Guitarist Anthony Paule and bassist Tim Wagar worked in bands together for five years before deciding to form their own group. They wanted to play American Roots Music (leaning heavily on blues). Keeping with their high standards of excellence, they asked Tyler Eng, drums, and Brenda Boykin, Vocals, to join them. Thus the birth of Home Cookin', one of the hottest Roots groups on the American Music scene today. Shortly after forming, Home Cookin' recorded their self-titled debut CD. For this project, they added piano-man Jim Pugh (keyboardist for Chris Isaak, Robert Cray and Etta James).
Members of Home Cookin' are:
Brenda Boykin (vocalist / songwriter) has been dubbed one of the finest blues / jazz vocalists on the West Coast. She studied music at U.C. Berkeley from 1975 to 1980, under the direction of Susan Muscarella and Mark Levine. In 1986, Brenda toured the island of Guam with blues guitarist, Calvin Keys; and in 1991, she toured Japan with her own jazz trio. That same year she recorded with Paris Slim and can be heard on his album, "BLUES FOR ESTHER". Brenda is a staff member of Rhythm Concept, Inc., a jazz camp where she conducts seminars in blues and jazz vocal technique. In 1992 and 1993, Brenda performed at the du Maurier Jazz Festival, Vancouver, B.C.; the Victoria Jazz Festival, Victoria, B.C.; and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Brenda is best known for her work with the Johnny Nocturne Band, and her performance on the group's debut recording "WAILIN' DADDY" (Rounder / Bullseye). This performance brought her much critical acclaim... "Everything about Brenda Boykin is just right. She has a perfect voice---commanding, clear, resilient, informed by wherever she's been"...
Stewart Francke, CD REVIEW
Anthony Paule (guitarist / vocalist / songwriter) has illuminated the music of many legendary masters such as Earl King, Brownie McGhee, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Clarence Clemmons, Bo Diddley, and Tommy Ridgely. 1987 and 1988 found Anthony touring the U.S. and Europe with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors. In 1991 he joined the Johnny Nocturne Band and later that year recorded "WAILIN' DADDY" (Rounder / Bullseye Blues). As with Brenda Boykin, Anthony's unparalleled performance garnered him much critical acclaim. In 1993, Anthony performed the du Maurier Jazz Festival, Vancouver, B.C.; the Victoria Jazz Festival, Victoria, B.C.; the Monterey Jazz Festival; the San Francisco Blues Festival; and the Sacramento Blues Festival. Also in 1993, Paule's stellar guitar work graced the Doug Jay album entitled, "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN". A Four week European tour followed the release of this highly successful album, and Anthony was once again on the receiving end of ongoing praise by the critics..."Guitarist Anthony Paule impresses throughout the album, "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN"...Paule stakes his claim as Junior Watson's number one rival for the title "King of the West Coast Swing", vacated by the late Hollywood Fats"...
Ray Gardner, BLUES & RHYTHM MAGAZINE (London)
Tim Wagar (Bass) has been an intergral part of the Bay Area music scene since 1974, backing such Blues greats as Lavern Baker, Lowell Fulson, Brownie McGhee, Charles Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, and Jimmy McCracklin. In the mid-eighties, Tim recorded with and toured the U.S. and Europe with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors. Tim has played bass on numerous independent recording projects with such local favorites as Steve Freund, Doug Jay and Kenny Blue Ray. He has also appeared with Taj Mahal's on the CD "SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER".
Tyler Eng (Drums & Vocals) has a resume' that reads like a virtual who's who in music. He has performed with Roy Clark, Willie Nelson, Eddie Money, Neil Shon of Journey, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, Martha Davis of the Motels, Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, and Jimmy Buffet. 1977-1979, Tyler toured the U.S. with Harmonica great, Charlie Musselwhite. In 1979 he began a 5-year stint with the Elvin Bishop Band. While with Bishop, Tyler recorded the European-released album "IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN'T MY BABY?", and worked on numerous tours of the U.S. and Europe. 1984 was the year the Greg Kihn Band snared Tyler. Some of his appearances with the group included: Saturday Night Live, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and Solid Gold. With Kihn, Tyler recorded the album "CITIZEN KIHN", on the EMI label.
Track List:
1. Five O'Clock Blues
2. Marry Anne
3. Brick House In Memphis
4. Let's Play Rough
5. Tunica County Breakdown
6. Trying To Get To You
7. My Babe
8. Chains
9. Brown Sugar Baby
10. Zydedo Gumbo
11. Crying Time
12. Tee Ni Nee Ni Nu
13. Backbreaker
14. Rivers Of Babylon
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