Chris Tofield
Chris Tofield is a musician who has dedicated his life to sharpening his skill to a razor’s edge and who truly enjoys his trade. He has maintained a strong work ethic that has kept him in business for over 30 years and built his solid reputation as a down to earth, no-nonsense performer and person to deal with.
Tofield, a seasoned journeyman musician, has performed with some of the top artists of the blues and rock world. Chris was the guitarist and musical director for legendary soul/blues singer “Mighty” Sam McClain, a multiple Grammy Award and W.C. Handy Award nominee and an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. Other artists Chris has performed with include James Montgomery, The Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, Ronnie Earl, Savoy Brown, Toni Lynn Washington, Big Mike Griffin and many others
With McClain and others, Chris toured extensively across North America, Europe, U.K., Scandinavia and the Caribbean, appearing at many prestigious blues festivals and venues. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Chris headlined highly successful tours of Eastern Europe, including performing on Romanian National TV and for the Bulgarian Prime Minister and US Embassy.
Tofield co-produced, arranged and appeared on McClain’s 2003 release “One More Bridge To Cross”, which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for ”Best Soul / Blues Album of the Year”. He also wrote two songs for the CD, including the title track. Tofield has also released two critically acclaimed CDs; 1994’s “self titled” CD and 2000’s“Broken Strings”. Both received considerable airplay, earning Tofield the distinction of being “the 2nd most requested local artist of the year in 2003” on “Beef Stew’s Sunday Night Blue Show” on WCCC in Hartford, CT; a 6 hour blues show on one of Southern New England’s largest commercial radio stations, which reaches an audience of over 50 million listeners.
As an international blues/rock act for over 20 years, “Chris Tofield and The Bluesbenders” have left audiences hot, sweaty and satisfied time and time again with their intense, high-energy shows. This reputation has earned Tofield and the band 7 consecutive “Hartford Advocate Readers Poll Awards” for “Best Blues/Rock Band” in Connecticut. They have been finalists numerous times in The Blues Foundation’s Blues Challenge competition and have opened for many legendary acts such as B.B King, Jeff Healey, Tower of Power, Robert Cray, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Edgar & Johnny Winter, Roomful of Blues and many others.
Since relocating to Las Vegas, Chris has been carving a niche for himself in “the entertainment capital of the world” by working with some of the city’s top performers and musicians.
As Chris is quoted as saying“If I’m not having a good time, how can I expect my audience to?”
One thing for sure, when Chris Tofield plays, everyone has a good time!!