#6 on Billboard's Blues Album Chart - Adrianna Marie and Her Groovecutters

Billboard Reports Adrianna Marie and Her Groovecutters #6 in the Nation   Double Crossing Blues Album Continues Its Climb  Lake Arrowhead, CA (July 13, 2015) Shown directly below is the cover of the newest release from Adrianna Marie and Her Groovecutters.  The hot, rising album "Double Crossing Blues" moved to number six in the nation two weeks ago and remains at number six again this week according to Billboard's Blues Album chart report*. The release continues to be an airplay favorite of blues radio stations everywhere and reviews by the press have been glowing along with the continued rotation. Adrianna Marie and LA Jones team to release "Double Crossing Blues" Adrianna Marie, LA Jones, and Her Groovecutters were not only nominated for the coveted 2014 Blues Blast Award but also performed live on the main stage at the annual event.  Previous to the Blues Blast performance, which received rave reviews, the group performed at the Blues Foundation's annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee and received a glowing reception from fellow blues artists and blues fans alike.  Currently "Double Crossing Blues" is being performed nationwide at music festivals and club venues all around the country.  The cool, sophisticated swing blues music is not going out of style, in fact audience appeal reveals an absolute love for this flavor of the blues which is made unique by Adrianna's performance and LA's professional arrangements.  To put it mildly - classy swing blues music is an American favorite dating back decades.  So it's no wonder that the album is charting at number six as America continues its love affair with the music and live stage performances of Adrianna Marie and Her Groovecutters. * source: Billboard's Blues Album chart ranking weeks of July 11 & 18, 2015 Adrianna Marie and Her Groovecutters Official Website

Austin Museum Curates Sound Preservation Devices

Preserving Sound If you love listening to recorded music, you'll love this...... Technology is what really drives the music industry, it always has and probably that's the way it will remain for generations to come.  From wax cylinders to today's modern compact discs, it's technology that has allowed us to enjoy not only our music but spoken word recordings as well.  So who came up with this idea in the first place and how did it evolve into what it is today?  Those questions and others as well are the questions that the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recordings in Austin, Texas seeks to answer and share with the world. I remember when four track tape players for cars were introduced, why it was like having an LP in your car, you just simply had to have one.  Home reel to reel tape machines had been hot just prior to the beginning of that era.  My Uncle used to set a reel to reel up at our family holiday get togethers.  He got the biggest charge out of recording the extended family. Then the next time we would all be together we would get to hear his previous holiday recording.  You could actually experience the thrill of hearing yourself on tape back then. I remember that my Uncle and his wife would put ground beef into a frying pan and squeeze it with a metal spatula in an attempt to create a sizzling sound effect.  They would do the same thing with various kinds of crinkly sounding wrapping paper too.  They would record little skits and as kids we would marvel at the story line over and over again.  Perhaps you have a fond memory such as this as well?  Plus, I might add, who wasn't listening to the pre-recorded love songs of the greats back then?  Playing back recorded sound has been the rage since its inception. I recently met with Martin Theophilus at The Texas Recording Academy of Texas meeting in Austin. Martin curates the physical donations that are provided to the museum and writes about them on the organization's web site.  The goal is to create a permanent music museum in Austin for the vintage collection. You too can be a part of this endeavor to preserve historic sound equipment if you have either a monetary or physical donation you might like to share with the museum.  Plus volunteers are welcomed too.  In addition to preserving the physical devices the Museum is also documenting the persons who created and use the technology, including conducting  personal interviews.  Some very notable recording artists have stopped by and enjoyed it so much that they donated their personal recording equipment from years gone by.  Recently Ray Benson, the famed artist and producer, (Asleep at the Wheel) did just that in fact.  You can read about it on the museum's web site.  Take a trip down memory lane and perhaps even learn a thing or two that may surprise you by going to the museum's web site.  Enjoy!   Here's an example of a four track cartridge tape that was the hot ticket in the late 60's.  It's listed on Collector's Frenzy for $180.27 (US).  Imagine that - $180.27 in today's money.  Just makes you want to go look at your old collection and see what you have stored away.  Four track tape players for automobiles went out of style almost as fast as they came in by the way.  They were replaced with a newer technology, the eight track player, and yes we all had to have one...... You can still find these cartridges on eBay. They're called wax cylinders. The horizontal black cylinder you see in the photo is what the sound was stored on.  The title of the contents were were on the side lip. This is an example of what the professionals used prior to digital recording devices.  In the famed documentary "Sound City" artist after artist raves about the sound that the huge mixing board and recording device was able to capture.  No pro tools back then, just a good eye and ear for splicing is what was required. Official Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording Website To volunteer, donate financial aid or vintage equipment click here

Watch the Delta Blues Museum Documentary on MPB!

Catch the Mississippi Public Broadcasting premiere of "FROM THE CROSSROADS TO THE WHITE HOUSE," a True Delta Project documentary film, TONIGHT on MPB!

The Delta Blues Museum Band is featured in a documentary film making its debut on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) television on July 14th at 10 p.m.!  Check your local listings to find MPB TV in your area.    (Not in Mississippi? The documentary will be made available online immediately following tonight's broadcast--link below.) http://www.mpbonline.org/fromthecrossroadstothewhitehouse/   From the Crossroads to the White House follows a group of young musicians on their journey from the Mississippi Delta to the White House to receive a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award presented by First Lady Michelle Obama. Five members of the Delta Blues Museum Band performed for Mrs. Obama and guests. Last year, the Delta Blues Museum--Mississippi's first music museum dedicated to the Blues--was recognized with the award for having one of the best youth programs in the nation. The Museum's Arts and Education program helps preserve the blues tradition by teaching young Mississippians to play and sing the blues. The program, which was originally created by the late Mr. Johnnie Billington, continues to educate blues musicians who help keep Clarksdale's dynamic live music scene alive.  From the Crossroads to the White House is one of a series of award-winning documentaries about the legacy of the Delta blues from producers Lee Quinby and Erickson Blakney of the True Delta Project.   About Delta Blues Museum Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is Mississippi's oldest music museum and the nation's first museum dedicated to the American art form known as the Blues. A 2013 recipient of the IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Services--the nation's highest honor for museum and library service to the community--and a 2014 winner of the National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award, the Delta Blues Museum is dedicated to creating a welcoming place where visitors find meaning, value and perspective by exploring the history and heritage of the unique American musical art form, the Blues. The Museum is honored to be a Great River Road Interpretive Center. Through its DEEPER ROOTS campaign, the museum seeks $1.2 million for new and enhanced exhibits: Expanded exhibits, including those to be housed in the Muddy Waters Addition, will enable the cultural organization to better preserve and display the history and work of blues artists from the Mississippi Delta, and advance the Museum's ability to "tell" stories that inspire and educate future generations about this important American art form. For online donations or for more information on events or programs, please call (662) 627-6820, or visit the Museum web site at www.deltabluesmuseum.org. The Delta Blues Museum Band in performance at the White House.

Blues Legend Junior Wells’ Estate Entrusted to Cleopatra Records

Los Angeles - The estate of Blues Harp Legend Junior Wells has been entrusted to L.A. based record label Cleopatra Records in a newly announced arrangement.  

The deal was made between Cleopatra owner Brian Perera, represented by the law offices of Evan S. Cohen, and executor Martin Salzman, on behalf of Junior Wells’ daughter Regina Brown and includes sound recordings as well as publishing from Wells’ wide ranging catalog between his first recordings in the 1950s until his death in 1998.  

In addition to the sound recordings and publishing which includes unreleased masters, Cleopatra also purchased a variety of personal artifacts from the Blues legend, including his harmonicas, performance outfits, hats, canes, notes, photos and  personal  journals.

“We’re very excited to enter into this deal and be a part of the one of the all time icons in American Blues history, “ said Perera.  “We intend to keep the Junior Wells legacy alive with a variety of releases as well as merchandise and branding partnerships in the years to come.” Look for releases from Junior Wells and other blues artists such as Eric Gales, Shuggie Otis, and Harvey Mandel on the newly launched Cleopatra Blues imprint.

Junior Wells, real name Amos Wells Blakemore Jr. (December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998), was an American Chicago Blues vocalist, harmonica player and recording artist.  In addition to his many solo recordings on labels such as States, Chief, Profile, Delmark, Vanguard and Telarc, Wells was also known for his collaborations in  performances as well as recordings with artists such as Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones.

Junior Wells is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame.  His albums, Hoodoo Man Blues (1966), It’s My Life Baby (1966) and Blues Hit Big Town (1977), as well as his single “Messin’ With The Kid (1960),” are in the Blues Hall of Fames in the Classics of Blues Recording category.  He has also received several honors and awards from the Blues Hall of Fame including, Best Historical Album and Traditional Blues Album of the Year.