Sugar Ray Norcia

Biography Norcia started to play his harmonica based blues at high school. Once Norcia had relocated to Providence, Rhode Island, he formed 'The Bluetones' which secured a residence as the house band at a local nightclub. They backed touring acts, such as Big Walter Horton, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and Roosevelt Sykes in nearby clubs. During the latter part of the 1970s, the band backed Ronnie Earl before he departed to join Roomful of Blues.

Norcia's solo recordings included the 7" EPs Sugar Ray and the Bluetones (1979) and Ronnie Earl and his Broadcasters featuring the Sensational Sugar Ray (1981), plus a couple of releases on Rounder Records, Knockout (1989) and Don't Stand In My Way (1991). Don't Stand In My Way was the first release by the Bullseye Blues label. The Bluetones also backed Miki Honeycutt on her initial album, Soul Deep. They issued three albums with Norcia and undertook extensive touring duties. Norcia also undertook work away from the group. He appeared on a Bullseye Blues album from trombonist Porky Cohen, Rhythm and Bones, (1996) and on the album Little Anthony and Sugar Ray: Take It From Me, (1994).

In 1998, Norcia exited from Roomful of Blues, and issued Sweet & Swingin''', which featured songs written by Hank Williams, Arthur Alexander and Big Walter Horton; plus a guest appearance from The Jordanaires. In 1999, Norcia participated with James Cotton, Billy Branch and Charlie Musselwhite, on the Grammy Award nominated album, Superharps. Another Grammy nominated release followed in 2013 on Blind Pig Records', Remembering Little Walter, with Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, James Harman, which garnered two Blues Music Awards that year.

in April 2016, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones were among the inductees who were brought into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame (RIMHOF). To date, Monster Mike Welch has played on five album releases by Sugar Ray & the Bluetones.

Discography Knockout (Varrick/Rounder, 1989) with Kid Bangham Don't Stand In My Way (Bullseye Blues/Rounder, 1991) with Kid Bangham Take It From Me (Tone-Cool/Rounder, 1994) with Anthony Geraci Sweet & Swingin' (Bullseye Blues/Rounder, 1998) with Kid Bangham, Rob Nelson Superharps (with James Cotton, Billy Branch, and Charlie Musselwhite) (Telarc, 1999) Rockin’ Sugar Daddy (Severn, 2001) with Kid Bangham Sugar Ray & The Bluetones featuring Monster Mike Welch (Severn, 2003) Hands Across The Table (Severn, 2005) with Paul Size My Life, My Friends, My Music (Severn, 2007) with Duke Robillard, Monster Mike Welch Evening (Severn, 2011) with Monster Mike Welch Living Tear To Tear (Severn, (2014) with Monster Mike Welch Seeing Is Believing (Severn, 2016) with Monster Mike Welch Too Far From The Bar (Severn, 2020) with Little Charlie Baty, Duke Robillard Blues From Sibculo'' (Natural, 2025) with Rusty Zinn