Check Out Benny Turner's Book & Enter To Win Autographed Copy

Reply to this email to enter drawing for an autographed copy of Benny's book!   After more than 60 years performing gospel, R&B, soul and blues everywhere from the Chitlin Circuit to the Apollo Theatre to the far reaches of the globe, Benny Turner shares his captivating life story in his new biography, Survivor: The Benny Turner Story. Available in hardcover and eBook versions beginning July 8, 2017. An oral history as told to Bill Dahl, Benny talks about his early years in Gilmer, TX, the family’s move to Chicago in 1950 and the ultimate birth of his career in the gospel, R&B and blues genres. Surviving extreme poverty in rural East Texas followed by the shocking transition to urban life in Chicago and the untimely death of his big brother, bandmate and best friend Freddie King, are only a portion of the obstacles Benny has survived. Early acclaim for the book has been high, both from within the music industry and beyond, earning multiple 5-star reviews from Readers Favorite book reviews. "Freddie King fans will definitely want to check this book out, but Turner's story stands on its own as a testament to resilience and survival." Tom Cullen, Blues Music Magazine "...it feels like Benny Turner is sitting with you as a friend at the kitchen table, sharing his history."  Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite

Survivor - The Benny Turner Story Book Signing Dates Available In Hard Copy & Ebook Amazon Barnes & Noble Benny's Website Benny's Interview On RMU Radio

Little Dog Records artist: Lightnin' Willie - No Black No White Just Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Black No White Just Blues, from Lightnin' Willie and it all fun. Opening with Can't Get That Stuff No More, Lightnin' Willie rips a good one sounding like a contemporary track by Iron Head or Lead Belly. A cool boogie, lead by Willie on guitar and vocal really nicely showcases the hot piano work of Dona Oxford and a fat guitar solo by Willie.  On Chicago flavored Eye's In The Back Of My Head, Willie continue his clever wordsmithing and Pete Anderson on harp and thumping bass gives the track even more personality. Willie's guitar tone is way cool. One of my favorites is Locked In A Prison, a slower, T-Bone Walker style composition. Ron Dzubla really heats the track up with his sax work and Willie's guitar work is mighty tasty.  Michael Murphy on piano, Jerry Olson on drums and Skip Edwards' Hammond work is spot on. On Latin flavored, Heartache, Willie really takes a cool departure and laying out a cool strumming pattern giving the track even more texture. His solo riffs are precise and spontaneous with great feel.  Another of my favorite tracks is Phone Stopped Ringing with that Otis Rush/Peter Green feel. Alternating between the glistening guitar tone and the fat lower fret throaty tone, Willie uses his guitar to it's best. Very nice. Wrapping the release is rip roaring, Shake My Snake. (Stilladog...this one's for you!) With rimshots reminiscent to ZZ Top on LaGrange Willie cranks the listener and then squeezes his slide ...great boogie...great closer!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Diamonds & Gold" premieres at Guitar Player; new album "Lay It On Down" out Aug 4 on Concord

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND’S
“DIAMONDS & GOLD” PREMIERES VIA
GUITAR PLAYER

NEW ALBUM LAY IT ON DOWN OUT AUGUST 4 ON
CONCORD RECORDS

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES THIS SUMMER

   

“[Shepherd] is a guitarist who can easily mesmerize an audience with his playing ability and through his passionate and energetic solos.”—The Huffington Post

“Diamonds & Gold,” the new single from Lay It On Down, five-time Grammy nominee and critically acclaimed guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s forthcoming ninth album, is now premiering via Guitar Player; listen/share the track at http://bit.ly/2tKyzwY. Guitar Player notes, “Lay It On Down showcases a more roots-based, Americana sound from Shepherd, and the guitarist was inspired by several genres and musical eras during its inception. The album was recorded super-old-school—live in the studio to analog tape.”

Lay It On Down is due August 4 on Concord Records. Recorded at Echophone Studios in Shepherd’s hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana and produced by Shepherd with Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson, Natasha Bedingfield, Kate Voegele), the album was largely recorded live in the studio to analog tape.

Billboard recently premiered the album’s title track, noting, “The gentle ‘Lay It On Down’—which Shepherd co-wrote with ‘Blue On Black’ collaborators Mark Selby and Tia Sillers—certainly represents something different for Shepherd and company.” Shepherd went on to explain, “It’s, like, a midtempo ballad, which surprises some people, but I love ballads. I grew up in the era of the power ballad. That was the biggest thing on the radio when I was a teenager, those rock ‘n’ roll ballads. So I’m a sucker for a good ballad and wanted to have one on this record.” Additionally, CMT Music premiered the video for the album’s first single, “Baby Got Gone,” calling it “the most rollicking country-infused rock track you’ve heard in a long time.”

Shepherd’s band on Lay It On Down features his long-time lead vocalist Noah Hunt, the rhythm section from Shepherd’s supergroup side project The RIDES, Chris Layton (drums) and Kevin McCormick (bass), and keyboardist Jimmy McGorman. “I’m proud of the album we have delivered to the fans and I think they'll be excited by what they hear,” notes Shepherd. “The band we’ve assembled did a fantastic job bringing these songs to life and conveying the musical message to the listener. Now we are looking forward to bringing this new music to the live show to watch it develop even more.” Shepherd further discusses the writing/recording process in the new album’s video trailer, watch/share it at https://youtu.be/xW6HfiJ-WYQ.

Shepherd will celebrate the album’s release with a U.S. tour that kicks off August 9 in Westbury, NY. See below for a list of dates; additional shows to be announced shortly.

Lay It On Down finds Shepherd two decades into a recording career that began when he was 16. Shepherd has sold millions of albums worldwide and, in addition to his five Grammy nominations, he has won two Billboard Music Awards, a pair of Orville H. Gibson awards, the Blues Foundation’s Keeping The Blues Alive award and two Blues Music awards. He’s had six #1 blues albums and a string of #1 mainstream rock singles, and his acclaimed documentary project 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads was the top-selling blues album of 2007. Shepherd’s last release, 2014’s Goin’ Home (Concord Records), debuted at #25 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and spent several weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart.

LAY IT ON DOWN TRACK LIST

1. Baby Got Gone
2. Diamonds & Gold
3. Nothing But The Night
4. Lay It On Down
5. She’s $$$
6. Hard Lesson Learned
7. Down For Love
8. How Low Can You Go
9. Louisiana Rain
10. Ride Of Your Life

THE KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND LIVE
 

August 9	Westbury, NY	The Space at Westbury
August 10	Albany, NY	The Egg
August 11	Northfield, OH	Hard Rock Live
August 12	Peoria, IL	Riverfront Park
August 14	Annapolis, MD	Rams Head on Stage
August 15	Annapolis, MD	Rams Head on Stage
August 16	Morristown, NJ	Mayo Performing Arts Center
August 18	Portland, ME	Aura
August 19	Northampton, MA	Calvin Theatre
August 20	Derry, NH	Tupelo Music Hall
August 22	Bar Harbor, ME	Criterion Theatre
August 23	Ridgefield, CT	Ridgefield Playhouse
August 25	Harrisburg, PA	Whitaker Center
August 26	E. Providence, RI	Bold Point Park
August 27	Beverly, MA	Cabot Theatre
September 1	Milwaukee, WI	Harley Davidson Museum
September 8	Sacramento, CA	Crest Theatre
September 9	Redwood City, CA	Fox Theatre
September 10	Guerneville, CA	Russian River Jazz Festival
September 15	Cottonwood, AZ	Thunder Valley Rally
September 16	Las Vegas, NV	Tropicana Theater
September 18	Kansas City, MO	Uptown Theater
September 19	Des Moines, IA	Hoy Sherman Place
September 21	Wichita, KS	The Cotillion Ballroom
September 22	Springfield, MO	Gillioz Theatre
September 23	Louisville, KY	Bourbon & Beyond Festival
October 14	Merrillville, IN	Star Plaza Theatre

Blue Elan Records artist: Janiva Magness - Blue Again - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Again, from Janiva Magness and she taps a number of blues classics. Opening with I Can Tell, Magness has the place rockin' and Kid Ramos shows some trademark riffs backed by Matt Tecu on drums, Gary "Scruff" Davenport on bass, Zach Zunis and Garrett Deloian on guitar and Arlan Schierbaum om keys. On Al Kooper's, I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know, Magness digs deep for some of her most soulful vocals on record. Kooper being an organ player, this track leaves plenty of space for Schierbaum and he uses it nicely complimented by tasty guitar soloing. Magness teams up with Sugaray Rayford for an vibrant R&B duet on If I Can't Have You. Joe Hinton's I'm Tired Of Walking with crisp, Freddie King/Eric Clapton like guitar work. Very nice. Nina Simone's slinky,   Buck is a cool track with snappy, SRV like guitar riffs and TJ Norton on harp. Wrapping the release is funky blues rocker, Pack It Up. Magness is in the slot with super vocals, really nicely backed by Schierbaum on electric piano and low key guitar soloing by Zunis. Nice closer for a solid release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE