Bob Corritore Blues News

Thursday May 26, 2011

• Blues at the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival this Saturday and Sunday! Last year the long standing Simi Valley Cajun Festival became the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival with separate stages for each music style. The tradition continues with an amazing blues lineup!  On Saturday May 28th acts will include The 44’s, Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos, Mikey Jr & Stone Cold Blues, Arthur Adams, Ana Popovic, John Nemeth, and the Mannish Boys Revue with Tracy Nelson, Rusty Zinn, Lynwood Slim, The King Brothers, Bob Corritore, Peter Dammann, John Marx, and more. On Sunday May 29th, 2011 the lineup is Cadillac Zack with Special Guests, Mitch Kashmar Band, Kirk Fletcher Band, Big Pete tribute to Lester Butler with special guest Al Blake, Shawn Pittman, Elvin Bishop's Hell Raisin Review, and  Maria Muldaur! Simply a stunning presentation of blues! For more information about this festival check out the fest website by clicking here. 
• Some thanks are in order! On May 5th,2011, the album Bob Corritore & Friends / Harmonica Blues on the Delta Groove label was presented with the 2011 Blues Music Award in the category of Best Historical Album. I must express the great joy and validation that this win has brought to me. The great honor of this award is a highpoint in my life. This release was recorded between 1989 and 2009 (a twenty year span), and features special guests: Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Nappy Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Louisiana Red, Carol Fran, Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, The Rhythm Room All-Stars, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Eddie Shaw, Chico Chism, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, David Maxwell, Eddie Taylor, Jr., Bob Stroger, and more! Each of these amazing artists contributed heartfelt performances with their own unique musical personality. Special thanks to Randy Chortkoff, Kelly Davis, Jeff Fleenor, Josh Temkin, Frank Roszak, Steve Dixon and everyone at Delta Groove Productions for a brilliant job releasing and proudly marketing this CD. Thanks to Jay Seilemen, Joe Whitmer and everyone at the Blues Foundation for creating an event that reflects and celebrates the current blues landscape and its annual achievements. Thanks to the audio experts Clarke Rigsby of Tempest Recorders, John Wrobble and Jeff Harris of Porcupine Productions, and Dave Shirk of Sonorous Mastering who made this record have top notch sound. A heartfelt thanks to all the fans, reviewers, writers, photographers, festivals, clubs, retails outlets, and the nominators and voters. And great gratitude to God for allowing me a life blessed with all these amazing blues experiences, and for the focus, purposefulness, energy and resources to record and release this album. Thank you for embracing this album believing in the work of my wonderful associates and myself. A heartfelt thank you!
  -Bob Corritore
• Louisiana Red to appear at the Rhythm Room on June 3 and 4! The legendary Louisiana Red is no stranger to Phoenix, Arizona, having lived there for a year in 1982. So when he makes his annual visit to the US from his current home of Hannover, Germany, he usually takes some time to play a weekend in Phoenix at he Rhythm Room. Back in 1982 the same location was then known as the Purple Turtle (It would become the Rhythm Room in 1991) and it was the club that Louisiana Red most frequently played at during his Phoenix residence. Louisiana Red, now 79 years old, will appear on Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4 with the Rhythm Room All-Stars (Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey). You can expect Red to play the most heartfelt traditional blues around, and to reflect the influences of his teachers, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk, Lightnin' Hopkins, and John Lee Hooker. Doors open at 8pm and showtime is at 9:15 each night. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix, Arizona 85014. To see some wonderful photos of Louisiana Red click here,  and here.
• Robert Nighthawk on YouTube! Please enjoy this griity Maxwell Street performance from 1964 by the great Robert Nighthawk. Robert sings the menacing "Murderin' Blues" to a wild audience. The down home band includes Robert Whitehead on drums and John Lee Granderson on second guitar. Click here to see.