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Download the latest podcast on ITUNES

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Yahoo Group Gone

Well after 6+ years of emails, the demise of my Yahoo Group has come. I could see it happening about a year ago, since fewer and fewer emails were being sent. I also realized that few people were getting the emails, and many were bouncing. I assume that the ever efficient spam filters were probably doing the list in. When I started this blog I assumed that I would use all of these great net tools to promote blues and Iowa Blues artists, but when this blog took off the idea of keeping the email list started to look pretty silly. So it was a slow death, and I don't think anyone noticed it, but after a few warnings of its impending doom. I pulled the plug on it today. So, if you have come over here from the Yahoo group, Welcome!!!! All of the blues news that is fit to print that showed up on the list will be here. Thanks for six great years on the list, and hopefully we can have many more years of fun here on blogger!!!!

Tom

Big Gig Alert! Jodi Bodley And Dewey Cantrell

Just got this late email about some friends of mine who are performing in downtown Des Moines tomorrow. They will be playing at the Botanical Center which is a large Geodesic dome located on the eastside of the Des Moines river right of interstate 235. It is a great place to play music in the winter, because it is very warm, and summery!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blues show alert …

Jodi Bodley and Dewey Cantrell of The Blues Bureau will be performing at the weekly Botanical Blues series this Sunday, January 27th, from 1:00pm till 3:00pm. There is also an “acoustic jam” scheduled to immediately follow hosted by “Freight Train” Frank Strong. By the way, there is no football to conflict (thanks to the NFL for scheduling the playoffs around us), so grab the family and friends, come on down and enjoy the beautiful surroundings with some good blues. Here’s a link to the Botanical Center calendar …

http://www.botanicalcenter.com/SubPage.asp?MainLinkID=1

Thanks

Friday, January 25, 2008

Big Joe Turner: Feelin Happy

A Classic video of Big Joe Turner from the 1950s Classic Shake Rattle And Roll! Cool Daddy O!!!!


Big Joe Turner: Hide And Seek

Here is a cool video of Big Joe Turner from the early 70s.

Buddy Reed And The Rip It Ups: I Won't Be Lonely No More

A very cool bluezy Doo Wop song by Buddy Reed and the Rip It Ups. Bob Corritore is playing the harp, and the late Roger Rotolli is playing the washboard. Cool Video!!

The Weekly Bob Corritore Newsletter





January 24, 2008

  • Plans for Jimmy Rogers Book announced: Though still in the research stages, Dr. Wayne Everett Goins has announced his intentions to author a book that will be titled That's All Right: The Jimmy Rogers Story. Jimmy Rogers is simply one of the greatest blues artists that ever lived, and he, along with Muddy Waters and Little Walter, were architects of the classic Chicago Blues style of the early 1950s. I had heard about this book project last year from Jacque Lane, Jimmy's daughter who had called me to tell me to expect a call from Dr. Goins. The call came this week, and I found Dr. Goins to be a simply wonderful person with a great love for Jimmy's music. I was able to provide him with photos, stories, contacts, and support. He has already compiled a long list of interviews with others who knew and worked with Jimmy, but his work is far from complete. If anyone would be willing to share stories, information, photos or memorabilia on Jimmy Rogers, please contact Dr. Goins as soon as possible. His contact information:

Wayne Everett Goins, Ph.D.

Director of Jazz

Associate Professor of Music

222 McCain Auditorium

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 66506-4703

(785) 532-3822 Office

(785) 532-3817 Fax

weg@ksu.edu

Any help that can be provided for this worthy cause would be greatly appreciated. To see a photo page dedicated to Jimmy Rogers on the Bob Corritore website, please click here. For a brief bio of Jimmy Rogers, please click here.

  • Chico Chism Remembered on Bob's Radio show: It was January 28th, 2007 when the legendary Chico Chism passed away. Chico was Howlin' Wolf's last drummer, and for his last 20 years he was a pinnacle figure in the Phoenix blues scene. With this week marking the one year anniversary of his death, Chico will be remembered with a one hour tribute from 6-7pm on Bob's radio show, Those Lowdown Blues on KJZZ, this Sunday. Listeners may hear Those Lowdown Blues anywhere in the world (real time Sunday nights from 6pm-11pm Phoenix time) via web streaming by clicking here, or on KJZZ in Phoenix at 91.5 FM in Phoenix, Arizona, 89.5 in Cottonwood, 90.1 in Prescott, 98.9 in Tucson, and 99.1 in Kingman. Also thanks to blues wildman Little Victor for dedicating his new EP Blues Shakedown on Witchcraft International Records to Chico's memory. Chico left an indelible mark on so many people's lives. His name will always be synonymous with Phoenix blues. Click here, here, and here for some photo pages devoted to Chico Chism.
  • Also on this week's Radio Show: In addition to the Chico Chism tribute, Bob will also have a live on-air performance by Long John Hunter, a tribute to the late Francis Clay, and special guest Phoenix music historian John "Johnny D" Dixon for the annual Phoenix vintage R&B special. Johnny will treat us to selections from his vast collection of rare vinyl and unreleased masters.

Document Records Update

Just received this from the good folks at Document records. Looks like some excellent releases are available. Check it out!





Gramophone
DOCUMENT RECORDS NEWSLETTER
Gramophone

www.document-records.com
January 2008


CLICK HERE FOR

Welcome to the first Document Newsletter of 2008.
We are celebrating our 22nd birthday this year; we are pleased to say we have plenty of new releases in the pipeline, some re-issued from 78’s and some specialist private concerts. Look out for the likes of Ike Turner, Rufus Thomas and Tommy Ridgley. Again we would like to thank you for buying direct from Document, like many of the independents we operate on a shoestring and plough any monies made back into new releases or bringing CDs back into stock.
____________________________________________
Forthcoming Document Releases
____________________________________________
Rufus Thomas Rufus Thomas
Cleo Brown Cleo Brown
Can you help Document?

We were going to release the complete works of Cleo Brown 1935- 1951, however we have discovered that there
are many titles missing and that the discographies were not up to date.

If you can offer any further discography details, label scans or any of the "missing" titles that Document need to complete this release, please, please do not hesitate to contact us. I have put together what I believe to be the current definitive discography.

Thanks, Gillian.
Please respond to:
gillian@document-records.com


____________________________________________
Document Discount CDs
____________________________________________

We ended 2007 with the successful release of Reverend Gary Davis Live and we wanted to put together a really “good offer” newsletter as way of thanks in January.

Then it came to us, Gary Davis had been playing in the 30s where he taught Blind Boy Fuller but he really found fame in the Folk and Blues Revival in the early 1960s where he tutored the likes of Woody Mann, Roy Bookinder and Stephan Grossman. Demand soared for these re-discovered artists.

Of course the first and perhaps greatest "discoveries" in Folk Blues were the incomparable Leadbelly
(we also celebrate his birth this month 23rd January 1885) and Josh White born 11th Febuary 1914. Sadly Josh seems hardly to get a mention these days but he was a legendary American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and civil rights activist. Today, remembered for his powerful and highly sensual stage presence, while some still remember that he almost single-handedly introduced Negro folk, blues, and gospel music to a world audience in the 1940s.
Blind Boy Fuller, Sonny Terry, Lonnie Johnson, Leadbelly and Josh White CDs are on offer at £3.99.

Leadbelly and Josh White’s music affected Europe and in Britain this manifested itself as Skiffle. Its greatest UK exponents were the late great Lonnie Donnegan and of course Chas McDevitt. Donnegan was also influenced by Lonnie Johnson and we are pleased to offer his 1937-1942 recordings at £3.99. The podcast interview with Lonnie Donegan in this newsletter was done in 1995 and appeared in that summer's edition of the fanzine "The Leadbelly Letter" which came out of New York. The sound quality isn’t too great as Gary Atkinson was speaking from an analogue phone in Scotland to a poor line in Spain.
Talking of "putting on the agony and putting on the style" as the great Skiffle song goes, it may astonish you to learn that this was written and first recorded by non other than Vernon Dalhart (see DOCD-1105). Dalhart also first wrote and performed "The Run Away Train".

So we also honour Vernon Dalhart this month at £5.99 and other Edisons at £2.99.

Now we don't want you thinking that Skiffle is a British invention as the Wikipedia page rightly say:
"The first use of the name on records was in 1925
by the otherwise unknown Jimmy O'Bryant and
his Chicago Skifflers
." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiffle)

Jimmy is not unknown to Document fans and we are pleased to offer Jimmy O'Bryant Vol 1 1924 – 1925 and Hot Clarinets Jimmy O'Bryant Vol 2 & Vance Dixon 1923 – 1931 at a bargain £2.99

We have got 25 titles that are on offer at £1.99, but supplies at this price are limited. We hope that you are pleased with our selections and Pod cast this month.

We are always delighted to hear from you and hope to feature more of your stories and finds
in coming newsletters.


Jesse, Lula and Leadbelly






























Document Records Discount
_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Vernon Dalhart
Puttin' On The Style
DOCD-1105
____________________________________________

This great collection has 18 whip crackin' tracks from the pioneer of country music.
The CD also has an eight page booklet with notes written by Jack Palmer (who wrote the first book-length biography of Vernon Dalhart, Mainspring Press ISBN 0977273504) and full discographical details.


Vernon Dalhart ~ Puttin' On The Style
_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Jazz and Blues On Edison
Volume 2

DOCD-1107
____________________________________________
We are pleased to announce the release of
Jazz And Blues On Edison Volume 2.
Includes tracks by Josie Miles, Fletcher Henderson,
Lopez & Hamilton and Eva Taylor.


Jazz And Blues On Edison Volume 2
_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
The Edison Podcast
____________________________________________

Here are the latest Edison Podcasts from Larry Tedder:

Early Wax Cylinders Edison Podcast
Running Time 1 hour
Size of file 57.9 MB

Track list and discographical details for the
Early Wax Cylinders Podcast

_______________________________________

To compliment the Edison series we have the 5 previously released podcasts compiled by Larry Tedder.

Please click here to find out what they are

If you are interested in the Edison collection and want to find out more information about it, please visit:


Mr. Thomas Alva Edison calling Document
Mr Edison calling Document

Here is what one satisfied customer had to say about the podcasts:

"Hi Folks,
When will the next Podcast be posted? I so enjoyed the first one and have listened to it so many times I feel I know it word perfect. Please continue the great work."
Regards Mike Hotz
Australia
_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
The Lonnie Donegan Podcast
____________________________________________
From the Document vaults we bring you the Lonnie Donegan Podcast. This interview with Lonnie Donegan was conducted by Document MD Gary Atkinson in 1995 and appeared in that summer's edition of the fanzine "The Leadbelly Letter" which came out of New York. Originally recorded on cassette, the interview has now be remastered for your listening pleasure.



Lonnie Donegan
_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Document Records Top 10
____________________________________________
"Now then, now then, pop pickers, 'eres yer Doctastic Top Ten CDs for all the young guys and gals out there in Docky land."

A Beginners Guide to the Blues (and the Document Records Catalogue Part 1)
This is a list made primarily for the first time visitor to the Document Records back catalogue. But the old time blues head might like to take a look as well...

_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Reverend Gary Davis
Manchester Free Trade Hall 1964
DOCD-32-20-14
____________________________________________
Document is pleased to present an exclusive, never before released CD of the Reverend Gary Davis.
His first visit to the UK took place in 1964, as a Member of the Blues and Gospel Caravan, unused to such arduous touring conditions his performances were often patchy, fortunately this is one of the finest from that first visit.
Recorded live in the Manchester Free Trade Hall his Gospel pieces are quite superb, indeed this whole CD represents Gary Davis at his majestic best.
As Bob Groom ( sleeve note writer and then audience member) notes:
"It sounds fresh and vital with Miss Gibson (his guitar) talking to him throughout. With "Come on up, Sonny Terry", Gary annouces the arrival on stage of his old playing partner. Their playing meshes perfectly throughout."


Click here to see Reverend Gary Davis on
You Tube


Click here for the Reverend Gary Davis
Wikipedia page


Click here for a site devoted to Reverend
Gary Davis


Track List

1. You Got To Move
2. If I Had My Way
3. The Sun Is Going Down
4. I’m A Soldier
5. I Got A Little Mama,
Sweet As She Can Be
6. Sally, Please Come Back
To Me (Worried Blues)
7. Cocaine Blues
8. Cincinnati Flow Rag
9. Children of Zion
10. Coon Hunt (Harmonica Instrumental)
11. Maple Leaf Rag

All material has been
digitally remastered

_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Mississippi Blues
Volume 4
____________________________________________

This album was originally released in 1987 as DLP 519 during Document Records vinyl release period, prior to the change over to CD format.
The album presents a fine demonstration of how the raw country blues of the deep south was swept along by the great migration north where it metamorphed into the powerful electric blues of Chicago which then went on to effect the music of generations around the world.

All new material has been digitally remastered.


Mississippi Blues Volume 4


_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________

Internet
Excursions

____________________________________________



Internet Excursions


_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Gary Davis
Competition
____________________________________________

Gary Davis: Free Exclusive Personalized CD
Did you or any of your friends see Gary Davis that night (Manchester Free Trade Hall 1964) or did you or any of your friends see Gary Davis perform live in the 1960s?

We have 10 CD to give away. Each CD will be uniquely personalized as Promo with "To..."
(recipients name)

All you need to do is send us a written description of the show, 250 words or more.You can email us at: gillian@document-records.com or write into
Document Records Ltd
c/o 7 Prestwich Avenue, Culcheth, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 4NA

All entries will be posted on the web-site. The winning 10 entries will be chosen by a team of Document sleeve note writers and will be contacted during the last week of FEBRUARY 2008.
Hope to hear from you soon.


Reverend Gary Davis Live


_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________
Contact and Ordering
____________________________________________

CONTACT AND ORDERING
You can order by using the product links or by telephoning sales at 01988 403200 or if you are calling from outside the U.K. 00 44 1988403200.
Orders can also be emailed to:
sales@document-records.com
Further contact details can be found at:
www.document-records.com






Blue Band Update


The latest from Bob Dorr and the Blue Band!

Yikes! I'm feelin' so responsible for your well being! I've had a few people email wondering WHERE IS MY BLUE NOTE?? I'm flattered to hear that so many people look forward to these notes, but the pressure is killin' me! Couple this with the fact that I'm not feeling particularly witty these days and all of a sudden I've got writer's block. It must be the weather. But I digress...

Tomorrow night (Saturday) we're helping the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown try to raise funds for their operation. Their press release says:

January 26th is the ARL Fur Ball featuring the Blue Band at the Marshalltown Coliseum. Doors open at 7:00PM, Band starts at 8:00 until 11:30. We will have free hor d'ourves starting at 7 until they run out. 13th Street Inn will be providing a cash bar featuring H & F Distributing products and a variety of sodas. Tickets can be purchased at the door- $30 per person or $50 per couple. If you would like to purchase tickets in advance to speed up getting in the door, visit the ARL, Kimikie Dog Grooming, Messy Missy's or 13th Street Inn (they will be closed Saturday). All proceeds benefit the ARL of Marshalltown. We have several goals for 2008 that fundraising money will support. Two of our biggest are heartworm testing for ARL dogs and feline Luekemia testing for ARL cats. Joining us tomorrow night will help to hopefully initially get these two programs off the ground in the very near future. Hope to see you tomorrow night. Need more information? Call the ARL at 641-753-9046...

I think that says it all. Let me add that, with the aforementioned weather, please make sure your own pets/animals do not get caught in the below zero temps or the wave after wave of snow storms...

We're moving the monthly TGIF party to the first Friday of the month, at The Hub (4th & Main) here in Sparkle City. That means NEXT Friday (Feb. 1)!! (and Mar. 7 and April 4) I need to let you know that we were treated VERY well by The Reverb with the parties in Nov./Dec./Jan and just wanted to try a different location (OK, I admit that the 24 stair load-in at The Reverb might have had something to do with the location change) The Hub is hoping to add a kitchen/food to their scene, so this would be an added attraction to the 5:30-9:00 showtime, but that is NOT going to happen next week. There is also substantually more seating at The Hub...

And please make plans to join us Friday, Feb. 8 at the #1 blues club in Minneapolis-Famous Daves! Come for the bar-b-que, stay for dancing. I'm sure the weather will be balmy in the Twin Cities! (remember a few years ago when we played up there and it was so cold that they CLOSED The Ice Carnival??)...

In case you have not visited the Post-A-Note page (www.theblueband.com/chat2.cfm) a few links have been posted for pictures of New Year's Eve. It was a magic night. I love the group picture with all the Blue Alumni! Perhaps a few songs from the night will be posted soon too...

I think it was Mark Twain who said "everyone talks about the weather, but no one DOES anything about it"! Please God, send us some nice warm sunny days, you can do it!...

See ya on the sanded and salted Blue Highway, rub that washboard tie for added heat, and don't hestitate to eat more CAKE to add that extra layer of insulation from the cold! (for those of you who live out of Ioway, we set an all-time record for Thursday by bottoming out at -26 degrees) (quit that smug smile and find us a gig in your warm neighborhood!) We love you...Bob Dorr & The Blue Band

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Tom Gary And Paul Tillotson

Here are a couple of pics of me playing piano with Jazzman Paul Tillotson at the Cherokee Jazz and Blues festival. Paul is a topnotch piano player from New York City who was headlining the show. We jammed on a couple of tunes, one was a boogie woogie that sounded a lot like Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson's Boogie Woogie Dream! If you would like to see more photos you will need to go to the Gathering Places Myspace page HERE. If you have troubles getting in to see them, then you probably need a myspace profile, and add the Gathering Place to your friends list.



Buddy Guy: You Better Leave My Little Girl Alone

Yup, the original was done by Buddy Guy! This one features Buddy at Austin City Limits.

Buddy Guy: Mustang Sally

Bluesman Buddy Guy performing on the David Letterman Show back in 1991! Damn! That just seems like yesterday, but that was 17 years ago! ACK!!!!

Francis Clay RIP

Illinois blues, Bob Corritore, and Hawkeye Herman are all reporting the death of Francis Clay. Information is below.

Francis Clay
11/16/23-01/23/08

From: The Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter

From: Michael "Hawkeye" Herman www.HawkeyeHerman.com

  • Francis Clay Born 11/16/23, Rock Island, IL - Died. 1/22/08, San Francisco, CA

    Blues legend Francis Clay, former long-time Muddy Waters drummer, played with a who's who of Jazz and R&B icons, including Charlie Parker, Jay McShann, Billy Holiday, Little Walter, Lightnin Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Spann, Big Mama Thornton, and James Cotton (who started the original James Cotton Blues Band with Clay in 1966). Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones raved about watching Francis play back in the 1960s with Muddy, saying, "Clay was one of the most exciting drummers he'd ever seen and heard."

    Francis Clay was a kind, intelligent, gentle man, super musician, extraordinary poet/writer ... and a longtime friend ... to many. I was honored to have been in the wide circle of people who knew and loved Francis Clay. Although from different eras, Francis and I are 'homeboys' ... we were both raised up in the same town on the Mississippi River in Western Illinois, Rock Island ... those decades in age between us didn't separate us as good friends ... and I was honored to have presented the River Road Lifetime Achievement Award to Francis at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival a few years ago ... in our home area ... and the icing on the cake was being asked by Francis a few weeks before the presentation ... if I would please put together a seven-piece blues band featuring Midwest/regional 'all-stars' to perform with him at the festival. It was a grand day. The crowd was huge, and included many of Francis's hometown relatives ... he was most gracious as we acknowledged his contributions to the blues and the Universe with the award presentation. The mayor of Davenport, IA presented him with the key to the city. Francis smiled broadly as we played our short set ... that included the jazz instrumental, "Caravan," ... yes, with Francis taking a superb extended drum solo. Francis was very happy.

    That is how I will remember him. R.I.P. Francis Clay

    In Fond Memory,

    Michael "Hawkeye" Herman - www.HawkeyeHerman.com