Sidney Selby is a true blues man. He also goes by 'Bone Crusher' and 'Guitar
Crusher', names he earned throughout his career.
Born in rural Hyde County N.C. in 1931 during the height of the
Depression, he toiled in the cotton fields during his youth but set
aside Sundays for exercising his rich baritone in the choir of Mt.
Pilgrim Baptist Church, continuing a tradition which gave rise to a
whole generation of blues singers of his era.
He moved to New York in the 50s, found a job and started singing in
Church again. However. encouraged by his friends, he soon formed his own
band, the Midnight Rockers and began attracting a large following.
The year 1960 marked the beginning of a decade of performances with The
Drifters, The Isley Brothers, Ben E. King and other major R&B talents
which flourished during the 1960's musical renaissance.
Selby was signed by Columbia Records and remained under contract until
1970, when the musical tastes in America began to shift away from blues
and soul sounds. So, in the early 80s GUITAR CRUSHER headed for Europe
and a more hospitals blues climate. Here his performance on major
festivals marked the start of his comeback. The now
internationally-known singer and writer has since accorded 4 albums
singing his own compositions with force and assurance in his
gospel-inflected voice. His transfixing vocal power won him a reputation
as 'The Big Voice From New York', a headliner on the European
blues-circuit.