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Friday, January 25, 2008
Document Records Update
Blue Band Update
The latest from Bob Dorr and the Blue Band!
Yikes! I'm feelin' so responsible for your well being! I've had a few people email wondering WHERE IS MY BLUE NOTE?? I'm flattered to hear that so many people look forward to these notes, but the pressure is killin' me! Couple this with the fact that I'm not feeling particularly witty these days and all of a sudden I've got writer's block. It must be the weather. But I digress...Tomorrow night (Saturday) we're helping the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown try to raise funds for their operation. Their press release says:
January 26th is the ARL Fur Ball featuring the Blue Band at the Marshalltown Coliseum. Doors open at 7:00PM, Band starts at 8:00 until 11:30. We will have free hor d'ourves starting at 7 until they run out. 13th Street Inn will be providing a cash bar featuring H & F Distributing products and a variety of sodas. Tickets can be purchased at the door- $30 per person or $50 per couple. If you would like to purchase tickets in advance to speed up getting in the door, visit the ARL, Kimikie Dog Grooming, Messy Missy's or 13th Street Inn (they will be closed Saturday). All proceeds benefit the ARL of Marshalltown. We have several goals for 2008 that fundraising money will support. Two of our biggest are heartworm testing for ARL dogs and feline Luekemia testing for ARL cats. Joining us tomorrow night will help to hopefully initially get these two programs off the ground in the very near future. Hope to see you tomorrow night. Need more information? Call the ARL at 641-753-9046...
I think that says it all. Let me add that, with the aforementioned weather, please make sure your own pets/animals do not get caught in the below zero temps or the wave after wave of snow storms...
We're moving the monthly TGIF party to the first Friday of the month, at The Hub (4th & Main) here in Sparkle City. That means NEXT Friday (Feb. 1)!! (and Mar. 7 and April 4) I need to let you know that we were treated VERY well by The Reverb with the parties in Nov./Dec./Jan and just wanted to try a different location (OK, I admit that the 24 stair load-in at The Reverb might have had something to do with the location change) The Hub is hoping to add a kitchen/food to their scene, so this would be an added attraction to the 5:30-9:00 showtime, but that is NOT going to happen next week. There is also substantually more seating at The Hub...
And please make plans to join us Friday, Feb. 8 at the #1 blues club in Minneapolis-Famous Daves! Come for the bar-b-que, stay for dancing. I'm sure the weather will be balmy in the Twin Cities! (remember a few years ago when we played up there and it was so cold that they CLOSED The Ice Carnival??)...
In case you have not visited the Post-A-Note page (www.theblueband.com/chat2.cfm) a few links have been posted for pictures of New Year's Eve. It was a magic night. I love the group picture with all the Blue Alumni! Perhaps a few songs from the night will be posted soon too...
I think it was Mark Twain who said "everyone talks about the weather, but no one DOES anything about it"! Please God, send us some nice warm sunny days, you can do it!...
See ya on the sanded and salted Blue Highway, rub that washboard tie for added heat, and don't hestitate to eat more CAKE to add that extra layer of insulation from the cold! (for those of you who live out of Ioway, we set an all-time record for Thursday by bottoming out at -26 degrees) (quit that smug smile and find us a gig in your warm neighborhood!) We love you...Bob Dorr & The Blue Band
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tom Gary And Paul Tillotson
Buddy Guy: You Better Leave My Little Girl Alone
Buddy Guy: Mustang Sally
Francis Clay RIP
Francis Clay
11/16/23-01/23/08
From: The Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter
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Francis Clay - November 16, 1923 - January 23, 2008: Another legendary Chicago blues master has left us. J.D. and Laura Diamond report the passing last night of drummer Francis Clay. Born in Rock Island, IL, on November 16, 1923, Clay quickly found a love of music. He first picked up the guitar at age 5 and soon switched to drums. By age 14, he was playing professionally and found leanings towards jazz. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and dabbled in a music lessons, a booking agency and a recording studio. He worked with George "Harmonica" Smith in late 1940's, toured with jazz organ great Brother Jack McDuff in the early 1950's and landed a 4 year stint with the acclaimed Muddy Waters band in 1957. It was his time in Muddy's band that he is most famous for and great records such as "Got My Mojo Workin'", "She's 19 Years Old" and "Walkin' Thru The Park" would not have been the same with out his brisk, interactive beat. In 1962, he left Muddy to form a band with James Cotton and then worked with Otis Rush and Buddy Guy before rejoining Muddy's band in 1965 for a two-year run. He would go on to work and record with Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann, Shakey Jake, Victoria Spivey, Sunnyland Slim, Big Mama Thornton, and many others. Some classic albums on which Francis Clay performed are Muddy Waters "Live At Newport", Muddy Waters "Sings Big Bill Broonzy", Otis Spann "The Blues Is Where It's At", James Cotton "Pure Cotton" and John Lee Hooker "Live At Cafe Au-Go-Go". He would retire from drums due to knee problems and crippling arthritis and settle in San Francisco, California where he was an honored elder statesman of the blues in his community. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Francis was a frequent guest of honor at Randy Chortkoff''s annual Little Walter Festival in Los Angeles, and was presented with the festival's "Hall Of Fame Award". His last recording, released in 2004, was a guest appearance on Johnny Dyer's "Rolling Fork Revisited" (produced by Mark Hummel), where he plays a cut backing Johnny with fellow Muddy alumni Paul Oscher. He was a kind and gracious man who was proud of great history in blues music. We will miss him greatly.
From: Michael "Hawkeye" Herman www.HawkeyeHerman.com
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Francis Clay Born 11/16/23, Rock Island, IL - Died. 1/22/08, San Francisco, CA
Blues legend Francis Clay, former long-time Muddy Waters drummer, played with a who's who of Jazz and R&B icons, including Charlie Parker, Jay McShann, Billy Holiday, Little Walter, Lightnin Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Spann, Big Mama Thornton, and James Cotton (who started the original James Cotton Blues Band with Clay in 1966). Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones raved about watching Francis play back in the 1960s with Muddy, saying, "Clay was one of the most exciting drummers he'd ever seen and heard."
Francis Clay was a kind, intelligent, gentle man, super musician, extraordinary poet/writer ... and a longtime friend ... to many. I was honored to have been in the wide circle of people who knew and loved Francis Clay. Although from different eras, Francis and I are 'homeboys' ... we were both raised up in the same town on the Mississippi River in Western Illinois, Rock Island ... those decades in age between us didn't separate us as good friends ... and I was honored to have presented the River Road Lifetime Achievement Award to Francis at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival a few years ago ... in our home area ... and the icing on the cake was being asked by Francis a few weeks before the presentation ... if I would please put together a seven-piece blues band featuring Midwest/regional 'all-stars' to perform with him at the festival. It was a grand day. The crowd was huge, and included many of Francis's hometown relatives ... he was most gracious as we acknowledged his contributions to the blues and the Universe with the award presentation. The mayor of Davenport, IA presented him with the key to the city. Francis smiled broadly as we played our short set ... that included the jazz instrumental, "Caravan," ... yes, with Francis taking a superb extended drum solo. Francis was very happy.
That is how I will remember him. R.I.P. Francis Clay
In Fond Memory,
Michael "Hawkeye" Herman - www.HawkeyeHerman.com
Shemika Copeland Cancels Tonights Show In Illinois
Just received this email from Illinois blues. Shemika Copeland's band was involved in an accident. They had to cancel tonight's show. More details below:
Shemika Copeland Band involved in car accident, Cancels Tonight's Performance
The Shemekia Copeland concert scheduled for tonight, January 24th, 2008 at The New Lafayette Club in Bloomington, IL has been cancelled. The group has been in a car wreck in Chicago.
John Hahn Management, Inc. reports that Shemekia and her band were traveling in separate vehicles. The van the band was traveling in was involved in an accident with a large truck. The van was totaled. One of the occupants Damon Epply had to be extracted from the wreckage and appears to have suffered minor injuries. The others were all shaken up pretty badly and were seen at the hospital for examination and treatments for minor injuries.
Shemekia was traveling to the show from another location and was not involved in the accident but regretfully had to cancel the event. The New Lafayette Club apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause. They will give refunds to anyone that has purchased tickets.
Buyer’s may choose to keep the tickets and use them for the February 7, 2008 concert with the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring the Tommy Castro Band with special guests Deanna Bogart, Magic Dick and Ronnie Baker Brooks instead of a refund. For further information please contact:
Janice Nelson - The New Lafayette Club
1602 South Main Street - Bloomington, Illinois
(309) 828-1212
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Soul Searchers
The Soul Searchers
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Kristine Jackson Article
From the Cleveland Free Times comes a short article on Kristine Jackson who is also going to Memphis to compete in the acoustic blues challenged. Her and Andy plus quite a few more will be competing in the solo/duo blues contests put on by the Blues Foundation. To read about Jackson Click HERE.
Andy Coats Update
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Nice update from Andy. Good luck in Memphis!!!!
Hey folks,
I am very honored and privileged to be competing in this year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.
The semi-finals rounds will be next Thurs., Jan 31, and Fri., Feb. 1. All the acts will be performing at venues on Beale St., but the exact schedule is not revealed until the last minute. So, unfortunately, I don’t yet have any details about where & when I will be performing.
However, you can read all about the “IBC”, as it’s known, on the official website:
And those of you who will be there for the competition should already have my cell phone number – if not, please email me and I’ll send it to you.
Also, lest I forget, I will be doing my usual last Sunday gig at the Blue Martini. I believe there’s a giveaway for a $25 bar tab for the evening—as part of an IBC promotion—so please let me know if you’d like to sign up for that.
Andy Coats, solo
Sun., Jan. 27, 8 pm - mid
The Blue Martini
116 N West St # 100
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 899-6464
http://www.bluemartiniraleigh.com
All the best,
Andy
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Myspace Page Back!!
I just put my myspace page back up so please feel free to rejoin. I know a lot of you were friends before I dropped it so PLEASE COME BACK:-)
Tom Gary Blues Band Myspace page.
Johhny Shines: Sweet Home Chicago
Taylor Hicks
Tommy Castro Article From Voice Of America
Cool short article on Tommy Castro on the Voice of America website. Also there is a podcast of the Levine Report with an interview with Castro. Click Here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maple Blues Awards
Monday, January 21, 2008
Artist Of The Week: Robert Johnson
The artist of the week is one of those artists who probably has had more written about him, and yet we really know so very little about him! Robert Johnson's history is probably the most confused and mythologized story in the blues. Robert Johnson is one of those figures in history that truly should have drops through the cracks of time never to be seen or heard, but luck intervened and the world listened. Johnson died young, and died when his popularity was limited to mostly juke joints in the south. He certainly traveled around the country, but he would have been the typical hobo musician going from place to place looking for a place to play and food to eat. What made Robert Johnson into the mythical blues hero of today was a couple of things. First, John Hammond picked Johnson to perform at the Spiritual to Swing concert. Unfortunately Robert died before he could play the gig. (Big Bill Broonzy took his place) Second, Alan Lomax years later went looking for him and found his mother, and learned the about Roberts last days. However, it is Eric Clapton The Stones, and Led Zeplin that listened to Robert Johnson King Of The Delta Blues, that made Robert Johnson into the legend. I suppose to there ears and the fans of those bands who went to find those records, Johnson sounded unearthly, and then add some misinformation supplied by Son House, and you can see how poor Robert done sunk down at the Crossroads. Unfortunately there are no films of Robert Johnson. Over the years people have claimed to have loss footage or photos, but there are only two photographs, and no movies. So the films in the youtube box will either be fan videos, other performers playing Roberts songs, or I have seen a few anti Robert movies pop up on occasion at Youtube.