The Blues World came to Memphis…if not the whole world, then plenty of it. I was able to attend some of the events, but as I live “in Memphis”, I actually had to work on Thursday and Friday, so the evenings ended earlier than most of those here from around the globe. On Wednesday, the [...]
Archive for Category: "Special Issues"
Koko Taylor: A Daughter’s Pride
On May 10th Koko Taylor was honored with the 118th Brass note on the Walk of Fame in Beale St. when the Memphis Music Foundation and the Blues Foundation held an unveiling ceremony at the Daisy Theater. Attended by family, friends and music industry representatives the blue Memphis sky provided a gentle backdrop for the words of those who had known and loved her.
The Winners Are
The 33rd Blues Music Award Nominees are a celebration of the music of 2011! Congratulations to all the nominees and their good news! Acoustic Album: Conversations in Blue – David Maxwell & Otis Spann Troubadour Live Eric Bibb Brand New Eyes – Doug MacLeod Misery Loves Company – Mary Flower Shake ‘Em on Down – [...]
Charlie Musselwhite
photo credit © Michael Weintrob 2010 67-year-old Musselwhite is considered by many to be a living legend and is a distinguished master of blues harmonica. He has been on stage and in the studio with an impressive array of performers from Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker to Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Blind [...]
SOLOMON BURKE: The Enduring Message of the King of Rock and Soul
“If the message is meaningful in the beginning, it will reach across the waters and come back across time.” The message of Solomon Burke, as captured by his website, leaves no doubt that his music, his voice and his soul are indeed timeless legacies.
Sonny Rhodes: Pay your dues and play the Blues!
2011 BMA winner for lap steel guitar, Sonny Rhodes began studying the guitar as an eight year old child and by the age of twelve was playing the Blues.
33rd Blues Music Awards 2012 Performance Schedule
33rd Blues Music Awards 2012 Next week the talent, creativity and passion of artists, musicians and those that lay the foundation for music to be shared and loved come together during a 4 day celebration in Memphis. The following is the performance schedule for the Blues Music Awards May 9 – May 12. For updated [...]
Cedric Burnside – Three Time BMA Winner Keeps The Hill Country Blues Alive
At last year’s Blast Furnace Blues Festival, Cedric Burnside brought the blues of the North Mississippi Hill Country to the mountains of Pennsylvania. Together with guitarist Trenton Ayers, the duo billed as Cedric Burnside Project, electrified the night from a stage erected in the shadows of the old Bethlehem Steel mill. I was fortunate to [...]
Ruthie Foster: Where It All Comes From
2011 BMA winner of the Koko Taylor Award for Traditional Blues Artist of the Year, Ruthie Foster continues to gather recognition for her powerful, authentic voice. Nominated once again this year for the Koko Taylor Award, as well as the BB King Entertainer of the Year Award and the DVD of the Year Award for Live at Antone’s, Ruthie spoke with American Blues News about her roots, her Live at Antone’s DVD and how singing… is just like prayer.
The Derek Trucks Band!
Derek Trucks BMA 2012 Nominee At only thirty two years old, Derek Trucks has been playing professionally since age fifteen when he formed the Derek Trucks Band. He was first noticed as a child prodigy at the age of nine. Trucks has been described as the “most awe-inspiring electric slide guitarists in the music [...]
and….Soul Blues Female Artist Winner of the Year …2011…Irma Thomas
Having garnered the title, Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Lee (Thomas) has had an intense biography that would weaken one of less character. Born in New Orleans, Irma Lee started singing in a Baptist Church at the age of thirteen, auditioned for Specialty Records at 13, discovered while waiting tables and by the age [...]
John Hammond 2011 BMA Acoustic Artist
The following is an interview with John Hammond, as he was getting ready for his induction into the Blues Hall of Fame. John had yet to find out that he would be the awardee for BMA’s Acoustic Artist of the Year. On stage John Hammond can rip up a Blues song with the best of [...]
BMAs – The Rich Soil
I have always equated the rhythm section to the soil in the ground. If you have rich soil, the plants and flowers (vocalists, guitarists, and keyboardists) grow bigger and lusher.
Pinetop Perkins’ Heaven, CD Review
Pinetop Perkins Continues to Inspire. (New York, NY) About a year ago, the world lost one of the last original Mississippi Delta bluesmen, Joseph William Perkins…a.k.a. Pinetop Perkins. Just a little over a month before his passing, the 97 year-old music legend became the oldest Grammy award winner ever, with a victory in the category [...]
Thomas Ruf: Songs from the Road featuring Luther Allison
“It was his personality, his humanity – the ease he had in his music. He was pouring out happiness every minute. That was a great inspiration and a path I wanted to follow- his work ethic of being happy with what you do rather than complaining all day long about your life existence -regardless of what you do in life.”
