Principato was born in Washington, D.C., and was initially inspired by the music of Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, and Danny Gatton.^[1] A life changing moment happened while he was a teenager. Principato remembered "seeing B.B. King for three shows a night, three nights in a row, in 1969 at The Cellar Door club. I was 17 years old, still in high school, and still developing my guitar and music skills."^[7] Principato led the band Powerhouse in the late 1970s, which released Night Life to some acclaim.^{[citation needed]} He joined Geoff Muldaur on tour in 1980, and recorded an album, I Ain't Drunk, as part of the ensemble known as Geoff Muldaur and His Bad Feet.^[1] He followed this by operating as a session musician, playing both in the studio and in concert with musicians including Sunnyland Slim, Billy Price, Big Mama Thornton, and James Montgomery. Joining the Assassins with Jimmy Thackery, he recorded two albums, No Previous Record (1986) and Partners in Crime (1987).^[8][9] The latter recording earned Principato his first Washington Area Music Awards (Wammys).^[10]

By the mid-1980s, Principato commenced his solo career, recording the live album, Blazing Telecasters, with Danny Gatton. It was eventually released in 1990 and considered for a Grammy Award nomination.^{[citation needed]} In 1988, Principato appeared at the Notodden Blues Festival.

Since then Principato has recorded a string of solo albums, which have seen him accompanied by an ever changing backing ensemble. These include Smokin' (1985), I Know What You're Thinkin'... (1989), In Orbit (1991), Tip of the Iceberg (1992), In the Clouds (1995), and Really Blue (1998).^[1] Tip of the Iceberg was co-produced by Chuck Leavell, who had also performed on Really Blue. In 1995, Principato's song "In The Clouds" was also considered for nominating for a Grammy.^{[citation needed]}

Fingers on Fire (2002) was originally recorded in 1978 with Pete Kennedy (now with The Kennedys), and was followed by more solo work on House on Fire (2003), Guitar Gumbo (2005), and Raising the Roof! (2008).^[1] The latter album gained Principato another Wammy in 2009.^[11] In July 2011, he and his band performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.^[12]

His album, Robert Johnson Told Me So, was launched at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on November 16, 2013.^[13]

Bibliography edit

In 2000, Principato's book, Open-String Guitar Chords, was published by the Hal Leonard Corporation (ISBN 978-0634004780). In 2020, Principato's book of memoirs They Tell Me I Had A Good Time was published by Powerhouse Records (ISBN 978-1-09830-412-6).

Awards and endorsements edit

Principato has earned twenty Washington Area Music Awards (Wammys).^[14]

Since the 1990s, Principato has had endorsement deals with Fender, Seymour Duncan pick ups, Curt Mangan strings, and Roger Mayer guitar effects pedals.^[1]

Present day edit

Currently living in Falls Church, Virginia, he regularly tours across North America plus Europe, and continues to self-release records.^[1]

Albums edit

^[15]

• List of blues rock musicians
• List of electric blues musicians
• Music of Washington, D.C.

• Official website