Freddie Roulette

Freddie Roulette
Background information
Birth nameFrederick Martin Roulette
Born(1939-05-03)May 3, 1939
Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 2022(2022-12-24) (aged 83)
GenresChicago blues, electric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Guitarist
Instrument(s)Lap steel guitar
Years active1960s–2022
LabelsJanus, Rykodisc, others

Frederick Martin Roulette (May 3, 1939 – December 24, 2022) was an American electric blues lap steel guitarist and singer. He was best known as an exponent of the lap steel guitar. He was a member of the band Daphne Blue[2] and collaborated with Earl Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite, Henry Kaiser, and Harvey Mandel. He also released several solo albums.[1] One commentator described Roulette as an "excellent musician".[3]

A short documentary of Freddie Roulette appears on the video-sharing site YouTube that chronicles Roulette's time with the Daphne Blue Band.[2][4][5] The online Blues encyclopedia, "All About Blues Music,"[6] describes Roulette's long tenure with the Daphne Blue Band and notes: "Freddie has also released an album, ‘Daphne Blue: Legendary Blues Instrumentals’ which contains 15 excellent tracks, which [Freddie] considers to be among his finest works."[6]

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) noted "Freddie Roulette pioneered the use of the slide guitar in the blues style. When he began playing slide guitar he was emulating country and western music and felt the instrument would fit nicely in old blues traditions, which he adapted to great success. In fact, his playing has been a strong influence on a new generation of blues musicians both for his strumming style and the emotion he has brought to the instrument."[7] NAMM compiled an oral history of the artist on video.[7]

  1. ^ a b Harris, Craig. "Freddie Roulette". AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Daphneblueband YouTube Channel Stats, Subscriber Statistics, Ranking". Vidstatsx.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2013-08-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Herzhaft, Gérard; et al. (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 32. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
  4. ^ "Freddie Roulette Lap Steel Master (Behind the Scenes Making a Daphne Blue Album)". YouTube. 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  5. ^ "Freddie Roulette & Daphne Blue Sleepwalk Live Santo Johnny". YouTube. 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  6. ^ a b "FREDDIE ROULETTE". Allaboutbluesmusic.com. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Freddie Roulette". Namm.org. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2023.