One hundred years ago, a child was born in Mississippi who grew up, learned to sing and play the blues, and eventually achieved worldwide renown. In the decades after his death, he has become known as the King of the Delta Blues Singers, his music expanding in influence to the point that rock stars of the greatest magnitude – the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers – all sing his praise and have recorded his songs.

 

That child was Robert Johnson.

 

The Centennial Collection is an update of the Grammy-winning, 2-CD box set that caused a remarkable media sensation and sold over a million copies when released in 1990. The discs will again include all 42 of Johnson’s recorded tracks (including alternate takes) – remastered using technological advances of the past twenty years. In addition, new essays, photographs, information and testimonials from various music legends will be included in the accompanying booklet.

 

Over the years, Johnson’s influence has resounded in the music of Muddy Waters (“32-20 Blues”), Elmore James (“I Believe I'll Dust My Broom”), Junior Parker (“Sweet Home Chicago”), John Hammond Jr. (“Milk Cow's Calf Blues”), the Rolling Stones (“Love In Vain,” “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues”), John Mayall (“Ramblin’ On My Mind”), Cream (“From Four Until Late”), Eric Clapton (“Cross Road Blues”), Johnny Winter (“When You Got a Good Friend”), Paul Butterfield and Bonnie Raitt (“Walkin’ Blues”), Fleetwood Mac and ZZ Top (“Hellhound On My Trail”), Led Zeppelin (“Traveling Riverside Blues”), Keb’ Mo’ (“Preachin’ Blues”), Cassandra Wilson (“Come On In My Kitchen”), and countless others.  It is by far the most empowering body of work in American history to emerge from one solitary blues figure.

 

LUTHER BADMAN KEITH PUTS HIS OWN STAMP ON THE BLUES

 

His vocals have been compared to Jimi Hendrix, his guitar style and energy to Luther Allison with a songwriting gift and sense of humor all his own. All this from a guy who didn’t pick up a guitar until he was past 30 and didn’t play his first professional gig until he was well into his 40s.

 

“It just took me that long to figure out that playing the blues was what I was born to do. I just wasn’t part of my life plan when I started out,” Keith said

 

A former professional journalist, Keith converted to the blues after seeing a concert by the legendary Luther Allison.

 

“I was awful for a long time, but too stubborn to give up,” he said. “One day someone said I was starting to sound decent and I should put a band together and put out a CD.”

 

A native of Detroit, Keith recently released his third CD, BLUES NATION, and was nominated for two Detroit Music Awards in 2011 (he now has five nominations). He has won songwriting awards and represented Detroit at the International Blues Challenge.

 

Keith uses blues, funk and rock to craft songs that make you smile, like Menopause Woman,  or dance like Keep The Good Blues Bad.

 

On BLUES NATION, Keith takes listeners on a sonic journey across America, exploring the impact of blues on our nation. He even created a Blues Anthem, mixing Muddy Water with the National Anthem, and a Blues Nation Pledge.

 

“I mix a lot of styles but it all comes back to the blues,” he said. “Blues is a lot like hot sauce. Whatever you put it on, it’s gonna make it taste better.”

 

Website, www.badmanbluz.com

Grand prize: a pair of VIP passes for all five concerts.

 

Second prize: dozens of free passes to the individual shows.

 

Third prize: twenty BluesMobile and Roots and Blues T-shirts.

 

Head over to the contests page to enter.

Sheryl Crow, Leon Russell, Lucinda Williams, Janiva Magness, and Davy Knowles are just a few of the names who will play the First Annual Boulder Roots and Blues Summit, May 13-15, in lovely Boulder, Colorado.

 

The shows will occur at the Boulder Theater, then move to the Fox Theatre for late-night fun. The initial lineup is as follows:

 

Friday, May 13:
Lucinda Williams w/special guest at The Boulder Theater
Fox Theatre late show with Vieux Farka Touré and William Elliott Whitmore

 

Saturday, May 14
Leon Russell w/Janiva Magness at the Boulder Theater
Davy Knowles with the Hazel Miller Band and Taylor Scott & Another Kind of Magick at The Fox

 

Sunday, May 15
Sheryl Crow at the Boulder Theater

 

To guarantee that you don't miss the shows, purchase tickets by visiting:

 

 

 

Shows are ticketed individually, but a small number of festival passes are available for $300.

 

Check back for additional artist announcements and hotel discounts for brethren when you visit www.thebluesmobile.com

 

 

Kicking off the two-day Blues Music Awards event on Wednesday night, a committee of scholars, record producers, radio programmers, and historians inducted the following performers into the Blues Hall of Fame:

 

singer/guitarist Robert Cray

Soul-Blues legend Denise LaSalle

acoustic troubadour John Hammond

1950s R&B queen Big Maybelle

Alberta Hunter for her eight-decades of blues/jazz influence

and singer/songwriter J.B. Lenoir whose iconic song "Mama Talk To Your Daughter" is still relevant today.

 

The 22nd annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival on May 28th and 29th has added the Budweiser Clydesdales to the impressive lineup of nineteen bands performing on two giant outside stages. The Clydesdale horses will be at the festival throughout the Memorial weekend event. 

 

 

Featured Blues performers include Elvin Bishop and his “Hell Raisin’ Revue featuring his just released album.  Also appearing are Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur, The Mannish Boys with their special guests, Big Pete Van Der Pluijm with his Tribute to Lester Butler Feat, John Nemeth, Ana Popovic, the Mitch Kashmar Band, Grammy nominee Tracy Nelson, the Kirk Fletcher Band, Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos, Arthur Adams, Shawn Pittman, The 44s, Mikey Jr. & Stone Cold Blues, and Cadillac Zack with special guests.

 

On the Cajun-Zydeco stage Grammy winner Buckwheat Zydeco will be featured along with Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, Lil Pookie & The Zydeco Sensations, the Bayou Brothers and Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters. Also featured on the Cajun-Zydeco dance floor will be dance lessons led by Greg Benusa one of the world’s top Cajun & Zydeco dance instructors.

 

In addition to music and dancing, the festival features two dozen choices of food from exotic Cajun & Creole dishes to good old-fashioned barbecue. In addition there are over 100 craft and merchandise booths. And for those with children, there is an enormous kids area featuring a talent show, a variety of specialty acts, crafts and bouncers.

 

A special bonus this year is the addition of the Budweiser Clydesdales who will be on-site throughout the festival.

 

The pricing is family friendly with kids under 5 free. Kids 5 thru 12 are $ 15 and adults are $ 18. Tickets are available at the festival and on-line.

 

Look who's reading the Blues Festival Guide!  Don't look at the centerfold!!!  Kaati and I had a blast - we're going back next year!  Get your ticket - catfish, green beans, mashed taters, bbq and  salad for dinner, pecan pie and lemon bars for desert.  The blues acts provided the gravy and it was smooth as silk.  Check out my Facebook page for all the photos!

 

 

The marble-and-concrete building at 508 Park Avenue, once the Warner Bros. Film Exchange and Brunswick Records's regional office, will get a much needed face lift after all, now that the Landmark Commission unanimously approved First Presbyterian Church's plans for that address and the property next door at 1900 Young Street.

The building was designed by the same New Orleans architectural firm responsible for the Louisiana State Capitol; per the AIA's Guide to Dallas Architecture, the "Zigzag Moderne gem ... is a spirited outpost of Hollywood glamour." But by now, of course, you're well aware that the building, vacant for decades and long under threat of demolition, holds an important place in Dallas history as the location where bluesman Robert Johnson recorded a significant portion of his impressive repertoire in June 1937. (The Light Crust Doughboys shared the studio with Johnson and producer Don Law on June 20, 1937.)

The famous song "Hound Dog" was
first recorded by Big Mama Thornton
in 1952 and released in '53.

 

The tune was number one on the Billboard
Rhythm and Blues charts for seven weeks.

 

Nothing against Elvis, but Big Mama
takes this tune to a whole 'nother level.

 

See for yourself...

 

As many of us know, from trying to get a good shot for our own personal use, musicians can be a little illusive.  Those who play instruments and sing can make morphing faces when belting out the blues for us with such emotion and gut feeling.  There can be lighting problems, and then there are the flea-like performers who just can't seem to sit still for us.  So, who's the most difficult.  Tell us, Old Blues Eye!

 

This week Michael Kurgansky

Q: Who is the most difficult to shoot?

A: As far as most difficult to photograph, I would say that drummers are the most elusive. First off, they're always situated behind the guitars, bass and vocalists. The lighting is usually worse towards the back of the stage and they are constantly moving which makes it difficult to get a sharp image unless a flash is used. ... and I always prefer not to use a flash. I'm thinking specifically of trying to get some decent shots of Chicago drummers Kenny Smith and his dad, Willie, "Big Eyes" Smith when he used to play drums more; Willie "the Touch" Hayes,  Myron Robinson and many of the other unsung and virtually unknown musicians from the "back of the stage."

 

 

TORONTO, ON (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) – Late Canadian musician Jeff Healey will be remembered in his home town of Etobicoke, Ontario with a park named in his honor.

 

Woodford Park, located in the Park Lawn and Queensway area of Etobicoke, will be officially renamed Jeff Healey Park in June 2011.

 

Ward 5 Councillor Peter Milczyn championed the park renaming, along with the Friends of Woodford Park and the Queensway Residents Association. More than 500 friends, fans and organizations including the Hospital for Sick Children and the CNIB wrote in to Council to show support.

 

Healey, who passed away from cancer in 2008, played in Woodford Park as a child and later brought his own children there to play.

THANK YOU LRBC CRUISERS! Your continued support is greatly appreciated by us here in the LRBC office and we simply cannot thank you enough!

 

The 2011 Pacific and 2012 Caribbean Blues Cruises are both sold out! For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to secure your cabin, you may join either waitlist beginning Monday, May 2nd at 9am Central Daylight Time. Simply visit the 2011 Pacific or 2012 Caribbean page and complete the waitlist form which will be active at that time. If you do not have access to join online at that specified time, you may also call the office at (816) 753-7979.

 

"Interested Passengers": If you previously completed the Interested Passenger list either online or by calling the office, this does NOT automatically add you to a waitlist! In order to be added to the actual waitlist you will need to complete the form of your choice through the links provided above.

 

Blues act Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s roared through a vibrant set of 1940s- and '50s-inspired songs flavored with jazz, Big Band and swing in a packed Blues Tent at today's New Orleans Jazz Fest.

 

Blues Tent crowds demonstrated why the group's style is sometimes referred to as "jump blues." They bounced their way down the aisles, hopped in front of their chairs and jumped closer to the stage for extra dance space.

 

The San Francisco-based band fronted by vocalist and pianist Woods, who is nominated for the 2011 Blues Music Award's Piano Player of the Year, works to celebrate the '40s and '50s-era musicians who helped birth rock'n'roll. During this afternoon's show, Woods spoke about the long line of powerful musicians hailing from the Crescent City, which "created this great music."

 

"The names go on and on out of New Orleans," he said, mentioning icons, such as Fats Domino.

 

THE revamped jazz and blues festival has been hailed a success by organisers, ticket-holders and performers after more than 500 people came out to enjoy the wide selection of music over the weekend.

 

About 20 acts spread across six venues for the Harbour the Beat Jazz, Blues & Roots Festival held to coincide with the start of New Zealand music month.

 

Eastland Group festival organiser Bridgette Penny said she was very happy with the way the weekend went.

 

“It was a fantastic response.

 

“Obviously we could have done with a few more ticket sales but we had a very high-class festival right here in Gisborne and hopefully more local people will come next year.

 

“The line-up was world class and the local bands rose to the occasion. We were very happy with the ones who were selected.”

It was just one year ago that Monkey Junk won a Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist". Now their first major blues label CD will be released by Stony Plain Records on June 21, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Sacramento Blues Society on Friday, May 13, 2011 for an ALL AGES "Blues In The Schools" benefit show. We will be presenting the award winning Laurie Morvan Band and showcasing the student participants of the Blues in the Schools Program!  

 http://www.sacblues.com/

    

May 8th marks the 100th birthday of the mysterious and incredibly influential Robert Johnson. Elwood celebrates with music from the legend himself, plus tributes from Eric Clapton, Lucinda Williams, and the Rolling Stones. Big Head Todd’s Todd Park Moore joins Elwood to talk about his tribute album, 100 Years of Robert Johnson. We'll also hear from some of the blues greats who contributed to that CD: including Hubert Sumlin and Honeyboy Edwards, who actually knew Robert Johnson, and was with him the night he died. Want more? How about some new music from Marcia Ball. And: a chance for you to win the new solo album from Warren Haynes, of the Allman Brothers, and Government Mule.

 

 

 

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 House of Blues Streaming Audio Here

RBA Publishing Inc is based in Reno, NV with a satellite office in Beverly Hills, Florida. We produce the annual Blues Festival Guide magazine (now in its 7th year), the top-ranking website: www.BluesFestivalGuide.com, and this weekly blues newsletter: The Blues Festival E-Guide with approximately 20,000 weekly subscribers. We look forward to your suggestions, critiques, questions, etc.

Reach the E-Guide editor, Yvonne Varner, editor@bluesfestivaleguide.com

or contact our home office at 775-337-8626, eguide@bluesfestivalguide.com
 

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