Third Blood Brother Gary Hoey Steps In to Help on Upcoming Blood Brothers Tour Dates in Mike Zito’s Absence
NEDERLAND, TX – With Gulf Coast Records guitarist/Blood Brother Mike Zito taking a break to be with his ailing wife Laura, who’s in hospice care, acclaimed guitarist Gary Hoey is stepping in to take the additional guitarist slot alongside Albert Castiglia on the current “Blood Brothers Tour” as very special guest. Hoey, a frequent friend on several Gulf Coast Records artist’s albums, is a natural fit for this slot for the upcoming shows in July and August.
“I just talked to my dear friend and third Blood Brother, Gary Hoey today,’ said Albert Castiglia in making the announcement about the new tour lineup. “We discussed the Summer tour and the kind of show we’ll be putting on. I’m really excited to be working with him on this. This upcoming stretch is going to honor Michael Zito and his soulmate, Laura Duke Zito and bring the fire that you’d come to expect from a Blood Brothers show. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to hold it down until Mike gets back. “I first met Gary about five years ago when he was a guest of mine on a BMA showcase in Memphis. We’ve been jamming and doing shows together ever since. I have a great chemistry with him onstage and people will witness it this Summer. Thank you, Gary for doing Mike and I this solid. You are a mensch!”
Mike Zito broke the news about Laura Zito’s diagnosis in a Facebook post on June 20: “Laura went to resume chemotherapy last week in Houston, but her doctors told her they wouldn’t be able to treat her anymore. Her cancer is just so advanced, the chemo would ruin her health and she would lose what quality of life she has left. Her doctors have suggested Laura start hospice right away. Of course, we were heartbroken, but we have been heartbroken for the past year. We have hoped and prayed and Laura has fought so hard the past 12 months, but we both knew there was a good chance this day would come. With all this said, it’s time for me to come home and be with my wife and my family. We don’t know how much time we have left together and we don’t want to be apart anymore. I will finish this week’s Blood Brothers shows in Texas and Colorado, and then stop for the Summer or foreseeable future. The Blood Brothers Tour will continue with Albert and the band; a special announcement is coming this week. This is what Laura and I both want. We want the band to continue to perform and we want you to go see the band and support our shows. I will be there in spirit. We have started a GoFundMe to help my family and Laura. I won’t be working and the money will help to pay our monthly bills and living expenses.” – https://www.gofundme.com/f/rdg2c-laura-zito-cancer-support
Released on March 17, the Blood Brothers album reached the coveted Number One slot on both the Billboard Blues Chart and iTunes Blues Chart shortly thereafter as the band hit the road in a heavy dose of touring. One of the most-anticipated albums of 2023, Blood Brothers features multi-Blues Music Award-winners Zito and Castiglia, who kicked-off a highly-successful string of “Blood Brothers” shows in the spring/summer of 2022, with the current 2023 tour running through the summer and into the fall, culminating with a special appearance at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas in September. Blood Brothers was produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith and recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana.
The Blood Brothers album has been generating extensive radio airplay around the world, accompanied by universal rave reviews: “…a terrific collaboration.” – American Songwriter; “The universe wants what it wants and, right now, it wants this. Miss it and miss out.” – Rock & Blues Muse; “There was big anticipation that this album would be one of those where one plus one equals better than two. And it does.” – Blues Music Magazine; “Packed with fire, inspiration, and a palpable tight bond between the two principals, this is blues rock with some strong songs.” – Glide Magazine.
About Gary Hoey
Boston-born Gary Hoey is a world-renowned rock/blues guitarist and has released 22 albums. His latest, Neon Highway Blues, entered the Billboard Blues Charts at #2. Hoey has toured and traded licks with Jeff Beck, Brian May, Joe Satriani and Joe Bonamassa, to name a few. In 1993 Hoey released his second instrumental album, Animal Instinct, on Warner/Reprise, which included a cover of “Hocus Pocus” that rocketed into the Billboard Top 5. A year later, Hoey scored the soundtrack to Bruce Brown’s cult film Endless Summer II, and had another radio hit with War’s “Low Rider.” He has been involved with Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp for over 10 years working with artists like Joe Perry, Roger Daltrey, Yes, Johnny Winter and Leslie West. Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. Hoey’s ability to mix feeling, phrasing, technique and tone is the true mark of a master guitarist. www.garyhoey.com
Blood Brothers Tour with Special guest Gary Hoey Itinerary
04 – Memphis, MO – VFW Hall – Member’s Only
06 – St. Charles, MO – Diamond Music Hall
07 – Warsaw, IN – City of Warsaw Summer Concert Series
08 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge
26 – Omaha, NE – Falconwood Park
27 – Minneapolis, MN – Under The Canopy Series @ The Hook and Ladder Theater
28 – Sioux Falls, SD – Levitt Sioux Falls
29 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Blues Festival
02 – Nashville, TN – City Winery Nashville
03 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
04 – Charleston, WV – Red Carpet Lounge
05 – Pomeroy, OH – Big Bend Blues Bash
06 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds
19 – Madison, IN – Madison Ribberfest
Blood Brothers Tour with Gary Hoey Poster Graphic:
http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Albert-and-Gary-Hoey-Tour-graphic.jpg
