Eric "Guitar" Davis RIP

From Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/20/eric-guitar-davis-chicago_n_4480753.html

All I can say isn't it about time we get rid of SOME of the guns???????   We lost a good one, and he was not the only person shot in Chicago.  1/2 a block down a deacon of a church was also shot in his car.  The uneducated will blame Chicago, but they have pretty tough gun laws, but Gary Indiana doesn't and that is where all the guns are coming from. 

Sad thing is Eric Davis was a good one, and at 41 in blues years very young.  Tis a sad day indeed.

Muddy Waters - Champagne & Reefer

Just thought a great Muddy Waters tune was due today:-)   Plus my friends Johnny Reefferseed Express are playing at the Hull Ave tonight (E9th and Hull Ave, Des Moines Iowa, 6pm-10pm)
Support your local blues performers because with out them there is no local blues scene. 

Blues Historian Review: Li'L Ronnie and the Grand Dukes, Gotta Strange Feeling

Li'l Ronnie and the Grand Dukes are a classic harmonica blues band out of Virginia.  Ronnie is a great harp player who plays in the best tradition of Chicago bluesmen. However, their song selection is varied, so it is not the shuffle, shuffle, slowblues, that you find from a lot of contemporary harp bands in the Chicago style.  The majority of the songs are original material, which is always a positive thing.  Yet, they do perform a quality jump blues Buzz Me by Louis Jordan that any self respecting Kansas City jump blue band would love to have in their catalog of songs. Furthermore, their Bring Your Love Home, is an original jump blues that screams Kansas City, Texas Jump, or LA Swing take your pick. 

The CD is currently available on their website HERE. According to the website it will be available on Amazon and Itunes.  However, I couldn't find the latest release online yet.

Donald Duck Dunn RIP

Donald Duck Dunn has died according to the Chicago Tribune. For the article Click HERE. Dunn's was known as the bass player for Booker T. and the MGs, as well as years later for the Blues Brothers.  More info when It becomes available.

UPDATE

Form Bob Corritore

RIP Donald "Duck" Dunn - November 24, 1941 to May 13, 2012. If ever there was a definitive soul / blues bass player it wasDonald "Duck" Dunn. Best known as the house musician forStax Records, and a member ofBooker T& The MGs,Duck Dunn is responsible for some of the most memorable bass-lines in history. ThinkAlbert King "Born Under A Bad Sign",Sam & Dave "I'm A Soul Man",Otis Redding "Sitting On The Dock Of The Day", andEddie Floyd "Knock On Wood" as examples of his great work. His contributions include thousands of classic recordings made over many years. He was also in the originalBlues Brothers and appears with acting parts in both of the movies. He received a lifetime achievementGrammyaward in 2007. He died while on tour in Tokyo at age 70. To see his amazing discography clickhere. To see the article inRolling Stone clickhere. Thank youDonald "Duck" Dunn for your groundbreaking contributions to American music!

Hubert Sumlin RIP

Hubert Sumlin has died for more information Read HERE.  Hubert was one of the last of the great Chicago guitarists from the golden age of Chicago blues.  He played with the legendary Howling Wolf for many years.  Will update when more information becomes available.

UPDATE

From Bob Corritore

December 8, 2011

• RIP Hubert Sumlin - November 16, 1931 to December 4, 2011. Best known for his extraordinary guitar work on the 1950s and 1960s recordings of Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin is considered among the greatest guitarists of all time. Hubert passed away of a heart attack on Sunday, Dec 4 after a long bout with respiratory illness. He was 80 years old. Though his health had been problematic for years, he continued to tour and delight concert and festival audiences until close to the end. Born in Greenville, Mississippi in 1931 and raised in Hughes, Arkansas, Hubert got his first guitar at age 6. Hubert was very interested in music and as a boy snuck into a nightclub to see Howlin' Wolf perform. Hubert's youthful enthusiasm won Wolf's heart, who took the young boy in and developed a father-like mentoring role with Hubert. Wolf would move to Chicago in 1953 and a year later would call for Hubert to move to Chicago to join his band. Initially Hubert  played a secondary role in the group with guitarist Jody Williams getting most of the limelight.  But when Jody left the band about 2 years later, Hubert became the star guitarist. Hubert's unorthodox approach, using innovative rhythmic textural lines and wild bursts of lead guitar, became an integral part of the Howlin' Wolf sound., Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters reportedly had a rivalry going as to who had the top blues band in Chicago (both were amazing bands) and for a short period of time Muddy recruited Hubert away from Wolf only to have Hubert return to Wolf's band and never leave again. Hubert's guitar was an essential and consistent part of the success of Wolf's recordings and live shows. The music achieved by the Wolf / Sumlin combination reached the highest of heights in the blues. When Howlin' Wolf recorded the London Sessions in 1970, Hubert began a life long relationship with UK blues artists like Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. In 1976, when Wolf died, Hubert was devastated. At first Eddie Shaw (Wolf's saxophonist) tried to keep the Howlin' Wolf band together but Hubert would drift: spending time in Austin, Texas under the care of Clifford Antone, or in Chicago where he stayed with Sunnyland Slim. In addition to recordings with Wolf, Hubert appeared on Chicago sessions with Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, Andrew McMahon, Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Carey Bell, Little Eddie, Big Mac, and others. He recorded numerous albums under his own name for L+R, Black Top, Tone-Cool, Rykodisc, APO, JSP, Blind Pig, Blues Planet, Blues Special and other labels. At a point, under the guidance of manager Toni Ann Mamary, Hubert  started to get his due as the guitar legend he was. Hubert found himself hanging around and performing with rock stars, playing major festivals, and having his historic bio, Incurable Blues, published. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2008, Through all this notoriety, Hubert remained the kind, gentle soul with the same boyish enthusiasm that first befriended the Howlin' Wolf. His guitar playing was always intriguing, unorthodox, and impossible to copy. As he was bedridden and nearing the last hours of his life, his final request was to play his guitar one last  time. We thank Hubert for the light of joy he shined on the world and the heavenly music that he left for future generations to behold. He was our blues blessing. Special thanks to Hugh Southard of Blue Mountain Artists, Bob Margolin, and Little Frank who worked with him frequently on the road in recent years, Pat Morgan, James Cotton, Paul Oscher, Kim Wilson, Amanda Taylor, Diunna Greenleaf, Twist Turner, Little Mike, and all his friends and fans who all were there at all times to support Hubert.

To see some amazing videos of Hubert Sumlin with the Howlin' Wolf:
"Shake For Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex3nc0Km77g&feature=related
"Smokestack Lightnin" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxiYgof34iE&feature=related

Hubert Sumlin Funeral Information:
Sunday, December 11, 2011 - Viewing and Receiving of guests
2- 4 PM & 7 - 9PM
Festa Memorial
http://festamemorial.com/

111 Union Blvd.
Totowa, NJ 07512
Phone: (973) 790-8686

Monday, December 12, 2011 - Funeral Service10AM
Festa Memorial
http://festamemorial.com/

111 Union Blvd.
Totowa, NJ 07512 Phone: (973) 790-8686

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - Chicago Area Musical Celebration Of Life
FitzGerald's
http://www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/
6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, Illinois 60402
7pm doors, Donations accepted at door.

JB Lenoir: I Feel So Good

A very cool clip of  the original filmed performance of JB Lenoir,  I Feel So Good.  The clip I posted a few years ago, was edited with another performance by the producers of the Blues film for PBS.   This is the original version, and of course it rocks:-)     JB was the man no doubt about it. 

Muddy Waters: You Can't Lose What You Aint Never Had

I have posted this video back in the archive, but it is one my favorite Muddy videos.  Muddy takes a long walk down a railroad track, then climbs up into an abandoned train station where his band is playing.  It apparently was recorded live in England in 1964.

Eddy Clearwater: I just Wanta Make Love To You

The Chief performing at the Natchel Blues Network Bash at the Beach.

Junior Wells: Hoodo man Blues

Really cool old clip of Junior Wells. 

Muddy Waters: You Can't Loose What You Aint Never Had

One of my favorite Muddy tunes. 

Blues Historian Review: Tail Dragger Live At Rooster's Lounge

I received this from the good folks at Delmark last Christmas, and I have enjoyed watching this disc.  Tail Dragger is one of those old time blues musicians that the Wall Street Journal doesn't know about when they say the blues is dead.  Tail Dragger mesmerizes the crowd with his down home Chicago blues.  I love the way he plays with the crowd, and the magic in this guys eyes as he works the ladies.  Tail Dragger may have snow on the mountain top but there is a fire down below! (Wolf??  Muddy?? one of them sang it:-)  Tail Dragger has an equally amazing guest,the legendary Jimmy Dawkins (another bluesman that the Wall Street Journal should listen to)  Tail Draggers band includes, Rockin Johnny, Kevin Shanahan, Martin Lang, Rob Lorenz and Todd Fackler.  These guys are great, they know the drill, they follow along, and take their leads, just like a great band should.  If you want to see why the blues is still alive and well in Chicago, no thanks to the Wall Street Journal, then buy this DVD!

Randy Joe Fullerton RIP

From Bob Corritore

RIP Randy Joe Fullerton, Sept 18, 1949 - June 27, 2010. This news comes in from Will "Smokey" Logg. Bassist Randy Joe Fullerton passed away on June 27 in Dallas, Texas. He was 60. Fullerton was a popular blues bass player in the late 60s and 70s who worked with Luther Allison, Rod Piazza, Paul Filipowicz, Jim Liban, Billy Flynn, Madison Slim and many others. He is probably best known as the young, long haired bass player in the 1970 video of Howlin' Wolf performing Highway 49 at a blues festival in Washington D.C. where he was a capable fill in for Wolf's curtailed bass player. To see this unbelievable video, click here. To see Randy Joe Fullerton's myspace, click here. Randy remained an active performer his whole life and is considered a top shelf bassist by all that knew him. He will be greatly missed.


Here is a video of Howling Wolf singing with Randy Joe Fullerton playing bass

Low Down Dirty Blues

This just in via email! This is a musical going on in Skokie Illinois. Starts Mays 27th.  for more info check out the Northlight Theatre website.

Northlight Theatre presents:

Low Down Dirty Blues

By Randal Myler & Dan Wheetman

May 27 – July 3

When the crowd goes home for the night, the real show begins! At least that's the case at one local Blues bar, where musicians gather after hours to swap stories and songs filled with passion, soul and an authentic love of the Blues that can't be described, but demands to be played. Inspired by Blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Ma Rainey, Sophie Tucker, Howlin' Wolf and Pearl Bailey, this low down dirty jam session pays tribute to a musical form that's steeped in Chicago history-and alive and thriving today!

Featuring: Mississippi Charles Bevel, Felicia P. Fields, Gregory Porter and Sandra Reaves-Phillips.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 847.673.6300 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              847.673.6300      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit northlight.org.

Howling Wolf: Smokestack Lighting

The amazing Wolf, with Willie Dixon and Hubert Sumlin.

Sonny Boy Williamson: Nine Below Zero

Sonny Boy Williamson with Otis Spann on piano and introduced by Memphis Slim!

Earl King: The Things That I Used To Do

Ya gotta love it! Earl King from the Chicago Blues Fest!

Alex "Easy Baby" Randle RIP

From Bob Corritore

RIP Alex "Easy Baby" Randle 8/3/1934 - 9/25/2009 : This sad news from Chicago area bassist and record producer Karl Meyer about the passing of Chicago blues harmonica great Easy Baby: Alex Randle, known to the world as "Easy Baby", passed away Friday, September 25, 2009 after suffering from pneumonia. He was 75 years old. Alex "Easy Baby" Randle was born 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee. For the first seven years of his life, he lived in Michigan City, Mississippi, with his grandmother and uncle, before moving back to Memphis to attend school. His grandmother and uncle were harmonica players; so, it was natural for Easy Baby to pick up the harmonica. In the early 1950's, when Easy Baby was still a teenager, he began playing professionally around Memphis while working a variety of odd jobs, including installing floors and shining shoes. While playing in the juke joints and gambling houses in Memphis, he befriended Howlin' Wolf, James Cotton, and Joe Hill Louis, among others. In 1956, Easy Baby moved to Chicago. Throughout the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's Easy Baby sang and played all over Chicago, while working as a mechanic. He worked a long stint at the Rat Trap Inn in Chicago during the 1970s and made appearances at the Chicago Blues Festival in 1998, 2000, and 2003. Easy Baby released 2 records under his own name: Sweet Home Chicago Blues on the Barrelhouse label and If It Aint One Thing It's Another on the Wolf record label. Additionally he had cuts on 3 harmonica anthologies: Bring Me Another Half-A-Pint on Barrelhouse, Low Blows on Rooster, and Blues Harmonica Orgy on Random Chance. Unreleased sides exist recorded for Steve Wisner during the 1970s which will someday see the light of day. Easy Baby had a beautiful high register voice and a sparse harmonica style (specializing in Chromatic and third position). He was a kind and gentle man and was one of a dwindling number of the old school Chicago blues harmonica masters. Click here to see Karl Meyer's tribute page to Easy Baby.

Muddy Waters And Johnny Winter: Going Down Slow

Late Muddy Waters footage with Johnny Winter

Willie Dixon: Seventh Son

Willie Dixon performing one of his classic blues songs

Blues Historian Review: Cadillac Records

finally! I found a copy of Cadillac Records at my local video store so I bought it right up. I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to watching the movie. while I hadn't read the reviews, as a historian and a blues musician I didn't want to be disappointed watching some Hollywood fantasy. Yet, I put the disc in my trusty Playstation 3 and sat down to watch some Hollywood magic.

I am not going to get involved with what was real and what was myth, because lets face it there were a lot of missing people in the movie, (most importantly Phil Chess) and the Rock and Roll killing the blues was way over played. However I took off my historian hat and enjoyed a great movie about the blues. Muddy, Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry and Etta James come to life on the screen. Adrian Brody does an amazing Leonard Chess, (although Leonard was gray haired)

I guess it is unfortunate that this movie didn't get a bigger audience. In a lot of ways this movie reminded me of LaBamba. That movie made Richie Valens, and Los Lobos into household names, it also was historical inaccurate, but a fun flick. Yet, Cadillac Records, even with the lovely Beyonce Knowles, was not the huge hit that could have catapulted blues back into the mainstream. It is to bad, because it was a lot of fun. I hope that if you can find it in your local video store to buy it right away, because it definitely worth it.