Dr. Blues

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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When I walked up on this man on stage, I was drawn by a voice filled with every bit of soul heard in the voices of all the great bluesmen you’d care to name. I thought, wow, Goombay really landed a pro. This guy must be a legend. How’d they do that?

Then I asked a listener beside me, and she told, “That’s Chuck Beatty.” Damn! Chuck Beatty, aka Dr. Blues, and his band Blues by Design, straight out of Weaverville. That’s right, Weavervegas.

Sure, I’ve heard of Chuck playing around town, but I figured he’d just be a pedestrian bluesman. But this guy has studied the greats, and he channels them. He sang “Yellow Moon,” by the Funky Meters, and mesmerized. He rocked “Mustang Sally.” He did a little Son House and a little Taj Mahal. The guy was great.

Go see this man play. Buy his CD. Dr. Blues has a cure for what ails ya.