Rich Layton & Tough Town

Since stepping to the mic as lead singer for a junior high garage band, Rich Layton has been a prisoner of rock and roll. When he began playing harmonica with then-girlfriend Lucinda Williams in Austin, Texas, it turned into a life sentence. After honing their chops on street corners and dives, the two moved to Houston to join the seminal music scene at Anderson Fair. Layton became the house blues harp player at the inner city club that was home to Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, Lightning Hopkins, Lyle Lovett and many other Texas-bred singer songwriters. 

Breaking out of the folk circuit, Layton became a founding member of Houston’s foremost rockin’ blues revue, Dr. Rockit & The Sisters of Mercy. He went on to play, record and tour with many Texas talents including Alan Haynes, the late Rocky Hill (brother of ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill) and Fort Worth sax maniac Johnny Reno. In 1985, the Lone Star state’s leading music magazine honored Layton as one of six Texas Harmonica Tornados, a list that included such luminaries as Kim Wilson, Mickey Raphael and Delbert McClinton.  Dubbed “The Duke of Juke,” he was established his reputation as the city’s premier harp player and best-dressed musician.

After 25 years in Houston, Layton and his wife relocated to Portland where he entered the vibrant NW music scene as a respected harp player. 

One afternoon, he stopped by sound check at The Aladdin Theater to see his old friend and zydeco legend, Stanley Dural Jr. aka Buckwheat Zydeco. Over the course of two-hour conversation in the back of the band’s van, Buck took Layton sternly to task for not having his own band, shooting down every excuse Rich offered until he had none left.

Not long after that fateful afternoon, Rich Layton & The Troublemakers emerged, playing a high energy mix of roots rock, honky-tonk and more for a growing local and regional audience. Layton also sat in with old friends Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Dale Watson and other old Texas friends when their shows would hit town.  

Years later, Rich is still at it with his new band, Rich Layton & Tough Town.  Recently signed by Portland’s own Never Lucky Records, the band weaves a swampadelic soundtrack perfect for anyone’s last-chance Saturday night.