Search The Blues Historian Website With Google

Google
 

Send Me Your Blues News

Contact me at
tgary62@gmail.com


Link Exchange

If you have a website, and would like to exchange links just email me at the above address.

The Iowa Blues Showcase is on the AIR

Download the latest podcast on ITUNES

Thursday, November 15, 2007

T Bone Walker And BB King: Slow Blues

T-Bone Walker and BB King doing a nice slow blues. A very cool and old video

BB King And Friends: Sweet Little Angel

Wow! BB with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Albert Collins, and Buddy Guy! Talk about a guitar summit:-) Live video from the Apollo theater in New York City.


BB King And U2: When Love Comes To Town

A cool video of BB King and U2! Live!

Big Show NOV 17th Cherokee Iowa

Another Quick reminder that the Blues Historian is performing Saturday Night in Cherokee Iowa at the Gathering Place. I am performing mostly original material that I have written over the last 20 years. This is going to be a great show so if you are in the area stop on by. The show is going to be recorded, and perhaps if everything works out, and I can get a CD of the show, I will rebroadcast it on the Internet radio station! So for all my fans out there in the World Wide Net, that can't make the show you can listen to it on your COMPUTER!!!:-) Don't you just love modern technology!!!!! I will put more details at the top of the blog tomorrow!

Maximum Mojo Celebrates Ten Years Of The Best Of Blues On Electro Fi Records

Press release detailing Electro Fi Records 10th anniversary.


Maximum Mojo Celebrates Ten Years of the Best In Blues Music On Electro-Fi Records


Electro-Fi Records celebrates it's tenth anniversary (1997-2007) with Maximum Mojo, a specially priced, 32 track-2 CD Blues extravaganza featuring the music of Blues legends: Snooky Pryor, Mel Brown (the artist Rolling Stone calls "Funky, Primeval and Perfect"), West Coast harp ace Mark Hummel, Billy Boy Arnold, Pinetop Perkins, Finis Tasby, acoustic Blues troubadour Fruteland Jackson, Harmonica Shah, Paul Osher (he played in the Muddy Waters' band), and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.


[USPRwire, Mon Nov 12 2007] Electro-Fi Records celebrates it's tenth anniversary (1997-2007) with Maximum Mojo, a specially priced, 32 track-2 CD Blues extravaganza featuring the music of Blues legends: Snooky Pryor, Mel Brown (the artist Rolling Stone calls "Funky, Primeval and Perfect"), West Coast harp ace Mark Hummel, Billy Boy Arnold, Pinetop Perkins, Finis Tasby, acoustic Blues troubadour Fruteland Jackson, Harmonica Shah, Paul Osher (he played in the Muddy Waters' band), and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.

As well as some of this generation's leading Blues lights: Li'l Dave Thompson, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Julian Fauth, Harrison Kennedy, Sharrie Williams, Enrico Crivellaro, and Braithwaite and Whitely. Also included is an incredible, previously unreleased track from the late, great Sam Myers.
It's a simple formula.

No teenage guitar heroes; no aging rock stars re-discovering their imaginary "blues roots;" no fawning tribute CDs; no pointless Blues "fusion" CDs;" no flavor of the month meets the Blues CDs; no "the Blues is broken, and here is how we are going to fix it" CDs; Instead, just plenty of straight natural Blues music served up by some of the real originators from Blues music's greatest generation alongside with the best of this generation's emerging artists, to whom the torch of the Blues tradition has been passed. Keeping that torch burning and having the privilege of releasing music that is much loved and has received critical acclaim, this is what Electro-Fi is most proud.

Critical Acclaim For Electro-Fi Records
Electro-Fi Records, North America's fastest growing blues and roots label, continues to garner global acclaim. Real Blues magazine proclaims that the "Electro-Fi label has moved up the ladder to become one of North America's leading independent blues labels thanks to an imaginative agenda," and "Electro-Fi Records continues its ascension to the top ranks of international blues labels." In its catalog U.K.'s Red Lick Records declares, "Electro-Fi Records are gettin' dangerous!" Britain's Juke Blues magazine heralds "Electro-Fi [as] a label that is quickly establishing itself as a serious Blues and Roots imprint."

Electro-Fi was founded in October 1996 by blues aficionado Andrew Galloway, with the support of long time friend Gary Collver, whose photographs grace the covers of most Electro-Fi releases.

Harmonica ace Little Mack Simmons launched the Electro-Fi label with his critically acclaimed CD Little Mack Is Back. Living Blues magazine hailed Simmons' release for its "sure vocal sense and tasty harp licks . . . fresh and unexpected . . . From an artistic standpoint, Little Mack Simmons is definitely back." Blues & Rhythm called it "a stomping beauty . . . Mack's harp playing is very refreshing, strong and inventive."

Along with Simmons' second offering Somewhere On Down The Line, Electro-Fi introduced the world to the rock-blues band Fathead, whose Electro-Fi recording Blues Weather won Canada's esteemed Juno Award for Best Blues Recording of 1998.

After a 26-year hiatus from the studio, keyboard virtuoso Curley Bridges scored top marks with his Electro-Fi CD Keys To The Blues. The Red Lick chart of best-selling blues albums, published in Britain's Blues & Rhythm magazine, listed it last spring as the third most popular blues CD in the U.K., and Blues & Rhythm named it Album of the Month. "Bridges can still shout it down like a major leaguer," Blues Revue applauded. "His keyboard work is fluent and assured, his comping is incredibly deep, and his vocal power is on par with any R&B vocalist you'd care to name, past or present. . . . If you're into R&B standards, Bridges is playing your song.

Can't Stop Blowin', released by legendary harp pioneer Snooky Pryor, has been recognized as one of the best recordings of his celebrated career. It held strong at number eight on Living Blues magazine's radio charts for both January and February. The Red Lick chart in Blues & Rhythm magazine listed it as the number-one best-selling blues CD in Britain. Living Blues raved, "Chalk up another win for Snooky Pryor; he's been threatening to retire for years now, but from the sound of this disc, he's having too much fun to quit." "Pryor hollers and blows like it was his last night on earth," wrote an enthusiastic critic for Cadence magazine. "This is terrific stuff from a grand master of the blues."

Electro-Fi introduced blues fans to a slice of Chicago recording history in fall 1999 with the release of The P.M./Simmons Collection, the first reissue of the best cuts from Little Mack Simmons' own recording companies, which operated on the South Side (of Chicago) from 1972 to 1982. Featuring Little Mack on vocals and harp, the CD also includes tracks that Simmons produced for the late Fenton Robinson and Arelean Brown. It was described by Blues Beat magazine as "a valuable collection that demonstrates both Mack's musical and creative talents. . . . An important document in the history of Chicago blues." Also released at this time was Blues Burnin' In My Soul by the maestro of seductive, soul-drenched blues, Chicago's Johnny Laws, who presents the blues from an urban perspective, crafted into an irresistible groove. Blues Beat proclaimed, "Blues Burnin' In My Soul is an exceptional display of his enormous gifts, containing more than sixty minutes of the gentlest, sexiest blues you'll ever hear. . . . One of the year's very best!"

The millennium began stronger than ever with two new impressive CDs: Neck Bones and Caviar by one of the last great blues guitarists of his generation Mel Brown, and I Claim Nothing But The Blues by the exceptional acoustic singer/songwriter Fruteland Jackson. Neck Bones And Caviar was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award as Best Comeback Album of the year and won the grand prix de l’academie du jazz as best blues album in France. Blues Revue magazine praised it as "first-rate . . . dangerously intense . . . Just say it’s so good it almost isn’t fair. Track this one down and savor it." I Claim Nothing But The Blues received acclaim from Blues & Rhythm magazine: "Jackson has a strong virile voice and is a fine picker . . . An album of well-crafted songs . . . A hugely enjoyable CD, a sure-fire winner."

In June 2000, Electro-Fi released Upside ’n’ Down Tight: Electro-Fi’s Finest, 1997–2000, a tantalizing collection of favorite cuts from the Electro-Fi archives. In September the label presented Double Shot!, a duo CD by harp master Snooky Pryor and guitar ace Mel Brown, which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award as Traditional Blues Album of the Year. Snooky also received two Handy nominations: for Traditional Blues—Male Artist of the Year and for Blues Instrumentalist—Harmonica. Double Shot!, a two-fisted wallop of real-deal blues, begs the question: Is there a stronger combination of pure talent in the blues world today than Snooky Pryor and Mel Brown?

Electro-Fi mourned the death of Chicago harp master—and the label’s first artist — Malcolm "Little Mack" Simmons on October 24, 2000. "While his loss is deeply felt, we were proud to announce our first release of the year 2001: The Best Of Little Mack Simmons: The Electro-Fi Years. This superb collection will do much to preserve Little Mack’s musical legacy and honor his memory."

With its ongoing slate of impressive CDs, Electro-Fi continues to delight blues fans around the world. Watch and listen as Electro-Fi Records claims its place in the upper echelon of Blues and Roots labels by recording an outstanding lineup of established, rediscovered and up-and-coming talent.

Song List
Disc 1
1 Slow Down-Snooky Pryor
2. I'm Tired of Your Jive-Sam Myers
3. Snap-Mel Brown
4. Drinkin' Cheap Champagne-Enrico Crivellaro with James Harman
5. Me and Piney Brown-Billy Boy Arnold
6. Back In Love Again-Finis Tasby
7. Wig City-Gary Primich
8 .Work That Stuff-Paul Oscher
9. Ramblin'-Miss Angel
10.Early In The Morning-Curley Bridges
11.You're So Special-Little Mack Simmons
12.Beepin' On Me-Mark Hummel
13.Out IN The Cold-Lil' Dave Thompson
14.Driving the Backroads-Morgan Davis
15.Commit A Crime-Fathead
16. Lonesome Graveyard Blues-Harmonica Shah

Disc 2
1. Blackberry Wine-Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
2.Juke Joint-Paul Oscher
3.High Country Blues-Harrison Kennedy
4.Blues 2.0-Fruteland Jackson
5.Big Easy (Ain't Easy No More)-Mark Hummel
6.Going Away Baby-Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
7.I'm Here To Stay-Sharrie Williams
8. Pinetop's Grinderman Blues-Pinetop Perkins with Snooky Pryor
9. Ain't That Loving You Baby-Johnny Laws
10.Make Love To Your Mind-Mel Brown
11.Cobalt--Julian Fauth
12.Morning Sun-Diana Baithwaite and Chris Waitely
13.Blues Over Baghdad-Fruteland Jackson
14.Morning, Noon and Night-Chris Whitely and Diana Baithwaite
15.Sweet Little Woman From Maine-Sam Myers (previously unreleased)
16. Work Til' My Days Are Done-Snooky Pryor with Mel Brown

Electro-Fi Records
U.S. Mailing Address:
Box 191 Lasalle Stn.
Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304
U.S.A
Canadian Mailing Address:
185 Legion Road North - Suite# 1410
Toronto, Ontario M8Y 0A1
Phone: (416) 251-3036
Email: info@electrofi.com

BB King Interview


A short interview with BB King from the Press And Sun Bulletin in New York. BB is 80s years young and keeps on rolling. Check out the interview HERE.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Illinios Blues Update


More Blues Fests this weekend!!! Also check out the Illinois Blues Website on the links page!!

Upcoming Blues

So you thought the Blues season was over? No Way! This week brings the Gala Blues Summit in Osijek, Croatia, RGV Blues Festival in Mission, Texas and the Ultimate Blues Show in Greenville, Mississippi.

Fernando Jones: Bronzeville Blues

Interesting video of a live recording of Fernando Jones, and a collection of photos of him and Chicago.


Harry Manx And Kevin Breit: Death Have Mercy

Interesting video of Harry Manx and Kevin Breit. The sitar does add an interesting element to the song.

Fernando Jones Blues In Schools


Fernando Jones has a great blues in schools program, and has been recognized by the Blues Foundation as a Keeping The Blues Alive winner. To read about his great program Click HERE. To check out his website Click HERE.

Harry Manx Article


I haven't seen any blues from India for quite awhile, but here is an interesting mix of Blues and Indian music. Harry Manx plays blues on a sitar, and combines it with Indian music. To read more about Mr Manx, check out this short article in the Cape Breton Post in Nova Scotia.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Furry Lewis: St Louis Blues

A short clip of Furry Lewis performing WC Handy's St Louis Blues.

Joni Mitchell: Furry Sings The Blues

Here is the Joni Mitchell song about Beale Street, and Furry Lewis. I can see why Furry wasn't fond of it.

Lou Rawls and Gatemouth Brown: Blues Medley

Lou Rawls sings, and Gatemouth Brown plays guitar on a TV show from the 60s.


Nicole Hart Interview


Nice interview at the All About Jazz website on Nicole Hart. Hart is a classically trained singer who sings blues and soul. to read more about her CLICK HERE.

CD Review: Clapton Complete


From the Music Box Website comes a review of Complete Clapton. I suppose any anthology of Clapton will come up short, since he has done so much over the years. From the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and countless band fronted by Clapton over the years, it is hard to pick songs for a CD. This CD will make some people happy, and some disappointed, but for the someone who has never heard of Clapton this would be a great CD to buy. To read the complete review Click HERE.

Interesting Take On Blues History

I found this Blogcritic article on Memphis being the home of the blues. The main idea of the article isn't so much the claim to Memphis being the birthplace of the blues, but it is about the ups and downs of Beale Street, and the relationship between Joni Mitchell and Furry Lewis, and her song Furry's Sings The Blues which deals with the decay of Beale. I think what the author probably dosent realize is that there were hard feelings in Memphis among the black community over how Beale Street was revitilized and turned into the Disneyland of the blues. Many of the old buildings were torn down, or false facades were place over them. I suppose in away it is progress, because unlike other African American business districts that had blues and jazz, it still exists.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Update

Ok, looking at the poll I think the most important question to anwser is what radio station:-) Basically, if you look at the top of the blog their is a click here link. Follow that link to the radio station. I also plan to add some national acts that have Iowa connections.

On a personal note, I am getting scoped Tuesday morning. A simple operation that I have had done a few times in the past. It is not a pleasant experience, but it is something that has to be done. I am not sure when I will be awake enough to post tomorrow, but hopefully I will be up and running by evening.

As always if you find any cool blues news, or videos that belong here on the blog, send them to me, and I will post them as soon as I can get to them!

Tom

UPDATE
All went well, and I am up and running again. Nice thing about being scoped is that you get to sleep all day! Unfortunately I doubt I will get much sleep tonight:-)

BTW, just a public service announcement to all the guys who avoid doctors. You really need to see a doctor on a regular basis. It is common sense to get a check up, or go to the doctor when something is wrong. I know some of the tests are uncomfortable, but thanks to modern medicine somethings have actually improved in the last 20 years. Do yourself and your love ones a favor and go see your doctor today.

DVD Trailer Delmark Records: Carey and Lurrie Bell

Nice trailer from Delmark records featuring Carey and Lurrie Bell.

Bob DeForest Interview


Who is Bob DeForest? Bob is one of the legendary Iowa Blues DJs that keeps the blues alive in Cedar Rapids Iowa on KCCK 88.3fm. Check out his interview in the Cedar Rapids Gazette HERE. Check out KCCK HERE. To hear them on the internet click HERE.

Fruitland Jackson BITS


Nice article in the Monroe Times,in Monroe Wisconsin, about Fruitland Jackson and his blues in schools program. Read about it HERE.

Blog Critic: Lurrie Bell Interview


Lurrie Bell has had a rough year. Both his father and wife died within months of each other. However, Lurrie carries on. Read an interview that Bell gave to Blogcritic HERE.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Artist Of The Week: Lonnie Johnson

One of the legendary blues guitar players that influenced everyone from Robert Johnson to Charlie Christian, Lonnie Johnson was one of the first to introduce the single string guitar solo. He influenced both jazz and blues guitarists, and had a long career that spanned nearly 40 years. To see his videos click on the video box on the right side of the blog titled artist of the week.

Photo Of The Week: John Lukehart

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GUITAR PLAYER?? I still haven't found John. No numbers no emails! I don't know what it is about Marshalltown people. I beginning to think it is in the water:-) This photo was taken back when Jeff Wagner reopened Blues On Grand. Jeff had a huge jam session and all the musicians came out. I took a handful of pictures and I will try to post some more from time to time. BTW, if you live in either Colorado, or California be on the look out for this guitar player. He is a phenomenal guitar player with incredible tone. In fact we called him the Tone King. Also he only sings a few songs. One of those is Mustang Sally, and Luke is probably one of the few people who can actually pull it off! So if you are in either of those areas and see this guy scorching a guitar have him contact me!