Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter Bob Corritore with Rocket 88s Saturday the Rhythm Room, Tail Dragger, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith awards, Mud Morganfield, Curtis Salgado, T-Model Ford, Big Pete Pearson, Bukka White on YouTube!

• Bob Corritore performs with the Rocket 88s tomorrow! On Saturday, July 21 the Rocket 88s (Bill and Susie Tarsha, and Dave Forster) bring their extra cool traditional blues sound to the Rhythm Room with special guests Johnny Rapp, Keith Rogers, and Bob Corritore. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd,. Phoenix, AZ 85014. Bill Tarsha, who is a simply wonderful harmonica player is also a fantastic drummer, will be playing both instruments that evening.
• Tail Dragger and the late Willie "Big Eyes" Smith receive awards in Spain! Thanks to the Hondarribia Blues Society in Spain for honoring Tail Dragger and the late Willie "Big Eyes" Smith last weekend with awards at the  Hondarribia Blues Festival in Spain . Tail Dragger was performing at the fest part of a Chicago blues package that also included Zora Young and Eddie Shaw. Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith was on hand to accept the award for his father Willie. To read the article (in Spanish) Click here, and for an explanation (in English) about the awards on the festival website click here.
• The Year Of Mud! An article in Argentina's Malbec & Blues online magazine refers to this year as "El Año De Mud" or "The Year Of Mud." The article refers to Mud Morganfield, and his first national release Son Of The Seventh Son. The article speaks of all the fanfare this CD has received with airplay, chart positions, reviews (thank you Mark Pucci), major festival headlining slots, and the cover story of Living Blues Magazine. Mud Morganfield is of course, the eldest son of Muddy Waters and bears an uncanny resemblence to his father in both look and sound. He has been taking the blues world by a storm. Mud is currently on tour in South America. To see the "Year Of Mud" article click here, and scroll down the page.
• Curtis Salgado Surgery. Blues/soul singer & harmonica player extraordinaire Curtis Salgado had successful surgery on July 18th, removing a cancerous spot on his lung. This is the second surgical proceedure in the last few years for Curtis. Jake Lankheit of Intrepid Artists reports that the procedure went incredibly well and that Curtis is currently recovering in the hospital and plans to be performing again soon! Nick Moss (Curtis' close friend and blues collaborator) has set up an online fund to help with costs at curtissalgado.chipin.com/curtis- salgado-medical- fund. Curtis recently released Soul Shot on Alligator Records to much critical acclaim. Well wishes and prayers for this great artist.
• T-Model Ford Documentary in Production! Chaz Geisler is currently in the process of producing a film documentary of Mississippi blues hero T-Model Ford. The film, titled Put A Stamp On It: This Is T Model Ford, will contain live performances, interviews, life on the road and at home, as well as commentary by musicians and friends such as Lightnin' Malcolm, Gravel Road, Jimbo Mathus, Dan Auerbach (Of the Black Keys), Bob Corritore, Scott Barretta, Jim O'Neal and others. The film will contain previously unreleased recordings. Look for this to be debuted at film festivals early next year. T-Model Ford is currently alive and well but is taking time off from performing to recover from a recent stroke. If anyone has footage, posters, photos or any T-Model Ford paraphernalia please contact Chaz at info@putastamponit.com. Updates will be posted on http://www.putastamponit.com/ or the film's facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/putastamponit. On a sad sidenote, Chaz reports that T-Model's longtime drummer who was affectionately called Spam, had passed away earlier this year. If we can gather enough biographical information for Spam we will present a proper obituary at a later date.
• Big Pete Pearson releases new CD! Veteran blues vocalist Big Pete Pearson has a wonderful new CD out currently called Choose. This album features backing by The Gamblers, an Italian band with whom Big Pete does bi-annual European tours. To find out more about this new release and to hear song samples click here. To see a photo page devoted to Big Pete Pearson click here.
• Bukka White on YouTube! Here is a great example of the pure power of country blues. Please enjoy Bukka White performing the Aberdeen Mississippi Blues from the 1960s. He uses his guitar for equal parts melody and percussion. Click here.