THE BAND:
Tracy Ready - vocals
Kevin Lewis - guitars
Joe "Sparky" Montoya - keys
John Echols - bass
Mike Beall - drums

The debut studio release from Texas based Trace Relations Band is out now.
"Prosperity Street" is 12 tracks of groove, guaranteed to improve your mood.
The CD features some of the finest working musicians in Texas today.

Click here to get the CD, get on down to "Prosperity Street"...

The Idea

Vocalist Tracy Ready spearheads Trace Relations, the band. His career as a Director of Photography in television production blends with a passion for the music of his life to bring us Trace Relations.

The project is a culmination of thirty years of collaboration in the music business for Tracy. Trace Relations features some of the finest blues, rock and jazz musicians that Texas has to offer.

In 1998, Trace hatched the idea for the project. Trace Relations is just that, all his musical relations. It’s a tribute to artists and songs that influenced him and a showcase for many great musicians he’s had the privilege of knowing over the years.

The Music

The debut CD "Prosperity Street" is a unique listening experience encompassing Rock, Blues, Jazz and Americana styles.

Looking at the songs chosen for the album, a theme emerges: Acceptance. In one way or another each song relates to accepting where we are in life, and a determination to have a good time in spite of obstacles the world has thrown our way.

The covers include songs by Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm, Willie Dixon, T-Bone Walker and Frank Zappa, in original arrangements by the band. Eclectic to say the least, the songs were selected to be musical milestones, a twisted tale of groove. Really, it was all about making the record Trace would like to put on at a party.

The Guests

• The sessions produced thirteen tracks, including seven original songs and featuring some very special guest artists.
• Legendary Texas performer Augie Meyers (of Texas Tornados and Sir Douglas Quintet fame) contributed keyboards on three songs and accordion on a funny Tex-mex novelty track "Elvis Es Mi Gato", a song he co-wrote with Trace.
• Augie's son, monster drummer (and web guru!) Clay Meyers contributed drums and percussion to three songs.
• In Dallas, blues great Hash Brown laid down some blistering guitar and harmonica on two classics, T-Bone Walker's "Tell Me What's the Reason" and the Willie Dixon tune "I Live the Life I Love."
• In 2009 additional sessions included guest artist Shawn Sahm, also of Texas Tornados fame, on a new rockin' version of Doug Sahm's 1974 classic "Groover's Paradise.
• San Antonio's incredible West Side Horns (Al Gomez, trumpet; Louis Bustos, sax) played on two Trace Relations originals and on Augie's "Prosperity Street".
• San Antonio’s Dana Clark (keyboards, vocals, saxophone, flute) lent her many talents to four songs including the Trace Relations original "The Flood".
• Austin’s Les McGeehee (Improv Artist, Author) sang a duet with Trace on funny cover of an old Jim Stafford tune "Little Bits and Pieces".

Sessions

• 1999 - CAM Studios | Bulverde, Texas
  Engineer - Clay Meyers
  (Tracks) Turning Blue, Elvis Es Mi Gato
  
• February 2008 - January Sound | Dallas, Texas
  Engineer - Tye Robison
  (Tracks) Prosperity Street, I Live the Life I Love, Open Mind Open Eye, Tell Me What's the Reason,
  Bits and Pieces
  
• 2008 - 2009 - Blue Cat Studios | San Antonio, Texas
  Engineer - Joe Trevino
  (overdubs) horns, keys, percussion, guitars, accordion, flute
  
• 2009 - January Sound | Dallas, Texas
  Engineer - Tye Robison
  (Tracks) Mask of Defiance, Color Bar (2 versions), The Flood, I'm the Slime
  
• 2009 - Shawn Sahm Studios | Beorne, Texas
  Engineer - Shawn Sahm
  (Tracks) Groover's Paradise
  
• 2010 - Harbor House Studios | North Richland Hills, Texas
  (Vocals) All songs
• Produced by Sal Salvador and Tracy Ready
  Mixed by Sal Salvador