Sugar Ray & The Bluetones

Raymond Norcia began playing harmonica in his teens. Adopting the name Sugar Ray, he formed the Bluetones, who backed visiting blues artists including Roosevelt Sykes and Big Mama Thornton on dates in Rhode Island and Boston. In the late '70s, they were the regular backing group for guitarist Ronnie Earl. After a solid self-titled debut for Baron Records in 1980, they recorded Knockout and Don’t Stand in My Way for Bullseye Blues. In 1991, Sugar Ray joined Roomful of Blues, becoming lead singer and harmonica player on several acclaimed albums, including the Grammy-nominated Turn It On! Turn It Up! (1995). In the late '90s, he recorded the excellent Superharps alongside James Cotton, Billy Branch, and Charlie Musselwhite. He subsequently reunited with the Bluetones, touring and recording into the 2000s.