Bob Corritore Newsletter

April 25, 2008

• Candye Kane Released from Hospital! Candye Kane, who recently underwent major surgery for Pancreatic Cancer, was released from the hospital yesterday! Her son, Evan Caleb, reports that she is doing very well in her recovery. Gina Sicilia reports that she is hosting a benefit for Candye on Sunday at Scotland Yard Bar in New York with Bob Margolin, Dave Gross, Debbie Davies, and many others. Little Victor reports that he and Sophie Kay will be hosting a benefit for Candye in Paris in the near future, but no date was specified in his email. For information on planned Candye Kane benefits happening around the country, check Candye's MySpace by clicking here.
• Ann Rabson Cancer Surgery: Blues pianist Ann Rabson has had several health issues recently, and has been off work since December. Mark Carpentieri of MC Records reports that after a bout of breast cancer followed by successful surgery last December, Ann Rabson was recently diagnosed with Kidney Cancer, and had a successful surgical procedure last Tuesday. Her recovery will not allow her to attend this year's Blues Music Awards, where her warm presence is always appreciated. She was nominated for a BMA this year under the blues piano category. To see a great photo of her and Pinetop Perkins together at the 2006 BMAs, click here. Hang tough, Ann!
• Tomcat Courtney on MySpace! Check out the new MySpace for blues great Tomcat Courtney, complete with song samples from his forthcoming Blue Witch release Downsville Blues (May 20, 2008 release date). To see Tomcat Courtney's MySpace, click here. While on MySpace, check out the site for Blue Witch Records by clicking here. Two glowing reviews for Downsville Blues have come in so far, and now appear on www.bobcorritore.com (click here to see these reviews).
• Cool Blues Link: Bob Frank (guitarist of the Blue Lunch Band) sent a link to a page of photos he took at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969. These include photos of Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Roosevelt Sykes, Mississippi Fred McDowell, T-Bone Walker, Big Mama Thornton, JB Hutto, Howlin' Wolf, Paul Oscher, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, Sleepy John Estes, and more. Click here to see them.
• John Németh with Junior Watson to Appear Tonight at the Rhythm Room: Blues sensation John Németh will appear tonight at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix! His recent CD Magic Touch on Blind Pig has propelled him into the limelight in the last year, and his great live performances and relentless touring are quickly making him among the top blues acts around. It does not hurt that he often brings blues guitar master Junior Watson on the road with him to add extra sizzle to his shows. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm, cover charge is $10. This night will be a patio smoking only event; no indoor smoking will be permitted.
• Downbeat Magazine Includes Bob Corritore in their Blues Festival Article: Thanks to writer Frank-John Hadley for his article "12-Bar Explosion" in the May 2008 issue of Downbeat Magazine. The article covers the current phenomenon of blues festivals around the world. In this beautiful piece is a sidebar section called "Players' Picks", where eight artists were quoted with comments on their favorite blues festivals. Those artists are Koko Taylor, Rod Piazza, Tom Principato, Jimbo Mathus, Van Campbell, Gordon Beadle, Bob Merlis, and Bob Corritore. It is an honor to be included with such fine company in such an amazing publication as Downbeat! Also in this issue is a Honeyboy Edwards article.
• In the Studio with a New Big Pete CD! Bob is currently in post-production for the forthcoming Big Pete Pearson CD, which is yet to be titled. The recorded tracks are mostly Big Pete originals, and backing is by The Rhythm Room All-Stars (Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey) plus special guests Pinetop Perkins, Henry Gray, Billy Flynn, David Maxwell, John Rapp, Matt Bishop, and The Duke Robillard Band (on 3 tracks!). Big Pete delivers amazing vocals and some real, down-to-business blues on twelve great songs from sessions held this year and last! Look for this release later this year.
• Gearing up for the BMAs and the Delta Groove Showcase! It is really thrilling to be going to the greatest blues gathering on the planet! The Blues Music Awards brings together the entire blues industry, as we reflect on last year's releases and achievements. This year the event takes place at the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore will be part of a huge list of amazing performers scheduled to play at this event (they perform a 10 minute duet slot at 10:30pm). We will bring a big party crew to the awards with Big Pete Pearson and his lovely Kelly, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, his wife Tanja and son Dave Jr., Bob Corritore, Kim Danielson, Dale Baich and Beth Lipham (of Blue Witch Records), Chris James and Patrick Rynn of The Rhythm Room All-Stars (information forthcoming soon on Chris and 'sPatrick new CD release!). We will be joined at our table by Mary Lockwood (Robert Jr.'s widow) and Evan Caleb (Candye's son). But this is just a few in the giant list of the great people that will be there. It is simply the best blues party of the year. For more information on this event, click here. That party will continue the next night on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the 3rd Annual Delta Groove Showcase at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Randy Chortkoff and the crew at Delta Groove have a star studded event including The Mannish Boys (check out their great new CD, Lowdown Feelin'), Phillip Walker, Jackie Payne, Steve Edmondson, Jason Ricci, The Insomniacs, Debbie Davies, a Blue Witch label showcase set (with Big Pete Pearson, Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, and Tomcat Courtney) and many, many more. This event lasts eleven hours and starts at 2pm, doors will open at 1pm. For the complete lineup, schedule, and information click here. The Delta Groove Showcase reflects on this amazing label's growing prominence in the blues world, and the event not only includes Delta Groove artists, but also the label's extended family of musical associates and friends.