Curtis Salgado

Born in Everett, Washington in 1954 and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Curtis Salgado established himself on the American scene with a blend of blues, blues-rock, soul and rhythm and blues, propelled by a rough yet supple voice, as well as harmonica playing anchored in the electric Chicago blues tradition. Active since the 1970s, Salgado began in local Pacific Northwest bands before singing and playing with The Robert Cray Band at the turn of the 1980s, then with Roomful of Blues in the mid-decade. Returning to Oregon, he developed his own repertoire with Curtis Salgado & The Stilettos and has remained firmly in the circuit of blues clubs and festivals in the United States. His solo discography includes notably Curtis Salgado & The Stilettos (1991), Wiggle Outta This (1999), Soul Activated (2001), Strong Suspicion (2004), Clean Getaway (2008), Soul Shot (2012), The Beautiful Lowdown (2016), Damage Control (2021) and Fine By Me (2024). Over the course of his career, Curtis Salgado has also crossed paths with musicians such as Robert Cray, Santana, John Mayall or Steve Miller, while maintaining a very direct approach, between soul blues, brass, discreet groove funk and urban blues. Longtime resident of Portland, Curtis Salgado remains associated with the Northwest American blues scene.