January 18, 2010
- Off to the IBC! Dave Riley & Bob Corritore will head to Memphis this week to participate in the Blind Raccoon Showcase on Friday January 22nd, at Kings Palace, on Beale Street in Memphis. The event takes place from 11:30 to 5pm. This showcase coincides with the International Blues Competition, where hundreds of blues bands from all around the world come to compete. In addition to all these bands, many labels, press, and blues dignitaries also attend the IBC. Click here to read more about the International Blues Competition, and click here to see the flyer with show details and the full lineup.
- New Big Walter Horton Reissue! Two obscure LPs by harmonica master Big Walter Horton have found their way onto CD for the very first time. Big Walter Horton / King Of The Harmonica Players is now out on the Deltacat label. This CD features 24 cuts; 17 of which were recorded in the early to mid 1970s with backing by Floyd Jones and Johnny Young. The other 10 are vintage recordings from the 50's featuring Horton playing with Tampa Red, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Dixon and Jimmy DeBerry. Horton's harmonica was magical with its bell-like tone and perfect phrasing, and his legacy lives on through reissues like this one. To read more about this CD, and to order it, click here. To see a photo page devoted to Big Walter Horton click here.
- Nick Curran Diagnosed With Tongue Cancer. This sad news came from Harry Turner; 31 year old singer / guitarist Nick Curran has recently been diagnosed with tongue cancer and will be undergoing radiation treatments. Though still a young man, Nick is a road veteran, having worked with various, blues, rockabilly, and roots rock acts including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ronnie Dawson, Kim Lenz, and his own band Nick Curran and the Nitelifes, Nick has a new CD just out on the Eclectro Groove record label, and was to have numerous national and international tours that are now all postponed. Prayers to Nick, as he fights this battle. To see the official press release click here. To see Nick's myspace page click here.
- RIP Arnie Caplin, May 8, 1929 - December 25th, 2009. Arnie Caplin, the founder of Biograph Records, died on Dec 25th, at a nursing home in Massachusetts. He was 80. Arnie was a jazz drummer and artist before starting his Biograph Records in 1967. The Biograph label would release over 250 titles in the genres of blues, jazz, ragtime and folk music. Blues releases included Bukka White, Skip James, Reverend Gary Davis, Furry Lewis, Robert Wilkins, Son House, Leadbelly, and more. In addition to his blues work, Arnie had a major influence in bringing forth the ragtime music of the now famous Scott Joplin. Though a behind the scenes force in the blues, the importance of Arnie Caplin can not be overemphasized. To read more about Arnie's life, click here, and to see the Biograph discography click here . Thank you Arnie for your great work.
- RIP Teddy Pendegrass, March 26,1950 - January 13, 2010. Best known for his stirring, romantic soul songs of the 70s, Pendegrass rose to popularity as lead singer of Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, before creating a string of his own hits. Pendegrass' life was severely altered in 1982, when a tragic auto accident left him paralyzed. Despite his crippling injury he remained active in music throughout his life. He also created the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, a foundation that helps those with spinal cord injuries. He died in Philadelphia on Wednesday of complications from colon cancer. He was 59. He will be remembered as a superstar of the highest degree. For his complete life story click here.
- RIP Bobby Charles, February 21, 1938 – January 14, 2010. Louisiana Singer and Songwriter Bobby Charles Guidry, AKA Bobby Charles, is best know for being the writer of Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans,” Bill Haley and the Comets’ “See You Later, Alligator,” and Clarence Frogman Henry’s “But I Do,” Charles died Thursday at his home in Abbeville, Louisiana at age 71, after a struggle with diabetes and cancer. He had recently completed an album called Timeless, which was co-produced by Dr. John and dedicated to Fats Domino. His beautiful songs helped to define the music of Louisiana, and will live on forever. For the complete story via the New York Times click here .
- Martin Luther King Video Links. On this day, set aside to honor the memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we present some video reflections of this great man and his timeless speeches. We start with a blues clip of J.B. Lenoir and Fred Below performing with interspersed images and sound bytes from the civil rights movement (click here to see). The Staple Singers, inspired by Dr. King, were part of the soundtrack of the civil rights movement, and here is a clip of their song, "Freedom Highway" with photos from that time period (click here to see). Here are some powerful speeches by Martin Luther King: To see Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech click here. To see his "How Long? Not Long" speech click here. To see his prophetic final speech, the day before his assassination, click here. Dr King's brilliant words are as current today as they were 5 decades ago.
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