Eric Gales is a blues guitar phenom who began recording at the age of 16. Today, almost 30 years later, after numerous bouts with the real life blues he is back with an album produced by long-time friend Joe Bonamassa called “Crown.”

Gales is on the road to recovery after spending time in jail because of substance abuse but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, he has created a powerful album that chronicles his many problems along the way. Says Gales, "These songs are about my life, and what’s happening in the world right now. When it came time to sing, I had to take breaks between vocals to cry and let it out. I was sharing my experiences as a Black man, and my private struggles."

A highlight of the album is the title cut on which he and Joe Bonamassa get into a serious guitar duel that leaves no doubt about Gales’ chops. The two are so close that Bonamassa joked that his fee for producing the album was two diet Cokes.

Crown is a modern blues showcase that is steeped in soul and funk. Gales has faced struggles as a black man in America and dedicates the album to anyone who has ever felt discriminated against. His songs and his playing lift him up to a level where a coronation probably isn’t far off.

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