Long hailed as a powerhouse vocalist and king of Bayou Soul, Marc Broussard is altering his iconic recipe of classic soul, R&B, & blues with the help of renowned blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, on his new single, “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”, a riveting take of the Little Milton classic.
Broussard’s dynamic, soulful vocals, combined with Bonamassa’s unmatched fretwork, deliver a knockout fusion of retro soul & modern blues. “What Love Will Make You Do” is out today and is the first offering from Broussard’s forthcoming album “S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul”, a stunning collection of blues and soul classics plus one original song produced by Joe Bonamassa, who contributes mesmerizing guitar solos on four tracks, alongside longtime collaborator Josh Smith. “S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul” is the latest entry in Broussard’s ongoing philanthropic album series available on March 3rd, 2023, via Bonamassa’s own Keeping the Blues Alive Records.
“Tackling Little Milton was a daunting task”, Broussard admits. “He had an epic voice that was intimidating to attempt. I only hope I did him justice. I didn’t want to overdo it, but we wanted to put our stamp where it needed to be. I’m so glad we did”.
“That’s What Love Will Make You Do” keenly exemplifies the roots music fireworks that the burning teamwork of Broussard-Bonamassa creates on “S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul”, which quite possibly is Broussard’s best album to date. Each of the twelve tracks speak to the deepest part of the soul, whether it’s Son House’s “Empire State Express”, Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “Cuttin’ In”, Bobby Blue Bland’s “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination” to Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked for Water” and the sole Broussard original, co-written with Josh Smith and Calvin Turner, “When Will I Let Her Go”. “S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul” is a remarkable achievement and provides a captivating showcase for Broussard’s muscular and passionate singing.
For Marc Broussard, this album is another soul-stirring adventure into the music he’s always admired. “Blues is something in my wheelhouse”, he says, “But it’s not really my field of expertise”. But when he decided blues would make up a big part of the new addition to the S.O.S. series, he knew whom to ask for assistance: Joe Bonamassa. “I couldn’t think of a better person than him. I reached out directly to Joe, and he jumped at it. It was just that easy. It’s a real complementary relationship, that’s for sure”, he says. “We got into the studio, and it worked immediately”.
Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Marc Broussard has achieved something that has all the elements of a classic album, one that arrives with a knockout punch and will likely grow even more luminous over the years. With special guests like Bonamassa, Smith, Roddie Romero, Bobby Junior, JJ Grey, Eric Krasno, and old pal Calvin Turner, it is a real-life gathering of an esteemed musical tribe. Created with an idea for raising funds to help our country’s underprivileged youth, “S.O.S. 4: Blues for Your Soul” delivers great music for a great cause. Thanks to the generosity of Marc Broussard, a significant portion of proceeds from this “Save Our Soul” album will be donated to Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation for the purpose of supporting youth rehabilitation through music! This includes a partnership with Guitars Over Guns, a Miami-based nonprofit which offers students from the most vulnerable communities a powerful combination of music education and mentorship.
“The deep, mutual concern and compassion for providing healing and growth opportunities for young adults through music is what connects all of us in this endeavor. Thanks to Marc, many students in Miami-Dade County will receive mentorship, recording time, and resources that they likely wouldn’t have access to in another capacity. We are so excited to be a vessel for this initiative and we’re fortunate to have an opportunity to work with Marc and Guitars Over Guns whose impact is already being noticed, rewarded, and replicated across the country”, says Shawn Gonzalez, KTBA Foundation President.
“I’m really proud of all the S.O.S albums”, Broussard states. “But this one, in particular, seems really fantastic because we have some extra strength with my pal Joe Bonamassa. His stepping in by producing, playing on the record plus releasing it on his label is truly a gift. And Joe completely understood the charitable aspect of the album”.
With help from so many talented friends, this is blues that arrives right on time and is guaranteed to take the soul on a new excursion. “This album seems like the culmination of a process that started when I went independent”, says Broussard. “It’s based on believing in myself and the music my fellow musicians, and I make. I couldn’t be more excited”.
“S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul” also spotlights Broussard’s long-running involvement in charitable endeavors. S.O.S. (Save Our Soul) is his ongoing series of benefit albums that support a different cause for each album. Broussard explains. “I started doing cover records after I was released from my very first contract with a major label. I finally went independent and decided to record albums to raise funds for charity. The first of those projects was to raise money for a homeless women’s and children’s shelter. Second, we did an album to raise funds for a children’s hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana”.
With the new single and album, 2023 is primed to be an extraordinary year for Marc Broussard. He just kicked off a jammed packed run of tour dates which includes a string of shows in Florida, plus cities including Baton Rouge, Memphis, Raleigh, NC, Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York City and Cincinnati, OH. The list of tour dates is below with more to be announced.
Pre-order “S.O.S 4: Blues for Your Soul” here.
Tracklist:
1. I’ve Got to Use My Imagination (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
2. I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water
3. That’s What Love Will Make You Do (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
4. Cuttin’ In (feat. Roddie Romero)
5. Dreamer
6. Empire State Express
7. Love, The Time is Now (feat. Bobby Junior)
8. I Asked for Water (feat. JJ Grey)
9. I Like to Live the Love (feat. Eric Krasno)
10. Locked Up in Jail (Prison Blues) (feat. Josh Smith)
11. Driving Wheel (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
12. When Will I Let Her Go (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
US Tour Dates 2023:
January 10 – Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
January 11 – Clearwater, Fl @ Capitol Theatre
January 12 – Boca Ratón, FL @ The Funky Biscuit
January 13 – Boca Ratón, FL @ The Funky Biscuit
January 14 – Stuart, FL @ Lyric Theatre
February 11 – Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
February 12 – The Woodlands, TX @ Valentine’s
February 16 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Erica H. Meyer Civic Center
March 8 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Manship Theatre
March 9 – Memphis, TN @ Lafayette’s Music Room
March 10 – Chattanooga, TN @ Walker Theatre
March 11 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
March 14 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
March 15 – Charleston, SC @ The Riviera Theater
March 17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
March 18 – Birmingham, AL @ The Lyric Theatre
April 5 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre
April 6 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
April 7 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall
April 8 – New York, NY @ Sony Hall
April 11 – Old Saybrook, CT @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
April 12 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
April 14 – Portsmouth, NH @ Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club
April 15 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
April 16 – Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse
April 18 – Cincinnati, OH @ Memorial Hall
April 21 – Louisville, KY @ Bomhard Theater
April 22 – Huntingdon, TN @ Dixie Carter PAC
Get tickets here.
Weblinks:
www.marcbroussard.com
www.facebook.com/marcbroussard
