Alexis P. Suter

Alexis P. Suter, born on February 15, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, an American blues and soul singer and songwriter, is best known for her nomination in the 'Koko Taylor Award' category at the 33rd Blues Music Awards in 2015. She began singing in church at the age of four. and met the Mills Brothers and saw them perform in concert five years later. Her interest in music developed at school where she learned to play the sousaphone, and expanded her knowledge of gospel music when attending different churches in her neighborhood. She was also influenced by the work of Ruth Brown, and credited her mother as a source of musical inspiration, given that she had previously provided backing vocals for Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Harry Belafonte, Mavis Staples and Dionne Warwick amongst others.

Suter released her debut single in 1990, "Slam Me Baby", recorded in a house music setting, which led her to become the first African American woman to be signed to Epic/Sony Records.  Years later the track was used on the Live & Remastered compilation album. She later signed with Hipbone Records, releasing "Shuga Fix", her debut album in 2005. The same year she and her backing band caught the attention of Levon Helm, who invited them to open for him at his Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, New York.

In 2008, her third album, "Just Another Fool", was released by Hipbone Records. It included a guest appearance on piano by Ted Kooshian. Suter has been a guest on 'The Artie Lange Show' and 'Imus in the Morning', and with her band has opened for artists including Bo Diddley, Dickey Betts, B.B. King, Coco Montoya, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Allen Toussaint, and Emmylou Harris.

On June 11, 2014, John Ginty recorded his "Bad News Travels" Live DVD, which included a guest performance from Suter.

Her five-piece musical ensemble, released their sixth effort, "Love the Way You Roll", in August 2014. It contained two cover versions: Big Mama Thornton's "You Don't Move Me No More" and Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips". 

Suter and her band have appeared at music festivals including Springing the Blues, Briggs Farm Blues Festival (2007, 2009, and 2011), Musikfest (2011), and Blast Furnace Blues Festival (2012),

In 2015, Suter was nominated in the 'Koko Taylor Award' category at the 33rd Blues Music Awards.

(Courtesy of MC Photography - Riverfront Blues Fest)