BUDDY HANK BAND
Copyright Buddy Hank Band/2001/2010
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Ted Stilles- Biograhpy
Guitarist Ted Stilles started his career in the United States with the 60’s pop group the Peacemakers. They developed a unique blend of original songs and contemporary psychedelic music perfect for the time. Having a deep love for roots music, he spent the 70’s recording and performing with a variety of artists. He played on the live Angelic Choir gospel album on Savoy Records, he toured with the Highway QCs, he recorded for Victoria Spivey on Spivey Records, and he performed live with Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters... It was a time of living the music, not just playing it! At the end of the decade, after a stint with Buzzy “You’ve Got To Have Friends” Linhart, it was time to do his own thing.
In 1980 he released his first solo album on the Telewbar Records label, “Ted Stilles Bhang”. It drew heavily on his days with the Peacemakers, a real psychedelic tour de force that garnered rave reviews. The album included a previously unreleased track “Love is Just a Dream” from an early 70’s session which featured Ron Smith on vocals, Brad Mabu Young on drums, and TM Stevens on bass. At this time Ted met Steve Washington, the musical genius behind 70’s funk legend Slave. It was an extremely productive period. There was so much material being written, a host of spinoff projects developed. Young and Company, Aurra, Steve Arringtons Hall of Fame, Civil Attack… Ted was trying to figure out which way to go when his friend TM had some live dates to honor with his guitarist unavailable. Ted volunteered to help out which led to his finishing the Stacy Lattisaw “Let me be your angel” tour and doing the subsequent “I found love on a two way street” tour which was the opening act for the Jacksons “Triumph” tour. After 22 dates it was time to get back on track.
There was the Bhang album to promote and the new relationship with Steve Washington to explore. Originally Ted met Buddy Hank while building the live band for the Bhang tour. Buddy had done the first Aurra album and the Young and Company stuff. What caught Ted’s ear most was the Hall of Fame material. The idea of mixing the funk with the rock seemed like the way to go. Somehow things went more funk than rock and Ted wound up playing on the Funky Bud CD. That led to the Buddy Hank Band and as they say, the rest is the future and none of that has happened yet!
Second album, “When Music Becomes A Tool”
Hartke Systems
In 1980 he released his first solo album on the Telewbar Records label, “Ted Stilles Bhang”. It drew heavily on his days with the Peacemakers, a real psychedelic tour de force that garnered rave reviews. The album included a previously unreleased track “Love is Just a Dream” from an early 70’s session which featured Ron Smith on vocals, Brad Mabu Young on drums, and TM Stevens on bass. At this time Ted met Steve Washington, the musical genius behind 70’s funk legend Slave. It was an extremely productive period. There was so much material being written, a host of spinoff projects developed. Young and Company, Aurra, Steve Arringtons Hall of Fame, Civil Attack… Ted was trying to figure out which way to go when his friend TM had some live dates to honor with his guitarist unavailable. Ted volunteered to help out which led to his finishing the Stacy Lattisaw “Let me be your angel” tour and doing the subsequent “I found love on a two way street” tour which was the opening act for the Jacksons “Triumph” tour. After 22 dates it was time to get back on track.
There was the Bhang album to promote and the new relationship with Steve Washington to explore. Originally Ted met Buddy Hank while building the live band for the Bhang tour. Buddy had done the first Aurra album and the Young and Company stuff. What caught Ted’s ear most was the Hall of Fame material. The idea of mixing the funk with the rock seemed like the way to go. Somehow things went more funk than rock and Ted wound up playing on the Funky Bud CD. That led to the Buddy Hank Band and as they say, the rest is the future and none of that has happened yet!
Second album, “When Music Becomes A Tool”
Hartke Systems
