BB King

As of now BB King still lives.  He is at home under hospice care.  While most people used hospice at the end of their life, it also can be used for elderly people without anyone to help them.  It is really hard to know just what is going on.  There seems to be a feud between BB Kings management which has power of attorney.  Vs. the family who called the police because of what they believed was elder abuse.  It is also hard to know just what happened in BB's brief stay in the hospital.  I have avoided all of the typical parasitic paparazzi tabloid new sites, because they really don't know either.  What I do know is that BB has been sick since last winter and has canceled months of shows.  This is not good.  However, don't give up hope. Keep positive thoughts going his way. 

Flu Blues

I wish I could find Albert Collins singing his classic Flu Blues! Unfortunately I have had no luck, and I can certainly relate to what Albert was feeling. I starting getting sick on Tuesday night, and then by Thursday I was stuck on the couch or in bed until Sunday morning! I am not sure if I had the flu, or if it was a bad cold. The doctors around here never tell you what you have, which is probably ok. After all who wants to worry about H1N1! It might be best not to know! All I do know is that I am better tonight, and I am looking forward to getting back to work, and blogging.

Tom Gary
Blues Historian

Sam Carr

Delta bluesman Sam Carr is ill and is recuperating in a nursing home. Bob Corritore sent an update.

• Sam Carr Health Concerns: The following message came to us from Geni Ward, the sister of Sam Carr: "I would like to let everyone know that Sam Carr has taken ill and is in a nursing home in Clarksdale, Mississippi:

Greenbrough Nursing Center

Room 308

340 DeSoto Avenue Extension

Clarksdale, MS 38614

Phone: (662) 627-3486

He has a blood clot in his leg, and his kidneys are beginning to fail. The doctors are treating him for the blood clot, and are giving him medicine to treat his kidneys. I would like for everyone to send up prayers on his behalf, and if anyone lives in the area, please go and visit him. Steve Kolbus has been going by to see him every day; if someone comes to see him often, they will give him better treatment. Thanks!"

-Geni Ward

Internet Issue And Illness

Boy, was yesterday was a bad day. First the internet has been down for a couple of days due to some idiot cutting the fiber optics cable in Sioux City. Oooops! That really sucked. Then by evening I started feeling pretty bad and ended up with a fever and shakes. I hope it was a 24 hour bug because I do feel a little better this morning. So I finally get around to trying to get on the internet, and then I have connectivity problems, which to be honest was one my end, and my Windows XP. Then my Windows Onecare started acting up and just grinded away for a long time. So while I am messing with that I am watching cable TV, when all of a sudden it goes off the air. I could hear voices from outside near the cable box, and by the time I get out their the guy has left and put a cap on my cable! This is the second time these guys have done this. It is the upstairs people who they are suppose to disconnect not me! The last time they did this I just pulled the filter off myself, but guess what, they have new filters! They just spin and spin! So I call up the cable guys and they are suppose to fix it, but you know how slow those guys are. So at least I can post some news and update the blog. YIKES!

Larry Garner Hospitalized

Larry Garner, one of those great Louisianna bluesmen was suffering some chest discomfort, and went to the hospital where it was discovered that he had a blockage in some of his veins. He DID NOT suffer a heart attack, and they performed a bypass. Serena of CIBS, forwarded this email from the Baton Rouge Blues Society on the latest condition of Larry:

Hello BRBS members
I went to OLOL Hospital and sat with Sandra Garner while Larry was in
Surgery yesterday afternoon. He came through triple bypass fine.I had
lunch with Sandra and a very nice visit. I asked her what thier needs
would be while Larry is out of work. She told me he had to cancel some
shows and anything would be appreciated. His doctor says no work for 6
weeks---but Sandra says--FAT CHANCE---YOU KNOW LARRY!!!!! All joking
aside--if you want to message him on My Space he'll love it.
http://www.myspace.com/larrygarnerbluesband BRBS will be making a
donation to the family.

Do check out his myspace page and give him a get well soon message.

Gary Smith In Hospice

Gary Smith, (With guitar) one of Des Moines great blues guitarists is in Kavanah House, a Hospice out on the westside of Des Moines. Gary was one of those legendary jam masters, who ran some great blues jams in the city. He took over the Sunday night jam at the Hull Ave, after I left. He also had a great band called the landsharks, among many others over the years. I will update the information as soon as it comes in. In the meantime keep Gary in your thoughts.


Rick Mosqueda, Dave Andrews, and Gary Smith.



UPDATE

Just talked to Gary on the phone. He is in good spirits and is staying at Kavanah House for awhile while his stomach gets better from Chemo Therapy. He plans to return to home once he is well. He did say he has his guitar with him, and that is a good sign! Get better Gary and hope to see you soon on the jam cirrcut:-)