Little Sadie - Jerry Garcia/ John Kahn

John Kahn (June 13, 1947 - May 30, 1996) was an American rock bass player. For a period of about twenty five years Kahn was Jerry Garcia's principal collaborator outside of the Grateful Dead.
John Kahn was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Adopted at birth by the Kahn family, he grew up in Beverly Hills, California. At Beverly Hills High School, he earned a reputation as a precocious musician playing jazz guitar and composing a symphonic piece, "Western Impressions", the first orchestral work by a student to be publicly performed by the high school orchestra under the direction of Robert Holmes.

In his junior year at high school, Kahn switched to acoustic bass and formed a jazz duo with a pianist, Peter Isackson, who encouraged him to study with Monty Budwig, a member of the house rhythm section at Shelly's Manne-hole. Kahn moved to Sausalito, California in 1965, where he began gravitating towards the rock culture that was in full bloom at the very time that Haight Ashbury was becoming the capital of Hippiedom. In 1967 he began working with rhythm and blues and then rock musicians.

Kahn first began his collaborations with Jerry Garcia's numerous side projects in May 1970, as bassist of Jerry Garcia and Howard Wales. He played in every line-up of the Jerry Garcia Band, and was in many other Garcia side projects, including Reconstruction, the reformed version of Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders that made its public debut in 1979.

Kahn was also bassist for Legion of Mary, an incarnation of the Jerry Garcia Band that featured both Garcia and Kahn, as well as Merl Saunders on keyboards and vocals, Martin Fierro on saxophone and flute and Ron Tutt on drums. Legion of Mary played only from January 23 to July 6, 1975.

Kahn also was bassist for the Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia Band, which made its debut in May 1973 and continued on and off until Jerry's death. The last Jerry Garcia Band show with Garcia being played at the Warfield in San Francisco on April 23, 1995. Kahn played acoustic stand-up bass in Old and in the Way, which toured from March through May 1973. The band, along with Kahn, featured Garcia on banjo and vocals, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals, Peter Rowan on guitar and vocals, Richard Greene and Vassar Clements on fiddle. Kahn also played alongside Garcia as acoustic bassist in the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, and often during the early eighties as the guitarist's only accompanist in the Garcia and Kahn folk duo.

Although Kahn did occasional work for the Grateful Dead, serving as producer/engineer for the band's aborted Egypt '78 live album and contributed organ and additional production to the Shakedown Street album.

Prior to his involvement with Garcia, Kahn played on The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper and was briefly a member of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band in one of its later line-ups. Other collaborators include Maria Muldaur, Nick Gravenites and John Lee Hooker.

Kahn died of a heroin overdose.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Ticket Agent - Lil' Son Jackson

Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (August 16, 1915, Tyler, Texas - May 30, 1976, Dallas) was an American blues guitarist. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins
Jackson's mother played gospel guitar, and he played early on in a gospel group called the Blue Eagle Four. He trained to be a mechanic and did a stint in the Army during World War II, then decided to pursue a career in blues music. He recorded a demo and sent it to Bill Quinn, the owner of Gold Star Records, in 1946. Quinn signed him to a recording contract and released "Freedom Train Blues" in 1948, which became a nationwide hit in the U.S. He recorded for Imperial Records between 1950 and 1954, both as a solo artist and with a backing band. His 1950 tune "Rockin' and Rollin" was recast by later musicians as "Rock Me Baby".

He was hurt in a car crash in the middle of the 1950s and gave up his music career, returning to work as a mechanic. In 1960 he released albums for Arhoolie and Limelight Records, but he did not make a major comeback in the wake of the blues revival. He died of cancer in 1976 in Dallas, at the age of 60
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”


Discography

GSM/Blind Raccoon artist: Grady Champion - Shanachie Days - New Release review

On May 8th 2012 Grady Champion released a retrospective called Shanachie Days. The release showcases 17 Champion originals such as the harp driven I'm Smilin' Again, the bluesy Lady Luck with some scorching guitar riffs, the soul sounds of Love Is My Middle Name, the shuffle styling of Let Me Be and the stinging guitar riffs on rocker Stop Chasing Me. Nothing I Can Do takes the form of a blues standard with some Texas style guitar riffs and Champions solid vocals. You Got Some Explaining To Do takes the soul route again with full horn bottom. Very cool. Troubled Mind, another interesting track has a real swampy feel with a gumbo beat and haunting guitar sounds and harp chirping. Champion wraps up the set with stomping boogie My Rooster Is King. This is a CD that is bound to see great success.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Summer Music Coming To Your Town!

M.C. Artist's Debbie Davies & Rick Holmstrom Bringning The Music To You! 1 Contact: Mark Carpentieri Phone: 631-754-8725 E-Mail: mc@mc-records.com web: www.mc-records.com Northport NY - It's summertime (well almost) and that means it's a great time to go to the club, festival or theater to check out some life affirming music! Our most recent signing is the fabulous Debbie Davies. The guitarist, singer, songwriter's new CD After The Fall will be released on July 17. Debbie and her band will be in the U.S., Canada and Europe to spread the music. We'll be mailing out promos in a week. If you like, we can send you a digital copy right away. Please get in touch for photos, interviews, bios, etc... She wields an electric guitar as if it were a wand. - Los Angeles Times Check out Debbie performing the song "Fishnet." Debbie Davies and her band will be touring world-wide to support After The Fall. Stops include major cities in the U.S, Canada, England and Scotland. The Debbie Davies Band is booked by Piedmont Talent www.piedmonttalent.com 6/1/2012 MINNEAPOLIS MN - FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ & BLUES 6/4/2012 THRU 06-09-2012 - EDMONTON CANADA - BLUES ON WHYTE 6/19/2012 BIRMINGHAM AL 3 WORKPLAY THEATRE 6/20/2012 NEW ORLEANS, LA - THE MAPLE LEAF 6/23/2012 GOODLAND FL - LITTLE BAR 6/25/2012 KEY LARGO FL - DIGIORGIO'S CAFÉ LARGO, BAY 6/27/2012 FORT MYERS FL - THE INDIGO ROOM 6/28/2012 ORLANDO FL - 3 MCWELLS RESTAURANT & BAR 6/29/2012 TALLAHASSEE FL - BRADFORDVILLE BLUES CLUB 6/30/2012 BRADENTON FL - 3 ACES 7/6/2012 MONT-TREMBLANT CANADA - TREMBLANT INT'L BLUES FESTI 7/9/2012 MYSTIC CT - MYSTIC RIVER PARK 7/13/2012 ALBANY NY - PAULYS HOTEL 7/14/2012 NEW YORK CITY NY - LUCILLE'S BAR 7/21/2012 POINT PLEASANT B NJ - POINT PLEASANT JAZZ AND BLU 7/26/2012 MANCHESTER ENGLAND - BAND ON THE WALL 7/27/2012 EDINBURGH SCOTLAND - EDINBURGH JAZZ FESTIVAL 7/28/2012 CUMBRIA ENGLAND - MAYPORT BLUES FESTIVAL 8/3/2012 SPRINGFIELD OR - WILLAMETTE VALLEY BLUES & 8/11/2012 NORTHAMPTON MA - IRON HORSE 8/18/2012 08-19 VISBY SWEDEN - SUDERBLUES FESTIVAL - 8/24/2012 NEW HAVEN CT - CAFÉ NINE - 8/25/2012 WOONSOCKET RI - CHAN'S Rick Holmstrom has spent the last four years recording and touring with the legendary Mavis Staples. Rick will be her guitarist/bandleader this summer and hit the road with Mavis and Bonnie Raitt, how cool is that? It will be one of the highlight tours of the summer. Be on the lookout for M.C. Records news and Rick coming soon. Here's Rick doing his thing on the classic "One Mint Julep." It's also his birthrday today! 6/6/2012 Charleston SC, Spoleto Festival (Mavis Staples) 6/8/2012 Holyoke MA, Mountain Park (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/9/2012 Uncasville CT, Mohegan Sun Casino (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/10/2012 Chicago IL, Chicago Blues Festival (Mavis Staples) 6/12/2012 Charlottesville VA, nTelos Wireless Pavilion (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/13/2012 Portsmouth VA, nTelos Wireless Pavilion (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/14/2012 Vienna VA, Filene Center at Wolf Trap (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/16/2012 Philadelphia PA, Academy of Music @ Kimmel Center (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/17/2012 Baltimore MD, Pier Six Pavillion (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/19/2012 Montclair NJ, Wellmont Theatre (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/20/2012 New York NY, Beacon Theatre (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/21/2012 New York NY, Beacon Theatre (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/23/2012 Boston MA, Harbor Lights/Bank of America Pavilion (Bonnie & Mavis) 6/24/2012 Hyannis MA, Cape Cod Melody Tent (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/10/2012 Regina SK CANADA, Regina Folk Festival (Mavis Staples) 8/18/2012 Kettering OH, Fraze Pavilion (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/20/2012 Madison WI, Overture Hall (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/22/2012 Milwaukee WI, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/23/2012 St. Paul MN, Minnesota State Fair (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/26/2012 Morrison CO, Red Rocks (Bonnie & Mavis) 8/30/2012 Sun Valley ID, Sun Valley Center for the Arts (Bonnie & Mavis)

Rick Holmstrom

Rick Holmstrom (born May 30, 1965) is an American electric blues and rhythm and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Holmstrom has released five albums since 1996, and previously worked with William Clarke and Rod Piazza. In addition, Holmstrom has played and recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Jody Williams and R. L. Burnside.

One critic observed of Holmstrom, "he delivers music with technical savvy and traditional stylings, without sacrificing originality and pure adventure"
Holmstrom was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, and his father was a DJ. After relocating to Southern California, and while attending college in Redlands, California, he joined a local blues group. Holmstrom also went to blues concerts, where he played guitar with Smokey Wilson and Junior Watson.

He joined William Clarke's backing band, and played both lead and rhythm guitar for three years up to 1988. Joining forces with Johnny Dyer, Holmstrom played on his albums, Listen Up (1994) and Shake It! (1995). He moved on to join Rod Piazza's backing group, the Mighty Flyers and, in 1996, released his first solo album, Lookout! on Black Top Records. It was an instrumental affair, about which one reviewer noted "Holmstrom's inventive ideas are top-notch, making each track stand mightily on its own".

However, Holmstrom continued to perform with Piazza, and help him record Tough and Tender (1997). By 2000, Holmstrom's second solo effort, Gonna Get Wild was released on Tone-Cool Records, and he stayed long enough with Piazza's backing ensemble to participate on Beyond the Source (2001). Holmstrom next release, Hydraulic Groove (2002), saw him incorporate elements of jazz and funk to the overall blues pattern. One of his more daring efforts, the album included contributions from John Medeski and DJ Logic. Hydraulic Groove peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. In 2005, Holmstrom played at the Dark Season Blues festival. Holmstrom turned to record production duties for other musicians before, in 2006, releasing Live at the Cafe Boogaloo.

Holmstrom switched record label to M.C. Records, and in 2007 issued Late in the Night. In the spring of 2012 he is out touring as the guitarist in the backing band for Mavis Staples.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Room Next Door - Karin Rudefelt and Doctor Blues

In September 1981 the band performed their first gig in front of a full auditorium – and the success was a fact. Doctor Blues had soon established themselves on the blues-scenes and headlined festivals across the whole of Sweden as well as northern Europe. A milestone of vital importance for the band's history came with the blues-singer Karin Rudefelt's appearance in 1996. With Karin's entrance the vocal part of their music got a new dimension. Consequently, from then on, the band calls themselves "Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues". Their first independent full-length album "No Pain No Gain" with own material only, was released in 2003. The album received warm receptions and fine reviews in the American blues-magazine Blues Revue amongst others. Due to the release of their second album "Breakin' the chain" in 2006 the band reached a definite lift. 2008 the band delivered their third album "Magic Brew", with a touché of damp hot Mississippi voodoo feeling, mixed in a boiling pot of widely huddled heavy and rocky blues. The album has rendered a huge response amongst the blues community all over the world. "Karin Rudefelt & Doctor Blues" have toured around northern Europe and Scandinavia, and performed in most places with a blues-profile, like the biggest blues-festivals and most important clubs. The band is regarded as innovators of blues as a genre and they like to experiment and push the boundaries of the blues into new dimensions, yet with both feet deeply rooted in the traditional mould. 2009 the band remodeled the setting with keyboard and a broader bass playing, which has given the band a heavier sound and output. In 2011 the fourth CD "Walk the walk" is released. On this album also backed up by two friends - well known slide guitar player Erja Lyytinen and Brian Kramer. In 2011, Doctor Blues sound is even more dynamic, however rougher than ever. The setting is now guitar, bass and drums "only". The band has always looked upon the blues as a mirror and reflector of it's time, and from that fact booth lyrics and musical influences are connected to today's society and its people. The blues heals and cleanse!
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Doc Watson Dead

Earlier this month Watson was listed in critical condition but was responsive at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after undergoing colon surgery. Watson fell at his home earlier in the week, after which he was sent to Watauga Medical Center in nearby Boone, NC. Watson was not seriously injured in the fall, but an underlying medical condition prompted the surgery which required him to be airlifted to Winston-Salem. Watson died on today at Wake Forest Baptist at the age of 89.
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded. He performed with his son Merle for over 15 years until Merle's death in 1985, in an accident on the family farm.
My thoughts are with his family.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Announcing Ventura County Blues Society "Sunday Blues Matinee Concert Series

Ventura County Blues Society

Presents....

"Sunday Blues Concert Matinee Series" At High Street Arts Center, Moorpark

*Featuring Some of the Biggest Names In Blues Plus Quality Area Support Bands*

***TWO BIG CONCERT EVENTS!!***

Sunday, July 8 - Chris Cain Sunday, August 5- Jimmy Thackery

Fresh off the glow of its highly-successful 7th Annual Simi Valley Blues Festival, the Ventura County Blues Society (VCBS) announces its "Sunday Matinee Concert Series." Upcoming shows feature two of the most popular names in today's contemporary American Blues scene, Chris Cain and Jimmy Thackery, headlining one of Southern California's best-kept secrets, the intimate and acoustically-perfect High Street Arts Center. The Arts Center is at 45 East High Street, Moorpark. Doors 12 noon; show starts 1 p.m. Tickets $20. (VCBS members), $25. (General Public). Purchase tickets online at www.venturacountybluessociety.org. Great music plus tasty barbeque, beer, wine, cocktails, snacks, soft drinks and water available at the shows, plus a raffle between bands. These shows will sell out.

Renowned guitarist Chris Cain takes the stage on Sunday, July 8. Through his guitar mastery and remarkable songwriting, Northern California-based Cain has established himself as a musical force to be reckoned with. San Jose Mercury News reviewer John Orr writes, "more than anyone else, anywhere, Chris Cain represents the future of the Blues." Cain's 1987 debut recording "Late Night City Blues" received four prestigious W.C. Handy Blues Awards nominations, including 'Guitarist of the Year." Cain's ever-busy schedule keeps him and his top-rate band on the road performing at some of the best blues festivals and events around. Opening for Cain: Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog, fronted by VCBS-sponsored Wednesday night Jam leader, guitarist-vocalist Tommy Marsh; and L.A. area favorites (and recent International Blues Challenge competitors) Kelly's Lot, featuring dynamic vocalist, Kelly Zirbes.

Veteran bluesman Jimmy Thackery is truly the definition of a 'road warrior,' performing nearly three-hundred nights a year and acting as a true inspiration to today's musicians half his age. Thackery has thrilled audiences worldwide fronting his own band since departing the popular Nighthawks (whom he recorded over twenty albums with) in 1987. Whether Jimmy Thackery headlines a festival in South Dakota or jams for hours in one of numerous blues bars that dot the musical landscape, he'll always unleash an intense volley of rockin' blues guitar guaranteed to leave crowds emotionally spent. His double-edged guitar dynamics allow him to fire off tracer missiles, bend a note so it will fit under a limbo bar, run off dive bomber riffs, and find space within the trembling of one stinging note. "I put all my senses on hold and find the zone and follow what's inside," Thackery says. "There's an electricity from your mind to your heart to your fingers. You just try and remember to breathe." Warming up Thackery is popular Ventura County blues-rock guitar maestro Alastair Greene, who, in addition to enjoying a decade-plus solid solo career with his Alastair Greene Band, is also the touring guitarist for the prog-rock greats, the Alan Parsons Live Project; and the Mikey Mo Band, fresh off their standout performance at the Simi Valley Blues Festival this April and featuring one of SoCal's up-and-comers, Mikey Mo, on lead guitar and vocals. Mikey Mo has toured with respected blues guitarist Coco Montoya and has been playing guitar since the age of five.

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Delmark Records artist: Rockin' Johnny Band - Grim Reaper - New Release Review

I just got a copy of Grim Reaper, the new Rockin' Johnny Band and it is great! Rockin' Johnny (Burgin)on guitars and vocals has built a strong support band in Rick Kreher on rhythm guitar, David "Big D" Erickson on harp, John Sefner on bass and Steve Bass on drums. I gotta tell you this music is pure Chicago blues but although it sounds really authentic, it doesn't sound rehashed or tired. It sounds fresh, new and hot! With at least 5 of the tracks being originals, Rockin' Johnny has assembled a solid 15 track set that opens with the title track, Grim Reaper. This is a great slow blues with not only solid soulful vocals but a tight band and great expressive guitar solos. If you don't love this song, just take the CD off. This is the real deal. Window To Your Soul is another RJ original and another really strong entry. Johnny's guitar playing has a lot of the little short runs and frenzied looseness that so define the early Chicago blues players and they beautifully compliment the entire release. Jody Williams' I Was Fooled is another outstanding track on the release, uptempo and loping with again very defined guitar work as well as Big D blowin' some sweet harp. Lousy Dimes is a mid cooker with Big D taking a pretty long harp solo and RJ playing a cool expressive but not overtly flashy guitar solo. A new interpretation of Rollin' and Tumblin' shows imagination with more of a jazz/blues feel and once again Johnny pulls out some great riffs. I really like it. Another original, It's Expensive To Be Broke, is another great slow cooker, this time with Kenny Anderson, Dudley Owens and Jerry DiMuzio on horns bringing up the bottom. It's a great opportunity to get Johnny into the slow groove playing that sweet slow blues on his guitar. Otis Rush's My Baby's A Good 'Un sets up well again for Johnny to sing the blues and to use his terrific expressive playing skills. Big D penned Brand New Boots is a terrific slow instrumental giving not only Johnny but also Big D great opportunities to show their stuff. My Sweet Baby, in the Elmore James ring has Johnny playing slide. Johnny takes a new look at Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime and I think that he does a terrific job on it. Unlike a number of covers that have preceded him, he gives it his own style and it is a great track which sounds fresh and original. Check the guitar playing on this track. Just really "on" it. Another RJ original, Shoe Leather and Tire Rubber is a cool track. It hard to describe the nuances that make this such a great recording but it is consistently from top to bottom. Big D takes a nice harp solo on this track for guys like me that have to hear that solo on every song. Little Walter Jacobs' Everybody Needs Somebody is up next and it fits perfectly into the set. Rockin' Johnny plays an extended guitar solo on this track and I sit wondering where Johnny's been for the past 10 years. If I haven't made it clear, this is a great recording. If you like guitar, if you like harp, if you like blues this is a great cd!!
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

She Got Me Walkin' - Lazy Bill Lucas

Lazy Bill Lucas (May 29, 1918 - December 11, 1982) was an American blues musician, who was part of the birth of the Chicago blues scene during the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, before taking his talents to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and becoming an important part of that city's blues history until his death.
Born to sharecroppers in Wynne, Arkansas, United States, Lucas's family was always looking for better living conditions and worked their way north to Southern Missouri, then to St. Louis in 1940 and Chicago the year after. As a youngster, he sang on the streets of Advance, Missouri, where the mostly white audience preferred hillbilly songs, but in St. Louis, he teamed up with blues singer Big Joe Williams and started singing for a black audience. Until 1946, Lucas played guitar on the streets, often at the side of Sonny Boy Williamson II. Later that year, he formed a trio with Willie Mabon and Earl Dranes, joined the Musicians Union, and enjoyed a two week gig at the Tuxedo Lounge. For several years, he played in various blues combos and played in various clubs, bars and street settings. During this time, he played with Johnny "Man" Young, Jo Jo Williams, Homesick James, Little Hudson, Snooky Pryor, and Little Walter. In 1950, Lucas switched from guitar to piano and worked as a sideman for various blues bands, and appeared on records by the Blue Rockers, Willie Foster, Homesick James and Snooky Pryor. In 1953, while leading the trio Lazy Bill and the Blue Rhythm, he secured a recording contract with Chance Records, who gave him one recording session. The company released one 78 rpm phonograph record – "She Got Me Walkin'" b/w "I Had a Dream".
As the 1950s progressed, work became harder to find, and during the 1960s, Lucas tried to get into the folk-blues scene but could not secure any contracts. From 1964 and well into the 1970s, Lucas straddled two careers: playing in various groups led by George "Mojo" Buford and playing solo or leading his own small groups. In 1970, he played a benefit show at the Guthrie Theatre organized by Minneapolis's black establishment to show the range and history of Afro-American music. The same year Lucas appeared at the Wisconsin Delta Blues Festival, and the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, with Jeff Titon and John Schrag. In the 1970s, Titon helped record and produce Lucas's material for Philo Records. In 1979, Lucas, who had played live on the radio in the 1960s, started hosting his own regular radio show, The Lazy Bill Lucas Show on KFAI in Minneapolis.

Lucas died of natural causes in Minneapolis in December 1982, at the age of 64.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Instrumental - Levy-Stubbs-Rivelli Trio

Organist/pianist Ron Levy has devoted most of his career to keeping the flame of funky, bluesy soul-jazz alive. Born Reuvin Zev ben Yehoshua Ha Levi in 1959 in Cambridge, MA, Levy played clarinet as a child but switched to piano after seeing Ray Charles at age 13. When he encountered the music of Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston, and Booker T. & the MG's, he fell in love with the Hammond B-3 and made the switch. Levy began working the Boston blues club scene as a teenager, and was hired by Albert King in 1971, before even graduating from high school. He spent a year and a half with King, and then joined B.B. King's backing band, where he remained for the next seven years. He also began working with the Rhythm Rockers in 1976, an association that lasted four years, and then became a member of Roomful of Blues from 1983-1987. It was during that time that Levy recorded his first session as a leader, 1985's Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom for the Black Top label. Safari in New Orleans followed in 1988, after which Levy moved to the Bullseye Blues label, where he eventually became an in-house producer (an area where he's garnered seven Grammy nominations). His albums for Bullseye Blues include 1992's B-3 Blues and Grooves and 1996's Zim Zam Zoom: Acid Blues on B-3. 1998's Greaze Is What's Good (recorded for Cannonball) featured an all-star roster of guests, including Freddie Hubbard, Melvin Sparks, David T. Walker, Steve Turre, Idris Muhammad, and Preston Shannon. Since 1988 Levy hasn't released anything under his own name, but continues to tour regularly and collaborate with and produce artists like Jimmy King, Karl Denison and Charles Earland.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Doctor Ross's Boogie - Dr. Isaiah Ross

Doctor Ross (October 21, 1925 – May 28, 1993), aka Doctor Ross, the harmonica boss, was an American blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player and drummer — a one-man band[2] — who was born Charles Isaiah Ross, in Tunica, Mississippi.

Ross played various forms of the blues that have seen him compared to John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson I, and is perhaps best known for the recordings he made for Sun Records in the 1950s, notably "The Boogie Disease" and "Chicago Breakdown".
In 1951 Ross began to be heard on Mississippi and Arkansas radio stations, now nicknamed Doctor because of his habit of carrying his harmonicas in a black bag that resembled a doctor's bag. Over the next three years he recorded in Memphis, Tennessee for both Chess and Sun, creating exhilarating harmonica or guitar boogies made distinctive by his sidemen playing washboard (with a spoon and fork) and broom.

In 1954 Ross took a job with General Motors in Flint, Michigan, and reduced his playing. He released a string of 45s on the Detroit-based Fortune Records. Some singles, among them his first true one-man band effort, "Industrial Boogie", filtered into blues circles, leading to a Testament Records album and a 1965 American Folk Blues Festival booking in Europe.

While in London he recorded what would be the first LP on Blue Horizon Records. In 1972 he recorded for Ornament Records during a German tour. Europe loved Ross and gave him work and recording opportunities; he was never as popular at home, and in the 1980s his performing profile was barely visible.

Ross won a Grammy for his 1981 album Rare Blues, and subsequently enjoyed a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim towards the end of his career.

He died in 1993, at the age of 67, and was buried in Flint, Michigan.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”


Discography

Save Your Time - Frank Bey

Frank Bey, master of the art of blues, has been entertaining with his God-given talent since the tender age of 4. Frank enjoyed singing with his mother, Maggie Jordan ,who was a gospel singer, while growing up in Millen, Georgia. In a short time he had acquired the lead vocalist role in small gospel quartet called the Rising Sons. Accompanying him was his 5-year old brother and another pair of cousins, ages 5 and 6.

Frank’s continued to sing throughout the Southeast Region during his teenage years In the 1960’s. He took advantage of an opportunity to tour with the Otis Redding Review. Here he learned how to become personal with the audience and create an atmosphere of excitement. Frank later joined Archie Jenkins and the Incredible Saxtons and toured throughout the United States, Spain and Canada. He became discouraged and left the music industry in 1977 after putting together a variety of bands and suffering through a bag record deal.

Frank made a comeback in 1996 after nearly 20 years away from the industry, forming several bands and finally securing a permanent entourage.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Chris Antonik News & Summer Schedule

Chris Antonik News & Summer Schedule

It has been a busy year for Maple Blues Award-nominated guitarist/singer Chris Antonik. In February 2012, Chris began work on his highly-anticipated second album, which will feature guest appearances by Grammy award-winning vocalist Mike Mattison (The Derek Trucks Band, The Tedeschi-Trucks Band), Maple Blues award-winner Shakura S'Aida, Juno-award winner Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk) and more. British blues guitarist Ben Fisher and New York City songsmith Paul Olsen (Scrapomatic) also feature as co-writers. Look for the album in early 2013!

This past March, Chris was one of the featured artists at the DAWG FM/Toronto Blues Society showcase for Canadian Music Week, and gave a live-to-air performance and interview on New York City's “Sounds of Blue” radio show.

This summer, Chris and the band will be making appearances at blues festivals across Canada, including Manitoba’s Great Woods Music Festival, and the Sherblues and Folk Festival in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

In other cool news, Antonik's southern blues-rock song 'Reap What You Sow', from his first album, has just been picked up by the television show "Road Trip Nation" on PBS. The song will be featured on an episode this coming fall.

Summer Tour Dates

June 2 - The Waterfront Blues Festival

Toronto, ON

Woodbine Park, Lakeshore Rd. & Coxwell

1pm

June 2 - Mount Albert Community Festival

Mount Albert, ON

Mount Albert Community Park, Main Stage

5pm

June 16 - The Burlington Sound of Music Festival

Burlington, ON

Street Festival

7pm

July 5 - The Calistoga Grill

Pointe-Claire, QC

235 Boulevard Saint-Jean

7:30pm

July 6 - La Casbah

Quebec City, QC

240, rue Saint-Joseph Est

9pm

July 7 - Sherblues & Folk Festival

Sherbrooke, QC

Two Shows

Antiquarius

182 Rue Wellington Nord

7:30pm

Le Liverpool

28 Rue Wellington Sud

11pm

July 28 - Highway Sixty One

Toronto, ON

1620 Bayview Avenue

8pm

August 9 - The Royal George

Winnipeg, MB

123 Regent Avenue West

9pm

August 10 - The Great Woods Music Festival

Beausejour, MB

Main Stage

7pm

www.chrisantonik.com

God Shaped Hole - Reverend Freakchild- Release review

I received a new CD called God Shaped Hole by Reverend Freakchild. The band here is Rev on Vocal, guitar, harmonica; Jon "Bones Richie" Robinson on bass; "Crazy" Joe Kaplowitz on Hammond B3; Drew Glackin on lap steel; Sara Alden on fiddle; and includes Sean Condron, Mamie, CC and Sal Paradise on vocals. The cd is made up of 11 original tracks. All Across America is a straight rocker and Supersubconcious has more of a soft country sound which could get airplay. My Good Friend Legbe has some really interesting slide resonator work and A Day Late and a $ Short is a cool swing blues rocker. Stupid Motherf#%!er is sure to be a crowd pleaser with it's straightforward irreverence. Don't Miss Nothing closes the set with some cool finger picking and slide work. If you like things a little off the beaten track, this may be your ticket.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Joe Bonamassa announces 4 London concerts in March 2013

Borderline, London: 26/3/13
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London: 27/3/13
HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London: 28/3/13
Royal Albert Hall, London: 30/3/13

Following the May 21st release of Joe Bonamassa’s critically acclaimed 13th solo album Driving Towards The Daylight, which is currently #2 in the UK's official album chart, the renowned guitarist will perform a series of four significant London concerts that chronicles his rise from playing the intimate Borderline to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Blues rock fans will be able to purchase tickets to see Joe perform at four different London venues including The Borderline (March 26), 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (March 27), HMV Hammersmith Apollo (March 28) and the Royal Albert Hall (March 30).

Concert tickets, plus a very special Borderline ticket entry go on sale on Friday June 1st from the 24 Hour Ticket Box Office: 0844 478 0898 or can be booked online from www.thegigcartel.com/joevip.

A special 48-hour ticket pre-sale on Planet Rock radio will start Wednesday May 30th, two days before tickets go on sale to the general public.

For those fans that purchase a special VIP ticket, this will enable them to attend all four concerts including admission to see Bonamassa perform an intimate concert at the Borderline in London on Tuesday 26th March 2013.

The rare Borderline concert is restricted to a limited run of 200 tickets, and will showcase Joe’s atmospheric rise to the top of the guitar world, in an intimate and a reduced capacity setting of this famous London West End venue where it all began for the critically acclaimed blues rock guitarist.

Now’s your chance to get up close and personal in London with Joe Bonamassa at what is being hailed as “The Guitar Event of the Year.”

Joe will perform all four of his London concerts with his touring band that features the talents of Carmine Rojas (bass), Rick Melick (keyboards) and Tal Bergman (drums).

VIP packages will include concert access and additional Joe Bonamassa exclusive content:

• The Borderline, London - VIP ticket only access to this capacity reduced show.
• O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (best seat in the house, plus access to exclusive VIP bar).
• HMV Hammersmith Apollo (best seat in the house).
• Royal Albert Hall (best seat in the house, plus 3 course meal, wine & champagne).
• Each VIP ticket will also include a £250 very special and limited edition high quality collectable lithograph personally autographed by Joe.
• £250 shopping spree at the Joe Bonamassa store with each ticket purchased.
• VIP ticket holders also will receive a limited edition golden tour laminate that entitles them to access to the exclusive bar, plus special VIP treatment.

"Joe Bonamassa is the new messiah for guitar music lovers."
– The Sun

"Bonamassa's precision guitar playing is
something of a revelation."
– Classic Rock

"Bonamassa's guitar playing and singing are still on a strong upward curve. Forget derivative – this couldn't be anyone but Joe."
- Guitarist

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com/joevip

The Borderline, London
Tuesday 26 March 2012
VIP Tickets: Special limited run of 200
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
Orange Yard, 16 Manette Street,
London, W1D 4JB

O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Wednesday 27 March 2012
Tickets: £40, £45, £50, £60
Box Office: 0844 477 200
Shepherds Bush Green, London, W12 8TT
www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk

HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London
Thursday 28 March 2012
Tickets: £35, £40, £45, £60
Box Office: 08448 44 47 48
2 Queen Caroline Street,
Hammersmith, London, W6 9QH
www.hammersmithapollo.net

Royal Albert Hall, London
Saturday 30 March 2012
Tickets: £35, £40, £45, £50, £60, £75
Box Office: 020 7589 8212
** Hospitality packages available from the Royal Albert Hall **
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
www.royalalberthall.com

JOE BONAMASSA - BIOGRAPHY

Driving Towards The Daylight is Bonamassa’s 13th solo album released byProvogue Records in Europe and his J&R Adventures label (co-founded with manager Roy Weisman) in the US. It’s also his 7th collaboration with the legendary classic rock record producer, Kevin “Caveman” Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Black Crowes, Black Country Communion).

Recorded at the Village Recorder in Los Angeles, California and Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, Driving Towards The Daylight is a balanced back-to-basics album that highlights Bonamassa’s signature style of blues, roots and rock & roll.

On the day of the release of the album, Bonamassa performed for the very first time on the hugely popular American chat show, Late Night With David Letterman.

In March 2012, Joe released the live DVD “Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre – live From New York” filmed over two sold-out nights a New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre. Special guests included Paul Rodgers, Beth Hart and John Hiatt.
During the same month of March 2012, Bonamassa embarked on an extensive UK Arena Tour selling out massive concert venues in Brighton, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Bournemouth and Birmingham.

In 2011, Bonamassa released his 12th solo album Dust Bowl, and followed this with a duet album with Beth Hart entitled Don’t Ask (the latter spawned two singles that received airplay on BBC Radio 2 in the UK.

In 2010, Bonamassa’s previous album, Black Rock, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Albums Chart and #38 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, a huge leap from 2009’s The Ballad of John Henry which debuted at #136 on the Top 200. The eleventh full-length solo release and ninth studio album of his career, this new disc will mark Bonamassa’s eighth collaboration with Kevin Shirley as producer.

In May 2010 he asked Ian Anderson to guest at his concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo on May 28th in London, and they played "A New Day Yesterday" along with “Locomotive Breath". The concert was the largest audience Joe had played to date (the capacity was 5,200).

Recently, Bonamassa has been splitting duties with his side project, the English-American rock group Black Country Communion with bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Billy Idol, Dream Theater).

BCC released their debut self-titled album, also produced by Shirley, on September 21, 2010. It entered the Billboard Top 200 Chart at #53 and is getting rave reviews. Mojo magazine gave the album four stars and Goldmine said it’s “Possibly, the best hard rock album of 2010.” Music Radar describes it as “a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners.”

In addition to the success of Black Rock and Black Country Communion’s stellar debut, 2010 kicked off with Guitar World dubbing Bonamassa - “The Blues Rock Titan” and his song, “Lonesome Road Blues,” was included in Guitar Hero V’s New Blues Masters Track Pack. He was also honoured twice in Guitar Player Magazine’s June 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards winning “Best Overall Guitarist” for the first time and “Best Blues Guitarist” for the fourth consecutive year. On June 26, he played the main stage at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago.

In May 2009, he played a sold out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall, arguably the most prestigious concert venue in the world and had the added honour of being joined on stage by the legendary Eric Clapton. Released Oct. 6, 2009 and debuting at #6 on Billboard’s DVD Chart was Joe Bonamassa – Live From The Royal Albert Hall, a 2-disc live DVD capturing the intensity and excitement of that show which Bonamassa calls “a day 20 years in the making.” Also, in 2009, Bonamassa was awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award at the UK’s prestigious Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.

A child prodigy, Bonamassa opened shows at age 12 for blues legend B.B. King, who said after first seeing him play, “This kid's potential is unbelievable…He's one of a kind.” Bonamassa’s recording career began in the early ’90s with Bloodline, a rock-blues group also featuring Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin. His solo debut was in 2000 with the Tom Dowd-produced A New Day Yesterday.

Bonamassa averages 200 shows every year, almost always playing to sold-out and ever-larger houses, and with each gig, he comes more into his own as a virtuoso and a vocalist. As he heads back to the road in support of his new album, Bonamassa remains infinitely passionate about playing live, connecting with his audiences and making new fans along the way like Slash, who recently said, “Just saw Joe Bonamassa on Jools Holland again. He's definitely my new favourite guitarist."

I Heard It Through The Grapevine-Gladys Knight and the Pips

Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods) and Merald Woodlow Knight, Sr., a postal worker. She first achieved minor fame by winning Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest at the age of 7 in 1952. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George.
Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the Motown roster in 1966, and, although regarded as a second-string act, scored several hit singles, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", (recorded later by Marvin Gaye), "Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy Award winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" (1973). In their early Motown career Gladys Knight and the Pips toured as the opening act for Diana Ross and The Supremes. Gladys Knight stated in her memoirs that Ross kicked her off the tour because the audience's reception to Knight's soulful performance overshadowed her. Berry Gordy later told Gladys that she was giving his act a hard time.
Knight and the Pips perform aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger on November 1, 1981.

The act left Motown for a better deal with Buddah Records in 1973, and achieved full-fledged success that year with hits such as the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia" (#1 on the pop and R&B chart), "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me". In the summer of 1974, Knight and the Pips recorded the soundtrack to the successful film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield. The act was particularly successful in Europe, and especially the United Kingdom. However, a number of the Buddah singles became hits in the UK long after their success in the US. For example, "Midnight Train to Georgia" hit the UK pop charts Top 5 in the summer of 1976, a full three years after its success in the U.S.

During this period of greater recognition, Knight made her motion picture acting debut in the film Pipe Dreams, a romantic drama set in Alaska. The film failed at the box-office, but Knight did receive a Golden Globe Best New Actress nomination.

Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s, when they were forced to record separately due to legal issues, resulting in Knight's first solo LP recordings--Miss Gladys Knight (1978) on Buddah and Gladys Knight (1979) on Columbia Records. Having divorced James Newman II in 1973, Knight married Barry Hankerson (future uncle of R&B singer Aaliyah), then Detroit mayor Coleman Young's executive aide. Knight and Hankerson remained married for four years, during which time they had a son, Shanga Ali. Upon their divorce, Hankerson and Knight were embroiled in a heated custody battle over Shanga Ali.

In the early 1980s, Johnny Mathis invited Gladys to record two duets – "When A Child Is Born" (previously a hit for Mathis) and "The Lord's Prayer".


Signing with Columbia Records in 1980 and restored to its familiar quartet form, Gladys Knight & the Pips began releasing new material. The act enlisted former Motown producers Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson for their first two LPs--About Love (1980) and Touch (1981). During this period, Knight kicked a gambling addiction to the game baccarat.

In 1987, Knight decided to pursue a solo career, and she and the Pips recorded their final LP together, All Our Love (1987), for MCA Records. Its lead single, "Love Overboard", was a successful hit and won a third Grammy for the act as well. After a successful 1988 tour, the Pips retired and Knight began her solo career. Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”