Big Nancy
Blowing My Harp
Big Nancy was born in 1955 in Somerville, New Jersey. She was raised in
nearby Green Brook. Her love of music was handed down to her from her father,
an avid listener and player of Dixieland music. Much of her love of Blues and
Gospel chord patterns came from recordings of the day, old movies, and cartoons.
Nancy became enamored with the Blues Harp while viewing a Woody Guthrie
documentary featuring harmonica master Sonny Terry. Nancy (Wertheim Swarbrick)
picked up the harp in high school, started booking national acts in college,
and joined her first band "Bob White and The White Boys" in 1978.
The White Boys, lead by guitarist/Rutgers English Professor Bob White, played
every Wednesday night for 13 years at the notable New Brunswick night spot the
Court Tavern. Nancy sits in with her first nationally acclaimed artist
A.C. Reed
at the Stanhope House in the late 70's. " A.C." was kind enough to
extend the invitation whenever he was in town.The California Soul Review was
established in 1986 to back a review featuring
Sonny Rhodes,
Frankie Lee, and
Eddie Ray Knight.
The band featured Dennis Kronemeyer, Bill Cherensky, Dave Ambrosy, Big Nancy,
and the late great keyboardist Dave Shearn. The dates were set at the
"old" Tramps, on Irving Street in New York City. Soon after, the
California Soul Review morphed into The
Sonny Rhodes Band.
Nancy toured nationally and abroad with the legendary Texas lap steel player
for the next five years. The
Sonny Rhodes Band
played at the WC Handy Awards ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1990. During
this time Sonny and Nancy shared stages with some of the greatest blues legends
of all time, including
Willie Dixon,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown,
Little Milton, and
Pinetop Perkins.
They also shared the stage with rock artists John Popper, the Spin Doctors and
Bruce Springsteen. In 1992 Nancy began touring with the
Blues Man Willie Band.
The flamboyant Blues Man Willie, pictured here with Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer Bernie Worrell, took Nancy to most of the major cities in the continental
U.S. They appeared in such venues as The House Of Blues in Boston,
B.B. Kings
in Memphis, Lou's Pier 47 in San Francisco, The Mangy Moose in Jackson Hole,
The Blues Ship in Tampa, and the Pioneer in Seattle Washington.Originally
formed as a side project in 1992, SUPREME COURT has become Nancy's primary
focus. This hard hitting Blues, Funk, and R&B ensemble has attracted the
attention of many great musicians. It features guitar legend, Bernie
Braunswetter; Ron Howden of Nektar; the dynamic vocalist, Yolanda Briggs; and
the big harp sound of Nancy Swarbrick. Many great performers have sat in with
the band including;
Johnny "Clyde" Copeland,
Bobby Radcliff, Bernie Worrell, Ann Rabson, the Spin Doctors, Lenny Kaye,
and Vinnie "Mad Dog" Lopez.
(quoted from BIG NANCY'S BLUES)
Visit Big Nancy's official website.
Visit Big Nancy's page at myspace.com.
Various Articles on Big Nancy
Article and photo at bebo.com.
Big Nancy Videos
Supreme Court. Runtime 04:02
Supreme Court 2007. Runtime 10:28.
Bob White and Big Nancy. Runtime 03:29.
Big Dave Simpson and Big Nancy - Dinky Town Blues. Runtime 03:35.
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