16 Facts About Freddie Roulette

Frederick Martin Roulette was an American electric blues lap steel guitarist and singer.

Freddie Roulette was best known as an exponent of the lap steel guitar.

Freddie Roulette was a member of the band Daphne Blue and collaborated with Earl Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite, Henry Kaiser, and Harvey Mandel.

Freddie Roulette's family was originally from New Orleans, but he was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois.

Freddie Roulette learned to play the steel guitar in high school.

Freddie Roulette started playing in clubs in Chicago in his teens, and in 1965 began work in Earl Hooker's backing band, touring and performing with him until 1969.

Hooker's band, with the pianist Pinetop Perkins, the harmonica player Carey Bell, the vocalist Andrew Odom, and Freddie Roulette, was "widely acclaimed" and "considered one of the best Earl had ever carried with him".

Freddie Roulette performed on several of Hooker's singles; his 1967 album, The Genius of Earl Hooker; and the 1969 follow-up, 2 Bugs and a Roach.

Freddie Roulette later developed a friendship with Charlie Musselwhite and recorded with him on the 1969 album Chicago Blue Stars.

Freddie Roulette toured with Musselwhite and backed him on the albums Tennessee Woman and Memphis, Tennessee, before relocating to the San Francisco, California, area where he has lived ever since.

Freddie Roulette played there in a band with Luther Tucker and recorded with Earl Hooker's cousin John Lee Hooker.

In 1973, Freddie Roulette released his debut solo album, Sweet Funky Steel, which was produced by the guitarist Harvey Mandel.

Freddie Roulette contributed to Kaiser's album Yo Miles, a tribute to Miles Davis.

Freddie Roulette played at numerous music festivals over the years, including the Long Beach Blues Festival, the San Francisco Blues Festival, and the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Freddie Roulette continued to play club dates in the San Francisco area, often with Mandel.

Freddie Roulette died on December 24,2022, at the age of 83.