It's hard to put your finger on the mercurial Sauce Boss. Somewhere between a country preacher, and a "snake-oil" salesman lives a musician, a chef, a raconteur,  a purveyor of gourmet hot sauce, a songwriter, and a standup comedian. He's been featured in Living Blues, GQ, and Gourmet Magazines-the only person ever to be in all three.

The Sauce Boss is unique, with high energy original music, a commanding stage presence, and a musical/cooking demonstration. He makes a pot of gumbo onstage, mixing media like cornbread, literally singing the recipe. At the end of the show Wharton shares gumbo with the crowd, turning strangers into friends as they gather to get a taste of community which no one else can deliver.

The Sauce Boss tours both as a one-man band with slide guitar, bass and drums, but kicks it up a notch when he brings his band Extra Sauce with him. They add plenty of spice to heat up this musical gumbo. This band ROCKS!!!  Check out the new album “With Extra Sauce”, which is currently #17 on the North American College and Community Blues Charts (August 2026).

Bill Wharton (Sauce Boss) is the guy Jimmy Buffett sang about in his song "I Will Play for Gumbo."
When he met Buffett, the King of Trop Rock said, “This is the best band I've seen in a while!" 
Then he said, "Everybody wants to be me, but I'd rather open a bait store and be you.” Jimmy Buffett was one cool guy. Think he might have been on to something? Wharton’s anthem “Let the Big Dog Eat” is included on Buffett’s “Late Night Menu at the Margaritaville Cafe” album. 

Albert Castiglia released his cover of the tune, and it hit #1 on the blues charts. "Let the Big Dog Eat" has also  appeared in the movies, “Something Wild” (Jonathan Demme), and the Rock Doc, “Jimmy Carter Rock and Roll President.” This tune and sixteen other works in the documentary earned Wharton “‘Best Original Score” from the Los Angeles Film Awards. 

Sauce Boss' CD “The Sauce” was a finalist at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in the Best Self-Produced CD category.  

Sauce Boss on Facebook / Sauce Boss on YouTube  

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