Doyle Bramhall RIP

Bad news from Austin.  According to the Houston Press, Doyle Bramhall has died.  Bramhall was a very important figure in creating the Austin blues scene.  More information as it become available.

For the Houston Press Article click HERE.


UPDATE

From Bob Corritore

RIP Doyle Bramhall - February 17, 1949 to November 12, 2011
This sad news just in: Texas blues legend Doyle Bramhall died from heart failure in his sleep Saturday night, at home in Alpine, Texas at the age of 62. He reportedly had been suffering from pneumonia in recent days. Bramhall was famous for his work in Austin, Texas with both Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as his great solo efforts. A top-notch drummer, singer, band leader and songwriter, Doyle helped to define the Austin blues scene. Many of his songs appeared on Stevie Ray Vaughan's most noted albums. Doyle`s son, Doyle Bramhall II continues his father’s tradition as a major musical force. To read Doyle`s bio on the Yep Rock Records website click http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=200. Doyle will forever be considered an influential and important figure in Texas blues, and he will be deeply missed by his legions of fans.

Lou Ann Barton: You Can Have My Husband

Video of Lou Ann Barton performing in Austin Texas.

Seth Walker at the Saxon Pub

Jan sent along a nice video of Seth Walker!

Artist Of The Week: Guy Forsyth

Artist of the week is Guy Forsyth. You will find quite a few videos of Guy on this site and most of them were taken by our good friend Jan shot down in Austin. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some of her videos pop up in the video box on the left side of the blog. I suppose in a way we have two artists of the week Guy and Jan:-) Enjoy the videos!

Uncle John Turner RIP

Hard times in Texas. Another Texas bluesman has left us. Uncle John Turner died on July 26th. He became famous as the drummer for Johnny Winter, and then years later he was in the band Krackerjack with Stevie Ray Vaughn. For an extensive bio and obit check out the Houston Press blog HERE. For even more information you should check out this website HERE.

East Austin Texas Blues History

The Daily Texan has a short article on the dying east Austin blues and jazz scene. East Austin was the black business district of the area, and much like Memphis's Beale, Kansas City's Vine, and Des Moines's Center Street, when segregation ended in the mid 60s, and the urban renewal movement gained momentum the music of the area died. What is interesting is that this pretty much happened all over the US. It is sad that some great cultural areas became lost, or in the case of Memphis remade to such an extent that it wasn't recognizable. However, many areas are trying to at least document what happened during the heyday of theses areas. Oral history projects are a great ways to record local history. Hopefully more cities will take up these projects.