Sonny Gullage: New Album & Premieres First Single!

Sonny Gullage Announces New Album & Premieres First Single!

The full album will be released Friday, August 23 on CD, vinyl LP, and at all digital services. Pre-order / pre-save now: https://orcd.co/sonny

On Friday, August 23, rising blues and soul star Sonny Gullage will release Go Be Free, his exhilarating new Blind Pig album. The 25 year-old New Orleans native displays limitless potential as a gifted singer, dazzling keyboardist, and magnetic frontman. The album was produced by multi-Grammy winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Keb' 'Mo) and features an incendiary cameo by guitarist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.

Rock & Blues Muse has praised Sonny for his: "big-league voice, top-tier keyboard skills, and a hip, sophisticated style that he's currently using to romance blues listeners all over the world.” He’s also a first-rate songwriter with a touch of gospel uplift and urbanity in his blues.

“It was almost a revelation when I discovered I could sing the blues—it just flowed out of me—and I realized that’s how I wanted to connect with people,” Sonny shares. “When I sing, I don’t sing for people to understand me, I sing for people to understand themselves.”

The electrifying title track opens with the kind of stomping beat you’d hear in a Southern church, driven by a dynamic groove. Sonny's vocals resonate with wisdom and warmth as the song swells with a euphoric feeling. This anthem of gospel salvation and blues-based self-realization sets an inspiring tone for the entire album.

The tender R&B ballad, “Separate Ways,” smolders with tasty blues guitar licks, emotive pop hooks, and lovelorn lyrics. The jazzy, pop-infused “Worried About the Young” is a socially conscious modern blues tune addressing the economic hardships plaguing Sonny’s generation. Riding shotgun with him on the track is Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, who, like Sonny, is also 25. Here, Kingfish squeezes out stinging blues licks before digging in with a lyrical but fiery solo. “When we finished the track, I remember [producer] Tom saying people don’t have to worry about the blues with us young guys around,” Sonny says laughing.

Sonny shares hard-earned wisdom from his grandfather on the reflective, R&B-flavored ballad, “I’ve Been There.” He explores trad Chicago blues on “Blues All Over You,” smoldering minor blues on "Tattooed Wings,” and dirty, Delta blues on “Hot House.”

Born with what you might call “blues wisdom,” a mixture of empathy, sensitivity, and keen observational skills, Sonny has always been an old soul. His journey began early, writing his first song about the BP Oil Spill’s devastating effects at just 12 years old. Now at 25, Sonny’s debut album reflects a lifetime immersed in the richness of blues and gospel, influenced deeply by his New Orleans roots and a family steeped in musical tradition. His father, bassist Tony Gullage, has performed with Henry Butler, Dr. John, and other prominent musicians, and his grandmother, Sister Alberta Gullage, released gospel records in the 1960s. Sonny is also believed to be a relative of the legendary Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter.
Sonny’s career took a significant turn when he performed as an artist in residence at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New Orleans. Following the club’s closure during the pandemic, he auditioned for American Idol, advancing to the Showstoppers round. Since then, he has embarked on a robust touring schedule overseas, captivating audiences in the U.S., Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Slovenia, and Croatia. 

Go Be Free promises to be an inspiring addition to the contemporary blues scene, showcasing Sonny Gullage’s unique talent and deep musical roots. Reflecting on his journey, Sonny says, “I feel like a tree with many roots that include my father, and all the musicians who have inspired me. Now, I’m growing branches, and, hopefully, sharing the blues with the next generation.”