Carolina Chocolate Drops guest artist Leyla McCalla performs at The ArtsCenter

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - Leyla McCalla, a cello and banjo player from New Orleans, will be performing as part of the 6th annual Celtic Concert Series on Friday, March 23, 2012, at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. McCalla will be opening for Irish group Lunasa,

Originally from New York, McCalla currently lives in New Orleans, where she plays at local venues and is often heard on the radio. McCalla is part of Music Maker Relief Foundation's "Next Generation Artists" program. Music Maker's founder Tim Duffy heard McCalla playing on the street in New Orleans and connected her to his organization in 2011, assisting with her professional development. Duffy introduced McCalla to the Carolina Chocolate Drops, with whom she is currently touring.

Duffy said of McCalla, "Her sultry vocals and rhythmically lilting cello breathe new life into the Haitian folk music of her heritage and poetry of Langston Hughes. Leyla is firmly rooted in the deep South and you can hear it in every note."

Learn more about Leyla here:

McCalla, whose parents were born in Haiti, has recently spent time exploring her roots by playing Haitian folk music, known for its use of banjos and maracas. She performed at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in the fall of 2011 and is currently working on her first album. The album will include a mix of her original compositions, Haitian Creole songs and pieces composed to the poetry of Langston Hughes, one of McCalla's main sources of inspiration and influence.

Tickets for Lunasa and Leyla McCalla's March 23 show at the Carrboro ArtsCenter are available online at artscenterlive.org. The cost for single admission is $22 for ArtsCenter members, $24 for non-members and $26 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m

About Music Maker Relief Foundation:

Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. Music Maker aims to keep our Southern culture vital by directly supporting senior (over 55) American roots musicians in need, expanding their professional careers, and assisting Next Generation artists in the development of their professional careers. Since the organization's founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more. Music Maker's programs ensure the talents of these cultural treasures are accessible so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations.

TRACER unveil new video for "Devil Ride" ahead of UK Tour

Due to popular demand, Australian power rock trio “TRACER” kick off their first nationwide headline UK tour at London’s Islington O2 Academy on Tuesday 24th April.

Planet Rock (www.planetrock.com) will start a 48-hour ticket pre-sale for Planet Rock listeners from Wednesday 1st February at 9am. www.ents24.com will start their 24-hour pre-sale on Thursday 2nd February. Tickets will then go on sale to the general public from 10am on Friday 3rd February via the 24 hour box office: 0844 478 0898 and
www.thegigcartel.com.

TRACER - "SPACES IN BETWEEN"
APRIL 2012 UK TOUR
24 Hour Box Office – 0844 478 0898
www.thegigcartel.com

Tuesday 24th April 2012
Islington O2 Academy 1, London
£9.00 advance / £11.00 door
0844 477 2000
www.o2academyislington.co.uk
N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, Islington, London, N1 0PS

Wednesday 25th April 2012
The Tunnels, Bristol
£8.00 advance / £10.00 door
0845 605 0255
www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
Arches 31-32, Lower Station Approach Road, Bristol, BS1 6Q

Thursday 26th April 2012
Manchester Academy 3
£8.00 advance / £10.00 door
0161 275 4278
www.manchesteracademy.net
Oxford Road, Manchester,
Lancashire, M13 9PQ

Friday 27th April 2012
The Duchess, York
£8.00 advance / £10.00 door
01904 641 413
http://theduchessyork.co.uk
Stonebow House, The Stonebow, York, YO1 7NP

Saturday 28th April 2012
The Plug, Sheffield
£8.00 advance / £10.00 door
0114 241 3040
www.the-plug.com
14-16 Matilda Street, Sheffield, S1 4QD

Tracer was recently voted third place in Planet Rock’s “Best New Band” listeners’ poll. Over the past four months Planet Rock has played the singles Too Muchand Devil Ride, two songs taken from Tracer’s debut critically acclaimed album Spaces In Between.

Tracer has captured the excitement and adrenalin rush of rock ’n’ roll. Tracer's sound embodies the same raw dynamics and edge to that of Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Queens of the Stone Age and Black Sabbath.

With the release of Spaces in Between, Tracer has attracted rave reviews and interviews in Classic Rock (New Band of the Month), Total Guitar, Rock Sound, Guitarist, Fireworks and Powerplay. Their video for Too Much has attracted over 50,000 hits on YouTube.

In the tradition of three-piece rock bands like Rush and Muse, Tracer’s sound is the audio equivalent to Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now set inside the eye of a hurricane.

Hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, Tracer embrace a sonic sledgehammer sound steeped in epic guitars, thunderous riffs and raw, uncompromising vocals. Their Australian blend of 90’s stoner and 70’s classic rock continues to win them new fans.

When Tracer supported Royal Republic on their 2011 European tour, it soon became evident that Tracer was the band to watch. When the UK’s premiere classic rock radio station, Planet Rock, started playing the band’s rock anthem Too Much, listeners responded, and posted messages on the Too Much YouTube video wall by saying, “Planet Rock brought me here.”

Rising from the ashes of blues prodigy band The Brown Brothers in 2004, Michael (vocals, guitar) and Leigh Brown (vocals, bass) teamed up with drummer Andre Wise to form Tracer.

The following years have seen the trio find success with two independent releases; two international tours, including support slots for Little Red, Children Collide, The John Steel Singers and Cassette Kids.

Following a successful debut European tour in late 2009, Tracer returned overseas in September 2010 to take a coveted showcase slot at Germany’s PopKomm Music Conference in Berlin. The band then set off on a string of dates throughout Germany, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK, taking time off only to sign a long term record deal with Cool Green Recordings, a sub label of the Mascot Label Group.

Upon returning to Adelaide, the band headed straight into the studio, and recorded what was to be their debut album, released in October 2011. Entitled “Spaces In Between,” the album includes 12 in-your-face songs that will blow your head off.

TRACER - OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

With a sound reminiscent of 90's grunge/stoner rock mixed with the everlasting bravado of 70′s classic rock, Tracer is a driving, sonic sledgehammer of massive guitars, clever hooks and raw uncompromising vocals. Forming out of the ashes of blues prodigy band The Brown Brothers in 2004, Michael (Vocals and guitar) and Leigh Brown (Vocals and Bass) teamed up with drummer Andre Wise to make Tracer. With 2 independent releases, 2 international tours and now a record contract under their belt, Tracer is a band that takes every little chance, every crazy idea, and commits everything they have to it.

During 2008 and 2009 Tracer took on an extensive touring schedule with multiple trips to Melbourne, a swag of successful Adelaide shows including a capacity crowd at the Australian album launch for their second critically acclaimed mini-album “L.A.?”

2009 also saw the band share the stage with Little Red, Children Collide, The John Steel Singers and Cassette Kids among others. In late 2009 Tracer set off and toured Europe for three and a half months taking in Germany, the Netherlands, U.K., Denmark, Switzerland and Czech. Tracer also toured as part of The Great Australian Wave (as a showcase at PopKomm in Germany).

Upon returning from Europe the band got busy writing new songs and developing their live show. Demand from overseas led the band to recording 3 new songs to compliment the release of ‘L.A.?’ in Europe. ‘L.A.?’ was met with countless praising reviews in German magazines and an expression of interest from Mascot Records in the Netherlands. Due to the success of the 2009 European tour and an increasing demand from overseas, Tracer played Europe once more with a showcase performance at Germany’s new format PopKomm Music Conference in Berlin. From this performance the band set off on a string of dates throughout Germany, Czech, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK.

The band released their debut LP via Mascot’s Cool Green Recordings on October 3rd 2011. Following the release of the album, the band toured the UK and Europe as support to Royal Republic.

In 2011, their single “Too Much” was A-listed on Planet Rock Radio in the UK for three months. The band generated over 50,000 views for their Too Much video on YouTube. In December 2011, Planet Rock started A-listing Tracer’s second single “Devil Ride”.

Due to popular demand, Tracer will return to the UK and Europe for their first headline tour in April 2012.

Tracer - Official We

Capitol Blues tix now available - and don't miss Leyla in Carrboro!

Leyla McCalla opening for Lunasa in Carrboro March 23rd! Leyla McCalla will open for Celtic band Lunasa at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on March 23rd. Leyla will be joined by fellow MMRF Next Generation artist Cary Morin. Leyla has been on the road with the Carolina Chocolate Drops since 2011, while also working on her own album. Leyla's perfomance at The ArtsCenter will showcase her original compositions inspired by the folk songs of her Haitian heritage and the poetry of Langston Hughes. Cary's guitar will back up Leyla's sultry vocals and rhythmically lilting cello, embracing the audience in a truly refreshing performance. Get your tickets today! Photo of the Week Ironing Board Sam at the Armed Forces Retirement Center by Aaron Greenhood Quick Links: Website Merch Music Tickets available now for Capitol Blues Night! Get your tickets for Capitol Blues Night! Hosted by Clyde's of Gallery Place in Washington, D.C on March 27th; this will be one awesome evening of Blues! MMRF artists Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Big Ron Hunter, and Shelton Powe will be there to rock out from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets are $100 and include beer and wine, hors d'oeuvres, and non-stop entertainment from these blues legends! Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the elderly and impoverished Blues musicians throughout the South who are served by Music Maker. Buy your tickets here - don't miss out! Listen: Little Pink Anderson - See that my grave is kept Pat Wilder and Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen tour Europe! Blueswomen Pat Wilder and Mother Blues are in France from March 8th through March 17th, spreading love for the blues worldwide! If you happen to be in France, check out the dates below and head out to a show! 3/8 - Cesson Sévigné - Centra Culturel 3/9 - St Laurent Nouan - La Grange 3/10 - St Nazaire - VIP 3/11 - Callac - Le Bacardi 3/12 - Paris - Le New Morning 3/13 - Lisieux - La Double Croche 3/16 - Einsisheim - Caf Conc 3/17 - Oraison - Eden District Blues

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events 3/09 - Pura Fé, Deer Clan Singers - UNC Pembroke 3/10 - Shelton Powe - St. Anne's Chapel & Event Center, Tarboro, N.C. 3/23 - Leyla McCalla - The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, N.C. 3/27 - Ironing Board Sam, Captain Luke, Big Ron Hunter, Shelton Powe - Capitol Blues Night, D.C. 3/29 - Ironing Board Sam - Art with a Heart, Washington D.C. 4/13 - SOOTS 6th Annual Blues Review featuring John Dee Holeman, Tad Walters, & Justin Robinson & the Mary Annettes 4/14 - Big Ron Hunter - North Dakota Museum of Art 4/27 - Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Leyla McCalla - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/28 - Carolina Chocolate Drops - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/29 - Ironing Board Sam - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.

APRIL/EARLY MAY REISSUES FROM REAL GONE MUSIC INCLUDE LITTLE WILLIE JOHN, COWBOY COPAS, THE AD LIBS, MEL McDANIEL AND EDDIE RABBITT

APRIL/EARLY MAY REISSUES FROM REAL GONE MUSIC INCLUDE

LITTLE WILLIE JOHN, COWBOY COPAS, THE AD LIBS,

MEL McDANIEL AND EDDIE RABBITT

Also due are two more Grateful Dead Dicks Picks sets, Volumes 30 & 31.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Real Gone Music will issue Little Willie John’s Complete Hit Singles A’s and B’s, a definitive compilation of the influential R&B singer’s King Records sides as well as King-Starday label mate Cowboy Copas’ Complete Hit Singles A’s & B’s, featuring 30 of the country legends’ sides from 1946-63, both slated for April 17, 2012 street date. On May 1, doo-woppers the Ab Libs will be celebrated on The Complete Blue Cat Recordings. And two country hit-makers from the ’70s and ’70s, Mel McDaniel and Eddie Rabbit, will be reissued — McDaniel with Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On — His Original Capitol Hits, and Rabbitt with 13 Original #1 Hits. Finally, Real Gone continues its acclaimed Grateful Dead Dick’s Picks reissues with Volume 30 and Volume 31.

Little Willie John was a genuine architect of soul. Along with Clyde McPhatter, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, the visionary singer stood at the forefront of fusing gospel intensity to rhythm and blues tradition. And had he not died inside a Walla Walla prison at the age of 30, his name would likely be etched in the same soul pantheon as his peers. In his short career, Willie cut a string of seminal sides for Cincinnati-based King Records from 1955-61 that rank among the finest R&B ever waxed. As Motown legend Lamont Dozier says in Bill Dahl’s notes to this collection, “Willie John was just an extraordinary talent. He knew how to touch you with a song, and he knew how to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.” Real Gone Music will offer the most comprehensive collection of this overlooked soul superstar ever assembled: two CDs, 32 tracks that include every chart hit plus its accompanying, seldom-compiled B-side. And the B-sides are where some of the real fun is: joining such landmark R&B recordings as “Fever,” “All Around the World,” “Need Your Love So Bad” and “Home at Last” on this collection are such crackling tunes as “Spasms,” “Let’s Rock While the Rockin’s Good” and “Do You Love Me” (recorded with Little Richard’s band the Upsetters).

To many, Lloyd Estel “Cowboy” Copas is just a footnote to the Patsy Cline legend, having perished in the same plane crash that claimed her life and that of Hawkshaw Hawkins; but what many folks don’t realize is that Cope had 14 hits during his lifetime while Patsy had but nine. Clearly, the intervening years have burnished and magnified Patsy’s legend; they’ve also unjustly neglected this early Grand Ole Opry stalwart. Now, with Complete Hit Singles A’s & B’s, Real Gone has assembled the most comprehensive Cowboy Copas collection to date: two CDs, 30 tracks including every hit and its accompanying, rarely‐if‐ever‐compiled B‐sides. Cope got his start in Pee Wee King’s band, and you can hear a bit of that bandleader’s freewheeling approach to country in these songs, among many other influences. In fact, as Colin Escott writes in the accompanying liner notes, “His records were so personable and so unlike any others from that day and time. Not honky tonk, not bluegrass, not Western swing, not hillbilly, not pop crossover, they could be labeled Cowboy Copas records.” This Cowboy Copas collection is the one to have — essential country spanning the years from 1946-63, the year Cope died.

On the heels of Real Gone’s well-received Red Bird Girls: Very First Time in True Stereo 1964-1966 comes another incredible find for doo-wop and girl-group fans: the first-ever legitimate album devoted to the classic Blue Cat recordings by the legendary vocal group The Ad-Libs, featuring 24 tracks taken by producers Ron Furmanek and Ash Wells straight from the original master session tapes (again, another first) including five unreleased songs and nine unreleased alternate versions! And among those unreleased alternate versions are a full three newly discovered versions of their big hit “The Boy from New York City,” highlighted by an a cappella demo version that must be heard. Most tracks make their true stereo debut, while the 12-page booklet boasts great liner notes by James Moniz that offer insights from original Ad-Lib Norman Donegan, plus a foreword from Manhattan Transfer member Tim Hauser.

The late country legend Mel McDaniel scored a string of 41 chartmakers during the ’70s and ’80s, but there’s never been a hits collection worthy of the name until now. Twenty-one original Capitol sides from McDaniel appear on Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On — His Original Capitol Hits, including such good-time anthems as “Louisiana Saturday Night,” “Big Ole Brew” (Mel preferred to drink his beer rather than cry in it), “Let It Roll (Let It Rock),” “Stand Up” and, of course one of the great girl-watching songs of all time, “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On.” McDaniel was one of the real bright lights of ’80s country, and Real Gone is proud to give him his due.

13 #1 Hits compiles the chart-topping hits of Eddie Rabbitt, one of the biggest pop and country music stars of the ’70s and ’80s. In addition to the great singles Eddie recorded for Elektra and Warner — “Drivin’ My Life Away,” “I Love a Rainy Night,” “Every Which Way But Loose,” and more — Real Gone cross-licensed the hits owned by Capitol—“Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight,” “You and I,” “Best Year of My Life,” etc.—AND the #1 hit duet he recorded with Juice Newton for RCA, “Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers).” Liner notes and photos recount the story of one of country music’s biggest crossover artists. No other Eddie Rabbitt collection packs this hit power.

Real Gone Music continues its Grateful Dead Dick’s Picks reissues with two new titles available in stores for the first time: The four-CD set Dick’s Picks Vol. 30 — Academy of Music, New York City, NY 3/25 & 3/28/72 kicks off with five tracks featuring blues legend Bo Diddley (taken from a 3/25/72 benefit for the Hell’s Angels), which ought to be enough to get those Dead collector synapses firing. The final three discs present a complete show from March 28, 1972 that’s very Europe ’72 in its set list but with that extra edge that playing in New York always seemed to inspire in the band, all recorded by Dead sound guru Betty Cantor-Jackson. The set features HDCD sound and contain the Dead’s lone renditions of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” and “Are You Lonely for Me.”

The four-CD Dick’s Picks Vol. 31 — 8/4-5 Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, PA 8/6/74, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ captures the Dead right in the thick of the legendary 1974 Wall of Sound tour and only two months away from leaving the road for a year-and-a-half hiatus. The Wall of Sound was, of course, the massive sound system designed by Owsley “Bear” Stanley that was so meticulously constructed that, for example, each string of Phil Lesh’s bass had its own speaker. The result was a crystal-clear sound that to this day stirs controversy among the band’s fans. It certainly complemented and even encouraged the band’s continued move away from the country-rock of Workingman’s Dead towards a jazz fusion sound best expressed by the two epic versions of “Playing in the Band” found here. Unlike most Dick’s Picks collections, this four-disc set offers highlights from three consecutive nights of shows (again, all in HDCD sound) rather than presenting shows in their entirety.

About Real Gone Music

Real Gone Music, formed and helmed by industry vets Gordon Anderson and Gabby Castellana, aims to establish itself as the most eclectic and prolific catalog and reissue label in the country. The label has announced distribution through by Razor & Tie. Anderson and Castellana each started businesses in 1993 — Collectors’ Choice Music and Hep Cat Records & Distribution, respectively — that became two of the most important outlets for buyers and sellers of vintage music recordings. Now, 18 years later, they have joined forces to launch Real Gone Music, a reissue label dedicated to serving both the collector community and the casual music fan with a robust release schedule combining big-name artists with esoteric cult favorites. Real Gone Music is a music company dedicated to combing the vaults for sounds that aren’t just gone — they’re REAL gone.

Street date April 17, 2012

Little Willie John: Little Willie John’s Complete Hit Singles A’s and B’s

Cowboy Copas: Complete Hit Singles A’s & B’s

Street date May 1, 2012

The Ad Libs: The Complete Blue Cat Recordings

Mel McDaniel with Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On — His Original Capitol Hits

Eddie Rabbitt: 13 Original #1 Hits.

Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol. 30 — Academy of Music, New York City, NY 3/25 & 3/28/72

Grateful Dead: Volume 31: Dick’s Picks Vol. 31 — 8/4-5 Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, PA 8/6/74, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ

Moose Walker

Jimmy Johnson on bass, Louisiana Red on guitar & Ben Sandmel on drums.
Johnny Walker--Big Moose, Busy Head, Moose John, J. W. Walker--by whatever name he was called him, he was Chicago’s irrepressible wild man of blues piano. He wore a splendid smile and long, wavy hair; in his briefcase he carried a gorilla mask and a “Big Moose” jersey. Just as musicians and audiences enjoyed Moose’s antics, they also admired the exuberant, two-fisted blues he played. He’s worked alongside the best in the business and rambled from coast to coast.

John Mayon Walker’s story was colorful from the start. He was born June 27, 1927, in Stoneville, Mississippi, but the way Moose told it, “I was really born in a graveyard, playing with the tombstones.” Indian blood and long flowing hair ran in the family. He picked up the nickname Moose as a youngster hanging around the pool hall in Greenville, Mississippi. “I wore my hair so long maybe I looked like a moose, I don’t know. I asked the guys, ‘Why you call me Moose?’ They said, ‘Well, that’s the only thing that fit for you.’”

Moose made his first music on an old church organ. He played guitar in the cotton fields, took tuba lessons and once had visions of becoming a famous blues vibes player. During the ‘50s he became known as a pianist and bass player as he roamed through the Delta and beyond. He played with many local Greenville bluesmen, joined Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm in Clarksdale and sat in with the King Biscuit Boys in Helena, Arkansas. He worked the Mississippi juke joints with Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. He switched to guitar for gigs with Boyd Gilmore in Arkansas and with pianist Eddie Snow in Cairo, Illinois. He lived with bandleader Tuff Green in Memphis and with pianist Pinetop Perkins in East St. Louis. He got to do some shows with Lowell Fulson when Fulson’s bandleader, Choker Campbell, hired Moose to drive the group around the country. He traveled even more extensively with the

roadmaster of the blues, Earl Hooker. During the drunken party in St. Louis, he won a $50 dollar bet with Ike Turner by jumping off the third floor of a building. (It was just enough to cover the hospital bill.) And he joined the army and went to Korea.

He did some recording in the ‘50s too. His first studio date was with Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson, for Trumpet Records in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1955 Ike Turner taped Moose in a Greenville club; two of those sides, credited to J.W Walker, appeared years later on the Kent Label. He appeared with Earl Hooker on Johnny Otis talent show in Los Angeles and cut his first 45, as Moose John, for Otis’ Ultra label, also in 1955.

Moose recorded even more after Sunnyland Slim brought him to Chicago. He backed Earl Hooker, Ricky Allen, Lorenzo Smith and others on local sessions. Willie Dixon took Moose to New York in 1960 to do some studio work for Prestige/Bluesville. Moose rejoined Elmore James at Silvio’s on the West Side and went to New Orleans with Elmore to record for Bobby Robinson’s Fire label. At another session for Robinson, Moose sang a few himself. Those tracks ended up being credited only to “the mysterious Bushy Head” on an Elmore James LP release in England. Two Chicago labels, The Blues and Age released Big Moose singles during the ‘60s. Moose’s first album came in 1969 when he and Earl Hooker went to Los Angeles to record for ABC Bluesway.

The guitar wizard Earl Hooker was Moose’s closest partner, on Chicago gigs and chaotic road trips. After Hooker’s death in 1970, Moose played in several other Chicago bands, including those of Jimmy Dawkins, Mighty Joe Young and Louis Myers. When Moose had his own gigs, he usually worked solo, or with just his drummer, Chris Moss. The duo once played bump-and-grind organ music for go-go dancers at sleazy Near North Side Joints. Moose also appeared at the Soul Queen restaurant on the South Side and played between band sets at Kingston Mines on the North Side.

In the late ‘70s, Moose joined Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang, just in time for their session for Alligator’s Living Chicago Blues series. Alligator president Bruce Iglauer was so impressed by Moose’s two-fisted piano that he offered him a session of his own for the series. Moose responded with four intense songs on a session that included his pal Louis Myers on guitar. Bass guitar was almost unnecessary, as Walker carried the bottom end with his pounding left hand.

Moose went on to record a handful of albums for various small labels, mostly in Europe, and to tour whenever anyone called him. In 1982 he made a memorable trip to New Zealand where he ended up living in a native Maori village, venerated as a member of the tribe!

Johnny “Big Moose” Walker suffered a serious stroke in the late 1980s and lived for a number of years in a Chicago nursing home before his death in 1999. No piano player of such sheer power and strength has arisen in Chicago to replace him.

Source: James Nadal
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Zingaro - Gabor Szabo

Gábor Szabó (8 March 1936 – 26 February 1982) was a Hungarian jazz guitarist, famous for mixing jazz, pop-rock and his native Hungarian music.
Szabó was born in Budapest and began playing guitar at the age of 14, inspired by jazz music on the Voice of America broadcasts. He escaped Hungary and moved to the United States in 1956, a year of attempted revolt against Soviet-dominated Communist rule, and attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston. In 1958, he was invited to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. Szabó performed with the Chico Hamilton quintet from 1961 to 1965.

In the late 1960s he co-founded the short-lived Skye record label along with Cal Tjader and Gary McFarland. On the Skye label, Szabo recorded his album with Lena Horne in October and November 1969. Szabo had been part of Horne's backup band when she performed at The Nugget in Nevada in November 1966 and when she performed (with Harry Belafonte) at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in September 1969.

His playing incorporated elements of folk music from his native Hungary and rock music's use of feedback. His composition "Gypsy Queen" became a hit for Santana in 1970 (see Black Magic Woman). Szabo's album for Impulse!, Wind, Sky And Diamonds, features "The California Dreamers", a vocal-ensemble consisting of Ron Hicklin, Al Capps, Loren Farber, John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ian Freebairn-Smith, Sally Stevens, Sue Allen and Jackie Ward. During his solo career, he performed with artists such as Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Lena Horne and Bobby Womack.

Gabor felt he was never fully accepted as a jazz artist in the US. During a 1977 engagement at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego, he complained to the audience about George Benson's success with "Breezin'" (composer, Bobby Womack). He indicated that he had recorded that song before Benson and that Benson had basically stolen the arrangement from him. His version can be heard on the High Contrast album with Bobby Womack.

He died in Budapest in 1982 from liver and kidney disease while on a visit to his homeland, partly to find treatment for the drug habit he had been battling for years
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Hang Out and Hustle - GOTCHA! and Sweet Charles Sherrell

Charles Emanuel Sherrell, b. 8th March 1943, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Born in Nashville, Sweet Charles was a former member of the JB's.

He began getting into he was 8 years old at school.

Charles began playing trombone for 2 years, trumpet for 2 years, and drums for 6 years.

Then he attended university T.S.U and became a music major.

He played R & B with Jimi Hendrix, and one of his bass players, Billy Cox, who also lives in Nashville.

They used to practice at Club Del-mor-roca on Jefferson street, one block from Jimi's house.

He was playing drums and taught himself to play bass.

In August 1968, he joined the J.B's.

One of his first recordings with James Brown was the concert 'Say It Live And Loud'.

In January 1970 he quit the group because of financial problems.

In 1974, the president of Polydor Records, Mr. Jerry Shearnbone, decided to record an album after hearing him sing at a rehearsal hall.

The album, 'Sweet Charles For Sweet People' (People PE6603) was recorded in New York with a 32 piece orchestra in 1974.

Fred Wesley and David Mathews worked with him on the album, which contained the rare groove song 'Yes It's You'.

Charles has worked with Al Green and Take 6 and produced gospel groups around Nashville.

In 1976, when Fred Wesley quit, James Brown made him his musical director and bandleader up until October 1996.

In 2002 Sweet Charles hooked up with the dutch P-Funk band Gotcha!

2005 saw some London gigs at the Jazz Cafe.
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Wang Dang Doodle - Tom Maxwell, Wave Milor, Pete Ragusa & Wolf Crescenze

Pete Ragusa, musician, songwriter, and producer, recently left his longtime gig with D.C.-area blues and rock legends The Nighthawks. Pete joined the band in 1974, two years after harmonica player and lead singer Mark Wenner formed the band. “After thirty-five years of putting my body and soul into The Nighthawks, it’s time to take the opportunity to move on,” says Ragusa, the band’s longtime drummer, “and work on the projects and make the records I’ve always wanted to make but haven’t had time to do.” Ragusa adds that he looks forward to such new endeavors as producing other artists as well as continuing to perform as a sideman in the Washington, D.C. area “with friends I’ve always admired as musicians.”

Among his favorite experiences as a Nighthawk, Pete emphasizes his gratitude for the opportunities “to sit in Muddy Waters’s living room as well as to play with him,” and “to share the stage with such legends as B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, and Buddy Guy,” along with many others including Gregg Allman.

According to Washington Post music critic Richard Harrington, "A bar owner’s dream, the Hawks have filled a thousand and one nightspots with raucous boogie that drives people to drink.” Some years The Nighthawks played 300 nights a year, and during Pete’s tenure he played on more than 20 albums.

Pete Ragusa, who calls himself a “groove drummer,” also co-wrote and performed several Nighthawks songs featured on the award-winning HBO TV series “The Wire.” Now he’s a guest artists with McMurdo Station.
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Born To Die - Keef Hartley Band

Keith "Keef" Hartley (8 April 1944 – 26 November 2011) was an English drummer and bandleader. He fronted his own eponymous band, known as the Keef Hartley Band or the Keef Hartley Big Band, and played at Woodstock. He was later a member of Dog Soldier, and variously worked with Rory Storm, The Artwoods and John Mayall.
Keith Hartley was born in Preston, Lancashire. His career began as the replacement for Ringo Starr as drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a Liverpool-based band. Subsequently he played and recorded with The Artwoods, then achieved some notability as John Mayall's drummer (including his role as the only musician, other than Mayall, to play on Mayall's 1967 "solo" record The Blues Alone. He then formed The Keef Hartley (Big) Band, mixing elements of jazz, blues, and rock and roll; the group played at Woodstock in 1969.

They released five albums, including Halfbreed and The Battle of North West Six (characterized by a reviewer for the Vancouver Sun as "an amazing display of virtuosity"). After that Hartley released a 'solo' album (Lancashire Hustler, 1973) and then he formed Dog Soldier with Miller Anderson (guitar), Paul Bliss (bass), Derek Griffiths (guitar) and Mel Simpson (keyboards). They released an eponymous album in 1975, which had a remastered release in early 2011 on CD on the Esoteric label.

In 2007, Hartley released a ghostwritten autobiography, Halfbreed (A Rock and Roll Journey That Happened Against All the Odds). Hartley wrote about his life growing up in Preston, and his career as a drummer and bandleader, including the Keef Hartley Band's appearance at Woodstock.

Hartley died on 26 November 2011, aged 67, at Royal Preston Hospital in Preston.

Cigareets, Whuskey, & Wild Women - Big Three Trio

"Cigareets, Whuskey & Wild Women" the drunken version by 'Big Three Trio' formed in 1946 Chicago IL. USA. Willie Dixon bass, Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston piano, and Ollie Crawford guitar recorded on the Columbia label and had one national hit "You Sure Look Good To Me" in 1948. At the end of their run they recorded for OKeh label they broke up in 1952. Willie Dixon went on to great fame.
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I Can't Be Satisfied - Muddy Waters with Big Crawford

Standing 6'5" and weighing 300-plus, Ernest "Big" Crawford loomed large in Chicago's explosive postwar blues scene. Crawford's slapped upright lines pushed recordings by the likes of Little Walter, Big Bill Broonzy, and Memphis Slim, but his work with former plantation hand Muddy Waters carved Crawford's name for all time in the blues bass hall of fame.

In April 1948, fellow South Side denizens Waters and Crawford recorded "I Can't Be Satisfied" for the Chess brothers' Aristocrat label. (Seven years earlier in Mississippi, Waters had recorded the song as "I Be's Troubled" for musicologist Alan Lomax.) On the'48 track, Crawford's slap-bass accompaniment begins with a simple root-5 pattern that hangs on the I chord's G and D notes even when Waters goes to the IV. On the turnaround, Crawford pedals an A under the V chord (and tosses in a non-chord E), and on the IV he introduces a chromatic lick with a syncopation that returns on the next bar's tonic G. Crawford plays the pattern on the intro and first verse, but then on the second verse he shifts the syncopated figure to the first two bars . It's all a buildup to the guitar solo, where Crawford lays into wildly syncopated riffs that fully match the virtuosic intensity of Waters's slide lines . Throughout the tune, Crawford keeps his rhythms crisp as his slapped acoustic drives the track in the twin roles of bass and percussion.

Spurred by the local success of "I Can't Be Satisfied" and its straight-from-the-Delta sound, Phil and Leonard Chess paired Waters and Crawford on classics like "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and "Rollin' Stone" before Waters began filling out his studio band with local aces like harp man Little Walter and guitarist Jimmy Rogers. Then, in the early '50s, Waters teamed with the musician who would create blues history as a bassist, songwriter, and producer: Willie Dixon.

March 7, 1956. Big Crawford died in Memphis, TN, USA. Age: 64
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Same Situation - Mike Wyatt

Based in London, Mike is a session guitarist who has played for many artists such as the Ting Tings, Levelle London, Portia Emare and many more.
With a passion and focus on live performances, he has achieved many sessions, SBTV, Balcony TV, Music Hidccup, live FM and digital radio worldwide and has even played a live acoustic set for Dannii Minogue. He has also played some amazing venues such as the 100 Club, Ronnie Scott's, the Southampton Guildhall and many more.
On the side Mike writes and plays solo and band music. His latest trio, "Alice Avenue", have recently released their debut album, "Unreliable". He also has a vast experience in studio, with albums and singles being released worldwide.
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Saddle Up My Pony - Willie Young

I can't find anything on this guy but the music is interesting.Willie Young I Got
Aug 1967 Ms Delta Blues Tutweiller, MS
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VIDAR BUSK & HIS BUBBLE OF TROUBLE

Vidar Busk was born 19 May-1970 and is considered today as the best guitarist in Norway. He grew up in Langesund but moved to the United States at 15 to play blues with the American band Rock Bottom. They toured the USA many years before Vidar moved back to Norway.
In 1996 started he started his own band, Vidar Busk and his True Believers. The the critically acclaimed song "Stompin' Our Feet with joy" in 1997. Since Baby's Happy the 2 new records before the band was placed on ice in 2000. Vidar selected a new musical profile 'Venus Texas", "Starfish" and "Laws Buzz". Vidar Busk has played in most of the major festivals in Norway, Skandinavia and Europe. He is host on radio, TV ,Magazines and is a very prolific artist.
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The Blues Foundation's HART Fund

In support of The Blues Foundation's HART Fund and celebrating the centennial of the first published blues, Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans bring you Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues".

All proceeds benefit the HART Fund. http://www.blues.org/hart/index.php

"Special thanks to Frank Roszak Promotions for their generous donation of time and services." www.frankroszakpromotions.com

ONE hundred years ago, the first blues was published—though, of course, blues was born long before that. In celebration of the centennial of the first published blues, Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans are pleased to release a digital single of Hart Wand's “Dallas Blues” to benefit The Blues Foundation’s H.A.R.T. fund. The H.A.R.T. Fund (Handy Artists Relief Trust) provides for blues musicians and their families who are in financial need due to a broad range of health concerns including acute, chronic, and preventive medical and dental care, as well as funeral and burial expenses. All proceeds from downloads of this single will go to the fund.

As we discovered via Samuel Charters’ book, “The Country Blues”, the first published blues was Hart Wand’s “Dallas Blues,” published (as sheet music) in March, 1912. Lyrics were added in 1918 by Lloyd Garrett. This was not only the first published blues, with “Blues” in its title, but it was actually written in the blues form. It was a big hit (and we think it’s a great song, too!) Later that year two other “Blues” were published. The second was Arthur Seals’ “Baby Seals’ Blues” in August, and finally, W.C. Handy’s “Memphis Blues” in September. Neither of these others was written in the blues form. They followed the popular cake-walk form of the era. You can learn more about Hart Wand and “Dallas Blues” in Charters’ book, and in Hart Wand's entry on Wikipedia. We love the “Hart” “H.A.R.T.” coincidence!

Download “Dallas Blues” to hear the first published blues, and to make a difference by contributing to The Blues Foundation's HART Fund!

Click HERE to Download "Dallas Blues" on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dallas-blues-feat.-charles/id507508078

Click HERE to Download "Dallas Blues" on CDbaby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/bradvickersdallasblues

The Lionel Young Band

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Lionel Young is a high energy performer with a bent for the blues. His LIONEL YOUNG BAND, winners of numerous awards for best in and around the Colorado region, have won the 2011 International Blues Challenge (IBC) band competition. Added to his victory at the 2008 IBC in the solo-duo catagory, that makes Lionel Young the first double champion in the history of the IBC.

Fans of the driven, classically trained Young, love his distinctive brand of blues on the electric violin. His show features not only Young originals but interpretations of blues classics by Willie Dixon, Leadbelly and Stevie Ray Vaughan, features the strength and passion of Young’s playing, as well as his smooth vocals and unique translations. The songs, which include his award-winning composition ” Brown Cloud Over Denver” and “Hey, O.J.,” a controversial little gem, alternately stir up social concerns and soothe the weary soul. It’s prime. It’s fun. It’s Lionel Young.

Born in Rochester, New York, Lionel Young began taking violin lessons at the age of six with Anastasia Jempelis at the Eastman School of Music. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Opera-Ballet Orchestra and the National Repertory Orchestra which commissioned him to play bluegrass and blues for their summer festival and on a tour of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea during the 1988 Summer Olympic Music Festival.

Throughout his career, Mr. Young has won numerous awards including: The Young Artist Award (Pittsburgh Symphony); The Concerto Contest (Carnegie-Mellon); The Passamenic Award (Branchwood String Quartet); and the award for the Best Blues Band in Westword’s Best of Denver. He’s also won a position with The Denver Chamber Orchestra and premiered a solo piece by William Hill.

Lionel has had the honor of working with such show biz luminaries as: Count Basie, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Paige/Robert Plant, Doc Severenson, Linda Ronstadt, Living Color, Billy Taylor, Woodie Herman, Stanley Turrentine, Homesick James, Homer Brown, Hamlet Bluiett, Chief Bae, and Johnny Long.

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