Root Doctor is a Michigan-based blues and soul band who have released half a dozen albums to date. There have been personnel changes over the years but James Williams and Freddie Cunningham have remained consistent.

Origin and background The music the group plays is a mixture of classic soul and traditional blues. A good portion of their material are original compositions.WKAR - Root Doctor | BackStage Pass

The group started out as the Downtown Blues Band in 1989. They changed their name to Root Doctor as there was another group around called The Uptown Band and they wanted to avoid any confusion. Their name comes from the song "Root Doctor" which was recorded by Buddy Ace.Local Spins, May 1, 2014 - Michigan’s Root Doctor: Born with a passion for the blues and ‘a good time’ (Story, podcast, video) by John Sinkevics Two of the founding members were Freddie Cunningham and James Williams.Insurgent Country - Root Doctor featuring Freddie Cunningham, 'New Attitude' by Johanna B. Boddeby Cunningham was born in Mississippi and moved to the Lansing area as a young boy. In those years it was a hard time for blues singers as Motown was the in thing.Lansing State Journal, Thursday, September 15, 2005 - Page 52 Blast of Blues, Old Town hosts musicians from around the nation - By Mike Hughes Williams is the brother of Lamar Williams who was the bass player in The Allman Brothers and Sea Level.Rocktimes.de, 17.09.2014 - Doctor / New Attitude - Joachim 'Joe' Brookes

Career By 2005, the group was in its 16th year of the group's existence. Freddie Cunningham and James Williams had been there right from the beginning.Lansing State Journal, Thursday, September 15, 2005 - Page 52 Blast of Blues, Old Town hosts musicians from around the nation - By Mike Hughes That year Greg Nagy was asked to join the group. He had been playing in bands since he dropped out of graduate school in 1993. At the time he was a stay at home father of two and wasn't looking at joining another group. But Root Doctor asked him to join and he did so on the proviso that they record an album of original material. The timing was right because this is what the group had been thinking about doing.South Bend Tribune, July 20, 2007 - Root Doctor has cure for what ails your soul - ANDREW S. HUGHES

In 2006, their album Been a Long Time Coming was released on the Big O Records label.Discogs - The Root Doctor – Been A Long Time Coming Living Blues magazine said it was a beautifully executed project.Laketown-center.com - PRESS RELEASE July 10, 2007

By July 2007, the group consisted of Freddie Cunningham, Rick Bole, Greg Nagy, James Williams, and Jim Alfredson.

In 2009, following a difficult decision to leave Root Doctor, guitarist Greg Nagy left the group to pursue a solo career. He released his solo album Walk That Fine Thin Line in May that year which earned him a nomination from the national Blues Foundation for best new artist.Mlive.com, December 10, 2009 - Former Root Doctor guitarist Greg Nagy earns Blues Foundation nomination for best new artist By John Sinkevics | The Grand Rapids Press Also that year, the group appeared in one of the episodes of Backstage Pass.PBS - BackStage Pass, Root DoctorLansing State Journal, Thursday, February 25, 2010 - Page 23 'Backstage Pass' puts local artists on TV

In 2011, their album Joy was released. It featured guest musicians such as Lisa Smith, Jamison (Jamo), and Lamar Williams Jr.Lansing State Journal, Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Page 33 Root Doctor's latest CD is a 'Joy'-ful family affair For the release of their album, they had a Blues Cruise CD release party on the Michigan Princess on October 15 and a week later on the 22, they had one at the Green Door Blues Bar and Grill.MSU Today, Oct. 6, 2011 - Arts + Campus, Root Doctor releases new album

In 2013, their album Attitude was released. Other musicians to pay on the album were Dave Matchette on harmonica, Mike Lynch on accordion, Andy Wilson on trumpet, Len'i Glenn on baritone saxophone, Jerrick Matthews on trombone, Chad Bement on tenor saxophone, Michael Dease on trombone, and R. Gardner on washboard. The tracks included "Rear View Sight", "Set Me Free ", "Bring It Back", "You're Gonna Lose " and "Land Of The Free ".Rocktimes.de, 17.09.2014 - Doctor / New Attitude - Joachim 'Joe' Brookes Also that year they were one of the acts to appear at the second annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue event, held at Birch Run Township which ran from August 22 to August 25.Mlive.com, August 18, 2013 - Birch Run Blues, Brews and Barbecue on tap with Michigan beers, ribs and a carnival By Darcie Moran

In 2014, they were playing at the Michigan BluesFest, an event that runs on a Friday and Saturday in September. Other artists at the event included Big Boss Blues Band, Harper & Midwest Kind, Greg Nagy, Mike Morgan with Hank Mowery & the Hawktones, and the Marci Linn Band.Lansing State Journal, Sept. 18, 2014 - Michigan BluesFest comes to Old Town - Anne Erickson

Members Jim Alfredson ... keyboards Rick Bole ... drums Freddie Cunningham ... lead vocals Bobby Gardner ... drums and vocals Bill Malone ... guitar and vocals Greg Nagy ... guitar Mike Skory ... Hammond organ, keyboards, vocals James Williams ... bass and vocalsRoot Doctor website - BioSouth Bend Tribune, July 20, 2007 - Root Doctor has cure for what ails your soul - ANDREW S. HUGHES

Discography

+ Albums Title Release info Year Notes The Doctor Is In Rocket 88 #17 1997 Been a Long Time Coming Big O Records 2406 2006 Change Our Ways Big O Records 2407 2007 Live at the Cadillac Club Big O Records 2409 2008 AllMusic - Root Doctor, Live at the Cadillac Club back cover Joy RD Records 59515 2011 New Attitude CD Baby 19967 2013 AllMusic - Root Doctor, Discography

+ Compilation albums Title Release info Year Notes Cadillac Blues 2007 Big City Blues Mag - Big (Cadillac) Rack of Blues Deal!

References