The Primetime Blues Band

The Primetime Blues BandThe Primetime Blues BandThe Primetime Blues Band
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The Primetime Blues Band

The Primetime Blues BandThe Primetime Blues BandThe Primetime Blues Band
Home
Listen
Bookings
Tour
More
  • Home
  • Listen
  • Bookings
  • Tour
  • Home
  • Listen
  • Bookings
  • Tour
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About Us

Musician in blue playing red electric guitar on stage.

The Primetime Blues Band

 Led by Hall of Fame guitarist Tony "Hatman" Houston, The Primetime Blues Band brings over three decades of gritty Chicago-style blues to the stage. Primetime pairs an electrifying catalog of over 90% original blues with rare, reimagined classics—capturing the timeless spirit of the past with a fresh, modern bite. 

Looking to the Future

Due to the pandemic, Primetime was forced to take a break from live shows..but in the time bandleader Tony Houston was composing and recording new songs in his home studio.

These new songs will be the follow-up CD to their first album 'Prime Cut Blues'. The new album will be 'The Cold Backhand of Love'.

the band

Tony 'Hatman' Houston, bandleader , guitar and vocals 

Chuck 'Sticks' Cantrell, drums and vocals

Brian 'Ace' Emrick, bass and vocals

Freddy Rice, guitar and vocals 

The Primetime Blues Band

The Primetime Blues Band, the 2023 battle of the bands

Shows

2026 Calendar

5 March 2026

The Brightside with The Eric Henry Blues Band

7pm

-

10pm

Dayton OH

Event Details

5 March 2026

The Brightside with The Eric Henry Blues Band

  

THE BLUES EVENT OF THE SEASON! 🎸🔥

Get ready for an electrifying night of soul-stirring rhythms and blistering guitar solos! We are bringi...

Event Details

7pm

-

10pm

Dayton OH

18 April 2026

Miamisburg Moose Lodge

8pm

-

11pm

Dayton OH

18 April 2026

Miamisburg Moose Lodge

8pm

-

11pm

Dayton OH

1 May 2026

Art and Soul

7pm

-

9pm

Dayton OH

1 May 2026

Art and Soul

7pm

-

9pm

Dayton OH

16 May 2026

2nd Annual SchoolHouse Park Rocks Festival

2pm

-

3pm

Covington, OH

16 May 2026

2nd Annual SchoolHouse Park Rocks Festival

2pm

-

3pm

Covington, OH

26 June 2026

Trail Town Brewing

7pm

-

9pm

Yellow Springs, OH

26 June 2026

Trail Town Brewing

7pm

-

9pm

Yellow Springs, OH

More Events

Primetime live!

The Primetime Blues Band live at The Lebanon OH Blues Festival

The 'original' The Primetime Blues Band

The 'original' The Primetime Blues Band live in Dayton OH at The South-West OH Rib Fest. 

'Bo-Beat'

'Bo Beat' original song by William A. (Tony) Houston ©2015 T-Notes Music BMI

Tired of Being in Love (By Myself)

'Tired of Being In Love (By Myself) original song by William A. (Tony) Houston ©2018 T-Notes Music BMI

Phonebooth (Robert Cray}

Phonebooth (Robert Cray} live at The Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials show..

Z.Z. Tops Blue Jeans

Our bassist Brian Emrick on vocals

Photo Gallery

Tony 'Hatman' Houston
Tony Houston and Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Tony Houston and Hubert Sumlin
Tony Houston and Lil' Ed Williams
Tony and Tommy Shaw
Tony Houston and Steve Cropper
Tony and James Burton
Tony and Larry Coryell
Tony and Lee Oskar
Tony and Jr Brown
Tony, Jeff Cook and Travis Brown
Tony and Johnny A
Tony and Honeyboy Edwards
Tony and Bobby Rush
Tony and Dick Dale
Tony and Leslie West
The original line up
Show More

Tony Houston featured in premier guitar magazine

Tony Houston in 1974

My feature in Premier Guitar Magazine

Tony Houston being inducted in the ohio southwestern blues hall of fame

My feature in Premier Guitar Magazine

Social

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