| Friday, January 4, 2008 |
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Vol 3 Issue 1
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BETTY HARRIS : : Intuition
Betty Harris, known throughout the world for her devastating 1963 ballad "Cry to Me" was born in Orlando, FL and raised primarily in Alabama. The child of preachers, her deep church roots conflicted with her desire to sing secular soul music, and at 17 she left home headed to the Big Apple to pursue a performing career. Gaining experience as a member of The Hearts, Betty recorded her first tune in 1958.
Her resume includes, in addition to the crossover R & B hit "Cry to Me", the 1967 Top 20 R & B hit "Nearer to You". After years on the road performing and recording with such luminaries as Otis Redding, Allen Toussaint and Lee Dorsey, Betty retired from the business and focused on raising her family.
In 2001, her daughter found several Betty Harris fan sites on the internet, prompting the singer to join a soul mailing list to announce her present whereabouts. Her re-emergence caused a stir in deep soul circles, and on April 17, 2005, she headlined her first live appearance in over three decades. Weeks later, Harris also performed at New Orleans' annual Ponderosa Stomp, and a Hurricane Katrina benefit in Melbourne.
With producer-songwriter Jon Tiven at the helm, Betty Harris is back. INTUITION is her debut solo album recorded in December 2006. Betty now resides in Atlanta, GA with her energetic 95 year-old mother.
Click the LISTEN button to hear "Is It Hot in Here" from the CD INTUITION.
It may be necessary to hold down your Ctrl key to allow the media player to "pop-up".
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HOPE WAITS : : self-titled
Hope Waits story eerily parallels those of many of the great soul and blues singers whose essence she reflects. Hope grew up in the Deep South - Monroe, Louisiana to be exact. She was the 7th of 12 children born to an alcoholic father and spent her childhood moving from place to place, often with no food for Hope and her siblings.
She grew up singing in church and was stopped by her jealous mother. Her passion stayed locked deep inside during Hope's teen years. After her mother was murdered, Hope - at age 21 - began to explore her birthright and also began to sing again.
Chance brought Hope into Chessvolt Studios in the spring of 2006. Producer Peter Malick heard Hope sing and immediately recognized the timeless voice that filled the control room. Together with his partner Douglass Grossman, Hope was signed to Radarproof Records. Her debut self-titled CD was produced by Malick at Chessvolt Studios.
Click the LISTEN button to hear "Get Behind the Mule", from HOPE WAITS.
It may be necessary to hold down your Ctrl button to allow the media player to "pop-up"
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RANDY McALLISTER` : : Dope Slap Soup
Grammy nominee Randy McAllister is one of the premier singers, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists to emerge from the heart of Texas. Heartbreak, humor, high hair and tall Texas tales all play a part in the song writing of Randy McAllister. His music has been hailed as one of the most original and innovative being made today. While comparisons are not easy, it has been said that his music is a cross between Doug Sahm, John Hiatt and Delbert McClinton, with a blues man's background and sensibilities thrown into the mix.
In performance, his songs combine an uncontainable energy and intensity with lyrics that dig into the tough topics. From urban violence, homelessness and other harsh realities to more common concerns like love and dating, McAllister's songwriting approach is particularly skillful, able to be both truthful and funny.
DOPE SLAP SOUP is McAllister's eighth critically acclaimed album.
Click the LISTEN button to hear "$127.00 Sandwich" from DOPE SLAP SOUP.
It may be necessary to hold down your Ctrl button to allow the media player to "pop-up"
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Enter this contest and win!
Working on our next contest - keep watching for the announcement.
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NEWS FLASH
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INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
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For the 24th year, Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition as The Blues Foundation presents the(IBC) beginning January 31 and continuing February 1-2, 2008 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its affiliated organizations for the Blues band and Blues solo/duo most deserving of taking their act to the international stage. In 2007, over 90 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from 34 states and 8 countries competed.
Even greater participation is expected in 2008, as musicians and fans fill the clubs up and down Beale Street beginning at 5:00 pm for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and at the Band finals (1:00 pm) and the Solo/Duo finals (7:30 pm) at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. In accordance with new Tennessee law, smoking is permitted only in venues that are 21 and over. Accordingly, most music, if not all, IBC venues will be smoke-free.
Also, the FedEx Forum and Memphis Grizzlies are getting into the act. On Wednesday, January 30, there will be a Memphis Grizzlies v. Denver Nuggets NBA Basketball game at FedEx Forum behind Beale with special discounts and IBC acts performing throughout the venue.. 2008 IBC contestants Ben Prestage, Aunt Kizzy's Boyz, Kim Massie and Matt Wigler will be performing at the FedExForum.
The Keynote Speaker will be Filmmaker John Sayles. His new film "Honeydripper" drips with Blues scenes, music and musicians.
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GOT A COVER SHOT?
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The BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE Magazine team is now gearing up for the 2008 annual issue. We’re searching for a vertical, hi-resolution, outdoor shot for our cover that is colorful and sharp and gives the feeling of festival, fun, music, etc… one that imparts the essence of the Blues festival vibe. If your photo is selected you will be a published photographer in the largest Blues Festival Guide magazine in the United States-- the 2006 recipient of the Blues Foundation’s "Keeping The Blues Alive Award for Print Media!
If chosen, your photo will not be used for any purpose without written permission. Email examples ASAP to our editor at Michele@BluesFestivalGuide.com or mail hard copies to: BFG Editor c/o 12073 Callado Rd, San Diego, CA 92128.
A web link also works well for viewing if available. Note: Only the cover shot will receive compensation. Photos are also being considered to use within the magazine articles as needed. Credit is given in the masthead and next to published photos.
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TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR BANDS
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Dallas- The Texas Independence Day Music Festival will be returning to the Sons of Hermann Hall, Saturday March 1, 2008.
Any bands that would like to perform at this years event. Please send a complete promo-kit to J & B Productions P. O. Box 720251 Dallas, Texas 75372.
Call 214-823-3966 or email jeb@brightok.net All types of music are welcome. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Sigma Tau Gamma Alumni Association. Happy New Year
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A NEW MUSIC MARKETING COMPANY, BLIND RACOON, OPENS ITS DOORS
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Memphis, TN - Blind Raccoon, owned by Betsie Brown, who was formerly a partner in Crows Feet Productions, opens its doors today. A music marketing company, Blind Raccoon provides publicity, radio promotion and marketing services in the blues, roots, R&B, rock, folk, gospel and world music genres.
"I'm delighted at the move," says Brown. "Not only do we continue working with some great artists, we also start the year off with a bang with The Blues Experience with Cash McCall and Alex Dixon (grandson of "the one and only" Willie), Billy Gibson, Moreland & Arbuckle and John-Alex Mason."
Other artists on the Blind Raccoon roster include Evidence Music national recording artists Betty Harris and Ellis Hooks as well as Dave Fields, San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble, Bobby Rush, Ricky Gene Hall & The Goods, Randy McAllister, and Stacy Mitchhart.
For more information on Blind Raccoon and its artists please visit www.blindraccoon.com.
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2008 LEGENDARY BLUES CRUISE PACIFIC ANNOUNCES LINE-UP
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The line-up for the October 5-12, 2008, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise from San Diego to Mexican Riviera on the intimate Holland America ms Ryndam has been announced. This cruise is already 65% full! Smaller ship, bigger acts! Get your tickets now.
Performers include: Etta James, Dr. John, Los Lobos, Koko Taylor & The Blues Machine plus Special Guests, Elvin Bishop, Tommy Castro Band, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Kenny Neal, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Watermelon Slim , Chris Thomas King, John Nemeth, Earl Thomas, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz, Shane Dwight, David Jacobs-Strain, Eden Brent, Leon Blue
Ports O' Call:
San Diego, Cabo San Lucas, Maztalan, La Paz
Book Your Cabin Now! 888-BLUESIN /
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
888-BLUESIN/ 816-753-7979
BluesCruise.com
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HOMEMADE JAMZ: YOUNGEST BLUES BAND TO SIGN WITH MAJOR LABEL
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Homemade Jamz’ Blues Band is the youngest blues band to sign with a major record label, NorthernBlues Music. Look for their debut CD to be released in late spring 2008.
Homemade Jamz is three siblings: Ryan Perry 15 yrs old/lead guitar & vocal. Kyle Perry 13 yrs old/bass player and Taya Perry 9 yrs old/drummer. Our young band started out with Ryan at 8yrs old finding his fathers electric guitar. By the end of the first week, he made up a short instrumental tune that lead him to participate in the school talent show and was able to play along with TV commercials.
Kyle requested to learn piano, but quickly got bored & quit. Then he wanted to learn guitar. He soon got frustrated and quit again because he was not playing like his brother Ryan. Kyle was asked if he would be interested in trying to learn the bass guitar, and he responded “yes.” When we handed Kyle his first bass guitar on his 9th birthday, it was like magic.
After a while of desperately needing a drummer, little sister Taya (7yrs old) joined the dual as their drummer.
Since then, the three young siblings joined forces & became one of the youngest blues bands around.
Homemade Jamz’ Blues Band is the youngest (total age) blues band to ever entered the International Blues Challenge & became 2nd Place Winners of the 23rd International Blues Challenge, 2007 (band category). They competed against 93 adult bands from all over the world. Homemade Jamz’ will continue contributing to keeping the blues alive.
Click here for more information about Homemade Jamz
Contact Piedmont Talent for booking information.
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UCSD TO HONOR LOCAL BLUES ICON -- JEANNIE CHEATHAM
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This month, UC San Diego is honoring the career and legacy of local blues icon Jeannie Cheatham, with a special art exhibit and an appearance and concert by Cheatham and friends.
Jeannie and her late husband, Jimmy Cheatham, who died in January of last year, were longtime fixtures on the local blues/jazz scene. The month-long exhibit at UCSD's Geisel Library, "Jeannie Cheatham: My Life in Music" will feature photographs, archival items and excerpts from her autobiography. It runs through Jan. 31.
To kick off the exhibit, UCSD will host a reception for Cheatham from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 6 in the library's West Wing. Cheatham and friends will read excerpts from her autobiography, "Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On," and the readings will be followed by a live concert.
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ERIC CLAPTON TO BE FEATURED IN VH1 CLASSIC SERIES
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VH 1 Classic (U.S.) will begin airing a new television series early in the new year. The cable channel has partnered with the CBS news show, "60 Minutes", to launch "Classic 60 Minutes". Presented by Lara Logan, episodes will be assembled from past 60 Minutes interviews with music legends and will be expanded with never-before-seen footage and conversations. The debut episode focuses on Eric Clapton and airs 6 January at 8PM (EST).
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ALL-STAR CLASSIC ROCK BAND FOR PRIVATE NEW YEARS EVE PARTY IN ENGLAND
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Former drummer Ringo Starr joined forces with rock veterans Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend for a legendary jamming session on New Year's Eve. The rock veterans performed to a small VIP audience at a secret charity gig in Surrey, England, on Monday night, with tickets going for as little as $100.
A source tells British newspaper The Independent, "The band was called Totally Abandoned for the night and obviously boasted a fairly impressive line-up. It was very much a word-of-mouth thing and tickets were under $100. They sung mainly old classics, they were great."
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2008 MAPLE BLUES NOMINEES
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The 11th annual Maple Blues Awards, Canada's national award program that promotes and recognizes outstanding achievement in blues music, has announced the nominees for 2008. The Gala Awards Ceremony will take place at 8 pm on Monday, January 21st at the Mod Club, 722 College St. in Toronto. Tickets are available through Ticketpro at www.ticketpro.ca.
Among the nominees, Blues Foundation members Shawn Kellerman, Guitarist of the Year nomineee and Harrison Kennedy, nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year. Blues Foundation members nominated in the B.B. King International Artist of the Year include Bettye LaVette, Duke Robillard and Watermelon Slim and the Workers.
Downchild, the ever-popular Canadian blues band, which has been making albums and rocking audiences for 38 years, leads the nominations with a total of eight, including entertainer, electric act and recording of the year (for Live at the Palais Royale). In fact, every current member of the band has been nominated in a category this year including Downchild's founder and leader, Donnie Walsh, as producer of their latest of 15 albums.
Legendary Toronto soul man Danny Brooks has earned four nominations while Western Canadian artists Jim Byrnes, Colin James and Harry Manx each garnered three. Blues talents Suzie Vinnick, Roxanne Potvin and Shakura S'Aida are in the running with two each.
Montreal's Queen of the Blues, Dawn Tyler Watson, will host the Gala event and is also nominated for entertainer and female vocalist of the year. Like Jim Byrnes, who hosted last year's event, she is an accomplished actor, earning herself the lead role of Curly Brown opposite famed Quebec heartthrob Roy Dupuis in the feature film "Jack Paradise - Les Nuits de Montreal." Her most recent achievement is the new acoustic album entitled en Duo a blend of folk, rock, roots and blues at its best and recorded with singer/songwriter and guitarist Paul DesLauriers. Dawn will also be among a strong line up of performers in the upcoming Women's Blues Revue taking place on December 1st.
Other multiple nods go to Ontario's Johnny Max, Kevin Breit, Jack de Keyzer, Chris Whiteley, Paul Reddick and Fathead. Hot Toddy's Tom Easley and Geoff Arsenault along with Garrett Mason represent the East coast contingent.
This year's Blues Booster award, which honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Canadian Blues industry, will be given to the Globe and Mail's longtime blues and pop critic/reviewer, Brad Wheeler. This award goes to members of the blues community who aid in the advancement and appreciate of Canadian Blues and is selected by the Toronto Blues Society Board of Directors.
For a complete list of nominees click here:
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CRYSTAL BALL OFFERS GOLF WITH MORGAN FREEMAN
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Golf and dinner with Morgan Freeman tops the list of outstanding auction items for the upcoming eighth Crystal Ball Benefit on Jan. 19 at the Arena at Southaven, Mississippi.
Freeman, who was honored at the event two years ago with the Northwest Mississippi Community Star Award, has contributed the outing to raise additional funds for the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The gala is the foundation's primary fund-raiser.
Other auction items include tickets to the Oprah Winfrey show; a week in a seven-bedroom colonial home in historic San Miguel de Allende; a week in a Telluride, Colo., home that comfortably sleeps 13 people with ski access right outside the door; a week of enjoyment at a Cabo San Lucas condo; and a commissioned oil portrait.
Crystal Ball auction chairman Pat Nelson said, "We will have 100 items, thanks to a great committee and generous donors. There will be something for everyone to enjoy, and 100 percent of all auction payments go to the Community Foundation."
The black-tie gala will honor Miss America Pageant chairman Sam Haskell and his actress and singer wife Mary Donnelly, who have raised more than $55 million for charitable causes, much of it in north Mississippi. Music will be furnished by the Como Opera Guild, Delta Blues Museum and Solid Gold. Tickets are $125 and may be purchased by contacting CommunityFoundation @CFNM.org or 449-5002.
The high bid on the auction prize donated by Morgan Freeman will allow two lucky people to play nine holes of golf along the meandering Cassidy Bayou with Freeman and Bill Luckett at the Bayou Bend Country Club, the Jewel of the Delta, in Sumner, MS.
After a round of golf, the two lucky winners will be treated to dinner and drinks at Madidi with Freeman and Luckett.
Madidi is located in Clarksdale, home of the blues and the famous Crossroads where, legend has it, the great blues guitarist, Robert Johnson, sold his soul to the devil so he could play the blues.
Golf and dinner is subject to availability of the two hosts and will have to be coordinated with their schedules.
The Community Foundation is a public charity that, through the generosity of more than 500 donors, has contributed $2 million over the last four years to 200 nonprofit organizations.
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LABEL SEEKING NEW TALENT
Jan Mittendorp of Black and Tan Records and the Crossroads agency is looking for new talent for future releases/tours:
- ORIGINAL artists with original material and an original style
- that can really SING
- have a real STORY to tell
- are willing and able to TOUR
- and have NO drug or ego problems
If this applies to you and your music (or if you want to suggest an artist you know) send him a link to the music on the internet (website, MySpace, Sonicbids etc).
To get an idea if his personal taste, please visit http://www.crossroads.nl and
http://www.black-and-tan.com
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The National Debonaires:From Kansas City, Missouri
 The National Debonaires play with class, taste and professionalism.
The National Debonaires write and perform their own material which is based in story telling. Their focus is on allowing the vocalist to tell the story. "My recommendation to readers is very clear. If you like swing blues, If you treasure great male singing in the blues, and if you run a blues or jazz and blues festival for the summer of 2008, you owe it to yourself and your audience to get in touch with this band." Dale Clark, IllinoisBlues.com
Instrumentation:
Steve Gerard - Guitar
Dave "Elmo" Bailey -- Vocal
Patrick Recob -- Double Bass
Andy Grafitti -- Drums
Mike Sedovic -- Piano and Organ
 Discography: "New Sounds from Kansas City" The National Deboanires 2007 Bette Jane's Smile Missing My Baby Let's Run "Life of Ease" Sean Carney Band 2006 Bad Side Baby Why Do You Lie "More Money Than Sense" -- The Trillionaires 1995 TV Mama Poor Boy |
THE BEST OF 2007 BLUES:as chosen by the listeners
  For 15 years, Elwood Blues and The House of Blues Radio Hour have been playing the best in blues music. And now, Elwood brings you the best blues of 2007, as chosen by you, the listeners. You went to the website, www.thebluesmobile.com you picked the winners, and you can hear them all, this week on your House of Blues Radio Hour. |
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For years, the Blues Festival Guide Magazine received numerous requests for updates on festivals via email, and on January 10, 2006, the Marketing Director of the Blues Festival Guide magazine, Nancy Edwards partnered with the magazine (RBA Publishing) and published the first emailed issue of the E-Guide E-Newsletter.
The E-Guide is a wonderful resource for everyone interested in Blues! You can expect to see the E-Guide in your inbox weekly. Please email the editor with any questions at
nancy@bluesfestivalEguide.com
To reach thousands of blues enthusiasts, click here to learn how to advertise in this Blues Festival E-Guide E-Newsletter.
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