Bo Dugger

Bo's Story

Bo is a longtime Musician/singer/songwriter who grew up on California's Central Coast. The first band he was in was called the "Lost Souls" when he was 14 years old in Montecito, California. Since then he has done "the road  thing", studio session work, performed on big and small stages across the US from California to Florida, with stints in the midwest and northwest. He has co-produced three self titled albums, performed on other artists records, as well as having his songs recorded by other artists. In addition to his musical interests, he ran a business, managed a small almond ranch, and raised a family. He currently resides with his wife in Hawaii.

His style of music, developed over the years, is generally categorized as "Americana", an amalgamation of folk, bluegrass, blues, rhythm&blues, country, jazz fusion and  rock.  Earlier Influences included Harry Belafonte calypso, and Bob Dylan folk music, followed by rhythmic Motown artists (you name 'em),  Ry Cooder, Stephen Stills, Stephen Peters, Richard Riesser, B.B. King, Delbert McClinton and Keb'mo.   More recent influences include local Hawaiian artists Steve Wofford, Eddie Tanaka, Isaac Kamile, and Ekolu Kalama, all accomplished players and songwriters. 

Jeff Cowan with Goldmine studios in Ventura Ca. called Bo's music totally original and diverse in genre.  LeAnn Rimes engineer, who mixed down Bo's first Album, called his music "Louisiana Swamp Funk."  Others have likened it to John Prine with more blues rock and soul.  The music is pared down to basic guitar, bass and drum productions with vocal on top to create an authentic listening experience for a live audience.

Memorable personal highlights include a standing ovation from some 800 students at his high school talent assembly. He was also surprised that he and band mates Stephen Peters and Mark Stoltenberg were asked to open for the well known Copas Brothers in Louisiana. He also enjoyed playing with the iconic Levon Helm at the Whiskey River Inn in Calaveras County, California. Opening for the band Poco with a five piece ensemble, vocal harmony group   at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, California was a special thrill.  Another musical "high" was playing as a trio with Jim Christie on Drums,  and Randy Tico on bass (the Abiders/Jeff Bridges) exclusively at Stolpman Vineyards. This trio dubbed the "Rhythm Kings," on occasion, was joined by Scott Jeffreys on "blazing" guitar and Barry Keys, an amazing songwriter and keyboard player.  Recent highlights include radio air play of some of his music from Alaska to Maine thanks to the artist singer Wally Barnick.

Currently, Bo has been collaborating on songwriting, recording new songs, and cataloging his sound recordings for digital distribution and other opportunities for his music to enhance his status as a "one stop" rightsholder. He is finalizing and chronologically sequencing his songs in various formats some of which are included on this website. His music features recordings with his former band, "The Primitives," with Woody Woodruff on bass, Ed Hasenkamp on electric guitar and co-producer, plus Matt Brynildson on drums.  Other tracks being completed for the soon to be released group of songs, "Blue Lightning," include performances by Jim Christie, (former drummer for Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakum and Jim Messina), Todd "T" Andrews on bass, Noel and Zane Monteleone, on UKE,  triangle and washboard, Scott Wright on Saxophone, and stunning vocalists Corine Manroe and Jessica Sakurada.  Bo plays electric, pedal steel and acoustic guitars, then adds his emotion filled lead vocals.   A number of songs were either co-written or inspired  by Stephen W. Peters,  a long time friend, former band mate and fellow songwriter. Other collaborators include Alan Kirk, Jeanne Stolpman Dugger,  Mark Terry  and Ryan Dugger who contributed lyrics/context to songs.

All of this writing above has a story behind it, as do his songs.