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EARLY TIMES – IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY FOR

MORE EARLY

by

Lawrence Lebo

Dear BiTS Readers,

As my artist career slowly recovers from the aftermath of the
global pandemic, my summer has become busy with concerts
dates! I will be taking the July and August issues off and will return
with great new interviews by the September issue.

In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy re-reading a wonderful past interview of mine!

In 2021. guitarist/singer/songwriter and SiriusXM radio
DJ extraordinaire, Early Times had a new album out
titled “Electric City”. The CD contains 11 original tracks
and a bevy of high-profile guest players including duets
with Bobby Rush, Eliza Neals, and band members Brian
Mitchell (Levon Helm, Bob Dylan) on keys, Anton Fig
(David Letterman Band, Cyndi Lauper) on drums and
Conrad Korsch (Rod Stewart) on bass. The disc is
produced by Jay Messina (Aerosmith, Kiss, Miles Davis,
Cheap Trick). The album is a follow up to Early’s
successful 2021 release “The Corner” and contains more
of the delightful variety of blues-rock umbrella grooves
and story-telling lyrics for which Mr. Times is so
famously known.

Early Times published a new adventurous instrumental
trio album on May 3, 2024, titled “Zodiac Griot”.

This is Early’s first instrumental album of his career! It’s exciting to focus on Early as a guitarist.
On ‘Zodiac Griot’, Early’s Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell influences are easy to hear. Two
Adams, Adam Scone on organ and Adam Nussbaum on drums both contribute top notch
performances to the disc. I highly recommend it! [Check it out ED]

I had the pleasure of interviewing Early Times in July 2021, for his “The Corner” release. As I
am on holiday this month, I thought you all might enjoy re-reading the interview. I will be back
shortly with more new interviews!

“ [In 2021] I asked Early Times to tell us a bit about his life and his music. This is what he told
me …

LL: I like to start at the beginning! Please tell us what it was like to grow up in Sacramento
CA, what your family was like and what kind of music were you exposed to in your home?

ET: When I grew up Sacramento was a medium sized city. It’s the state capital of California. I
made the most of it when I began to play professionally at the age of 14. By the time I was 16 I
began to play nightclubs, parties, coffee houses. Wherever I could play I did. I learned a lot of
styles of music so I would play popular venues some nights, and blues, jazz, and folk clubs on
others. I was working most nights of the week.