(Memphis, Tennessee) Highly regarded performer and engineer James Lott is in critical care in a Memphis hospital. James has been world renoun for his prodigious amounts of work at SUN Studio for 20 years. Friends and family are asking for prayers but request that no one visit James at this time to allow him rest [...]
Archive for Category: "Breaking News"
Bass player/ songwriter Donald “Duck” Dunn (Booker T and the MGs and Blues Brothers band) has died…
TOKYO (AP) — Bass player and songwriter Donald “Duck” Dunn, a member of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70. Dunn was in Tokyo for a series of shows. News of his death was posted on the [...]
Michael Burks Passes
(Memphis, Tennessee) On Sunday, May 6, Blues great Michal Burks died of a massive heart attack while traveling through the Atlanta airport after returning from a tour of Europe.He was 54 years of age. The photograph above was taken as Michael and the guys in his band dropped by Doug McMinn’s bus during a Reba [...]
Legendary Guitarist Skip Pitts Celebration of Life
(Memphis, Tennessee) Before Skip’s passing, the royalty of Memphis Music turned out to honor one of the world’s finest, most clever and inventive instrumentalists. Boo Mitchell of Royal Studio organized the effort, STAX provided a venue with their auditorium, Elmo Lee Thomas provided the PA system, and scores of Skip’s band mates showed up [...]
Sad News on Louisiana Red
It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of one of the greatest and most beloved traditional blues artists. Louisiana Red died this afternoon at a hospital in Germany (Note Europe is 9 hours ahead) after a few days in a coma brought on by thyroid imbalance. He was 79.
Sad News on Don Cornelius
According to the Washington Post: By Cara Kelly, Don Cornelius, the creator of ‘Soul Train,’ was found dead in his California home early Wednesday morning. Cornelius, 75, was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound about an hour after he was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to the coroner’s office. The innovator was best [...]
The word on the street ….
The streets are busy with the influx of blues fans. In a few hours, blues musicians will be scurrying to their designated venue. It is a site to behold… players carrying their guitars and such…cleaned up and ready to do battle. They will all walk tall with a purpose…knowing that they ALL were winners just [...]
Walking in Memphis
“Walking in Memphis…” Memphis is eagerly opening its arms to the masses of blues fans as they converge on Beale Street for the 2012 International Blues Challenge. That famous street was alive and well last night when I arrived in town….as part of the ‘advance’ team. Those ever familiar flashing lights from the various clubs [...]
Former B. B. King bassist Melvin Lee Green Passes in Memphis
Melvin Lee (far left) performs with Earl the Pearl and the Peoples of the Blues at the Southern Hot Wings Festival on South Main in Memphis (Memphis, Tennessee) It is with great sadness that we report the passing of a very dear friend and colleague, indubitably one of the world’s finest Blues musicians. Melvin Lee [...]
STAX Artist J. Blackfoot Dies Today in Memphis
(Memphis, Tennessee) Memphis soul singer J. Blackfoot, a member of STAX vocal group, the Soul Children, and a longtime solo artist, died today at Methodist Germantown Hospital. Blackfoot, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was 65. J. Blackfoot, who was born John Colbert in Greenville, Mississippi, earned his nickname as a youth. He and his [...]
Mojo Buford former Muddy Waters Harmonica Player has Passed
(Memphis, Tennessee) It is with great sadness that we relay the news from George “Mojo” Buford’s son that Mojo has died this morning in a Minneapolis hospital. Mojo, a fine singer and harmonica player, was hospitalized since July of this year when he underwent surgery for an embolism. He never fully recovered from this [...]
Neil’s Bar in Memphis Suffers 2 Alarm Blaze
(Memphis, Tennessee) Like so many nights in the past, the author played Neil’s Music Room on Saturday night with the Reba Russell Band. It was our last spot in Memphis where we performed with any regularity because of the good crowds and the kindness of owner Neil Heins and his staff. Sunday night at Neil’s [...]
Amy Winehouse found Dead
(Reuters) – British singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in north London, Sky News reported on Saturday. Police said they had found the body of a 27-year-old woman at a flat in Camden Square, north London, after being called by ambulance services around 1500 GMT (11 a.m. EDT). They said they [...]
Mike Enright, reknown Memphis Musician passes
(Memphis, Tennessee0 over the past weekend a great guitarist and musician, Mike Enright, passed away after a brief illness. Mike was always held in very high esteem for his exemplary talent and extremely dry wit. He sang and played in seminal Memphis bands since the 1970′s (Nonconna, Hobo Fit, Uncle Jam Band, Suspicions, Busta Jones) [...]
Earl Gilliam’s life is ebbing, but the love is still flowing…
The Houston Blues community/and artists will come together Sunday to play musical homage to one of the godfathers of blues piano, Earl Gilliam ~ his life is ebbing, but the love still flowing. Earl will be watching from his hospital bed, and I’m sure he’ll be smiling to beat the band. Longtime friend and fellow jammer [...]
