Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release (formal release date March 19, 2013), Sweet Spirit from Kelly Richey . This is a hard driving blues soaked rock release. Opening with Feelin' Under , Richey wields a mighty heavy axe and the band has definite intentions. I Went Down Easy has a strong blues line and raspy the voiced Richey throws down some pretty heavy guitar riffs with comparisons to Hendrix, Stevie, Frank Marino... she can flat out play! The is a really cool track and well supported by Freekbass on bass, Bobby Cosenza on drums and Duane Lundy on percussion. Leavin' It All Behind follows in the same vein and if it's hard rockin blues guitar that you want, you need look no farther. This is the best hard rockin blues guitar release that I've heard in a long time. Fast Drivin' Mama is another scorcher based loosely on I'm A Road Runner. This takes the general feel of the track but takes out the slow swing and puts in not only a lot of drive but flashy guitar r...

Clarence Garlow (February 27, 1911 – July 24, 1986) was an American R&B, jump blues, Texas blues and cajun guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his recording of the song "Bon Ton Roula", which was a hit single on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1950. One commentator noted the track as, "a rhythm and blues laced-zydeco song that helped introduce the Louisiana music form to a national audience He was born Clarence Joseph Garlow in Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States, although he relocated to Beaumont, Texas with his family whilst still a child. After learning the rudiments of fiddle playing as a youngster, in his teenage years Garlow learned to play both the guitar and accordion. His guitar playing was influenced by T-Bone Walker. Initially working in several factories, Garlow first recorded for the small record label, Macy's in Houston, Texas, in 1949. His debut release was "She's So Fine" b/w "Blues As ...

Jimmy Burns (born February 27, 1943, Dublin, Mississippi, United States) is an award winning American soul blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although he was born in the Mississippi Delta, Burns has spent nearly all his life in Chicago. His elder brother, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, is a Detroit blues musician. Burns's father was a sharecropper who performed as a singer in medicine shows. At the age of 12, Jimmy Burns moved with his family to Chicago and four years later joined The Medallionaires who recorded a couple of doo-wop tracks. Recording mostly solo in the 1960s, Burns issued singles for the USA, Minit, Tip Top and Erica labels. He toured the Midwest with his backing group, the Fantastic Epics, and with another outfit called Jimmy Burns and the Gas Company into the early 1970s. Burns then took a long break from the music industry to raise his family. He performed infrequently until the early part of the 1990s, when he started a long residency a...

Booker T. Washington White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977), better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic spelling of White's given name Booker, by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion) Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). White himself is remembered as a player of National steel guitars. He also played, but was less adept at, the piano. White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances. He claims to have met Charlie Patton early on, although some doubt has been cast upon this; Regardless, Patton was a large influence on White. White typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey. He first recorded for the ...

Willie Johnson (March 4, 1923 – February 26, 1995) was an American electric blues guitarist. He is best known as the principal guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band from 1948 to 1953. His raucous, distorted guitar playing features on Howlin' Wolf's Memphis recordings of 1951–3, including the hit song "How Many More Years" (recorded May 1951). His early use of distortion marks him out as one of the pioneers of the electric guitar. Robert Palmer has also cited him as the originator of the power chord, in reference to his guitar playing on "How Many More Years". His guitar work is considered a distant ancestor of heavy metal music. Willie Lee Johnson was born in Senatobia, Mississippi. As the guitarist in the first band led by Howlin' Wolf, Johnson appeared on most of Wolf's recordings between 1951 and 1953, providing the slightly jazzy yet raucous guitar sound that was the signature of all of Wolf's Memphis recordings. Johnson also performed an...

Big Maceo Merriweather (March 31, 1905 – February 23, 1953) was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer, active in Chicago in the 1940s. Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, he was a self-taught pianist. In the 1920s he moved to Detroit, Michigan and began playing parties and clubs. In 1941, a desire to record led him to Chicago where he met and befriended Tampa Red. Red introduced him to Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records, who signed him to a recording contract. His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece. Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown", "Texas Stomp", and "Detroit Jump" followed. His piano style developed from players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the Boogie-woogie style of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. He in turn influenced other musicians like Henry Gray, who cre...

Dutch band Sugar Boy and the Sinners represents the newest generation of European blues bands. Only playing the Dutch music scene since 2010, Sugar Boy and the Sinners already played most of the important Blues, Roots and Jazz festivals in the Netherlands. In september 2012 the young band has won the prestigious Dutch Blues Challenge, representing the Netherlands at the European Blues Challenge in Toulouse (France) and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis (USA) in 2013. On top of critical acclaim by long time blues fans, the band also brings the music to a whole new generation of music lovers. With the anticipated debut album planned for spring 2013, Sugar Boy and the Sinners is about to burst unto the European music scene. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your fa...

This morning February 25th 2013, "Dangerous" Dan Toler lost his long battle against "ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease".  Dan passed away peacefully at he and his wife's home in Sarasota Florida. Our thoughts go out to Dan's family at this sad time. Dan Toler gave us the greatest music memories of our generation while playing with bands like Capricorn Record's "Allman Brothers Band", King Mojo Record's "TGC", the Dicky Betts band and the Gregg Allman band. Rest in peace brother.                  Dan Toler         Copyright © 2004-2013 King Mojo Records & Entertainment , Copyright © 2004-2013 Cotton States Music , BMI, Dick Wooley Associates

I just received the new release (released formally on March 26, 2013), Better For You, by Chris Antonik and it's quite interesting. The release opens with Long Way To Go , a funky rock track with some really cool guitar by Antonick and harp work by Steve Marriner. Turn To Shine has the warm feeling of a Delaney and Bonnie track and it really feels like you're taking a bite of the old ATCO/Muscle Shoals/Capricorn stuff. Josh Williams' vocals are great and his guitar playing has the over driven sound of Duane and the rhythmic pacing of Dickey. Very cool! Come From A Good Place is a softer edged song with a lot of airplay potential. Like the song before, sweet horns back the track and in this case, lead vocals are handled by Shakura S'Aida who is obviously solid and Antonik grinds in some really hot guitar riffs. Broken Man features Mike Mattison singing a soulful ballad over a quiet background and light jazz rhythm. Up next is Walter Horton's Have A Good Time , a...

Paul Oscher (born April 5, 1950) is an American blues singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Oscher was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is married to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks His career as a musician began at the age of fifteen when he played for the musician, Little Jimmy Mae. Oscher was a member of the Muddy Waters Blues Band from 1967-1972. Together with Louisiana Red, he toured Germany in 1976. They both appeared at the WDR-TV music show Rockpalast. In 1999, he played with Big Bill Morganfield on his debut album, Rising Son.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Robert Ernest "Bob" "The Bear" Hite (February 26, 1943 – April 5, 1981) was the American lead singer of the blues-rock band, Canned Heat, from 1965 to his death in 1981. He was introduced to Alan Wilson by Henry Vestine and the two of them helped convince blues pianist Sunnyland Slim to get back into the recording studio to record. In 1965, aged 22, he formed a band with Wilson. Vestine joined soon after and this trio formed the core of Canned Heat. The trio were eventually joined by Larry Taylor (bass) and Frank Cook (drums). Canned Heat appeared on a November 1969 episode of Playboy After Dark. Hite was invited to talk with Hugh Hefner after the performance, along with other guests Sonny and Cher, Vic Damone, Dick Shawn and Larry Storch. A 20-year-old Lindsay Wagner, playing the part of one of Hefner's party guests, sat on Hite's lap and played a party game. When asked by Hefner what kind of animal Hite would be if he were an animal, Wagner claimed he...

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino Jr. (born February 26, 1928) is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Domino is French Creole and Creole was his first language. Domino was delivered at home by his midwife grandmother. Like most families in the Lower Ninth Ward, Domino's family were new arrivals from Vacherie, Louisiana. His father was a well known violinist, and Domino was inspired to play himself. He eventually learned from his uncle, jazz guitarist Harrison Verrett. Fats released five gold (million-copy-selling) records before 1955. Domino also had 35 Top 40 American hits and has a music style based on traditional R&B ensembles of bass, piano, electric guitar, drums, and saxophone Domino first attracted national attention with "The Fat Man" in 1950 on Imperial Records. This song is an early rock and roll record, featuring a rolling piano and Domino doing "wah-wah" vo...

John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs and sound spanned other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice,[a] for the "boom-chicka-boom" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band; for a rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor; for providing free concerts inside prison walls; and for his dark performance clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black".[b] He traditionally began his concerts with the phrase "...

Julian Dash (9 April 1916–25 February 1974) was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist born in Charleston, South Carolina, probably better known for his work with Erskine Hawkins and Buck Clayton. Julian Dash was a member of the Bama State Collegians, which later became the Erskine Hawkins orchestra. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Julian Dash recorded for Sittin' In With records and later was on the Vee Jay label with his sextets. His renditions of "Devil's Lament" and "Dance of the Mother Bird" on Sittin' In With and his "Zig Zag" on the Vee Jay label were hits in the Black community. Julian Dash can be heard at his best on the 1953 Buck Clayton Jam Session Columbia LPs, a 2-album session, one featuring an appearance by Woody Herman, among other leading jazz musicians. Julian Dash's tenor sax sound was Hawkins-like, but with less rough edges than Hawk's.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents ...

WA Blues Society’s 2009 BB Award Winner “BEST NEW BAND” SJB continues to blow fans away with their high-energy, genre bending performances. Amazing vocals, incredible musicianship, outstanding songwriting and powerful, dynamic arrangements – it’s easy to understand why Stacy and her band are captivating the crowds and gathering new fans at each event they perform. Stacy Jones not only impresses with a vocal richness beyond her years but is also a top-notch harmonica player as well as playing keyboards and acoustic guitar. The entertaining trio of Rick Bowen (drums), Tom Jones (bass) and Jeff Menteer (guitar) provides the foundation for a strong ensemble sound and the band’s obvious joy of making music together is contagious. In 2009 The Stacy Jones Band took the Seattle music scene by storm, playing over 115 gigs & festivals as well as winning the Best New Band award from The Washington State Blues Society. The band released a limited edition CD Live at the Triple Door, in Septembe...

For over a decade, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer’s heartfelt, southpaw Blues and soulful voice has growled through the Chicagoland music scene. Mercer’s ability to combine emotional lyrics with aggressive slide guitar makes him an artist unlike any other. Earning his moniker from local Chicagoland blues favorites, the “Big Dog” has proven to be a talent no one saw coming. Mercer’s music career began in Northern Illinois where he performed at local jam sessions. While dealing with the struggles of life and developing his musical skills, Mercer found solace in the blues. As Mercer has said, “I’ve been told that a musician doesn’t pick the blues, the blues picks the musician.I love all kinds of music, but the Blues grabbed me and never let me go.” Mercer followed the driving rhythm of the blues to the suburbs of Chicago where he started performing locally. That's when the “Big Dog” was born. "They started calling me Big Dog & pretty soon that's what everyone called me.There...

I just received the newest release, House Of Murmurs , from JL Stiles . This release is outside of my immediate listening realm so I'll have to give you my best perception of it from an outsiders perspective. All In A Day is a bright, cheery tune with acoustic guitar, light percussion and horns. It has a strong melody and radio hook. Spring Light Of Day is another happy sounding track which has the general feel of the Moody Blues. Doesn't really sound like MB but that is my best comparison. Song Beside My Grave is a pretty cool track just JL's voice again with a light backing. It has a country format but more folk in presentation. Cool track. Frostbite Falls is another interesting track with a solemn sound and ambient soundscape in the background. The Great Natchez Tornado is another track with an interesting melody. The vocal strength on this track is particularly strong as is the arrangement of the backing instrumentation. Movin has a solid vocal duet with Emily Schm...

Tragically under-recorded until late in his career, Chicago blues guitarist Andrew Brown still had time enough to wax a handful of great singles during the mid-'60s and two '80s albums (unfortunately, both of them were only available as imports) that beautifully showcased his fluid, concise lead guitar and hearty vocals. The Mississippi native moved to Chicago in 1946. With Earl Hooker teaching him a few key licks, Brown matured quickly; he was playing in south suburban clubs -- his main circuit -- by the early '50s. His 45s for USA (1962's "You Better Stop") and 4 Brothers (the mid-'60s sides "You Ought to Be Ashamed" and "Can't Let You Go") were well-done urban blues. But it wasn't until 1980, when Alligator issued three of his songs on its second batch of Living Chicago Blues anthologies, that Brown's name began to resonate outside the Windy City. Producer Dick Shurman was responsible for Brown's only two albums: th...

        Final Week!!! VOTE NOW for BLUES MUSIC AWARDS!   OUR NOMINEES...   Ann Rabson w/Bob Margolin / Not Alone - Acoustic Blues Album Bob Margolin- Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year Phantom Blues Band - Blues Band of the Year Tony Braunagel (Phantom Blues Band, Robert Cray Band) - Drums Mike Finnigan (Phantom Blues Band) - Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Diunna Greenleaf (Vizzable Music Artist) - Koko Taylor Award          Click the CD to listen or buy at VizzTone.com   ;-)   Voting ends at 07:59:59 (CST) Friday, March 1, 2013! Blues Foundation members can vote HERE . If you're not yet a Blues Foundation member or you need to renew your membership You can do that HERE before you vote.   The 34th Blues Musi...