Bman's Blues Report

Slim grew up playing in juke joints in Alabama and moved to New Orleans in the ‘60s. Since joining MM, his music has been felt at performances in the States and abroad and he has recorded The Mighty Flood, an album featuring Slim & blues guitarist Little Freddie King. Born: March 29, 1939 in Vance, Alabama Repertoire Summary: Acoustic Blues Current Location: New Orleans, LA More about Alabama Slim: Alabama Slim was born Milton Frazier in Vance, Alabama on March 29, 1939. His father worked building trains at the Pullman plant and his mother did domestic work. In their home, they had a Victrola and a boxful of 78s- this is where Slim fell in love with the Blues of Bill Broonzy and Lightnin’ Hopkins. “I grew up listening to the old blues since I was a child. I spent summers with my grandparents who had a farm. Them old folks would get to moanin’ while they worked, and I just started moanin’ with them. That’s where I learned to sing. When I got grown I formed a band and we ...

Robert Lewis Jones (October 12, 1925 – April 2, 1996), known as both Guitar Gabriel and Nyles Jones, was an American blues Musician. Gabriel's unique style of guitar playing, which he referred to as "Toot Blues", combined Piedmont, Chicago, and Texas blues, as well as gospel, and was influenced by artists such as Blind Boy Fuller and Reverend Gary Davis. After hearing of Guitar Gabriel from the late Greensboro, North Carolina blues guitarist and pianist, James "Guitar Slim" Stephens, musician and folklorist Tim Duffy located and befriended Gabriel, who was the inspiration for the creation of the Music Maker Relief Foundation. Gabriel wore a trademark white sheepskin hat, which he acquired while traveling and performing with medicine shows during his late 1920s. Gabriel was born in Atlanta, Georgia, moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina at age five. His father, Sonny Jones (also known as Jack Jones, James Johnson, and as Razorblade for an act in which he ate ra...

Eddie Tigner was born on Aug. 11, 1926, in Macon, Georgia. After his father died from mustard gas in World War I, his mother married a coal miner who moved the family to a mining camp in Kentucky. Eddie fondly remembers listening to bluegrass and country and western music as a child. When he was 14, the family returned South to Atlanta, and Eddie started following his piano-playing mother to house parties, breakdowns, fish fries, and barbecues, where she was in demand as an entertainer. Eddie didn't learn to play the piano himself, however, until he began his service in the Army in 1945 and was taught by a friend, Edward Louis, at a base in Maryland. Eddie was in charge of booking entertainment at the special service hall each weekend, and often drove to Baltimore to pick up Bill Kenney (of the original Ink Spots) and his group to perform for the servicemen. Returning to Atlanta after his discharge, Eddie joined the Musicians' Union in 1947 and put together his first group, the...

This is another real straight guy. "George Higgs hails from Edgecombe County, North Carolina and is a wonderful guitar and harp player in the Piedmont tradition. Throughout the 40’s and 50’s he was a popular performer at fish fries and house parties and later on performed gospel with a local quartet. He apparently recorded for the Trix label in the early 70’s but these sides were never issued. 'Tarboro Blues' is a beautifully played debut filled with mostly traditional songs sung in a deeply moving and personal manner. Higgs is a moving singer, powerful harp blower and has a gentle, propulsive guitar style that make for engaging listening. Higgs rolls through a set of traditional material like the driving 'My Hook’s In The Water', the heartfelt 'Geraldine', the good time feel of 'Greasy Greens' and the moving “'Sides to Every Story.' Fans of bluesman like Pink Anderson and Peg Leg Sam will certainly want to investigate this record." -Je...

Captain really has a great deep voice... he's not only a joker!! Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click Here

This guy is outrageous!! Born: November 27, 1927 in Greenville, SC Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click Here

“I got the advantage over a lot of artists. I got my whole band by myself.” - Adolphus Bell Feet flying, eyes flashing, hands on the guitar and song coming from the heart, that’s the Adolphus Bell One-Man Band. Born: June 5, 1944, Birmingham, Alabama Repertoire Summary: One Man Band, original Blues, Spirited Current Location: Birmingham, AL Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE