Biography
Throughout the twenty-first century Nick Moss preserved the core essence of classic Chicago blues. Rising through the local ranks he first handled bass duties for Buddy Scott and the Legendary Blues Band before carving out his identity on guitar in the Jimmy Rogers Band. Late in the 1990s he launched his own path fronting the Flip Tops; by the close of the following decade he had rebranded that unit the Nick Moss Band. Accolades began to accumulate once harpist Dennis Gruenling joined for two late-2010s albums, beginning with 2018’s The High Cost of Low Living. That release led directly to Moss receiving Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year from the Blues Music Awards in 2019, confirming his ongoing role as keeper of the Chicago blues flame.
Born in Chicago on December 15, 1969, Moss initially chased athletic goals until kidney surgery ended those ambitions and redirected him toward the blues. He took up bass in his teens, spent a couple of years with Buddy Scott, then moved to Jimmy Dawkins’ band. In the early 1990s he entered Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s Legendary Blues Band on the explicit condition that he switch to guitar. Moss appeared on the group’s final album, 1993’s Money Talks, then spent three years sharpening his guitar work with Jimmy Rogers before forming Nick Moss & the Flip Tops. Their debut, First Offense, surfaced on his Blue Bella label in 1998; momentum arrived with 2001’s Got a New Plan, the first of four straight W.C. Handy-nominated albums. Count Your Blessings followed in 2003, Sadie Mae in 2005, Live at Chan's in 2006, and Play It 'til Tomorrow in 2007. In 2009 Moss dropped the Flip Tops name and continued as the Nick Moss Band.
Privileged, the first album under the new moniker, appeared in 2010. Guitarist/vocalist Michael Ledbetter and drummer Patrick Seals remained central figures as personnel rotated around Moss over the ensuing decade. Recognition grew after 2011’s Here I Am earned a Blues Music Award nomination for Rock Blues Album; 2014’s Time Ain’t Free expanded the audience further. Live & Luscious arrived in 2015 and From the Root to the Fruit in 2016. The partnership with Dennis Gruenling produced 2018’s The High Cost of Low Living, the band’s debut on Alligator Records, after which the Blues Music Awards again named Moss Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. The same pair reconvened for 2019’s Lucky Guy.
Born in Chicago on December 15, 1969, Moss initially chased athletic goals until kidney surgery ended those ambitions and redirected him toward the blues. He took up bass in his teens, spent a couple of years with Buddy Scott, then moved to Jimmy Dawkins’ band. In the early 1990s he entered Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s Legendary Blues Band on the explicit condition that he switch to guitar. Moss appeared on the group’s final album, 1993’s Money Talks, then spent three years sharpening his guitar work with Jimmy Rogers before forming Nick Moss & the Flip Tops. Their debut, First Offense, surfaced on his Blue Bella label in 1998; momentum arrived with 2001’s Got a New Plan, the first of four straight W.C. Handy-nominated albums. Count Your Blessings followed in 2003, Sadie Mae in 2005, Live at Chan's in 2006, and Play It 'til Tomorrow in 2007. In 2009 Moss dropped the Flip Tops name and continued as the Nick Moss Band.
Privileged, the first album under the new moniker, appeared in 2010. Guitarist/vocalist Michael Ledbetter and drummer Patrick Seals remained central figures as personnel rotated around Moss over the ensuing decade. Recognition grew after 2011’s Here I Am earned a Blues Music Award nomination for Rock Blues Album; 2014’s Time Ain’t Free expanded the audience further. Live & Luscious arrived in 2015 and From the Root to the Fruit in 2016. The partnership with Dennis Gruenling produced 2018’s The High Cost of Low Living, the band’s debut on Alligator Records, after which the Blues Music Awards again named Moss Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. The same pair reconvened for 2019’s Lucky Guy.
Albums
