“Chris Cain… now that boy can play the guitar” – B.B. King
Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California in 1955. His parents were huge music fans and shared their love of blues, jazz and popular songs with Chris. Then, Chris saw B.B. King when he was three years old. His father gave him his first guitar at age eight and Chris learned lick after lick, song after song. There, he would listen to his father’s records over and over until the music had seeped into his soul.
Cain formed his first band in 1986, and released his first album, Late Night City Blues. Almost immediately, everything changed. Booking agents came calling and Chris began touring Europe. Further, the album received four W.C. Handy Award nominations (now the Blues Music Awards). Also, the offers to perform kept rolling in.
Cain’s star began to rise even higher with his 2021 album, Raisin’ Cain. Press, radio and the public all agreed that Cain sounded better than ever. Blues Rock Review raves, “a classic, sophisticated, soulful virtuoso… He seamlessly combines blues, jazz, funk, and soul.” Cain received four 2022 Blues Music Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Guitarist.
Cain plays his beloved Gibson ES 335 guitar named Melba that he’s had since 1990. Then, he plugs it into his equally beloved Music Man RD 112 amp that he’s had since 1987. Melba, well known among Cain’s most ardent fans, is prominently featured in the new book, Gibson ES Believers.
Now, with 2024’s Good Intentions Gone Bad, Cain will find his largest audience yet, as his good musical intentions continue to pay off. Furthermore, according to Kid Andersen, there’s no better blues player working today.
