Biography:

Harmonicist/vocalist Sandy Mack obligatory bio:

Awards include: JSJBF Lifetime Achievement Award, 2010 Blues Hall of Fame induction, 2012 & 2013 Asbury Music Award winner

Inspirational live performance highlights include: Playing with Marc Ribler, Jack Daley, Marc Muller, Nicole Atkins, Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Keys, Jason Crosby, Mark Rivera, Julio Fernandez, Eryn Shewell, Matt O’Ree & many more

Venue highlights include: Appearances at Montreal Festiblues, Chicago Blues Festival, Pleasure Island(Disney World),Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival, Count Basie Theatre, Sweetwater Music Hall & many more

Recording highlights include: Two solo CDS on the Blues Leaf label- That’s What I’m Talkin Bout-2001 & Still Going Strong-2009 and session work for artists including Albert Castiglia, Nicole Hart, Eryn Shewell, Dennis Greunling and many more.

Influences include: (no particular order) Allman Brothers Band, J Geils, Little Walter, Grateful Dead, Jim Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Elvis, Sam & Dave, John Lennon, Louis Prima, Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Marvin Gaye, Little Milton, Johnny Winters, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Nokie Edwards, Bobby Bland, Led Zeppelin, George Smith, Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd, Robin Trower, Big Jay McNeely, William Clarke, Albert King, SRV, Louis Jordan, Tiny Grimes, Wes Montgomery, Kim Wilson, Benny Goodman, Art Blakey, King Curtis, Junior Wells, Junior Parker, T-Bone Walker, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, & MANY more

Early history: Mack joined the Asbury Park music scene with his first band-Bank Street Blues Band in the early 70s where we played the notorious Asbury Park club the Student Prince 5 nights a week one summer. Many of the local legends(Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, Lance Larson) were frequent guests, which was highly inspirational for a young aspiring musician. During this time he started really digging into blues, studying Little Walter, Muddy Waters and most all of the blues greats. Along with Springsteen & other locals, early inspiration came from shore area guitarist Sonny Kenn whose band Sandy played in for several years. Other early inspiration came from NYC harp player Trip Henderson who helped Sandy learn harp tone & positions techniques. After a break from performing for family obligations, Mack joined up with some Hoboken based musicians, playing Hoboken/NYC scene for several years & where he did his first session work. Later he formed the Treble Brothers band with shore area guitarist John Fernandez & played Red Bank Festival for the first time. His first music promotion work began with booking an Asbury Park club, O’Shea’s (later The Saint) & running an open jam there and a short time later booking at Jason’s Jazz & Blues club, and also running the open jam there. Around this time he started The Tonemasters with guitarist Ron Rauso and also started the yearly music charity event now known as Harpin’ Help.