JT Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters - Norwegian Blue Eyed Soul Since 1995.

In 1995, The Buckshot Hunters released their first CD ("Buckshot Hunters"), an album that received solid reviews across the board.

JT for short) is born in 1967, living in Lillestrom, Norway. He began playing at the early age of 6 and pretty much immediately got interested in the Blues and related music after first hearing BB King, blues pianist Charles Brown and the legendary Ray Charles. 

J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters

J.T. had his first paying gig at the age of 14, which resulted in a steady flow of gigs for him on the Hammond B3 - an instrument he stayed with for many years. J.T. was searching for his own style on the instrument when he had to admit that a B3 was too heavy to drag around from gig to gig - so he compromised by taking up the accordion. Eventually, he took up the harmonica as well, and his blues harp began accompanying him wherever he went, adding a new sound to J.T.'s music. Since 1989, both the Accordion and the Blues Harp have been his trademark instruments. 

 

In 1991, J.T. founded The Buckshot Blues Band with the now well-known Norwegian blues guitarist, Vidar Busk. 

 

1995

The band changed their name to The Buckshot Hunters, and they released their first CD, "Buckshot Hunters". The album received solid reviews in Norway and abroad. The band toured continuously for the next couple of years. The album sold over 3000 copies which laid the foundation for their next release, "My Kind of Blues".

 

1999

"My Kind of Blues" was released on their own label, Hunters Records, and was distributed by BMG Norway.

"My Kind of Blues" includes mostly original material as well cover songs by songwriters that have in one-way or another influenced J.T.

 

2001

After backing up the legendary Mr.Earl King at Hell Blues Festival Norway in year 2000, the work on album number three, “Make a Better World, was set. The band gave it a sound with a rawer, hard edge that swings from the rafters - the result has recieved fantastic reviews from the music press. The readers of the Norwegian Blues News choose “Make a Better World” as the album of year. An impressive 6000 copies of the album were sold. J.T. Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters’s live performance is improving in this period, and the gigs are getting bigger and better and all over the world.


2004

With the release of album, "Perfect Moves", J.T. & The Buckshot Hunters described their music as blues, soul & rock`n Roll with a small taste of Tex Mex music. - Where now 90% of the music is created by JT himself, with lyrics by JT's guitarist since 1994, Arnfinn Torrisen. 

 

2007

The band left Norway for Seven Records Studio in Maryland, USA, and a new album, “Squeezeboxing”, was recorded with guest player Steve Gomes, bass, Robb Stubka, drums, and Benjie Porecki on Hammond B3 and Wurlitzer. 

 

2009

The album “LIVE” was released in October 2009, with songs from all the CD since 1995. It was produced with help from Johan Fasting at his Studio Nidaros in Trondheim. This album was very successful and it still sells well. “LIVE” features the prince of Beal Street, Mr. Billy Gibson, on Harmonica and vocal. The band has played roughly150 gigs with Billy since they grabed off the Legendary blues cruise 2008. Billy was named Best Harmonica Player at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis that same year!

 

2012-2013

In May, 2012, JT and drummer Big Jon went to Memphis for the BMA, and on May 12 they arranged a recording session at the legendary Ardent Studio in mid town Memphis. By June, 2013, they were very happy to celebrate a new album which they had been working on since early 2012. The first session in Memphis included local Blues musicians and friends like Billy Gibson, Victor Wainwright, Leo Geoff, Josh Roberts, Greg Gumpel, Willy J. Campbell, Reba Russel, and more. The rest of the album was recorded at NRK K-20 in Oslo, Norway, with the Buckshot Hunters and other guests like the late Sven Zetterberg and Larry McCray. The album was called “Play By The Rules”.

 

2018

April the 13th 2018 J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters released their 8th album, “Blue-Eyed Soul Vol.1”, with guests such as Mike Zito and Dave Fields . This album gave the band their first nomination for the Norwegian Grammy, Spellemann in 2018. Out of that session the band wrote more songs and prepared for “Blue Eyed Soul Vol.2.” From 2018-2020 the band has been touring all over the world, and has been playing in fantastic venues like, Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Sandy Beaches Cruise (Delbert McClinton) in the Caribbean, Bouquete Jazz and Blues Festival in Panama, and many festivals in Europe

 

“2020 BLUE EYED SOUL VOL.2” is in your hands!

Contact Us

 Here we are

Morten Nordskaug

(Bass / Backup vocals)

Morten is the newest member of The Buckshot Hunters. He has a long career behind him playing both gitar and bass in different bands. In addition to playing bass in The Buckshot Hunters, Morten has built up a studio in his own garage where music is produced almost around the clock. Morten has gotten well into the band and contributed greatly to the interaction with his coolness, musicality and not least big ears



Ian Fredrick Johannessen (Guitars)

Ian has now played with The Buckshot Hunters for over 10 years. Ian is one of our two eminent guitarists. Ian has a powerful, distinct expression that is his own trademark. He complements our other guitarist, Arnfinn Tørrisen, to the fullest.

Jon Grimsby (Drums / Backup vocals)

Jon has played with a many different bands in many different styles, but feel most at home in The Buckshot Hunters. He lays down a heavy groove that makes the band play at it’s best. 

Arnfinn Tørrisen (Guitars)

Arnfinn is the oldest member of The Buckshot Hunters together with JT himself and beats drummer Jon Grimsby by one year. Arnfinn has a long career behind him where he has played for many great acts from the beginning of the 70's until now. Arnfinn is known for his special "twang" that few do after him. Arnfinn is a big part of The Buckshot sound


Share

Share by: