Velvetone

German roots-rock band Velvetone constituted in Bremen during the ‘90s. Comprising a five-piece line-up, with Ray DeVaryo (vocals, percussion), Tammo Lüers (guitar), Andy Merck (bass) and Lars Köster (drums, percussion), the Velvetone blend the energy and bounce of rockabilly sounds with the early, pure and beaming sounds of rock and roll. Following several years offering various single samplers, in 1996 the Germans presented an eponymous 10 inch LP, Velvetone, through the Bear Family Records catalogue. Two years later, this time via the One Million Dollar Records label, the group presented the album Vari-O-Sonic, securing them with a rising recognition, going beyond the German borders. In 2001, after the move to the CrossCut Records label, the roots-rock ensemble delivered Dark Blossom, a record counting on with the contributing vocals of rockabilly monarch Wanda Jackson.