Musical Artist Spotlight: Heavy Suga & the Sweetones

Clarksdale, Mississippi Blues act Heavy Suga & The Sweetones are captivating listeners with their influential instrumental styles and strong musicianship contained within their live performances. Consisting of Heather Crosse (Bass, Vocals), Greg Batterton (Harmonica, Vocals), Jerry Jines (Guitar, Vocals), Lee Williams (Drums, Vocals), Walt Busby (Guitar, Vocals), and Mark Yacovone (Keys), Heavy Suga & The Sweetones showcase a diverse and incomparable rhythmic and sultry style contained within their music.

First influenced by Blues artists including Koko Taylor, Etta James, and Willie Dixon, Lead Singer/Bassist Heather Crossedecided to form her own band, Heavy Suga & The Sweetones. After playing Bass for Super Chikan, Crosse was more determined to form her own Blues band. After collaborating with the joint efforts of soul-inspiring Guitarist Jerry Jines and Harmonica Player Greg Batterton, Crosse was motivated to create a new sound showcased through her music. Though Jines and Batterton helped bring a unique and unfamiliar sound to the band, Crosse desired to implement a fresh, rhythmic approach to the music. After meeting Lee Williams (Drummer), Walt Busby (Guitarist), and Mark Yacovone (Keyboardist) at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Crosse was able to develop the authentic Blues style within the band.

For every live performance, the band members of Heavy Suga & The Sweetones engage listeners with their unique personas and individual talents. To initiate audience participation, Harmonica player Greg Batterton brings a comedic approach to the band. By livening the audience, Batterton is able to keep listeners' attention focused on each song's lyrics and approachable sound. While Batterton engages laughter among the listeners, Singer/Bassist Heather Crosse provides the emotional touch behind the music. Entwined in the emotional lyrics and sultry sounds Crosse delivers, listeners are left with a sense of connection with the band. While Crosse connects with audiences on an emotional level, Drummer Lee Williams showcases charm and personality, letting his soul shine through the rhythmic styles of the music. Playing with almost every musician in and around Clarksdale, Mississippi, Williams also has the experience and dedication in preserving the originality of Blues music with the band. Guitarist Walt Busby and Keyboardist Mark Yacovone both implement a professional feel behind the music, providing years of expertise and knowledge within their respected instruments. As a current sound technician for Clarksdale's Ground Zero Blues Club and former Guitarist for the Jacquiline Nassar Band, Walt Busby is able to incorporate a brilliant and creative approach within the sounds of Heavy Suga & The Sweetones. Considered a Jack-Of-All-Trades, Busby is able to mix and master various live tracks performed by the band, while contributing vocal harmonies and Guitar instrumentals through each song. While Busby provides , musician Mark Yacovone displays exquisite techniques through the Keyboard. By showcasing compassion and grace through his music, Yacovone adds a "sweetness" to the music while fulfilling the sounds created by Heavy Suga & The Sweetones.

Each musician's individual talents and unique personas have contributed greatly to the success of the band. Since forming the Blues group, Heavy Suga & The Sweetones have performed for various festivals around the area including Arkansas' Hot Springs' Blues Festival (in Hot Springs) and the King Biscuit Festival (in Helena). In February of 2010, the Spa City Blues Society sponsored Heavy Suga & The Sweetones to represent Hot Springs, Arkansas in the annual International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, Tennessee. The band have graced the stages of several venues in and around the area including the famed Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, along with The Big Chill and Odie's House of Blues located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

For more information about Heavy Suga & The Sweetones, please visit their official Facebook website.