{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Albert Castiglia | image = | caption = | alt = | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|08|12}} | birth_place = New York City, United States | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | instrument = Guitar, vocals | genre = Electric blues<ref name="AMG"/> | occupation = Singer, songwriter, guitarist | years_active = 1990–present | label = Various including Ruf Records | website = {{URL|http://albertcastiglia.net/|Official website}} }}
'''Albert Castiglia''' (born August 12, 1969) is an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. Castiglia has variously worked alongside Junior Wells, Sandra Hall, Aron Burton, Pinetop Perkins, Melvin Taylor, Sugar Blue, Phil Guy, Ronnie Earl, Billy Boy Arnold, Ronnie Baker Brooks, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Larry McCray, Eddy Clearwater and Otis Clay.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/albert-castiglia-mn0000696337/biography |title=Albert Castiglia | Biography & History |publisher=AllMusic |date=1969-08-12 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref>
AllMusic noted that "Castiglia combines hardcore blues with soul, rock, and country flavors for a sound that will appeal to rockers and blues purists alike."<ref name="Keepin">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/keepin-on-mw0002014295 |title=Keepin On – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=2010-08-10 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> His vocal style has been compared to that of Van Morrison.<ref name="Network"/>
==Life and career== Castiglia (pronounced "ka-steel-ya") was born in New York City, United States, to a Cuban mother and an Italian father. He moved with his family to Miami, Florida, when he was five years old and commenced learning the guitar seven years later.<ref name="AMG"/>
Castiglia joined the Miami Blues Authority in 1990 and was named the 'best blues guitarist in Miami' by the ''Miami New Times'' in 1997.<ref name="AMG"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.st94.com/event/894001 |title=Albert Castiglia – Tickets – Sellersville Theater 1894 – Sellersville, PA – September 17th, 2015 | Sellersville Theater |website=St94.com |date=2015-09-17 |accessdate=2016-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309210939/http://www.st94.com/event/894001 |archive-date=2016-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following a college education, Castiglia worked for four years for the state of Florida as a social services investigator.<ref name="Blast">{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/albert-castiglia-solid-ground-album-review/ |title=Albert Castiglia – Solid Ground | Album Review |publisher=Blues Blast Magazine |date=2014-06-09 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> Discovered singing by Junior Wells in 1996,<ref name="Reverb">{{cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/albertcastiglia |title=Albert Castiglia |website=ReverbNation.com |date= |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> he joined his touring band and worked as Wells' lead guitarist until the latter's death in 1998.<ref name="AMG"/> By now living in Chicago, Illinois, Castiglia found work with Sandra Hall and toured with himself until the end of the century.<ref name="AMG"/> In 2002, Castiglia joined David Shelley<ref>{{cite web|last=Hambright |first=Courtney |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/kilmo-represent-6314394 |title=Kilmo, Represent | New Times Broward-Palm Beach |website=Browardpalmbeach.com |date=2005-07-28 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> in the Alligator Alley Allstars, a "blues and roots super group"<ref>{{cite web|last=Zimmerman |first=Lee |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/backstage-in-south-florida-native-florida-tap-room-and-music-hall-offers-south-floridas-coolest-new-hangout-6411570 |title=Backstage In South Florida: Native Florida Tap Room & Music Hall Offers South Florida's Coolest New Hangout |website=Browardpalmbeach.com |date=2012-03-13 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> at Alligator Alley,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alligatoralleynola.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317122828/http://alligatoralleynola.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |title=ALLIGATOR ALLEY – Restaurant – BBQ – Tap Room – Music Hall – HOME |website=Alligatoralleynola.com |date= |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> a "Native Florida" restaurant and live music venue (named for the nearby swamp highway).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/sf-david-shelley-blues-guitarist-dies-20150810-story.html |title=David Shelley, Fort Lauderdale blues guitarist, dies |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date=2015-08-10 |accessdate=2016-01-10 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120837/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/sf-david-shelley-blues-guitarist-dies-20150810-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
His first solo work, ''Burn,'' was self-released in 2004, followed in 2006 with ''The Bittersweet Sessions'', where he collaborated with Graham Wood Drout. The New Jersey–based Blues Leaf Records then issued Castiglia's 2006 album, ''A Stone's Throw''. It contained his versions of the Junior Wells song, "Hoodoo Man Blues" and The Shadows' "The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-stones-throw-mw0000400345 |title=A Stone's Throw – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=2006-04-11 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> In April 2008, ''These Are the Days'' was released, which included Castiglia's tribute to his former employer Junior Wells called "Godfather of the Blues", as well as cover versions of Bob Dylan's "Catfish", Nappy Brown's "Night Time Is the Right Time", Fenton Robinson's "Somebody Loan Me a Dime", and Little Willie John's track "Need Your Love So Bad".<ref name="AMG"/> ''These Are the Days'' saw Castiglia get a nomination for a Blues Music Award for his self-penned song, "Bad Year Blues."<ref name="Reverb"/> He continued to tour and supported both ZZ Top and Elvin Bishop.<ref name="Network"/>
''Keepin On'' (2010), recorded in Dover, New Jersey, featured five tracks written by Castiglia, plus covers of songs by John Lee Hooker ("Goin' Upstairs"), Mack Rice ("Cadillac Assembly Line"), T-Bone Walker ("My Baby is Now On My Mind"), Peter Green ("I Could Not Ask for More"),<ref name="Network">{{cite web |url=http://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/Albert_Castiglia_CD.html |title=(Featuring Albert Castiglia) |publisher=Blues Underground Network |date=2010-08-10 |accessdate=2016-01-10 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Robert Nighthawk ("Murderin' Blues") and Bob Dylan ("Till I Fell In Love With You").<ref name="Keepin"/><ref name="Reverb"/> ''Living the Dream'' (2012), included contributions on Hammond B3 organ and piano from John Ginty.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/living-the-dream-mw0002355724 |title=Living the Dream – Albert Castiglia | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=2012-06-12 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> Roots Music Report bestowed him with the Top Blues Album Award for 2011 and 2012.<ref name="Albert"/> In December 2013, Castiglia performed at the Bradenton Blues Festival.
In March 2014, Castiglia signed a recording contract with Ruf Records. His seventh album in all and his first on Ruf Records was ''Solid Ground'', which was recorded in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.<ref name="Albert">{{cite web|url=http://albertcastiglia.net/#sthash.Lyu66BKS.dpuf|title=Albert Castiglia|website=Albertcastiglia.net|accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref> It contained the Lefty Dizz-penned track "Bad Avenue", Castiglia's version of the blues standard, "Goin' Down Slow", and a cover of the Rolling Stones, "Sway".<ref name="Blast"/> ''Solid Ground'' peaked at number 10 in the US ''Billboard'' Top Blues Albums chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/solid-ground-mw0002615878/awards |title=Solid Ground – Albert Castiglia | Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref>
In 2015, Castiglia made a guest appearance on John Ginty's albums, ''Bad News Travels'' and the subsequent ''Bad News Travels (Live)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makingascene.org/john-ginty-dvd/ |title=John Ginty – Bad News Travels – The Showplace Sessions LIVE DVD |publisher=Making A Scene! |date= 14 August 2014|accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/albert-castiglia-mn0000696337/credits |title=Albert Castiglia | Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=1969-08-12 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bad-news-travels-live-mw0002781749 |title=Bad News Travels [Live] – John Ginty | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref>
In May 2020, Castiglia won a Blues Music Award in the 'Blues Rock Album of the Year' category for his album, ''Masterpiece''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/|title=BLUES MUSIC AWARDS|first=Robin|last=McKay|website=Blues.org|accessdate=May 4, 2020}}</ref> In 2023, he won two Blues Music Awards as 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year' and 'Blues Rock Album of the Year' for ''I Got Love''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-blues-music-awards-winners-list-tommy-castro-1235327334/|title=Tommy Castro Repeats as Entertainer of the Year at 2023 Blues Music Awards: Full Winners List|first=Paul|last=Grein|website=Billboard.com|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year || Title || Record label |- | 2002 || ''Burn'' || style="text-align:center;"| Self-released |- | 2006 || ''The Bittersweet Sessions'' || style="text-align:center;"|Self released |- | 2006 || ''A Stone's Throw'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blues Leaf Records |- | 2008 || ''These Are the Days'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blues Leaf Records |- | 2010 || ''Keepin On'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blues Leaf Records |- | 2012 || ''Living the Dream'' || style="text-align:center;"|Blues Leaf Records |- | 2014 || ''Solid Ground'' || style="text-align:center;"|Ruf Records |- | 2015 || ''Blues Caravan 2014'' || style="text-align:center;"|Ruf Records |- | 2016 || ''Big Dog'' || style="text-align:center;"|Ruf Records |- | 2017 || ''Up All Night'' || style="text-align:center;"|Ruf Records |- | 2019 || ''Masterpiece'' || style="text-align:center;"|Gulf Coast Records/Select-O-Hits |- | 2020 || ''Wild And Free''|| style="text-align:center;"|Gulf Coast Records |- | 2022 || ''I Got Love''|| style="text-align:center;"|Gulf Coast Records |- | 2024 || ''Righteous Souls''|| style="text-align:center;"|Gulf Coast Records |- | 2026 || ''Grits & Glory''|| style="text-align:center;"|Gulf Coast Records |- |}<ref name="Albums">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/albert-castiglia-mn0000696337/discography |title=Albert Castiglia | Album Discography |publisher=AllMusic |date=1969-08-12 |accessdate=2016-01-10}}</ref>
==See also== *List of electric blues musicians
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *[http://albertcastiglia.net/ Official website] *[http://www.stlblues.net/reviews_albertcastiglia.htm ''These Are the Days'' review]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Castiglia, Albert}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male singers Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:American blues singer-songwriters Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state) Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:Guitarists from New York City Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Ruf Records artists