Big Radio Records, a label under Memphis music stalwart Select-O-Hits, is thrilled to announce the signing of Christopher Wyze & The Tellers for their debut album, 'Stuck in the Mud.' This 13-track studio release is set to drop on June 21, 2024.
“I learned about Wyze & The Tellers from a producer-friend. Their blues, it grabbed him,” says Johnny Phillips, head of the label. “These guys lay down a fresh sound, but with an ‘old as mud’ feel to it,” he adds with a smile.
Johnny Phillips, son of Select-O-Hits founder Tom Phillips and nephew of Sun Records' legend Sam Phillips, knows a thing or two about groundbreaking music. Select-O-Hits, established in 1960, has been behind over 300 gold, platinum, and Grammy-winning albums, including many blues hits. The company recently celebrated a Grammy win for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Edgar Winter's ‘Brother Johnny.’
Pre-save "Stuck In The Mud" Now: https://cwyze.lnk.to/StuckInTheMudSingle
While Christopher Wyze & The Tellers may be new to the blues scene, frontman, harp player, and singer-songwriter Wyze is a seasoned veteran. “I spent two decades doing blues standards,” says the Indianapolis-based Wyze. “It gets inside you and the stories just bubble up.” He penned the album's lyrics in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a place steeped in blues history. Recently, the Nashville Songwriters Association International named Wyze a “One to Watch” songwriter in December 2023. Each track on 'Stuck in the Mud' features co-writing contributions.
Recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL, and Clarksdale, MS, the album's sessions were directed by producer Ralph Carter. Classic rock fans might recognize Carter from his early career prominence as a tour musical director, bass player, and co-writer with Eddie Money, notably on the hit “Shakin.” In the blues world, Carter has worked with Sugar Ray Rayford and Franck L. Goldwasser (Paris Slim), among others. Christopher Wyze handles lead vocals on all thirteen tracks, adding blues harp to seven. Featured artists include Eric Deaton on acoustic, electric, and slide guitar for Muscle Shoals tracks and Cary Hudson on electric, acoustic, and slide guitars for Clarksdale tracks.
“It’s truly an honor to join forces with Big Radio Records and have the chance to share our music with the world. We pour our hearts and souls into every note, and we're thrilled to have found a home where our vision can flourish,” says Wyze.
Eric Deaton has contributed to the Grammy-winning sound of The Black Keys, both on tour and in the studio, particularly on their hit blues album ‘Delta Kreme.’ Cary Hudson, lauded by Jason Isbell as “a national treasure,” formerly fronted the beloved rock band Blue Mountain and was named Artist of the Year by Southland Music Line in 2023.
'Stuck in the Mud' is one of three blues albums set for release by Big Radio Records this summer. The video single for 'Stuck in the Mud' premiered on June 19th, coinciding with the album pre-order kickoff. The full album will be available on June 21, 2024, through digital platforms, online retail outlets, and brick-and-mortar record stores via Select-O-Hits.
Music fans can sign up for release updates at www.ChristopherWyze.com or visit the label at www.BigRadioRecords.com.
About Christopher Wyze & The Tellers:
Christopher Wyze, emerging as a powerful lyricist, was named a “One to Watch” up-and-coming songwriter by Nashville Songwriters Association International in December 2023. His distinctive voice and storytelling style blend blues, rock-n-roll, Americana, and country. Born and raised in the southern hills of Indiana, Wyze has been deeply influenced by his time in the Mississippi Delta, honing his narrative voice and musical sound. His head-turning, low bass vocals capture the essence of the South, lending flint-edged honesty to his songs' tales. Wyze's vignettes ebb and flow across time-frozen tales of humanity and hope, inviting listeners to return for frequent re-listens that reveal deeper meanings with each play.
