Drawing on the classic soul, blues, and R&B influences that inform his stunning vocal style, John has crafted a timeless slice of American music. He re-visits the inspired sounds of the 50s and 60s, when Chicago blues were adding funk and rock to the mix that got him hooked on music in the first place.

Brimming with energy, his new CD is tougher and edgier, and continues Nemeth's penchant for reinvigorating the sound of vintage American rhythm and blues with his spine-tingling vocals, acute melodic sensibilities, and considerable skill as a songwriter. Frequent collaborator Elvin Bishop guests on two tracks.

In an early review, All Music commented on Nemeth's artistic development since his debut, saying, "His singing has gained confidence and presence for a relative newcomer. Better still, his songwriting has also advanced a few notches." The review goes on to conclude, "Whether he's singing or working the harp, Nemeth is one of the finest young additions to the soul blues scene...his future is assured if he keeps releasing albums as powerful and consistent as this."

For more: CLICK

The Delta Wires are an Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area seven-piece blues big band that dedicates itself to modern blues while paying tribute its origins in the rural south. The band was conceived by vocalist and harmonica player, Ernie Pinata, as a college arts project. Pinata established that the blues was art, that all its components were highly sophisticated elements of a culturally-derived art form created in the Mississippi Delta and rural southern America and developed to high art in northern, urban cities... a unique perspective that lends serious credence to how one can view and hear the blues. That was over 30 years ago, and the Wires have continued to perform and to keep their original vision alive. 

In 2008, the Delta Wires were FINALISTS out of hundreds of bands in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Both Oakland Magazine and the East Bay Express voted them Best Live Band of Oakland and the East Bay. The San Francisco Chronicle called them a "tough, rocking, socking band, knocking out crowds" and Blues Access magazine wrote, "They blow hard from the get-go, a tight horn section blending comfortably with the spirited, intense harmonica from lead man Ernie Pinata...as fierce a Sonny Boy Williamson-influenced harp as you will find".

 "LIVE @ 105 Degrees" is definitely a high-energy collection from seven great musicians. The tracks range from new burning-hot arrangements of old standards that have taken their original inspiration to new levels, such as Willie Dixon's "Monkey Man", and Rice Miller's "Pontiac Blues", to Delta Wires originals like "Lonesome Blues" and the Oakland Funk-inspired "Mechanic". The arrangements are intricate and with a tightness which is an obvious result of their years of "Dues Paid" performing with the likes of Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, Freddie King, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Bo Diddley, Little Milton, Lowell Fulson, Boz Scaggs, and many other great blues artists. 

The Delta Wires are: Ernie Pinata, harmonica and lead vocals; Tom Gerrits, bass; Richard Healy, guitar; Tony Huszar, drums; Larry Jonutz, trumpet; and Jim Orsetti and Danny Sandoval, saxophones. 

ENJOY!

http://www.deltawires.com

Click on button to hear Pontiac Blues

Band
1st place
South Florida Blues Society--JP Soars & the Red Hots

2nd Place
Cascade Blues Association--Ty Curtis Band

3rd Place
Ottawa Blues Society--MonkeyJunk

Best Guitarist Award
JP Soars

Solo/Duo
1st place
Blues Society of Tulsa--Little Joe McLerran

2nd Place
Crossroads Blues Society of Mississippi--Alphonso & Richard

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez took home the Best Self-Produced CD Award for their current effort Hollerin'! Many of you will recall, this duo won the 2007 International Blues Challenge.

Last, but not least, Micah Kesselring, Columbus Blues Alliance, who participated in the Youth Showcase was awarded a scholarship to the Centrum Blues Workshop this coming summer. This scholarship was secured by Board member Cassie Taylor.

For More: CLICK

The move could put pressure on satellite television company EchoStar Corp , which reportedly holds a substantial amount of Sirius XM debt. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that EchoStar chief Charles Ergen made an offer to take control of the satellite radio company late last year, but he was rebuffed.

Sirius officials did not respond to several telephone and email messages, and EchoStar declined comment.

Sirius has been working with restructuring expert Joseph A. Bondi of Alvarez & Marsal and bankruptcy lawyer Mark Thompson of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett to help prepare a Chapter 11 filing, the New York Times reported, adding that a filing could come within days.

A Simpson, Thacher spokeswoman declined comment, and Bondi was not immediately available for comment.

Sirius has also been working with investment bank Evercore Partners, the newspaper said. Evercore could not be reached immediately.

From the Editor:

Once again the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise has come and gone and every year we go on and on about how great the cruise was and about how much we love going along. Well, this year was no exception, as a matter of fact, this years cruise could best be described as exceptional. Lets see, where should I start, the food, the ship, the music, the workshops, the shore excursions, the late night jams, and of course,  all the great people and the sense of camaraderie that you get when everyone on board is there to have a great time and enjoy the best blues music in the world.

While the rest of the country was in a deep freeze that week, we were basking in the warm sun on the Islands. In addition to  the shipboard activities, our stops in the Dominican Republic, Tortola, and  Dominica, gave us plenty of time to enjoy the natural splendor of the Islands as well as some exciting moments along the narrow mountain roads. But the main reason we all go on the cruise is for the music and if you did not get your fill of great shows it was your own fault. This years cruise was also special because we were all able to witness the wedding of Blues Great Kim Wilson to his longtime girlfriend Amanda. What a great moment. We were also blessed this year with a a great number of talented cruisers on board who were ready to show there stuff at the Pro/Am Jams. Some players even got to jam on the big stage with the pro's.

I dont know how Roger Naber and his staff do it but every year the cruise just seems to get better and better. That can only mean one thing, dont wait another second to reserve your spot on next years cruise.

http://www.bluescruise.com

To see more cruise photo's CLICK

At the 51st Grammy Awards, B.B. King took the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album (his 15th), while Dr. John won the Best Contemporary Blues Album Category.

The Blind Boys of Alabama took home a Lifetime Achievement Award. Congrats to all ten nominees in the two main categories:

Best Traditional Blues Album
* Elvin Bishop- The Blues Rolls On
* Buddy Guy- Skin Deep
* John Lee Hooker, Jr.- All Odds Against Me
* B.B. King- One Kind Favor
* Pinetop Perkins & Friends- Pinetop Perkins & Friends

Best Contemporary Blues Album
* Marcia Ball- Peace, Love, and BBQ
* Solomon Burke- Like a Fire
* Dr. John & the Lower 911- City That Care Forgot
* Taj Mahal- Maestro
* Irma Thomas- Simply Grand

Five-time Grammy winner Buddy Guy has an acting part in a soon-to-be-released movie starring Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones. See for yourself:

CLICK HERE FOR TRAILER

In the Electric Mist, which also stars John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard and Mary Steenburgen, is set to hit theaters on Feb. 20. Buddy Guy plays the role of Sam 'Hogman' Patin. Levon Helm also has a role in the movie. (Correction: The movie will be shown in theaters only in New Iberia, Louisiana, where it was shot, and then will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray beginning March 3.)

Buddy also plays on the soundtrack, as you can hear on the trailer. While he has a long list of movie soundtrack credits, as far as I know, this is his first time in an acting role.

The movie is set in Louisiana, where Buddy was born and grew up. The movie is based on a novel by James Lee Burke. Here's a plot synopsis from the YouTube link above:

Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones leads an all-star cast in this psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by James Lee Burke.

While on an investigation into a series of grisly murders, veteran detective Dave Robicheaux (Jones) navigates his way through the Louisiana bayou and the dark, sultry world of New Orleans mobster "Baby Feet" Balboni (John Goodman). Layers of corruption and long-dead secrets reawaken grudges and a lethal alliance A tangled web of killings, past and present, converges in a shocking showdown with stakes that become deeply personal to Robicheaux and his family. Featuring music from five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Buddy Guy, this film takes you deep into Cajun country's hidden worlds. *Best Supporting Actor: The Fugitive, 1993.

Buddy is not the first bluesman to appear in movies. If you recall, Albert Collins played himself in Adventures in Babysitting. Billy Branch has been in a couple of movies. He played a preacher in Next of Kin, a Patrick Swayze movie.

The Monroe Lions Club said the event that's been held the past 11 years won't happen this year.

Dick Tschanz is one of the founders of the music festival. He blamed the decision on the rising cost of staging the event and the difficulty of raising enough funds at a time when people have less money to spend on entertainment.

Tschanz said the weather is another factor, because a rainout could threaten to bankrupt the club.

Rick's seemingly effortless command of the harmonica is matched by his distinctive, soulful vocals and remarkable original songs. Ever since he started performing his own material, it has become increasingly clear that Rick Estrin is a songwriter of unparalleled skill. His quick wit, self-assured disposition, coifed hair, pencil-thin mustache and sharp attire inform his songs in a way that has led critics to compare him to Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan and Willie Dixon.

 http://www.alligator.com/

Flashback! It's 1991 and Ray Charles smiles from behind his black grand piano,tips his head back to drink from his Diet Pepsi can and croons, "You got the right one, Baby, Uh huh!" At that moment a lightning bolt of soul hit a little boy from Michigan with a life-changing jolt and the music of CJ Vaughn was born.

His influences are many; Allen Collay, The Meters, The Temptations, Jimi Hendrix, Jack Pearson, Dr. John and the late Rich Mullins to name a few But perhaps none more than the great Ray Charles!

You can hear Ray in CJ's vocals, his styling and most of all in his SOUL!

The soulful rendition of "Baby Blue", a CJ Vaughn original, and his version of the classic "Drown In My Own Tears" are the blending of these and other great influences in the music world.

A CJ Vaughn show will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more. He will take you on a musical journey from blistering rock 'n roll to the softest jazz with the tightest dynamics and purest respect for the music.

The Music City Blues Society nominated him in 2005 for Blues Guitarist, Blues Vocalist and Electric Blues Act of the year. He was selected unanimously by the judges of the Kentucky Blues Society to represent them at The 2007 International Blues Challenge. He returned to "The IBC" in 2008 with The Yesterday & Today Rhythm & Blues
Society.

He has played at Stevie Ray's Blues Bar (Louisville), Buddy Guy's Legends (Chicago), and BB King's Blues Club (Nashville & Memphis). The Hard Rock Café in Memphis, Sassy Ann's House Of Blues in Knoxville,and Nashville's Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar have all had CJ Vaughn on their stages and have had him back many times!
His fan base is growing, don't miss this show!

CJ Vaughn & Highway 58 is a versatile act from a power 3-piece to a larger show with B3, horns and percussion. You can be sure that a CJ Vaughn show is worth bringing to your town.

One great veteran Nashville musician describes CJ Vaughn like this:
"He plays like Jimi Hendrix and sings like Ray Charles".

High praise but check out a CJ Vaughn show and you'll know that "You got the right one. Baby, Uh huh!"

Instrumentation
CJ Vaughn - Lead Vocals, Guitar, and Keyboards
Ron Vaughn - Bass Guitar
Don Kendrick - Drums & Percussion
Ross Lester - Percussion & Drums
Larry Van Loon - Keyboards

Discography
Check It Out - KYSOTI Records-2009

Links
http://www.cjvaughn.com/