In Memory 2011

Every year is a hard year for the blues.  Many of the greats have left us during this last year.  As always the blues is eternal, and they will not be forgotten.  For more detail information click HERE.

Howard Tate
Hubert Sumlin
John J Blackfoot
Lee Shot Williams
Paul Thomas
Doyle Bramhill
George Mojo Buford
Willie Big Eyes Smith
David Honey Boy Edwards
Jerry Raganoy
Jerry Leiber
Nick Ashford
Amy Winehouse
Clarence Clemmons
Benny Spellman
Cornell Dupree
L V Banks
Jack Myers
Huey P Meaux
Reggie P
Lacey Gibson
Pinetop Perkins
Melvin Sparks
Herman Roscoe Ernest III
Big Jack Johnson
Eddie Kirklane
Tom Leavey
Big Bill Collins
John Johnny Nitro Newton
Marvin Sease
Gary Moore
Jeannie Webster
Fred Sanders
Ray Galloway
Bobby Robinson

May they rest in peace. 

Artist Of The Week: Ike Turner

Ike Turner will always be a mystery. He had tremendous talent, and had a good eye for recruiting talented players and singers for his band. Yet, he also had an evil side that is hard to understand. Regardless of his personal life, he made some great music. So in honor of his music, he is our artist of the week.

Cotton Candy RIP

Kansas City blues icon Cotton Candy Washington died of complications of a stroke early Christmas morning. Cotton was a fun blues singer who always loved singing songs with double meanings. I was lucky to jam with her quite often at the Roxy in Overland Park Kansas. She was a riot to play for and after I left town she and her band won the KC blues challenge twice, and place third in the nation in Memphis after one of those victories. To read more about Cotton Click HERE. Her website is still up HERE, it does have a nice bio that she wrote about herself there so check it out.

Oscar Peterson RIP

The AFP has a press release on the death of Oscar Peterson. Peterson was one of the great blues and jazz pianists of all time. To read more about him Click HERE. For Oscar Peterson's website go HERE. For his biography check out his Wiki page HERE.

Ike Turner RIP

Ike Turner died yesterday in San Diego, he was 76 years old. Turner certainly was a person who personal life made it hard to like him, but his musical, writing, and arranging talents were beyond question. To read an obit from the Chicago Tribune Click Here.

"Philadelphia Jerry Ricks" RIP

Jerry Ricks has passed away. Ricks had been ill for awhile and many people on the blues E lists were trying to help him with expenses since he suffered a stroke in Croatia. Ricks learned and played guitar from such greats as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, as well as Lighting Hopkins. I will update this post once I get more information. To read a short bio/obit Click here for the story from AP.

Update Gary Smith Memorial

Here is updated information from the Des Moines Register.

GARY LEE SMITH

DES MOINES

published in The Des Moines Register on October 04, 2007

Gary Lee Smith, 55, passed away at Kavanagh Hospice House, Des Moines, on Monday, October 1, 2007.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2007 at Caldwell- Raddatz Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, IA.

A visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2007.

Gary was born in Des Moines on July 9, 1952 to Chester Smith and Mary Louise Swinehart.

He attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.

Gary worked as a warehouse man at Emco Enterprises.

Gary enjoyed music, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs.

He was the lead singer in the band "Land Sharks" and also a member of UAW.

Survivors include his sisters, Judy (Ronald) Noyes, Peggy Higday;

brothers, Randy (Alice) Smith, Greg Higday, Jeff Higday;

cousin, Crystal (Alan) Farnsworth; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, "Clover Buckingham"

A Celebration of Gary's life will be at Orlando's,

4337 Park Ave. in Des Moines, starting at 1 pm Saturday Oct 6, 2007.

The family would like to thank all Gary's musician friends for their time and talents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Iowa.

Gary Smith Rest In Peace

I received an email this morning from Randy Smith in regards to the death last night of his brother Gary. Gary will be sorely missed on the local blues scene. He was a nice guy who helped out all musicians, and always ran jams that were fair to everyone. He played in a lot of bands over the years, including the third installment of the Tom Gary Blues Band. He played with us at Spaghetti Works one night during one of blues fests. He played Gary Moore's Still Got The Blues For You. He smoked that song that night, and the audience went wild. Gary was a good friend, and one that you could always count on. I was glad that he carried on the tradition that Jimmy and me started at Hull Ave. The Sunday night jam session was a great gig, and Gary keep it going on. I will miss him a lot. Rest in peace Gary

I received this photo and words from Randy as a memorial to his brother:

Gary Smith
MAY HE REST IN PEACE -
BELOVED BROTHER,
MUSICIAN, AND FRIEND
July 9, 1952 –
October 01, 2007

Randy also sent along a link to Larry Berenguel site that has pictures taken during a jam session at the Kavanaugh House held for Gary. CLICK HERE Randy also was nice enough to send some MP3s of his brother. I don't have any way of posting them here, but I am going to look into putting up a podcast of some local music in the future, and I promise to put those songs in it.

At this point there is a planned celebration of life for Gary to be held at Orlando's in Des Moines sometime this weekend. As soon as I hear more details I will let you know.

Gary Primich update

No official word on cause of death of Gary Primich, but both his ex-wife, and a former band mate have said they think he died of a drug overdose. He was only 49 years old. Now I know that the young people who read this board think that 49 is over the hill, but in blues years, he was a very young man. You really don't hit your stride in the blues until you get to 40. From reading one of Primichs band mates blog, it seems that Gary had gotten into some of the hard stuff. It is unfortunate if it is true that we have lost another great bluesman to drugs and or, alcohol. The list of fallen blues performers to either or both is long and tragic. Regardless of why he died, I think it is important that we remember how he lived, and the music he left behind. The one thing about the blues is that it lives on. Primich left a large body of work that can be listened too, or watched for years to come. So he may have left us early, but he at least left us with a great gift of his blues.

Gary Primich RIP

Just got this shocking news from the All About Jazz News website. Gary Primich died yesterday. No news on why. This is shocking news to me, since I wasn't aware that he had any health issues. For a biography check out the all about Jazz News website here. I will update if I find anymore information.

The Late Willie Tee Interview And Obit

Louisiana Weekly has a cool interview with the late Willie Tee. It also includes an obit as well. It is a nice article to remember one of the good ones. Read it all HERE.

Edward "Eddie" Berner RIP

Eddie Berner was not a blues performer in a traditional sense, but was dubbed Chicago's number one blues fan. This is a great article about a man who loved the blues, and even though saddled with disabilities, still managed to make it to the clubs to hear the music, and see the performers he loved. A touching story about a great man. The story comes from the Chicago Tribune, to read more about Mr. Berner, Click HERE.

Wilson " Willie Tee" Turbinton RIP

Wilson "Willie Tee" Turbinton passed away yesterday. He was one of the great New Orleans piano players. For information about his death Click here for the Obit from the New Orleans Times Picayune. For more info on Willie Tee Check out his website HERE.

New Zealand's King Of The Blues Dies

Sonny Day the king of the blues in New Zealand died August 9th. The only picture I could find of him is one of him with his group the Sonny Day and the Sundowners. He is the third guitar player from the left. For more info Click here, for the article from Stuff.com.

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.

Oliver Morgan RIP

Just received this from the Yahoo Post war email list. New Orleans musician and recording artist Oliver Morgan died. He had one hit back in the mid 60s known as Who Shot The La La. According to his obit, he returned to New Orleans and played there until Hurricane Katrina. He then moved to Atlanta. In 1998 he recorded an album called I'm Home.

To read his obit Click HERE.

Jimmy T-99 Nelson RIP

bad news from the Houston Chronicle. Jimmy T-99 Nelson died on July 30th. A nice history of Jimmy can be read here. Nelson had a couple of hits T-99 Blues, and Meet Me With Your Black Dress On. Another nice story on Nelson can be read here at the Houston Press Blog.

Houston Press also found a video of Nelson on Youtube. It is a very nice version of Piney Brown Blues done at one time by Big Joe Turner. It was about one of the classic bars down on Vine Street in KC, and Piney Brown owned one of the best clubs down their.

Bill Perry RIP

Just got this press release from Illinois Blues. They received it from Blind Pig Records. This is bad news indeed. Bill was way to young.

 GUITARIST BILL PERRY DIES AT  AGE 49


With  great sadness, Blind Pig Records announces that New York  guitarist
Bill Perry died  on Tuesday, July 17th.  According to Greg Schwark,
Perry's road  manager for seven years, the musician was found at his
apartment in Sugar Loaf, NY.   Emergency medical  personnel tried to
revive Perry, but he died on the way to the  hospital, an apparent heart
attack victim, although no official cause  of death has been determined.

Perry was known as an  outstanding guitarist whose go-for-broke technique
combined  effortless fluidity and incredible attack.  Guitar One  magazine
called him a "six-string superman more powerful than a  locomotive."  He
was also gifted with a distinctive, raspy  voice full of grit and gravel
that particularly suited the drama  and emotion so essential to blues
music.

Perry first made  his mark in the clubs of New York City in the 1980's,
where he was  spotted by folk-rock singer Richie Havens.  Perry spent
four years on the road as the featured guitarist in Havens'  band.  During
the same period, he also did some touring  with The Band's Garth Hudson and
Levon Helm.  In 1995 he signed  a deal with Pointblank/Virgin and released
two albums for  them.   In 1999 he released a live album recorded at New
York's blues hotspot, Manny's Car Wash.  In 2001 Perry  released the first
of four titles for Blind Pig Records, with Jimmy  Vivino, music director of
"The Conan O'Brien  Show" serving as producer on the first two CDs.

Good friend and labelmate Popa Chubby produced Perry's next two  releases
for Blind Pig, the most recent being 2006's Don't Know  Nothin' About
Love.  Upon hearing the news while on  tour in Germany, Popa said, "The
best thing about Bill was that  his talent was effortless. He was a
natural. He could sing the phone  book and draw you in. He didn't have a
mean or a bad bone in him. I  never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
He was a brother and  I'll miss him dearly."

Richie Havens issued a  statement, saying, "I'm shocked and saddened to
hear the news.  Billy was a great friend, a truly gifted guitar player,
and one of  the funniest people I've ever known. Our times on the road
together  were some of best times I've ever had."  Havens recorded a
haunting acoustic duet version of the Rolling Stones' "No  Expectations"
with Perry that appeared on Bill's 2002 album  Crazy Kind Of Life.

Buddy Fox, Perry's manager  for four years and the long time booking agent
for Manny's Car  Wash, said, "Bill was a very singular and unique talent.
He had a natural blues voice, and an uncanny ability to sing at the  same
time that he was playing a virtuoso guitar solo."

Blind Pig President Edward Chmelewski said, "We are indeed  saddened by
the loss of Bill and his incredible talent.  His  intensity on the guitar
was frightening.  He was a mesmerizing  performer who played with passion
and excitement, and he had that  wonderful sandpapery voice that you could
listen to forever.   Truly a unique artist that will be missed."

Perry,  age 49 at the time of his death, is survived by his only son,
Aaron,  25, three brothers, and a sister.  Details of a memorial  and
funeral have not been announced.

Contact:  Debra Regur   [LINK: mailto:pigpress@blindpigrecords.com]
pigpress@blindpigrecords.com   415-550-6484
For  more information visit [LINK: http://www.blindpigrecords.com]
www.blindpigrecords.com.

RIP Carey Bell

Carey Bell passed on. Modern Guitars has a nice obit on its web page. GO HERE.

RIP Big Joe Duskin

Big Joe Duskin boogie piano player from Cincinnati died. for a short bio go here.