Philly homeboy Amos Lee just released his sixth album, Spirit, and will mark this auspicious occasion with a concert at The Academy Of Music on Sunday. And it just so happens that we have a pair of tix to give away to some lucky reader. What’s that you say? You never heard of Amos Lee but would like to learn more? Well, this is your lucky day. As per Wikipedia:
Lee was born as Ryan Anthony Massaro in 1977 and was raised in Kensington, Philadelphia. He moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey at age 11 and graduated from Cherry Hill High School East. Lee attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with a degree in English and a minor in education. During his college years he developed an interest in music after being inspired by the John Prine album, Great Days. During this period he began playing the guitar and bass as part of a band (Hot Lava Monster) and listening to the music of Donny Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, Luther Vandross, Bill Withers and Otis Redding.
After returning to Philadelphia, Lee worked as a second grade school teacher at the Mary McLeod Bethune School and as a bartender at local music venues. He performed at “open mic” events in the area and, through his contacts with promoters, was hired as an opening act for artists like Mose Allison and B.B. King.In 2003, Lee’s manager sent a four-song demo CD to several record labels, and the representative at Blue Note Records was “immediately struck by his [Lee’s] voice”. Afterwards, Norah Jones heard Lee’s music while visiting the record company and invited Lee to be the opening act for her 2004 tour.
The friendship between Lee’s manager and the manager for Bob Dylan resulted in Lee touring with Dylan as his opening act in early 2005. Since that time Lee has recorded five albums on Blue Note Records and has toured as an opening act for Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison, John Prine, Dave Matthews Band, Adele, the Zac Brown Band, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, and David Gray.
Lee’s “folksy, bluesy sound” has been compared to that of John Prine and Norah Jones.Simultaneously Lee has been both lauded and dismissed as the “male Norah Jones” and his lyrics are said to convey “the complexities of everyday emotions” without falling into flowery imagery. MORE
We have a pair of tickets to giveway to the 17th Phawker reader to email us at Phawker66@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following Amos Lee trivial question: What is the name of the John Prine album that inspired Amos Lee to pursue songwriting? Hint: the answer might even be a few paragraphs up from here. Put the magic words AMOS LEE ME in the subject line and include your full name and a mobile number for confirmation. Good luck and godspeed!
AMOS LEE PLAYS THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH