Even with The Grammy’s cutting down the size of their Blues awards…The International Blues Challenge proves The Blues Are Alive and BIGGER than ever!
Archive for Category: "Journalist"
2012 IBC Highlights
(Memphis, Tennessee) With each succeeding year, the IBC improves in both scope sheer size and also quality. Above photo from Hammond Workshop, Joe Boogie, featured guest Tullie Brae, and Helge “Nick” Nickel of Bluesfest Eutin, Germany. This year’s big Blues week was highlighted by some cool new stuff: Bigger and better… Hammond Organ Workshop This [...]
Etta James: Just Doing What She “Really, Really Loved to Do”
Too often, and too recently, the tragic nature of a creative souls’ path of destruction cuts short, or compromises, that souls initial intent to be heard. Think Pollack, think Winehouse, think Hendrix…think Whitney. There seems to be limitless stories of intelligence, artistry and creativity that reach only the full potential of the moment…but never the [...]
Mark May Band – CD/Tour Review by Abby Owen
Release My Soul – Mark May Band Mark May New CD, “Release My Soul” and 2012 Tour Mark May Band has been touring in Texas the whole month of January (2012) to promote his new CD ‘Release My Soul – Mark May Band‘, and his Texas fans have had a real treat to be sure. [...]
Rest In Peace Manuel ‘Manny’ Cacho (Funeral Services Announced)
Services will be held for Manny Friday 2/24/12 At St Ferdinands Catholic Church (details below) 1109 Coronel Street San Fernando, California 91340 9a-viewing 10a – mass Burial will follow at San Fernando mission And reception held at St ferdinand catholic church It is with a heavy heart that Ameriblues reports the passing of [...]
Ma Rainey: An Inspiration
Born with more sizzle than Coca-Cola, Ma Rainey made her debut in the same year as the effervescent drink, in 1886. Growing up in the soulful south of Columbus Georgia, Ma Rainey forged a path for generations of women, including her own, who longed to sing the blues. The “Mother of the Blues” as she [...]
Dana Fuchs at Highline Ballroom in NYC
Dana Fuchs and her band rock the Highline Ballroom http://danafuchs.com/ What’s up my fellow Blues lovers! This week I am featuring some photos of Dana Fuchs, a singer that has gathered herself quite a following since arriving in New York some years back at the age of 19. When I went to the Highline Ballroom [...]
Shemekia Copeland, Making Blues History
Shemekia Copeland is one busy lady! Recently, Shemekia was crowned Queen of the Blues, from the legendary Koko Taylor’s daughter. Shemekia talks about her time with Koko, and the lasting impression she has made on her life. Shemekia is a modern day woman taking her place in Blues History, as a real person who believes in the [...]
Bluesin’ on the high seas…holding a ship and its contents hostage…. the adventure was priceless!
The bags were finally packed. The winter weather was cold and snowy. The plane tickets were in hand. Destination: Blues Cruise extraordinaire a.k.a. Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. The messages were numerous. The cruisers build the excitement for weeks in advance to keep everyone in the “loop” of what is about to unfold. The blues [...]
Elizabeth Cotten: “Cotten Style”
Counted by Bruce Springsteen as one of his “heroes” (RS Feb. 2009), Elizabeth Cotten rose above an unlikely beginning as a young mother and completely self taught musician. Born in Chapel Hill, NC in 1893, Elizabeth was playing the banjo by the age of 8. She soon graduated to her brother’s guitar until she was able to [...]
Billie Holiday, Living the Blues
Billie Holiday Lived the Blues Billie Holiday (1915-1959) was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Billie’s blues started at an extremely young age. At the age of thirteen she was thrown out of her parents home after becoming pregnant. She then lived with her grandparents and an older cousin while her mother left to work in New [...]
Allison Thrash, Proud to be Showcased at SXSW
Allison Thrash Performing at SXSW 2012 Allison Thrash tells us “Music is everywhere in Austin.” not only at the SXSW festival but is a diverse year-round musical Mecca. This year Allison is proud to be showcased at SXSW, and will be performing her songs with her band (Trevor Detling on Drums, David Love on Guitar and James Elmo “Jes” Sproat [...]
ZZ Top: A Tribute From Friends, CD Review
Rock Pays Tribute to ZZ Top (New York, NY) How one chooses what artists/bands are going to be featured on a tribute album honoring one of the industry’s greatest blues-rock acts is a mystery to us laypeople, but 2011’s ZZ TOP: A TRIBUTE FROM FRIENDS marks the second major-label tribute compilation to that “lil’ ol’ [...]
Omar & the Howlers – CD Review – Essential Collection
‘Omar’ Kent Dykes and his band The Howlers have been on my radar since the first time I heard them on the radio in Austin TX way back in the 80′s. After hearing his Texas ‘shouter’ vocal style and the bands powerhouse drive I had to hear more. It wasn’t hard to keep up with [...]
2011 Blues Grammy Winner Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Last Year, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith won a Grammy with Pinetop Perkins. Life changes for everyone. This year, neither recipient will be attending the awards. We lost both of these Blues greats in the year 2011. Thursday, September 22, 2011 Celebration of Life Rosa’s Lounge 3420 W. Armitage Avenue Chicago, Il 60647 773 342 [...]
