Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down - Holmes Brothers

Over the course of their 30-plus year career, The Holmes Brothers (bassist/vocalist Sherman Holmes, guitarist/pianist/vocalist Wendell Holmes, drummer/vocalist and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixon) have been feeding the souls of their devoted and ever-growing fanbase with a joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and country. Their amazing three-part harmony singing, mixing Wendell’s gruff and gravelly vocals with Popsy’s soaring falsetto and Sherman’s rich baritone brings the soul and spirit of gospel music into everything they perform. Equally gripping is the rhythmic foundation laid down by Sherman’s bass playing and Popsy’s drumming, perfectly complimenting Wendell’s blues-soaked guitar solos and church-inspired piano playing. The band easily blends Saturday night’s roadhouse rock with the gospel fervor and harmonies of Sunday morning’s church service. From winning multiple Blues Music Awards to sharing stages and recordings with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Merle Haggard, Keith Richards, Al Green, Ben Harper, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Levon Helm, Rosanne Cash, Odetta, and The Jungle Brothers. The Holmes Brothers have seemingly done it all. Recently though, The Holmes Brothers confronted a stark reality when brother Wendell was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Tight-knit on and off the stage, they found strength in their family, friendship and faith to overcome this setback. With Wendell’s victory over the disease, the group emerged fully energized and inspired, to create the deepest, most original, most satisfying album of their career. Feed My Soul, produced by their longtime friend and collaborator Joan Osborne, is an album born from this harrowing experience. The songs deal with friendship, loyalty, family, aging, illness, as well as politics and the current state of the world, while still maintaining the patented Holmes Brothers sense of humor. Mostly though, the album is about triumphing over adversity, overcoming obstacles and, ultimately it is a declaration of the power and faith of a strong and devoted family. Feed My Soul features the band’s exhilarating, spine-tingling harmonies, boundless energy and telepathic musicianship over the course of nine originals (the most they’ve ever put on an album) and five fitting and perfectly executed covers, including a poignant reinvention of The Beatles’ I’ll Be Back and the mesmerizing Something Is Missing, a never-before recorded original by famed soul man John Ellison (writer of the classic Some Kind Of Wonderful). Opening with Sherman’s worldly wise vocals on Dark Cloud, moving through Wendell’s soulful singingon Fair Weather Friend and closing with Popsy’s soaring voice bringing an emotionally fitting end to the album on Take Me Away, Feed My Soul is a powerfully uplifting experience, and by far and wide the deepest cycle of songs and most thematically linked body of work The Holmes Brothers have ever produced. Helping to shape Feed My Soul are the strength and deep roots of the Holmes family. Sherman and Wendell Holmes were raised in Christchurch, Virginia. Their schoolteacher parents fostered the boys’ early interest in music as they listened to traditional Baptist hymns, anthems and spirituals as well as blues music by Jimmy Reed, Junior Parker and B.B. King. Sherman studied composition and music theory at Virginia State University, but in 1959, he dropped out and headed to New York for a promising job with a singer named Jimmy Jones (of Handy Man fame). His younger brother Wendell joined him in New York after completing high school. The two brothers played in a few bands before forming The Sevilles in 1963. The group lasted only three years, but they often backed up touring artists like The Impressions, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Butler, gaining a wealth of experience. Sherman and Wendell met drummer Popsy Dixon, a fellow Virginian, at a New York gig in 1967. Dixon sat in with brothers and sang two songs. “After that second song,” recalls Wendell, “Popsy was a brother.” They continued to play in a variety of Top 40 bar bands—Wendell even toured with Inez and Charlie Foxx (Mockingbird)—until 1979, when the three officially joined forces and formed The Holmes Brothers band. In the early years, the band worked primarily at Dan Lynch’s, a New York club that featured weekly jam nights and performances by a wide variety of blues acts, most notably, The Holmes Brothers. More importantly, the club served as a meeting ground for many members of New York’s blues community, including future members of Blues Traveler, Joan Osborne and producer/harmonicist Andy Breslau, who brought the group to Rounder Records. Since their debut on Rounder in 1989, The Holmes Brothers have worked virtually non-stop. In addition to their four critically acclaimed Rounder albums, they recorded Jubilation for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label in 1992, becoming the first American group to record for the standout world music imprint. In 1994 they joined Van Morrison in the studio on the song That’s Where It’s At for the Real World compilation album, A Week Or Two In The Real World. 1996 found The Holmes Brothers starring in the independent motion picture, Lotto Land, for which they also recorded the soundtrack. The albums all received massive praise. “Mind-blowing,” said the Boston Herald. “Rich and satisfying,” raved The Washington Post. In 1997, Joan Osborne asked The Holmes Brothers to be her backing band when she opened for Bob Dylan. After signing with Alligator in 2001, The Holmes Brothers released the magnificent Speaking In Tongues, produced by Osborne, who also sang backup vocals throughout. With help from Grammy-winning engineer Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow’s The Globe Sessions), The Holmes Brothers created a contemporary album of spiritual soul music. Throughout Speaking In Tongues, the sweet gospel harmonies and classic soul shouting radiate authenticity and passion. Their interplay of voices and instruments is mesmerizing. Response to Speaking In Tongues was phenomenal. The Holmes Brothers appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman, The CBS Saturday Early Show, as well as National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition, A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage. They were the subject of features and reviews in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Newsweek, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Examiner and countless other publications. Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune called it a “joyous, foot-stomping carnival…a gift to the world of music.” In 2003, The Holmes Brothers recorded versions of Trouble (Cat Stevens) and You’re Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond (Blind Willie Johnson) for the soundtrack album for the popular television series Crossing Jordan. In addition, The Holmes Brothers appeared on the M.C. Records tribute album to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Shout, Sister, Shout!, backing Joan Osborne, Odetta, Victoria Williams and Phoebe Snow. That same year, Peter Gabriel released the single, Burn You Up, Burn You Down, featuring backing vocals by The Holmes Brothers. 2004’s Simple Truths found The Holmes Brothers receiving even more attention, as reviews ran in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, New York Post, and many other publications. They appeared on Outlaws And Angels—The Willie Nelson and Friends 3rd Annual Birthday Concert (televised on the USA Network and released on CD and DVD), Late Night With Conan O’Brien, World Cafe, Mountain Stage, as well as the National Public Radio programs All Things Considered, On Point and Here And Now. The Chicago Sun-Times called Simple Truths, “A breathtaking and heartfelt journey through gospel-drenched soul, blues, funk and country.” They won the coveted Blues Music Award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation for Band Of The Year in 2005. 2007’s State Of Grace continued the upward trend. Again the band performed on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Features and reviews ran in USA Today, The New York Times, Billboard, Time Out New York, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker and many other publications. The album won the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Album Of The Year. Rolling Stone called it “impressive, fervent country soul.” Since the release of State Of Grace, The Holmes Brothers’ popularity with fans and fellow musicians has continued to grow. They performed at Carnegie Hall’s Tribute To Bruce Springsteen concert, featuring Steve Earle, Patti Smith, The Hold Steady, Josh Ritter and many others. In 2009 George Thorogood recorded Wendell’s original song, Run Myself Out Of Town on his Dirty Dozen LP, an album that hit #1 on the Billboard Blues chart. Recently, The Holmes Brothers completed a tour of performing arts centers with their old friend Joan Osborne (who has also toured with The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, and starred with The Funk Brothers in the film, Standing In the Shadow Of Motown as well as releasing several great albums of her own). With their deeply soulful singing, uplifting harmonies and unsurpassed musicianship, The Holmes Brothers continue to grow as artists. Billboard declares, “It seems like The Holmes Brothers get more assured and exciting with each passing year. They remain a musical force unto themselves.” Triumphing over adversity led directly to the creation of Feed My Soul, as the band turned what may have been a career-ending event into the best album in their long history. With the depth of the songwriting and the power of their performances on this new album – The Holmes Brothers serve their extended family of devoted listeners a rich musical banquet for the soul. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Blind Love - Pernell Charity

Pernell Charity was a quiet unassuming man born in Waverly on November 20, 1920. Except for a short period of time in New York City in the late 1940's, Mr. Charity spent his entire life in the Waverly area. He worked primarily at construction jobs but was forced to retire in 1970 because of a back injury. From that time until his death on April 12, 1979, of cancer, Pernell lived in a small house behind a noxious-smelling sawmill on Robert Wilkins Avenue. His music was shaped by the popular blues records from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's, and the local musicians he heard playing at house parties and weekend gatherings. "Blind Love" is based on a 1953 recording by B.B. King (issued on RPM 395). The text of Pernell's version follows the original quite closely and is a fine example of a thematic/stable blues composition. Although Pernell often utilized lyrics and themes found on records, his interpretations are hardly slavish imitations. He was quite adept at adopting material and changing it to suit his own musical personality. Many such fine examples can be heard on Trix 3309 "The Virginian", including "Black Rat Swing" (Little Son Joe), "Mamie" (Bull City Red), and "Dig Myself A Hole" (Arthur Crudup). The version of "Blind Love" on the Trix album is an alternate take to the one issued here. ~ Kip Lornell (from the liner notes) If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

J BLACKFOOT/ WILLIE CLAYTON

J. Blackfoot (born John Colbert, November 20, 1946 – November 30, 2011), was an American soul singer, who was a member of The Soul Children in the late 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently had a moderately successful solo career. His biggest hit was "Taxi", which reached the charts in both the US and UK in 1984. John Colbert was born in Greenville, Mississippi, moving to Memphis, Tennessee with his family as a child. Generally known as "J." or "Jay", he acquired the nickname "Blackfoot" as a child, for his habit of walking barefoot on the tarred sidewalks. In 1965, while spending some time in Tennessee State Penitentiary in Nashville for car theft, he met Johnny Bragg, the founder of the Prisonaires vocal group. After leaving prison he recorded a single under his own name for the small Sur-Speed label, before returning to Memphis, where he was heard singing in a street corner group by David Porter of Stax Records. After the plane crash that claimed the lives of Otis Redding and four members of The Bar-Kays, he joined the reconstituted group as lead singer, and performed with them for several months but did not record. In 1968, after Sam & Dave had moved from Stax to Atlantic Records, Porter and his songwriting and production partner Isaac Hayes decided to put together a new vocal group of two men and two women. They recruited Blackfoot, together with Norman West, Anita Louis, and Shelbra Bennett, to form The Soul Children. Between 1968 and 1978, The Soul Children had 15 hits on the R&B chart, including three that crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, and recorded seven albums. The Soul Children disbanded in 1979. Blackfoot worked with bands in the Memphis area, and recorded solo for the local Prime Cut label. In 1983, he began working again with writer and producer Homer Banks, with whom he had recorded with The Soul Children, and recorded "Taxi", a song originally written for Johnnie Taylor but not recorded by him. Blackfoot's record rose to no. 4 on the R&B chart and no. 90 on the pop chart, also reaching no. 48 in the UK. He recorded several albums, and had several more R&B hits on Banks' Sound Town label before moving to the Edge label formed by Al Bell in 1986. In 1987, he had another significant hit, "Tear Jerker", a duet with Ann Hines, reaching no. 28 on the R&B chart. He later moved to the Basix label, continuing to release albums into the new millennium. In 2007, Blackfoot and West reformed the Soul Children, with Hines and fourth member Cassandra Graham. In 2010, Blackfoot appeared as part of David Porter's music revue. On November 30, 2011, Blackfoot died after having been diagnosed with cancer. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Worried Life Blues - Little Johnny Jones

Little Johnny Jones (November 1, 1924 – November 19, 1964) was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer, best known for his work with Tampa Red, Muddy Waters and Elmore James. Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1924. He arrived in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 in the company of Little Walter and "Baby Face" Leroy Foster, and soon replaced pianist Big Maceo Merriweather in Tampa Red's band after Merriweather suffered a stroke which paralysed his right hand. He later backed Muddy Waters on harmonica, and recorded (on piano and vocals) with Waters for the Aristocrat label in 1949. From 1952 to 1956 he played and recorded with Elmore James, and in later years he worked with Howling Wolf, Billy Boy Arnold and Magic Sam, among others. Like several other Chicago pianists of his era, his style was heavily influenced by Big Maceo Merriweather, from whom he had learned, and for whom he played piano after Merriweather's stroke. Jones's 1949 side "Big Town Playboy" is regarded as a classic of the genre, and was covered by guitarist Eddie Taylor in 1955. Popular with audiences, Jones was a heavy drinker and had a reputation as a wild character. According to Homesick James, who worked and toured with them in the 1950s, "Elmore and Johnnie used to just have a fight every night". Jones married his wife Letha in 1952. He died of bronchopneumonia in Cook County Hospital, and was interred at Restvale Cemetery in November 1964. On May 14, 2011 the fourth annual White Lake Blues Festival took place at the Howmet Playhouse Theater in Whitehall, Michigan. The event was organized by executive producer, Steve Salter, of the nonprofit organization Killer Blues to raise monies to honor Jones unmarked grave with a headstone. The concert was a success, and a headstone was placed in June, 2011. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Me and the Devil Blues - Mississippi Martínez

Mississippi Martínez. Bluesman nacido en Barcelona el 13/12/1980. Ya desde los 5 años vivía en Granada, ciudad a la que pertenece su sangre y donde sigue residiendo a día de hoy. Jamás tuvo ninguna inquietud musical hasta los 18 años, momento en el que cayó una guitarra en sus manos como regalo de cumpleaños. Ese hecho y algunas canciones dirigen su vida. Como artista su música esta directamente influenciada por el Blues del Delta, el Country y el Folk Americano en general, aunque en sus actuaciones siempre hay espacio para revisar el rock and roll desde el punto de vista de sus manos, su guitarra y su voz. Llega a vivir las raíces del modo más natural, empezando por la música rock y escarbando hasta el origen... Referencias. Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, B.B. King…. Tas haber editado un álbum de blues del delta llamado “Potencia Primitiva” (álbum acústico y en solitario) ahora nos presenta su Trío de formato eléctrico llamado “Los Bastardos del blues". If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Have a Mother Blues Thanksgiving!

Pat "Mother Blues" Helps Make Your Thanksgiving Rock! Pat Cohen doesn't just possess a voice to blow you out of your seat and onto the dance floor, she's also a goddess in the kitchen. We talked to Pat this past week and she gave us all her secret recipes for a Thanksgiving feast no one will forget - and we have them to share with you, on easy to print recipe cards! Click here to get all the deliciousness! If you do make one (or all!) of Pat's recipes and let us know (we'd love a picture) we'll send you a free CD of your choice! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us, and Pat! Listen:  Bishop Dready Manning -   I Am a Pilgrim Diggin: "I am a Pilgrim" We knew this would be a perfect track for this week - we think Bishop Dready Manning's "I am a Pilgrim" should be on your playlist this Thanksgiving. As we all furiously work to take care of things at the office before dispersing to D.C., New Jersey, or just down the road in Durham, we're listening to this with a smile on our faces. It's a happy, jaunty tune, and what's Thanksgiving without Pilgrims? Whenever I hear this song, though I know Bishop Manning is talking about a different kind of Pilgrim, I think of the traditional Thanksgiving scene from my elementary school days (and the one my neighbor has recreated on 6ft plywood boards in their front yard) which always makes me grin. We hope wherever you are for your Thanksgiving holiday, that you know we give thanks for you, and your support. Enjoy the tune! - Corinne Keep up with Music Maker!      Support Music Maker, and help keep the music alive!     Music Maker is embracing Black Friday and Cyber Monday! If you're not out battling the lines to get the best deal on Friday, cozy up with some leftovers and your computer and shop for the Holidays on Music Maker's webstore! We'll have deals for you to take advantage of on Friday through the weekend - and some more for on Monday! Gift the gift of American Roots music this holiday season - your purchases will make someone smile, and help our artists too. Now that's a great deal! Thanksgiving On the Road Are you traveling this week? We were all talking about various travels, especially overseas trips with Dr. Burt in France this week, and Tim recalled the first overseas trip he took with Guitar Gabriel. Tim Duffy, Guitar Gabriel, Captain Luke In March of 1991 I met bluesman Guitar Gabriel on the streets of Winston-Salem, NC. In just a short time we became partners, produced an album and were performing at clubs and festivals. To our delight we were invited to perform at a festival in Holland - but Gabe needed a passport. After much research we found his birth certificate; however, it was totally illegible and the passport agency would not accept it. We appealed to our Congressman who introduced us to the Clerk of Court in Winston. After examining the document, the Clerk determined that whoever filled out the form was illiterate and misspelled everything including his name, illegible scrawl which she declared "No Name." She instructed us on how to legally change this to Robert L Jones - his real name. The passport followed, and we were on our way. When I went to pick up Gabe to go to the airport, his wife Dot was very mad at us for leaving her and would not let us check the suitcase to make sure Gabe had suits for the performance. Gabe and I gave up and headed out. Arriving in Utrecht, Gabe was ready to change into his pajamas and turn in. Opening his suitcase he found only dirty socks and underwear. Luckily, I ran into the legendary bluesman Guitar Shorty in the hallway, and this story tickled him to no end. He lent Gabe a suit for the show the next day. This memorable trip had many twists and turns, that would take pages to write. The good news was we made our shows, and the plane back home. We arrived in LaGuardia on Thanksgiving Day in the early evening. It was eerie, there were no people in the airport, I guess everyone had made it home. Gabe and I found a small cafe, ordered up hamburger and fries, and Gabe said a blessing. I was thankful to be heading back home and for that whirlwind of a year when I began my journey with the blues. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us, you've made this journey possible. - Tim Duffy Neal Pattman Photo of the Week by Mark Austin Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  11/11 - John Dee Holeman -  Pinecone Music of the Carolinas, NCMoH, Raleigh, NC 11/17 - Lakota John and Kin - American Indian Heritage Festival, NCMo, Raleigh, NC 11/20 - Dr. Burt - So Blues Festival, Coulaines, France 11/22 - Dr. Burt - Salle Jaques Brel, Montigny Les Bretonneux, France 11/23 - Dr. Burt - Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival, Calais, France 12/01 - Albert White - Northside Tavern, Atlanta, GA 12/07 - Shelton Powe - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC 1/04 - Boo Hanks - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC 2/01 - Ironing Board Sam - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC   Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain  recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.

Girls With Guitars Live - Wilde/Smith/Fish - New release Review

I just received the new release, Girls With Guitars Live from Dani Wilde, Victoria Smith and Samantha Fish. This is a 2 disk set, one audio and 1 video and each of the disks has something that the other doesn't. I like that. Today I'm going to exclusively review the audio portion and will get the video reviewed as quickly as possible. The release opens with a butt kicking cover of the Stones' Bitch. I remember as a kid requesting this track on the radio , yeah we used to do that, and they couldn't play it because they couldn't say the name! This is a great rocker to open the show. Don't Go Making Me Cry, is an R&B based track with some fiery guitar work pushing things along nicely. Red Blooded Woman is a modern style 12 bar blues which could see a lot of airplay. It has the universal modern blues styling and extended guitar soloing to attract broad interest. Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put A Spell On You is always a welcome addition and in this case it is handled with a bit of a different vocal attack more with the sensitivity of Janis as opposed to the full out push that has been seen in other recent remakes. The guitar work on this track is also played on the down low with a San Francisco flair. The guitar tone is very warm and the solo's unpredictable. Excellent! Leaving Kind, based loosly on the Rollin' and Tumblin' sound, another track that could generate a bit of airplay has solid vocal work as well as smooth slide work under the track. Money To Burn has a really cool style which definitely has it's roots in the 60's. It puts me in the mind of Season of The Witch that Michael Bloomfield did at the Fillmore and also maybe influenced by work by Steven Stills and Led Zeppelin. It's a different song altogether but the groove and ambiance is there. A definite favorite. This is a long cooker giving Fish some leeway to burn! Juice Me Up, definitely on the lighter side and more of a radio track which could again draw broad audience. A guitar duo on this track cements the interest by concert goers. Smokey Robinson's Who's Loving You gets a solid soul treatment with clean smoky vocals. There is some gritty guitar work on the tail of this track that is again noteworthy. Down In The Swamp has a heavy lead instrumental melody which I like pretty well. The tone of the guitar on this portion of the track is really cool. There are a number of guitar things happening here at once and it doesn't sound crowded but complimentary. The lead guitar work on this track is nicely done. Mississippi Kisses has more of a jazz feel but with some ripping guitar lead. This is a nice track to get each of the players upfront and swinging. The recording concludes with Steve Miller's Jet Airliner. The track is sure again to be a great concert crowd pleaser.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Bells Are Toning - Willie "Smokey" Hogg

Andrew ‘Smokey’ Hogg (January 27, 1914 - May 1, 1960) was an American blues musician. Hogg was born near Westconnie, Texas, United States and grew up on the farm and was taught to play guitar by his father Frank Hogg. While still in his teens he teamed up with a the slide guitarist and vocalist, B.K. Turner aka Black Ace and the pair travelled together playing the turpentine and logging camp circuit of country dance halls and juke joints that surrounded Kilgore, Tyler, Greenville and Palestine in East Texas. In 1937 Smokey and Black Ace were brought to Chicago, Illinois by Decca Records to record, and Smokey had his first gramophone record (“Family Trouble Blues”/”Kind Hearted Blues”) released, as Andrew Hogg. It was an isolated occurrence - he did not make it back into a recording studio for over a decade. By the early 1940s Hogg was married and making a good living busking around the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, Texas. Hogg was drafted in the mid 1940s and after a brief spell with the U.S. military, he continued working in the Dallas area where he was becoming well known. In 1947 he came to the attention of Herbert T. Rippa Sr, boss of the Dallas based record label, Bluebonnet Records, who recorded several sides with him and leased the masters to Modern Records. The first release on Modern was the Big Bill Broonzy song “Too Many Drivers”, and this racked up sufficient sales to encourage Modern Records to bring Hogg out to Los Angeles, California to cut more sides with their team of studio musicians. These songs included his two biggest hits, “Long Tall Mama” in 1949 and another Broonzy tune “Little School Girl” (#9 U.S. R&B chart) in 1950. Some blues fans tend to revere his two-part “Penitentiary Blues” (1952), which was a remake of the prison song, “Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos”. Hogg’s country blues style, influenced by Broonzy, Peetie Wheatstraw and Black Ace was popular with record buyers in the South during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He continued to work and record until the end of the 1950s, but died of cancer, or possibly a ruptured ulcer, in McKinney, Texas in 1960. Smokey’s cousin, John Hogg, also played the blues, recording for Mercury in 1951. Smokey was reputed to be a cousin of Lightnin’ Hopkins, and distantly related to Alger “Texas” Alexander, although both claims are ambiguous. He is not to be confused with Willie “Smokey” Hogg, an imposter who was based in New York and recorded mostly after 1960, taking the name of “Smokey” after Andrew had died. He recorded mostly for Spivey Records, and his work is primarily a poor imitation of Lowell Fulson.[opinion] Although Andrew was the younger man, his sound represented an older style in Texas blues. Westconnie Texas born R&B performer Andrew ‘Smokey’ Hogg (1914 - 1960) started his career playing the logging camp circuit of country dance halls and juke joints in East Texas. He first appears as a recording artist billed as Andrew Hogg on a one off 78rpm recorded in Chicago for Decca in 1937 (Family Trouble Blues/Kind Hearted Blues). He recorded the rest of his numerous sides in the post war blues music boom in the late 1940’s and on into 1958 when his last record came out on the Ebb label ( approx two years before his death from cancer in 1960). His most prodigious output was on the Modern label, for whom he recorded over a 100 sides. Other labels he released songs in the interim on include Bluebonnet Records, Exclusive, Imperial, Mercury, Recorded in Hollywood, Specialty, fidelity, Top Hat, Ray’s, Show time, Federal, Combo, Bullet, Macy’s, and Sittin’ in With. Some of his early hits were songs associated with fellow bluesman Big Bill Broonzy including his first release on Jules Bihari’s Modern imprint “Too many drivers”, and his smash “Little School Girl” which hit #9 on the R&B charts in 1950. Most tracks were him as the solo singer, although he did some duets, including some work with Hadda Brooks. While derided as a hack by some critics, his steady output of best selling discs and popularity in the early 1950s is testament to his talent and appeal. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Happy Birthday CHRIS CAIN

Chris Cain (born November 19, 1955, San Jose, California, United States) is an American blues and jazz guitarist with an international following. He began playing professionally as a teenager in local clubs, at festivals, and at private events. Cain received four Blues Music Award nominations in 1987 for his debut album, Late Night City Blues, including Guitarist of the Year. He signed to Blind Pig Records in 1990, releasing his second album, Cuttin' Loose, the same year. The guitarist stayed at Blind Pig for the next few years, releasing Can't Buy A Break in 1992 and Somewhere Along the Way in 1995 If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

13 Years In Prison - Big Leon Brooks

Only one Album under the name of Big Leon Brooks. Let's go to town was the first album Bob Corritore ever produced. Sadly this album never saw the light of day whilst BL was alive. All songs where written by Leon Brooks, recorded in 3 different sessions in 1980, by different line-ups: Sidemen - Louis Myers, Jr Pettis, Luther Jr Johnson, Eddie Taylor, Pinetop, Big Moose Walker, Bob Stroger, Freddie Dixon, Odie Payne... The 10 first songs on the original album was released on vinyl in 1982... a magnificent recording. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

BLUES GUITAR SHOWDOWN 2012 - THIS MONDAY (NOV 19) - KIRK FLETCHER, LUCKY LLOYD, A.C. MYLES and more! - IN TARZANA!

                                                                                                                                                              

          THIS MONDAY, NOV 19, 2012       

         PRE-THANKSGIVING       

  BLUES GUITAR FEAST 2012! 

                      STARRING                    

   KIRK FLETCHER   

      LUCKY LLOYD    

       A.C. MYLES       

    CHRIS MILLAR     

      JON CROSSEN    

                     AND MORE !                    

 NO COVER AT THE DOOR.  DONATIONS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THIS ONGOING EVENT AFLOAT.  WE VERY KINDLY AND GENTLY SUGGEST A DONATION PER PERSON.  $15 OR $20 PLATINUM-LEVEL DONATION IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR MAINTAINING SUCH HIGH-QUALITY, FESTIVAL-LEVEL BLUES ARTISTS EVERY WEEK.  THERE IS ALSO A TWO DRINK MINIMUM AT THE CLUB. THANKS AGAIN, DEAR BLUES FRIENDS ! 

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        THIS UPCOMING MONDAY, NOV 19, 2012            

BLUES GUITAR SHOWDOWN!

   THE MAUI SUGAR MILL SALOON    

             $15 or $20 SUGGESTED DONATION           

                               PER PERSON                                

                                                                                                                                                 

*****

Please join us and over 100 friendly blues fans and musicians for a tremendous evening celebrating sizzling, blues guitar and featuring three young blues guitar virtuosos who deserve the widest possible recognition: THE LAST BLUES GUITAR SHOWDOWN OF 2012 stars KIRK FLETCHER, LUCKY LLOYD & A.C. MYLES !  Astounding blues guitar virtuoso, Kirk Fletcher is a Los Angeles native;  The big man, Lucky Lloyd hails from Detroit, and A.C. Myles - fresh off the road with The John Nemeth Band - is flying in from Fresno for this one special show.  All three will converge on the stage for one delicious Pre-Thanksgiving blues guitar feast!

 THAT'S THIS MONDAY, NOV 19, 2012, from 8 pm til 9:30 pm at the MAUI SUGAR MILL SALOON in Tarzana.  Audience seating begins at 7:00 pm.  A huge jam will rage after the concert, and go until 2 am.  We greatly look forward to partying with you!

Your pal,

Cad Zack

*****

HERE ARE YOUR AMAZING

BLUES GUITAR STARS

FOR THE EVENING...

    LOS ANGELES BLUES GUITAR VIRTUOSO!   

*** KIRK FLETCHER *** 

       DETROIT BLUES GUITAR GREAT!       

   *** LUCKY LLOYD ***   

  BRILLIANT GUITARIST FROM FRESNO ! 

  *** A.C. MYLES ***   

*****

 SEATING / DINNER / DRINKS 

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Monday blues night at The Maui Sugar Mill we recommend coming early to grab a table and chair - say around 7:00 pm.  

Please note there is a 2-drink minimum

at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon

The Sugar Mill does not currently serve food but there are plenty of take-out places nearby and you are always welcome to bring any and all food into the club.  Come eat your food while we spin classic blues tunes on our nifty Hi-Fi stereo beginning at 7 pm sharp.  

*****

 SHOW DETAILS 

 * LAST BLUES GUITAR SHOWDOWN OF 2012 *

 will take place from 8:00 to 9:30 pm

THIS MONDAY, NOV 19, 2012

There is NO COVER CHARGE 

 at the door for this show, but a $15 or $20 donation per person is requested for this event, to help with the costs associated with such a special evening. 

WHERE:
Maui Sugar Mill Saloon
18389 Ventura Blvd.
(one-block east of Reseda Blvd.)
Tarzana, CA 91356

*****

WORLD-CLASS BLUES JAM

BEGINS AFTER THE OPENING SET

This world-famous weekly blues jam has become very popular amongst the top blues musicians.  Every Monday a legendary blues artists drops by to play or just hang out, including: John Mayall, Kim Wilson, Coco Montoya, Arthur Adams, Finis Tasby, Robert "Bilbo" Walker, Barbara Morrison, Phil Upchurch, Deacon Jones, James Harman, Larry Taylor, Al Blake & Fred Kaplan, Roy Gaines, Albert Lee and many others!  If you are a great blues musician PLEASE come jam with us!

BRING YOUR WHOLE BAND:

If you would like to bring your full band to do a 15-minute showcase we'd love that, but please e-mail us first so that we can schedule you and give you the details.  We have a limited amount of these slots.

 Sign up begins at 7:00 pm.

The jam typically starts at 9:30 pm and rages until 1:00 am.   Please note: Due to the popularity of this weekly event, musicians are only guaranteed to play if they sign up before 9 pm, although, we have never turned anyone away in 4 years.  Wait times vary from 1/2 hour up to 3 hours, depending on how early you sign up.  This past Monday, for example, we had 22 jammers.

Worried Life Blues - Little Junior Parker

Junior Parker (May 27, 1932 – November 18, 1971) was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth". He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001. One music journalist noted, "For years Junior Parker deserted downhome harmonica blues for uptown blues-soul music" Junior Parker was born in either Clarksdale, Mississippi, or West Memphis, Arkansas. He sang in gospel groups as a child, and played on the various blues circuits beginning in his teenage years. His biggest influence as a harmonica player was Sonny Boy Williamson, with whom he worked before moving on to work for Howlin' Wolf in 1949. Around 1950 he was a member of Memphis's ad hoc group, the Beale Streeters, with Bobby 'Blue' Bland and B.B. King. In 1951 he formed his own band, the Blue Flames, with the guitarist Pat Hare. Parker was discovered in 1952 by Ike Turner, who signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label, "You're My Angel." This brought him to the attention of Sam Phillips, and he and his band signed onto Sun Records in 1953. There they produced three successful songs: "Feelin' Good" (which reached # 5 on the US Billboard R&B chart), "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train", later covered by Elvis Presley. For Presley's version of "Mystery Train", Scotty Moore borrowed the guitar riff from Parker's "Love My Baby", played by Pat Hare. "Love My Baby" and "Mystery Train" are considered important contributions to the rockabilly genre. Later in 1953, Parker toured with Bobby Bland and Johnny Ace, and also joined Duke Records. Parker and Bland headed the highly successful Blues Consolidated Revue, which became a staple part of the southern blues circuit. He continued to have a string of hits on the R&B chart, including the smooth "Next Time You See Me" (1957); re-makes of Roosevelt Sykes' song "Driving Wheel" (1961), Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago", Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used to Do" (1963), and Don Robey's "Mother-in-Law Blues" (1956); plus his own "Stand by Me" (1961). His success was limited after he left Duke in 1966. He recorded for various labels, including Mercury, Blue Rock, Minit, and Capitol. Parker died on November 18, 1971, at age 39, in Blue Island, Illinois, during surgery for a brain tumor. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Bull Dog Blues - Luther Huff

b. 5 December 1910, Fannin, Mississippi, USA, d. 18 November 1973, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Luther and younger brother Percy made only two records in 1951, but they cleaved so startlingly and entertainingly to the old traditions that they have been prized ever since. They learned guitar from older brother Willie and cousin Donnee Howard and, like them, played at fish fries and country picnics. One picnic, held at a plantation in Belzoni, lasted 13 days. Luther bought a mandolin in 1936 and taught himself to play. Drafted into the army in 1942, Luther saw service in England, France and Belgium, where, in 1944, he recorded two acetates, now lost. In 1947, he moved to Detroit and started what would be a large family of 12 children. Percy stayed in Jackson, Mississippi, driving a taxicab. On a visit in 1950, Luther bumped into Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), who suggested that he and Percy record for Trumpet. Needing train fare home to Detroit, Huff contacted Lillian McMurry and, in January and February 1951, the pair recorded ‘Dirty Disposition’, ‘1951 Blues’, ‘Bull Dog Blues’ and ‘Rosalee’, the latter pair featuring Luther’s mandolin. Luther returned north to work at the Chrysler factory, and later, for Plymouth, making little effort to continue as a musician. In 1968, along with brothers Willie and Percy, he was recorded by Adelphi Records, but the results were never issued. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Grinding Mill - Johnny Temple

Johnny Temple (October 18, 1906 – November 22, 1968) was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer, who operated in in the 1930s and 1940s. An acquaintance and near-contemporary of Skip James, Temple delivered sedate blues in the vein of Lonnie Johnson. He was variously billed as Johnny Temple, Johnnie Temple and Johnnie "Geechie" Temple. Temple was born in Canton, Mississippi, United States. Growing up around Jackson, he moved to Chicago in early 1930s, and started playing with Joe McCoy in the clubs. His most popular record, "Louise Louise Blues," on the Decca label, was a hit in 1936. The Harlem Hamfats, a Chicago jazz band formed in 1936, provided backup music for Temple, and other singers. Temple continued recording with various labels through most of the 1940s. His connection with the record producer Mayo Williams, earned him recording opportunities until 1949. He returned to Mississippi in the mid-1950s, where he continued to perform in and around Jackson, Mississippi. He died from cancer in 1968, aged 62, in Jackson. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

"A Toast To The Blues" with Bobby "Blue" Bland, Willie Clayton and Gregg Wright, this Friday!!

"KING OF THE ROCKIN' BLUES!"  "A TOAST TO THE BLUES" THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd AT HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO!  This Friday night, November 23rd, Jeph Willis Arts presents "A Toast To The Blues" featuring the legendary Bobby "Blue" Bland, Willie Clayton, Gregg Wright and special guest Sue Ann Carwell, live in concert at Hollywood Park Casino. Comedian Luenell is your Host and Emcee. If you love the Blues, DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!!!  Hollywood Park Casino:  1050 S. Prairie Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 Presale tickets available at: INGLEWOODTICKETS.COM Tel: (310) 671-6400 Website:  www.INGLEWOODTICKETS.COM or HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO CASHIER General admission: $50 Preferred seating: $75 Doors open: 6:30 PM Showtime: 7:30 PM For more info, visit JEPHWILLISARTS.COM Website: http://www.jephwillisarts.com          Gregg Wright: "Cry Myself A River"

Rare Robert Johnson Recording Uncovered - jøhn francis kavanagh (Founder) . Dublin Blues Club

Rare Robert Johnson Recording Uncovered

Robert Johnson

 PITTSBURGH (AP) - A record store owner has found what he calls "the holy grail of 78s" in a box of old albums he picked up for $50.
Jerry Weber said he discovered a copy of the second song ever recorded by Mississippi blues legend Robert Johnson, "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," put to disc two years before Johnson's mysterious death in 1938 at age 27.
The rarity, whose value Weber pegged at $6,000 to $12,000, was tucked in a collection of otherwise worthless, water-damaged old platters that sat in a hallway at Jerry's Records for days before anyone looked at them.
"I saw one 30 years ago that was broke," Weber told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "and I saw one that a friend of mine found and let me hold before he sold it. It's the most expensive record I've ever found, and it's in real nice shape."
Johnson was an itinerant singer and guitarist from Hazlehurst, Miss., whose landmark recordings would influence a generation of rock 'n' roll icons, including Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones. Little is known about his life and death. In popular legend, Johnson sold his soul to the Devil at a Mississippi Delta crossroads in return for an extraordinary ability to sing and play the blues.
Weber said the "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" record he found is in good shape.
Collector John Tefteller, who specializes in rare blues and jazz records, estimates there are perhaps 15 to 30 copies of the record in existence in that condition.
"There's not a huge market for something like that," he said. "Yes, it's rare, but you could count on your hands and toes the number of people who would buy it for a few thousand dollars."
Weber doesn't plan to sell it, at least not right away. His son, Willie Weber, will play it for customers at 2 p.m. every Saturday until the end of the year at his adjacent record store.