The Curtis Salgado, who has endured a roller-coaster of life crisis during the last two years, is getting a second chance. Optimistic that his medical issues may be behind him, Curtis is excited about the prospect of a healthy and prosperous 2008.

In early 2006, the singer-songwriter and harmonica idol was diagnosed with liver cancer, which resulted in a life saving liver transplant in September of that year. In October of 2007, he underwent another surgery when a spot was discovered on his lung. The cancerous tumor was removed and doctors were surprised to find the cancer had not spread to any other part of the lung. Salgado received great news this month when test results gave him a clean bill of health.

While Curtis has been a Northwest-music legend from his Portland base ever since his six year stint in Robert Cray’s band (he’s on Cray’s debut album), it’s only been in the past few years that national audiences have been seeing what all the fuss is about as Curtis and his band deliver one of the most powerful live shows you’ll see anywhere - a rare commodity these days.

Salgado started his own band in the burgeoning Northwest blues scene in the early Seventies then was a key part of Cray’s formative years, leaving to front the respected Roomful of Blues from 1984-1986. Along the way, he inspired John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers when Belushi was in Eugene, Oregon to film Animal House and caught Curtis’s act. Belushi dedicated the first Blues Brothers album to Curtis. There was even a stint as lead vocalist with Santana in 1995.

Curtis kicked off his own recording career with Curtis Salgado & the Stilettos in 1991, following it up with More Than You Can Chew in 1995. While both albums generated substantial rock and blues airplay, unfortunately both labels went out of business before he could break through nationally.

The more acoustic Hit It and Quit It scored him a spot with Steve Miller on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. His three most recent albums for Shanachie Entertainment (Wiggle Outta This, Soul Activated and Strong Suspicion) featured guest appearances by Jimmy Vaughan, Lou Ann Barton, The Memphis Horns, Bekka Bramlett, Sonny Landreth and Duke Robillard to name a few. Soul Activated was received with critical acclaim and even garnered a WC Handy Blues Award nomination in the category of “Soul Blues Album of the Year.”

Curtis is currently recording in Los Angeles for his next yet to titled album for Shanachie and is finally poised for the breakthrough that seemed to be his destiny early on. For the first time, all the pieces are in place for an artist who has paid his dues, made his mistakes and had his share of band breaks but has persevered.
“Thousands of friends, family and fans came to my aide, raising the needed funds to save my life,” says Curtis Salgado. “I owe each and everyone of them the best I have to give in an effort to show my gratitude for the love and support that they have given me.”

Check out Curtis live two nights at the Crystal Bay Casino Monday, Aug. 4 and Tuesday, Aug. 5.