24 year old Ricky Smith, son of renowned Delta bluesman Mickey Rogers, passed away early this morning unexpectedly after a brief illness. The Central MS Blues Society will be accepting donations at Blue Monday this week to help the family with expenses related to this sad event. Further details about memorial services will be shared when [...]
Archive for Category: "Breaking News"
Tornado destroys Malaco Records
Malaco Records which has recorded and/or released albums for dozens of Soul and Blues legends, had its offices and recording studios destroyed Friday afternoon when a tornado hit Jackson, Mississippi. Of the three buildings in the compound, one was a total loss, while the other two had more than half of the structure destroyed. A [...]
LA Music Award nominee for Blues Roots and Americana, Artist of the Year:
On March 24th in Hollywood California, Ron Tanski took home a nomination for Blues Roots Artist of the Year at the first LAMA (Los Angeles Music Award) showcase at the world famous Whisky a go-go. Hosted and presented by Al Bowman, the LAMAS have been showcasing the best of the best in musical talent for over twenty years. [...]
Fundraiser for Big Jack Johnson Wed. March 16 at Ground Zero Clarksdale
BIG JACK JOHNSON UPDATE: (from Roger Stolle) • WED 3/16 @ 8PM – Ground Zero Blues Club (0 Blues Alley, Clarksdale, MS) – Big Jack Johnson tribute with All Night Long Blues Band and special guests. (Cover charge pays the hosting band… with “donation bucket” benefiting Big Jack’s family to help with medical/funeral expenses.) • [...]
Big Jack Johnson last of the Jelly Roll Kings has died
(Memphis, Tennessee) Big Jack Johnson, who was the last surviving member of the Jelly Roll Kings, has died at 70 years old. Along with Frank Frost and Robert Nighthawk’s son, Sam Carr, Jack pioneered a great blues sound that echoed the stylings of the Delta, of Helena, Arkansas and Clarksdale, Mississippi. Born in Lambert, Mississippi [...]
Goodbye Johnny Nitro, San Francisco Bluesman
San Francisco bluesman Johnny Nitro was found dead in his apartment, Saturday at 7:30 p.m, says the Oakland Tribune. Nitro played nearly every weekend for the past 25 years, at the Saloon on Grant Avenue in North Beach. He was a vocalist, guitarist and bandleader. “One time I asked him why he didn’t go on [...]
Memphis Vocalist Jackie Johnson hospital update
Jackie Johnston Hospital Update (Memphis, Tennessee)One of the most soulful voices to have ever come out of Memphis, Jackie Johnson, became ill Tuesday, February 15, and is in the Intensive Care Unit of Baptist East Hospital. It appears that she experienced a stroke.(photograph above of Jackie Johnson with Reba Russell in the background. This [...]
Winning Blues Artists of the 2011 Grammys!
The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards was hosted by CBS on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. A total of 109 awards were presented. The eligibility period is September 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010, and nominations were announced on December 1, 2010. Grammys 2011 Best Traditional Blues Album Vocal or Instrumental: THE WINNER: Joined At The [...]
Marvin Sease Has Died at 64
(Memphis, Tennessee) Blues legend Marvin Sease died today at 64. Sease started his career with a gospel group called the Five Gospel Crowns out of Charleston, South Carolina. After singing with them, Marvin then left at age 20 settling into New York. There he joined another gospel group called the Gospel Crowns. Marvin left the [...]
Gary Moore Dies at 58
The legendary rock and blues guitarist Gary Moore has died in a hotel room in Spain on the Costa del Sol. Moore, 58, was originally from Belfast and has been a member of Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, and BBM with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Until the early 1990’s Gary Moore was known primarily as [...]
International Blues Challenge – the Finals
After some 466 performances the judges had made their selections. Eight bands and eight solo/duo artists were ready to perform to a full house.
Winner of the Solo/Duo Acts
The 2011 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Act Winners are announced!
The Winner of the Bands
The winners of the 2011 International Blues Challenge Band Category have been announced!
Best Guitarist, Harp Player & CD
The Orpheum Theatre is host to the 2011 International Blues Challenge. The winner of the 2011 International Blues Challenge for Best Guitarist, Harp, and self produced CD are shared!
Memphis Blues legend Fred Sanders dies
(Memphis, Tennessee) After a long and arduous fight against two bouts of lung cancer, Fred Sanders, Jr. passed away today at 10:30 AM after suffering from a stroke earlier this week. He was 71 years old. Fred was a true fixture on Beale street, a blues icon who had come up through the years playing [...]
