas tank
Now the needles on empty, I can see it by the light of the moon
And if we make it back to Memphis, we're gonna have to make it on fumes
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis
I swear I'll never do nothin' like this
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis
I'll never do nothin' like this
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
If I can make it back to Memphis
I said I'll never do nothin' like this
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
The lyrics of Tommy Castro's song "Make It Back to Memphis" tell a story of a spontaneous decision to take a trip to Memphis with a friend, despite knowing it's not the best idea. The singer has a sense of regret and a desire to make it back to Memphis one last time before making a promise to never do anything like this again. The song speaks to the idea of taking risks and making mistakes, but ultimately wanting to make amends for those mistakes.
In the first verse, the singer reaches out to his friend Ray to take a trip to Memphis, admitting it's not the best idea. They call in sick and leave a hurried note to his significant other, highlighting the impulsiveness of their decision. As they travel south, the singer expresses his desire for luck to be on his side since they're gambling along the Mississippi River.
The second verse reveals that the singer had some early success gambling but lost it all in one last hand of Texas hold'em, highlighting the dangers of gambling. The singer also admits to drinking too much and not being prepared for the trip with enough gas in the car. The refrain repeats the desire to make it back to Memphis one more time, but also the promise to never do anything like this again if he's successful.
Overall, the song speaks to the human experience of taking risks and making mistakes, but also the hope for redemption and learning from those mistakes. It's a relatable story that many can connect with, and the bluesy sound adds to the emotional weight of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
The singer desires to return to Memphis once more despite his past mistakes.
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
The singer repeats his desire to return to Memphis for emphasis.
If I can make it back to Memphis
The singer declares his only goal is to return to Memphis.
I'll never do nothin' like this
The artist acknowledges his behavior is reckless and he will not repeat his actions.
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
The artist reiterates his strong desire to return to Memphis.
I went down to the corner, I called by buddy Ray
The singer contacted his friend Ray at a nearby location.
Said it's a bad idea, but let's do it anyway
Ray initially warns the singer against their plan, but ultimately agrees to go along with it.
So we called in sick, and put a twenty in his Cadillac
The artist and Ray falsely called in sick to their jobs and put money in Ray's car to fund their trip.
A hurried note to my baby, I swear I'll be right back
The artist left a rushed note to his significant other promising to return soon.
We started headin' south on highway sixty one
The artist and Ray began driving on highway sixty one towards Memphis.
Been a long time, since we made this run
The singer reflects on how it has been a while since he has traveled to Memphis.
They got riverboat gamblin', and tunes along the Mississippi
The artist mentions the attractions he hopes to see in Memphis, namely riverboat gambling and music along the Mississippi River.
Now I'm praying to god, lady luck is with me
The singer is hopeful that he will experience good fortune on his trip.
Had a little luck, early in the night
The singer had some initial success at gambling upon arriving in Memphis.
I was up a thousand dollars, high as a kite
The singer won a significant amount of money and felt euphoric as a result.
Then I blew all on one last hand of Texas hold'em
The artist gambled all of their winnings on one final hand of Texas hold'em and lost.
I should have listened to my gut, and it said fold'em
The artist realizes in hindsight that he should not have bet all of his winnings on one hand and should have stopped earlier.
Wasn't keeping track, of just how much I drank
The singer was not paying attention to how much alcohol he consumed during the night.
Should have stashed another twenty in Ray's gas tank
The singer regrets not having enough money to purchase more gas for the car.
Now the needles on empty, I can see it by the light of the moon
The car is almost completely out of gas and the artist can see this by the moonlight.
And if we make it back to Memphis, we're gonna have to make it on fumes
The artist and Ray are in danger of running out of gas before they reach Memphis and must continue driving on very little fuel.
I said I'll never do nothin' like this
The artist repeats his previous assertion that he will not repeat the reckless behavior exhibited on this trip.
If I can make it back to Memphis one more time
The song concludes with the singer once again hoping to return to Memphis in the future.
Lyrics © Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: BONNIE HAYES, TOMMY CASTRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@denisecaringer4726
I absolutely adore Tommy Castro and band. Such fine musicians. Dare you to sit still when they're playing! We've been fans for a long time, as have so many others watching this.
@garys8990
GREAT sounding band!!!
@scorchedearth4248
Great song about my hometown!
@EverettHollingshead
Been diggin' Tommy Castro for a long time !!
@jameswoods1367
Seeing him tonight at Callahan's. Tommy's the BEST!
@TREVORJB101
Too bad Callahan's is gone
@isabelle4011
❤❤❤j adoooore le son de T. Castro et ses copains. Et... Le pianiste 😮😮 waouh.. Ébouriffant. 👏👏👏👏🎹🎹❤️
@goaway10
Great Musician
@angelavotaw2731
Always the best Forever from the Feather Woman of Sonora
@evangelinelantana444
When will you make it back to San Jose? Miss ya all