Michael Tarbox

Michael Tarbox (born January 14, 1956) is an American songwriter, guitarist and singer who performs solo and with the Boston-based group The Tarbox Ramblers.

Career

The Tarbox Ramblers

Michael Tarbox formed The Tarbox Ramblers in 1994. The band's sound originally centered on arrangements of early twentieth-century blues, gospel and Appalachian music. It later included Tarbox's original songs.

The Tarbox Ramblers' albums on the Rounder label include a self-titled debut and a second release titled A Fix Back East. They feature Tarbox, string-bassist Johnny Sciascia and violinist Daniel Kellar, with drummers Jon Cohan, RL Hulsman, Howie Ferguson and Alan Sheinfeld. Most of A Fix Back East was produced in Memphis by Jim Dickinson; several tracks were produced by Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie at Camp Street Studios in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The music on the Tarbox Ramblers albums is characterized by three-part vocal harmonies, a heavy rhythm section and the interplay of slide guitar and violin.

Solo work

Tarbox has worked as a solo artist throughout his career, often favoring a drum-guitar duo format. In 2010 he released his first solo album, My Primitive Joy. Produced by Scott McEwen at The Fry Pharmacy Studio in Old Hickory, TN, its spare arrangements, acoustic sound and lyrical approach stand in contrast to The Tarbox Ramblers' aggressive amplified sound. A second solo album was slated for release in 2012.

Television

Michael Tarbox's songs have been used in the television shows Sons of Anarchy and Supernatural. They include "Ashes To Ashes," "Already Gone," "Were You There?" and "No Harm Blues."

Equipment

Tarbox plays a Supro Lockola solid-body electric guitar in G Tuning (DGDGBD); an Airline Town and Country solid-body electric in D (DADF#AD); and an Epi acoustic or Gibson L-4CES hollow-body electric guitar in Standard Tuning (EADGBE). He uses Fender Deluxe and Supro amps in combination with a Premier reverb tank.

Discography
  • Tarbox Ramblers, Rounder Records, 2000
  • A Fix Back East, Rounder Records, 2004
  • Four From The West (limited edition live set) 2006
  • First Songs/Gospel Cross (limited edition early recordings) 2010—SOLO RECORDINGS
  • My Primitive Joy, 2010
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