Roy Book Binder - Biography

Born in New York City on October 5, 1943, Roy Book Binder has been a travelin' man for the past 32 years. Roy was turned on to music when Alan Freed's "Caravan of Stars" rock 'n roll show came to New York in the winter of 1957. The artists that really caught Roy's attention were Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. He became an avid fan of this rhythm and blues based music. Roy became serious about playing guitar after purchasing one in Italy while serving in the Navy in 1963 aboard the USS Independence. A shipmate played some records by Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. This is where BOOK BINDER came to learn about the roots of the music that he first loved.

Photo by Adam Traum

    After his discharge from the Navy, Roy attended college in Providence, Rhode Island and first learned of the 'folk revival'. At local coffee houses he saw Dave Van Ronk, Paul Geremia, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGee along with many other 'folk blues' acts. Around this time Roy began performing at 'hootenanies', earning his first, small, but loyal audience. With the Newport Folk Festival nearby, Book Binder had the opportunity to hear and see such greats as Muddy Waters, Son House, Booker White, Joseph Spence, Merle Travis, Flatt and Scruggs and Big Mama Thornton. It was at these early festivals, after meeting John Hammond, Dave Van Ronk and Paul Geremia, that Roy realized playing blues was indeed a viable career choice.

    In 1967, he transferred to the New School for Social Research in New York. At this time, Book had the opportunity to meet the legendary Rev. Gary Davis and after two extended "lessons", Roy was invited to go on tour with the 'Rev', as driver and traveling companion. Book Binder learned what it was like to be part of the blues and folk scene on an entirely different level.

    It wasn't long after arriving in New York that Roy recorded three songs for Stefan Grossman's Kicking Mule record label, and one song on an anthology for Nick Perls' blue Goose record label. During this time, Roy lived at an orphanage, where he worked as a counselor. Leaving the orphanage for good in the winter of 1969, Roy headed to the United Kingdom where he toured with JoAnn Kelly, Arthur Big Boy Crudup, Homesick James and Larry Johnson who he had met through Rev. Gary Davis back in New York.

    Roy arrived back in the States with a folder full of great reviews. Book then signed with Adelphi Records, and recorded his first solo album, "Travelin' Man", which became the first solo acoustic blues album to receive a five star review in Downbeat Magazine. In 1997, this album was reissued by Adelphi Records.

    Now touring nationwide, Roy searched and found the old Carolina medicine showman Pink Anderson. Pink's humorous songs were always apart of Roy's repertoire and the two men quickly became good friends. Book Binder was instrumental in getting Pink back in showbusiness, and concerts in the northeast resulted.

    Roy next met a young fiddle player at a festival and soon began touring as as a duo with 'Fats Kaplin'. Together they recorded two highly acclaimed albums for Blue Goose Records in 1973 and 1976. The swinging sound of guitar and fiddle was a crowd pleaser everywhere they performed.

    Out on his own again, Book Binder moved into a motorhome in the spring of 1976, and began a tour that hasn't ended! While living on the road full time, he was signed in 1979 by Flying Fish Records at the Vancouver Folk Festival. He subsequently recorded "Goin' Back to Tampa" and begun putting on the miles, traversing the US for the next 22 years!

    In the mid 1980's, Roy was discovered by the Nashville Network's cable TV show, "Nashville Now", where his humorous stories of life on the road and his old time 'hillbilly blues' made him a popular regular with Ralph Emery's country music audience. During these years, Roy toured with Bonnie Raitt from Florida to Maine playing venues including the Grand Ol' Opry and the New Orleans riverboat, the S.S. President.

    In 1988, a friendship with Jerry Douglas led to a contract with Rounder Records. Douglas produced the first CD, "Bookeroo!" and the "Nashville Cats" got to play the blues. At this time, Roy found himself working as many country-bluegrass festivals and clubs as he was blues gigs.

    Book Binder formed the Hillbilly Blues Cats after a jam session at the Blues to Bop Festival in Lugano, Switzerland with fellow Floridians Rock Bottom and Chief Billy Ochoa. With Rock playing harmonica and the Chief on standup bass, the Blues Cats cut an album for Rounder Records and toured the US, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. A highlight of the group's touring included a hilarious appearance on "Nashville Now", where the mainstream country audience was exposed to the wild antics of this acoustic blues trio.

    Opening up a show for Jorma Kaukonen in 1990 led to a long association with Hot Tuna. In the years to follow, Roy has toured with Hot Tuna, recorded with Jorma, and now teaches at Jorma's "Fur Peace Ranch", where guitar players of all ages come to study with purveyors of American roots guitar styles. Roy's album, "Don't Start Me Talkin'", with Jorma on second guitar on two tracks, was recorded one night in Athens, Ohio. This album was praised worldwide for its great music and stories. Yes, the stories and humor have become almost as important as the music! It adds up to a hysterical, historical journey of where "The Book" has been, who Book Binder has known, and how it all happened.

    Roy's latest Rounder CD, "Polk City Ramble", includes seven original tunes. With a rhythm section including drums and stand up bass, the music rocks n' rolls with the best of today's roots music. Book Binder's song, "Anywhere You Go", was chosen for a year long advertising campaign by Burdines, an upscale Federated department store. Roy has recorded over thirty commercials that are being aired throughout Florida. Book Binder is under contract with Burdines until the year 2000.

    The legend continues to grow. This year, Roy Book Binder has been invited to be a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee! Another new audience awaits the tales of "The Book".