Bob Corritore Blues News

From Bob Corritorie

November 24, 2008

• Complete Little Walter Box Set Being Considered by Hip-O Select! Scott Dirks reports that he and his co-authors of the Little Walter biography Blues With A Feeling: The Little Walter Story, Ward Gaines and Tony Glover, are working on liner notes for a proposed Complete Little Walter Box Set by the Hip-O Select label in the near future, with the hope of capitalizing on the upcoming film Cadillac Records, in which the Little Walter character is featured prominently. The box would contain material that Little Walter recorded for the famed Chess Records. The official word is not out yet so we can only be hopeful. More information forthcoming as it becomes available.
• Chris James/Patrick Rynn CD is #1 in the Powerblues Radio Charts! Powerblues is a European blues radio chart based in France that reflects airplay of new releases. This month the #1 record is Chris James & Patrick Rynn/Stop And Think About It on the Earwig Music label. To see this chart, click here. This is yet another nod to add the long list for this highly regarded CD.
• Tomcat Courtney's 80th Birthday Party Announced: Tomcat Courtney has been San Diego's hidden blues secret until earlier this year when Blue Witch Records released Tomcat's CD Downsville Blues to international critical acclaim. Tomcat's down home blues style is completely distinctive while recalling the flavor of Texas blues greats Lightnin' Hopkins, Lil' Son Jackson, and Smokey Hogg, all of whom he knew and played with. Michael Kinsman, the president of Blues Lovers United of San Diego, has put together a birthday party and celebration to honor Tomcat on Friday, January 30, 2009 at Humphries in San Diego. Details are still coming in on the show; so far, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Bob Corritore will be there to perform behind Tomcat along with other artists and bands. Tomcat Courtney's CD Downsville Blues is up for an Independent Music Award. Please consider supporting this great blues veteran with your vote by clicking here.
• Phoenix Blues Society Announces Blues Blast Festival Lineup; Bob Corritore Included in Phoenix All-Star Set: The Phoenix Blues Society will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the annual festival called Blues Blast (not to be confused with Illinoisblues.com's newsletter of the same name). The show will take place at the Mesa Amphitheatre on Saturday, February 21, 2009 as a daytime event. The lineup will include Janiva Magness, Omar & The Howlers, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm (who have a new release on the Delta Groove record label), AZ Blues Showdown winners Mikel Lander & Meridith Moore, Kathy Mabry & Kevin Casenheiser (playing in between sets), and a Phoenix All-Star set featuring veteran Arizona Blues Hall Of Famers in a revue setting. Bob Corritore will be included in this set with the full lineup yet to be announced. For more information on the Phoenix Blues Society, click here.
• Additional Information on Earwig's Bea and Baby Reissue: Joe Rutan from Earwig Music will be doing the research for the Bea and Baby reissue that we mentioned in our last newsletter. He e-mailed to tell us that in addition to the blues and doo-wop on the label, there were some gospel gems issued by Eddie Dean & The Biblical-Aires, The Glory-Airs, The Norfolk Singers, and The Pilgrim Harmonizers. Joe is also on the search for a number of 45s for which no masters are available, as well as any photos, interviews, press clippings, memorabilia, or anything concerning the Bea and Baby record label. Note that the Bea and Baby label group also includes the Key, Keyhole, and Miss labels. If you have any helpful information on the Bea and Baby label, please email Joe at earwigmusic@aol.com.
• Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a link to a YouTube tribute to Little Eva (famous for the hit song "The Loco-Motion") and her 1963 song "Let's Turkey Trot". Click here to see and hear it. Wishing everyone the best of Thanksgiving holidays. Thank you for your cherished friendship.