Born into blues royalty, Teeny Tucker is the daughter of Tommy “Hi-Heel Sneakers” Tucker. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Tucker’s soulful singing journey began in the church choir when she was a kid. Today, she has released six albums and performs all over the world as part of her mission to keep the blues alive, collaborating with incredible artists including Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Etta James, the Holmes Brothers, Keb’ Mo’, Deanna Bogart, Robert Cray, and John Mayall.
Tucker made waves with her 1994 Apollo Theatre performance that earned her a standing ovation from a notoriously cruel crowd. Her first professional performance came in November 1996, and her singing career skyrocketed from there. She’s been invited to major international blues festivals in the U.S., France, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium, appearing on the Main Stage of the Monterey Blues Festival in 2008.
Tucker composed eight of the 11 tracks on her second album, First Class Woman (2003), earning her a spot as a Top 10 finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. She’s also been a Top 3 finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Her next release, Two Big M’s (2008), reached number six on the Living Blues chart and was selected as a finalist for the Blues Foundation’s award for the best self-produced blues CD.
Tucker’s 2010 album “Keep the Blues Alive” and 2013’s “Voodoo To Do You” also featured more of her phenomenal songwriting talent. Her most recent album, “Put on Your Red Dress, Baby,” earned her two nominations for the 2018 Blues Blast Magazine Awards: Female Artist of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year.
Tucker has been honored as a “Blues Historian” by the Jus’ Blues Foundation, was the 2011 Federal Carter G. Woodson Award winner, and was named the 2012 Monterey Bay Blues Artist of the Year. She’s received several prestigious nominations, as well: Artist of the Year by the Blues Music Awards (2012 and 2014), Best Traditional Female Blues Artist by the Blues Foundation of Memphis Tennessee (2010), and Artist of the Year by Living Blues Magazine (2014). On top of all this, BluesBlast Magazine has nominated her for Artist of the Year three times –– in 2008, 2011, and 2013.
