Holly Golightly: So Long

I know that they might be a shock to the system for some of you, but I really owe these people for the success of my video Holly Golightly Blues. 80% of the people who have seen my video on Youtube, saw it because they saw the band Holly Golightly!

I like this simple piedmount style blues song. it is a nice heartfelt blues.


Thanks Holly!!

John Cephas RIP

From Bob Corritore

March 4, 2009

• RIP John Cephas 7/4/1930-3/4/09: Steve Hecht of Piedmont Talent reports that Piedmont blues legend John Cephas (AKA "Bowling Green" John Cephas) passed away at his home today of natural causes. He was 78. He had retired from music recently due to illness. John Cephas was born July 4, 1930, in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington, D.C. in a musical and religious family. He picked up the guitar at an early age, and learned gospel from his family and blues from some of the records available to him. He mastered a gentle finger picking style that has become known as the Piedmont style of blues guitar. He first worked was as a gospel artist touring with the Capital Harmonizers. In the early 1970s, he was heard by pianist Big Chief Ellis and hired Cephas to play guitar in his band. Cephas appears as a sideman on Ellis's beautiful album on the Trix label. It was in Ellis's band the Cephas met a young harmonica player by the name of Phil Wiggins. This meeting would become an enduring and highly celebrated partnership. The duo of Cephas and Wiggins has made numerous great records on labels such as L+R, Flying Fish, Evidence, Bullseye Blues, Alligator, and Chesky, In 1989 John Cephas won a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship with The National Endowment for the Arts. In 1996, Cephas and Wiggins won the W. C. Handy Award for the Best Traditional Album of the Year, and were also named Blues Entertainers of the Year. In 1988, Cephas received a Washington, D.C., Mayor's Arts Award. Just last week, he was awarded the Library Of Virginia's 2009 African-American Trailblazers in Virginia History award. Cephas was also the founder of the Washington, D.C. Blues Society, and served on the Executive Committee Of The National Council For the Traditional Arts. A sweet, unassuming man with a rich voice and phenomenal, yet understated guitar ability, John takes with him his true representation of the Southeastern blues tradition. Thanks, John, for all the great music you gave us.

Andy Coats Update

From Andy Coats

Hey folks,

Happy March – looks like the new month will be bringing more snow to the Triangle!

I’ve got two separate shows this week.

First off, I’m doing a very special house concert with the great John Dee Holeman:

Sat., March 7, 8 pm - mid
John Dee Holeman and Andy Coats
Forty Acres House Concert
Chapel Hill, NC
http://www.fortyacres.org
*Tickets $15.00/person

You can reserve your tickets for this show by sending an e-mail to tickets@fortyacres.org . More information about location, directions, etc. can be found on the Forty Acres website. (By request, I’m not publishing the address of the homeowner in my emails.)

Then, I’ll be trying out a new venue with 14-year old blues journeyman, Drew Questell. This will be a “brunch-type” show and a great way to get ready for the UNC-Duke basketball game later in the day. May the Tarheels triumph once again!.)

Sun., March 8, 11 am - 2:30 pm
Andy Coats and Drew Questell
Nosh
2812 Erwin Rd # 101
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-4747
http://www.noshfood.com

Hope you are all well!

Best,

Andy

www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

Andy Coats And John Dee Holman

Another gig with the great John Dee Holman, and our good friend Andy Coats!!!!!!

This week, we return to the Blue Martini. Hope you can join us!

Thurs., Oct. 16, 8 pm - mid
Andy with John Dee Holeman and Friends
The Blue Martini
116 N West St # 100, Raleigh NC
http://www.bluemartiniraleigh.com

All the best,

Andy
www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
http://www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

John Dee Holeman: One Black Rat

Here is the legendary John Dee Holeman playing some mean down home blues on the guitar. This guy is a national treasure! Durham is lucky to have some one of his caliber still around.

John Dee Holeman Benifit Concert With Andy Coats

Andy sent me an email about a nice event he is particpating in to help defray some medical costs for John Dee Holeman. Holeman is one of the last authenic Piedmont style musicians around and he has had a big influence on Andy. If you are in the North Carolina area then check them out.

As you know these old bluesman are living treasures. Unlike other styles of music where yesterdays artists are quickly thrown into the dustbin of one hits wonders and hasbeens. The blues celebrates it past and it living breathing history. We never throw aside our old artists but embrace them. So if near Durham NC, go check out the real blues of John Dee Holman.

Folks,

This is one you won’t want to miss – a special benefit concert for Mr. John Dee Holeman, where the living legend himself will be joining me onstage.

Mr. Holeman has had some unexpected medical expenses of late, and so the Triangle Blues Society, Triangle Rockin’ Blues, and the Pizza Palace of Durham have put together this unique event to help defray those costs.

Friday, Aug. 29, 7-10 pm

Andy Coats, with very special guest John Dee Holeman

Pizza Palace of Durham

3128 Guess Rd., Durham

919-620-9700

www.myspace.com/pizzapalaceofdurham

NO COVER CHARGE, donations encouraged!

As you know, Mr. Holeman has become a mentor and friend to me, and is one of the few “real deal” Piedmont blues musicians still living.

Here’s a brief summary of his accomplishments, from Sherry Johnson:

John Dee Holeman, a history lesson in blues, is a 1988 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor that the U.S. bestows upon traditional artists (profile at www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/fellow.php?id=1988_06). In 1994, he was awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award (see www.ncarts.org/artist_page.cfm?ser=35889&num=35389&). No artificial sweetener here -- this is the real stuff. Pure raw cane sugar blues!!

One Black Rat: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DHNSqW8rAM&feature=related

UNC-TV interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAoWEIdOPxU

I hope all of you within driving distance can join us for this wonderful event!

All the best,

Andy
www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
http://www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

JohnDeeHoleman-AndyCoats.jpg

Doc Watson: Deep River Blues

Some nice finger picking style blues by Doc Watson

Doc Watson - Deep River Blues
Uploaded by Pitoucat

Sonny Terry And Browine McGhee: Burnt Child

Classic Sonny Terry and Browine McGhee.

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Uploaded by soulpatrol

Keb Mo: Angelina

The great Keb Mo playing acoustic blues! NICE!

John Cephas Interveiw

Modern Guitar Magazine has an interview with John Cephas about his style of blues. Cephas plays what is known as the Piedmont blues. This is a very informative article about Cephas and acoustic blues. Read more about it HERE.