Stormy Monday - Bliiy Barnett Band

Billy was born in East St. Louis on December 11, 1959 into a musicial family. His mother played the organ and piano, and his father sang in the choir for the Dupo 1st Bapist Church. He started playing guitar at the age of 9, and also played trumpet in grade and high school. .. ......After seeing Andreas Segovia and Joe Pass in his senior year, Billy decided to study jazz and classical gutiar at SIU Edwardsville, Ill. Following college, he joined Street Corner Symphony- a touring band from the midwest. Twelve years later, he started his own band....... ......He has opened up for,or performed with many musicians.They range from Roy Orbison,The Neville Brothers,The John Scofield band,Jr Wells,R.L.Burnside,Kenny Brown,Johnnie Johnson,The Jean Luc Ponty band, to rockers like Nazareth,Reo speedwagon,Billy Corrigan,Yngwie Malsteem,Eric Gales,Chuck Berry...Old school blues James Cotton,Tommy Bankhead,Leon Estell to rockin the blues ala Smokin Joe Kubec,Ronnie Backer Brooks,,Performed with Bugs Henderson,s on his BBC special . and steel guitar wizard Robert Randolph.In Branson ,Missouri he played with Country fiddler Shoji Tabuchi for a season.Performed with WC handy award winner Jumping Johnny Sansone from New Orleans.He was a featured guitar instructor for Atlanta based Camp Jam performing with Derrick St Holmes of Ted Nugants Camp and 38 Specials Jeff Carlisi.He has released eight self produced CDs His latest"it,s not enuff"review in Vintage Guitar Magizine says"Billy and his band serve up a smorgasbord of american music" He recently was a featured artist on "The Set" Charter Cables new music program...... ......Currently, Billy teaches guitar and retails at a local guitar shop (Gravity Strings) and plays in various bands in St. Louis ,his original band, Solo Acoustic and the Smash Band with Radio Personality (Smash). His guitar talents have been used by several independent cds, and has been used in MTV's Road Rules and Let's Make a Band.. 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”

Struttin' With Some Barbecue - Arvell Shaw

Arvell Shaw (September 15, 1923, St. Louis, Missouri - December 5, 2002, Roosevelt, New York) was an American jazz double-bassist, best known for his work with Louis Armstrong. (Third from right)

Shaw learned to play tuba in high school, but switched to bass soon after. In 1942 he worked with Fate Marable on riverboats traveling on the Mississippi River, then served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. After his discharge he played with Armstrong in his last big band, from 1945 to 1947. Shaw and Sid Catlett then joined the Louis Armstrong All-Stars until 1950, when Shaw broke off to study music. He returned to play with Armstrong from 1952 to 1956, and performed in the 1956 musical High Society. Following this he worked at CBS with Russ Case, did time in Teddy Wilson's trio, and played with Benny Goodman at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. After a few years in Europe, he played again with Goodman on a tour of Central America in 1962. From 1962-64 Shaw played again with Armstrong, and occasionally accompanied him through the end of the 1960s. After the 1960s Shaw mostly freelanced in New York and kept playing until his death. He recorded only once as a leader, a live concert from 1991 of his Satchmo Legacy Band.
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Pack It Up - The Tony Campanella Band

Heavy Electric Blues from the Lou! Since the age of eleven, Tony has been infatuated with the sound and feel of the guitar and the positive vibe that resonates from its strings. He was fed the music of the blues greats like Buddy Guy, Freddie and Albert King, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters. Soon that expanded to guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan. With his group, The Tony Campanella Band, all of his influences come together to produce heavy hitting but soulful music that can't be described as just Blues. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Walter Trout, Indegenous, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Etta James, Bernard Allison, Micheal Burks and Robin Trower to name a few. With Bike on Bass Guitar and Terry Melton on drums, they form a group that truly lives up to the moniker "Power Trio". Take your time to check them out!
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City Hall Records Artist: Barbara Carr - Keep The Fire Burning - New Release Review

City Hall Records artist Barbara Carr will be releasing her newest recording, Keep The Fire Burning on August 21, 2012. A seasoned soul singer with previous records at Chess records as well an one solo album, Good Woman Go Bad, Barbara has teamed up with Catfood house band, The Rays featuring Richy Puga on drums and percussion, Dan Ferguson on keys, Johny McGhee on guitar, Bob Trenchard on bass, Andy Roman on sax, Mike Middleton on trumpet and Robert Clairborne on trombone. I've had a chance to review this new cd and it's a solid soul collection. Hanging On By A Thread has a driving rhythm with a slick guitar solo and just the right touch of horns. We Have The Key could be a classic ballad with perfect balance and strong vocals by Carr. Keep The Fire Burning, the title track, is a nicely written and executed soul ballad. Johnny Rawls join Carr for a vocal duet on Hold On To What You Got, a track that should see great airplay. You Give Me The Blues is another great addition to a very comfortable soul recording. If you like soul music in it's purity, this could be a great recording to pick up. Not a bad song on the recording and quite enjoyable.
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This track is not from the CD but gives you a feel of the fire that Carr delivers.

Whammy in the Gizmo - Piano Slim

Born Robert T. Smith, a resident of St. Louis where he is known as Piano Slim. He paid his dues way back in the '40s and '50s in Houston, Texas working among such first rate bluesman as Gatemouth Brown, Little Willie Littlefield, and Henry Hayes. It was there that he made his first record for a small label that also starred Smokey Hogg.

In 1959 he moved to St. Louis and recorded '"Workin' Again" for the local Bobbin label, released along with the works of Albert King and Little Milton. In St. Louis Slim played in about any club or bar worth mentioning and today there are no signs of him slowing down.

His first album for the Swingmaster label, "Mean Woman Blues", was recorded in August of 1981. Other recordings and singles followed, such as the 1983 album, "Gateway To The Blues". This led to six European tours featuring Piano Slim as either a headliner, supporting act, or sideman. When home in St. Louis, he continued to play the local clubs and work with some of the areas notable bluesmen, such as Tommy Bankhead and J.R. Reed. In 1991, Slim was featured on a compilation of St. Louis' blues artists on the Wolf Records label, called "St. Louis Blues Today". Besides Piano Slim, this album included songs and performances by Tommy Bankhead, Doc Terry, J.R. Reed, Oliver Sam and Johnny Johnson.

During this period, Slim began using a popular local St. Louis band, Blues Inquisition, as his backup band. They performed together at regular engagements and special events through the mid nineties. In 1993 they recorded an album together, "Minnie Skirt", his best produced album to date. Shortly after that album was finished, Slim took another "real job" driving a cab, to help raise his grandson.
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THATS ALRIGHT - LIGHTNIN' SLIM

Lightnin' Slim (March 13, 1913 - July 27, 1974) was an African-American Louisiana blues musician, who recorded for Excello Records and played in a style similar to its other Louisiana artists. Blues critic Ed Denson has ranked him as one of the five great bluesmen of the 1950s, along with Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson
Lightnin' Slim was born Otis V. Hicks in St. Louis, Missouri. moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of thirteen. Taught guitar by his older brother Layfield, Slim was playing in bars in Baton Rouge by the late 1940s.

He debuted on J. D. "Jay" Miller's Feature Records label in 1954 with "Bad Luck Blues" ("If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all"). Slim then recorded for Excello Records for twelve years, starting in the mid 1950s, often collaborating with his brother-in-law, Slim Harpo and with harmonica player Lazy Lester.

Slim took time off from the blues for a period of time and ended up working in a foundry in Pontiac, Michigan, which resulted in him suffering from constantly having his hands exposed to high temperatures. He was re-discovered by Fred Reif in 1970, in Pontiac, where he was living in a rented room at Slim Harpo's sister's house. Reif soon got him back performing again and a new recording contract with Excello, this time through Bud Howell, the present President of the company. His first gig was a reunion concert at the 1971 University of Chicago Folk Festival with Lazy Lester, whom Reif had brought from Baton Rouge in January 1971.

In the 1970s, Slim performed on tours in Europe,[3] both in the United Kingdom and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland where he was often accompanied by Moses "Whispering" Smith on harmonica. He last toured the UK in 1973, with the American Blues Legends package.

In July 1974, Slim died of stomach cancer in Detroit, Michigan, aged 61.

Slim has been cited as a major influence by several contemporary blues artists, including Captain Beefheart, who in a 1987 radio interview with Kristine McKenna, stated that Lightnin' Slim was the only artist he could recommend somebody listening to
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Free Blues - Little Michael Terry

THIS ST. LOUIS BASED BLUES/ROCK SINGER, SONGWRITER, GUITARIST IS MAKING HIS MARK ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH DIGITAL AND CD SALES. HE HAS SOLD PRODUCT IN SUCH PLACES AS BELGIUM, DENMARK, AUSTRIA, ITALY, AND RUSSIA JUST TO NAME A FEW.
MICHAEL IS CURRENTLY GETTING RADIO PLAY ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND ON SEVERAL INTERNET RADIO STATIONS REACHING AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE WORLD. HE IS ENJOYING PERFORMING HIS MUSIC IN SMALL CLUBS, FESTIVALS, OUTSIDE CONCERTS, AS WELL AS AUDITORIUMS.
THE MICHAEL TERRY GROUP IS THE ONLY ACT THAT HAS EVER BEEN ASKED TO PERFORM THREE YEARS IN A ROW ON THE STEPS OF THE MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL FOR THEIR ANNUAL CULTURAL CONCERT SERIES, WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE FOR 15 YEARS.
THE GROUP HAS APPEARED LIVE ON “FOX 2 NEWS WITH TIM EZELL” AND KSDK “SHOW ME ST. LOUIS.”
THEY PERFORMED AT THE LEGENDARY RICKMAN AUDITORIUM IN 2010 AND 2011, HEADLINING THE BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL.
WHILE MICHAEL IS ENJOYING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SALES, RADIO PLAY, AND REGIONAL TOURING SUCCESS, HIS ROOTS ARE FIRMLY PLANTED IN MISSOURI, WHERE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED.
HIS SONGS ARE FULL OF GRITTY, SOMETIMES WITTY, SOULFUL, HEARTFELT VOCALS. HIS GUITAR PLAYING RANGES FROM MELODIC, TO AN “IN YOUR FACE” FIERY ATTACK WITH A HINT OF HIS INFLUENCES SHINING THROUGH ONCE IN A WHILE.
ON HIS LATEST CD, “TOO BAD”, MICHAEL HAD THE HONOR OF DOING A DUET WITH ST. LOUIS LEGEND PAT LISTON, VOCALIST FROM MAMAS PRIDE. HE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF TRADING LICKS WITH THE FABULOUS RICH MCDONOUGH, , ANOTHER ST. LOUIS LEGEND, ON TWO SONGS. HIS ORIGINAL SONGS, IN ADDITION TO HIS PASSIONATE PRESENCE IN A LIVE SETTING, TEND TO FORCE THE LISTENER TO BE DRAWN IN. ONE MIGHT SAY “YOU CAN FEEL THE PAIN” IN EVERY WORD SANG AND EVERY NOTE PLAYED…
THE GROUP OF MUSICIANS HE PLAYS WITH IS COMPRISED OF 100 PLUS YEARS OF COMBINED PERFORMING EXPERIENCE.
AS A RESULT OF THEIR ABILITY TO REALLY COMMIT TO THE COVERS THEY PERFORM THIS BAND WILL HAVE YOU CONVINCED THEY WROTE THESE SONGS AS WELL…
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ANSWER - JIMMY McCRACKLIN

Jimmy McCracklin (born August 13, 1921, St. Louis, Missouri, United States) is an American pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. His style contains West Coast blues, Jump blues, and R&B. Over a career that has spanned seven decades, he says he has written almost a thousand songs and has recorded hundreds of them. McCracklin has recorded over 30 albums, and owns four gold records.
McCracklin joined the United States Navy in 1938, later settled in Richmond, California, and began playing at the local Club Savoy owned by his sister-in-law Willie Mae "Granny" Johnson. The room-length bar served beer and wine, and Granny Johnson served home-cooked meals of greens, ribs, chicken, and other southern cuisine. A house band composed of Bay Area based musicians alternated with and frequently backed performers such as B. B. King, Charles Brown, and L. C. Robinson. Later in 1963 he would write and record a song "Club Savoy" on his I Just Gotta Know album.

His recorded a debut single for Globe Records, "Miss Mattie Left Me", in 1945, and recorded "Street Loafin' Woman in 1946. McCracklin recorded for a number of labels in Los Angeles and Oakland, prior to joining Modern Records in 1949-1950. He formed a group called Jimmy McCracklin and his Blues Blasters in 1946, with guitarist Lafayette Thomas who remained with group until the early 1960s.

His popularity increased after appearing on the TV pop Dick Clark's American Bandstand in support of his self written single "The Walk" (1957), subsequently released by Checker Records in 1958. It went to No. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 7 on the pop chart, after more than 10 years of McCracklin selling records in the black community on a series of small labels. Jimmy McCracklin Sings, his first solo album, was released in 1962, in the West Coast blues style. In 1962, McCracklin recorded "Just Got to Know" for his own Art-Tone label in Oakland, after the record made No. 2 on the R&B chart. For a brief period in the early 1970s McCracklin ran the Continental Club in San Francisco. He booked blues acts such as T-Bone Walker, Irma Thomas, Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton, and Etta James. In 1967, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas had success with "Tramp", a song credited to McCracklin and Lowell Fulson. Salt-n-Pepa made a hip-hop hit out of the song in 1987. Oakland Blues (1986) was an album arranged and directed by McCracklin, and produced by World Pacific. The California rock-n-roll "roots music" band The Blasters named themselves after McCracklin's backing band The Blues Blasters. Blasters' lead singer Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had these 78s – I thought they were the Blues Blasters. It ends up it was Jimmy McCracklin's. I just took the 'Blues' off and Joe finally told me, that’s Jimmy McCracklin’s name, but you tell ‘im I gave you permission to steal it."

McCracklin continued to tour and produce new albums in the 1980s and 1990s. Bob Dylan has cited McCracklin as a favorite. He played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984 and 2007. He was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1990, and the Living Legend and Hall of Fame award at the Bay Area Black Music Awards, in 2007
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FWG Records artist: Cee Cee James - Blood Red Blues - New Release Review

I just received a copy of Blood Red Blues, the new Cee Cee James recording that will be released on July 17, 2012. The title track, Blood Red Blues, opens the 12 original track release with a gritty, swampy blues chant of a song. Rob "Slideboy" Andrews add some really nice slide texture to the song. Up next is a blues rocker, Let's All Get Loose which not only features James' gritty voice but strong lead guitar riffs from Rocky Athas. I'm Takin' Mine has a foot stompin' sound and James takes no prisoners. James has a naturally interesting voice with although different in style, has a lot of the resonant qualities of Janis. James has her own road to travel and I believe with the writing quality and appeal of her singing she will sell a lot of cd's based upon a lot of airplay. 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”

Blues-Rock Singer Cee Cee James Set to Release New CD, "Blood Red Blues," on July 17

BLUES-ROCK SINGER CEE CEE JAMES SET TO RELEASE NEW CD, BLOOD RED BLUES, PRODUCED BY GRAMMY-WINNER JIM GAINES, ON JULY 17

ST. LOUIS, MO – Blues-rock singer Cee Cee James announces a July 17 release date for her new album, Blood Red Blues, produced by Grammy-winner Jim Gaines, on July 17. Blood Red Blues will be released on her own imprint, FWG Records, with international distribution by Burnside Distribution.

Blood Red Blues is the fourth CD from the St. Louis-based singer, whose powerfully soulful vocals have already created a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike all over the world. Producer/engineer/mixer Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Luther Allison), who tracked the sessions at his Bessie Blue Studio in West Tennessee, perfectly captures all the exciting elements of Cee Cee’s vocal style on the new album, creating a sound that is both vulnerable and passionate, igniting the songs with a burning, sensual yearning that drives home the dozen all-original songs.

Backing Cee Cee on Blood Red Blues are Rob “Slideboy” Andrews on rhythm and slide guitar, Rocky Athas on lead guitar, Chris Leighton on drums, Dan Mohler on bass and Susan Jillian on keyboards, along with vocal backing from Stanley Crouse, Vicki Atkins, Danunielle “Pie” Hill and Kimberlie Helton.

After working with James, Jim Gaines called her “one of the greatest blues-rock singers out there today. She’s someone I call an ‘old soul.’ Cee Cee’s songs are wonderful stories of her life experiences, and backed by Rob’s strong Delta roots/blues slide and rhythm guitar playing, they make a great team. Her style reminds me of our classic early female blues and rock singers. She’s very passionate about giving a great performance.”

Cee Cee’s blistering vocals tell the truth of the powerful messages in her songs, born and bred from a lifetime of heartache and loss, but delivered with a message of hope, understanding and the healing power of love. The hallmark off her career has been her intense live performances, as anyone who’s seen her can attest. Blood Red Blues distills that energy and transmits it through the recording process into something that is valid and compelling.

Cee Cee James was originally based on the West Coast. Her first album, a pop/funk CD, garnered the Los Angeles Independent Artist of the Year Award; and a track off that album was honored as one of the top 10 in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, before she directed all her talent and energy to the blues. Her second CD, Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl,” was released in 2008 and gained worldwide distribution, as well as critical press and radio attention. By that time, she had re-located to the Pacific Northwest and in 2009 she won the Klamath Falls, Oregon Blues Challenge & went on to compete in the 2010 IBC finals in Memphis, where esteemed writer/editor Don Wilcock called her” the most exciting and original act at this year’s IBC.” Her last CD, Seriously Raw – Live at Sunbanks,” drew more extensive radio airplay and rave reviews, also bringing Cee Cee the “Best Blues Songwriter Award” and a nomination for “Best Blues Vocalist” from the Washington Blues Society in 2010.

Cee Cee James just returned from a tour of Europe that included shows in the recently earthquake-ravaged areas of Italy, and will return to that continent in October with a Scandinavian tour. She’s also been tapped to star in a supporting role in the upcoming film, We Be Kings, which also features such other blues stars as Magic Slim and Grana Louise, and features Slim’s band, The Teardrops.

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Eventime - Joe Buckner

Vocalist born June 4, 1924,from St Louis with Tommy Dean band.
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Stoney Pony Blues -- James Deshay

James DeShay's first "guitar" was a one-string rig he concocted by nailing a piece of baling wire to a post and tightening it with a snuff box. From that single-string instrument he was able to play melodies and change pitch by mashing down on the wire. DeShay's earliest influences included the great Charlie Patton, Howlin' Wolf and Robert Jr. Lockwood. James was already an accomplished guitar player when he moved to St. Louis in the mid 40's, when he struck up a friendship with Little Walter Jacobs with whom he played around town. James often also worked with Robert Nighthawk and Big Joe Williams. By the early 1950's he had his own band, and by the 1960's his own tavern which he operated and played in. (The BBC shot footage of James there in 1976 for part of the 'Devil's Music' series) Sadly, James never recorded commercially, but his memory and music lives on in all his fans.
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I Can't Stand the Rain - Ann Peebles

Ann Peebles (born April 27, 1947) is an African American singer-songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s on the Hi Records label. Two of her most popular songs are "I Can't Stand the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down", which she wrote with her husband, Don Bryant, and radio broadcaster Bernard "Bernie" Miller and were subsequently popularized in cover versions by, among others, Eruption (1978) and Paul Young (1984), respectively.
A native of St Louis, Ann Peebles was given her first opportunity as a professional performer by Hi Records' Gene "Bowlegs" Miller during a 1968 trip to sit in singing with him at a Memphis nightclub. A popular local bandleader, Miller was known for helping other musicians, such as members of the Hi Rhythm Section, get their start in the Memphis music industry. Peebles soon began penning and singing hits for the label, co-writing with label staff songwriter Don Bryant, whom she married in 1974. She released a number of commercially successful and critically well received albums produced by Willie Mitchell on Hi Records throughout the 1970s, until the rise of disco music in the late 1970s took her music out of the limelight. Although Hi Records was sold in 1977, she reunited with Mitchell in 1989 to produce her comeback album, Call Me.

In 2006 she released the album Brand New Classics, which consisted of re-recordings of some of her songs in an acoustic style.

Peebles has been sampled by many hip hop artists, in particular RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan. Furthermore her track "I Can't Stand The Rain" was first covered by Patrice Banks of Graham Central Station on the 1975 release of Ain't No 'Bout A Doubt It album and has also been utilized as a sample by the hip hop duo Reflection Eternal (a collaborative group comprising conscious hip hop artist Talib Kweli, and producer Hi-Tek) for their song "Memories Live" on their debut album Train Of Thought. "I Can't Stand the Rain" was also recorded by Grammy Award-winning singer Tina Turner for her 1984 Private Dancer album and released as the sixth single from the album in early 1985. In 1997, Missy Elliott recorded "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", an interpolation of "I Can't Stand the Rain", as the first single from her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. In addition, "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" was sampled in the track "The Plan" by Wu-Tang Affiliated group Sunz of Man.

Peebles joined Cyndi Lauper on a recording of Rollin' and Tumblin' on Lauper's 11th studio album, Memphis Blues.
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Hey Joe - Tony Campanella Band

Heavy Electric Blues from the Lou! Since the age of eleven, Tony has been infatuated with the sound and feel of the guitar and the positive vibe that resonates from its strings. He was fed the music of the blues greats like Buddy Guy, Freddie and Albert King, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters. Soon that expanded to guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan. With his group, The Tony Campanella Band, all of his influences come together to produce heavy hitting but soulful music that can't be described as just Blues. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Walter Trout, Indegenous, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Etta James, Bernard Allison, Micheal Burks and Robin Trower to name a few. With Bike on Bass Guitar and Terry Melton on drums, they form a group that truly lives up to the moniker "Power Trio".
Take your time to check them out!
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Bye Bye Baby - Soulard Blues Band

Born in 1946 and raised in St. Louis, Art Dwyer grew up on the city's north side. "Rufus, the Dells, T-Bone Walker, Otis Redding, and of course, Albert and B.B. King were my music. It fit in with everything my friends and me did. "Art drifted around for quite some time, working as a union organizer, a Maritime employee and a ditch digger, but he never lost the music. "There was always a dance party or jam session going on somewhere.

That's how the Soulard Blues Band came together."Art has performed with the great Henry Townsend, J.B. Hutto, Little Johnny Taylor, Fernest Arceneaux and the Thunders, the Zydeco Farmers, Larry Davis, the legendary Billy Gayles, Chuck Berry, Doc Terry, Tommy Bankhead, Albert Collins and many others. In 1978, Art organized the Soulard Blues Band. Since 1987 Art has been a disc jockey on St. Louis' number one community radio station, KDHX 88.1 FM, hosting the weekly blues program, "Blues in the Night".
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Lala Blues - Pokey Lafarge & The South City Tree

Of the many roots musicians traveling the world and spreading the early American music tradition, Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three are the next in line to make a significant impact on music enthusiasts everywhere. From St. Louis, Missouri, their creative mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues and western swing rings true and fine, making them among the most innovative of all the purists performing American roots music today. It’s wonderfully infectious, and all laid down in front of a big, big swingin’ beat. A lot of performers are content to play old material, reworking the tunes to give them new life or to stamp them with personal style. But this group, led by guitar-plucking troubadour Pokey LaFarge, achieves timelessness with original songs while honoring the legendary artists of yesterday through covered tunes. Accompanied by The South City Three, Pokey uses his booming voice as an instrument with an incredible range; one moment he shouts a line and the next he croons above his parlor guitar. Pokey’s extraordinary blend of raw talent and refined, idiosyncratic charm turns reviewers into poets as they attempt to label his one-of-a-kind sound.
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Just One More Time - Billy Gayles

Billy (d April 8, 1993)was one of St. Louis' finest. A drummer and vocalist that played with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm before Tina, Billy played until the time of his death!
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St. Louis Blues - Mound City Blue Blowers

The Mound City Blue Blowers were an American novelty jazz ensemble, formed in St. Louis, Missouri and given its nickname. It was co-founded by Red McKenzie and Jack Bland and performed during in the 1920s and 1930s.

First assembled in 1923, the group's original members were Red McKenzie playing comb and tissue paper, Dick Slevin on kazoo, and Jack Bland on banjo. The band also included, in lieu of a drum kit, a traveler's suitcase played with foot and whisk brooms. Their debut recording, the 1924 release "Arkansas Blues" b/w "Blue Blues", was a hit in the Midwest. They recorded twelve tunes in 1924 and 1925; Frankie Trumbauer and Eddie Lang played on some of the tracks.

In 1929-1931 the group also made at least two short performance films: The Opry House (1929) and Nine O'Clock Folks (1931), which included "I Ain't Got Nobody","Let Me Call You Sweeheart," "My Gal Sal" and "St. Louis Blues."

After 1925, McKenzie recorded under his own name as a vocalist, but returned to the Mound City name in 1929 for several sessions with jazz stars including Jack Teagarden, Coleman Hawkins, Glenn Miller, and Pee Wee Russell. In 1931, the group recorded with McKenzie, Hawkins, Muggsy Spanier, and Jimmy Dorsey. The last recordings to bear the Mound City name, 25 songs from 1935-1936, included appearances from Nappy Lamare, Spooky Dickenson, Billy Wilson, Bunny Berigan, Yank Lawson, and Eddie Miller.
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Goin' Up The Country - "Papa Egg Shell" Casey

The unfortunately named Papa Egg Shell Casey was a relatively obscure St Louis bluesman in the 1930's who recorded very little but these show him to have been a very good singer and excellent guitar player. Sometimes also known as Papa Slick Head, Casey gained his nickname as a result of his premature baldness. The few recordings he made demonstrate his dexterity on guitar using picked strings, backed by a strong, slightly nasal voice. His song "Goin' Up the Country", which he wrote, survives as a very accessible track and one of the best examples of takes on the 'Kansas City Blues' theme. There is virtually no reliable biographical detail on him and no references to him after the second world war.
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Sister Kate - Eva Taylor

Eva Taylor (January 22, 1895, St. Louis, Missouri — October 31, 1977, Mineola, New York) was an American blues singer and stage actress.

Born Irene Joy Gibbons in St. Louis, Missouri, on stage from the age of three, Taylor toured New Zealand, Australia and Europe before her teens. She also toured extensively with the "Josephine Gassman and Her Pickaninnies" vaudeville act. She settled in New York by 1920. There she established herself as a performer in Harlem nightspots. Within a year she wed Clarence Williams, a producer (hired by Okeh Records), publisher, and piano player. The newlyweds worked together on radio and recordings. The couple recorded together through 1930s. Their legacy includes numbers made as the group Blue Five in the mid-1920s, which included jazz clarinetist/saxophonist Sidney Bechet, trumpet virtuoso Louis Armstrong, and such singers as Sippie Wallace and Bessie Smith.

In 1922 Taylor made her first record for the African-American owned Black Swan Records, who billed her as "The Dixie Nightingale." She would continue to record dozens of blues, jazz and popular sides for Okeh and Columbia throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Although she adopted the stage name of Eva Taylor, she also worked under her birth name in 'Irene Gibbons and her Jazz Band'.

She was part of The Charleston Chasers, the name given to a few all-star studio ensembles who recorded between 1925 and 1930. In 1927, Eva Taylor appeared on Broadway in Bottomland, a musical written and produced by her husband, lasted for twenty-one performances. During 1929 Eva had her own radio show on NBC's Cavalcade, then worked for many years on radio WOR, New York (guesting on Paul Whiteman's radio show in 1932). Taylor stopped performing during the 1940s, but returned in the mid-1960s following her husband's death, touring throughout Europe.
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