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The Billboard magazine blues chart for the week ending January 28th shows that Texas blues
guitarist Gary Clark Jr. has unseated long-time champ Hugh Laurie from the number one spot. New
Releases this week: Dion's Tank Full of Blues (Blue Horizon Records).
The Knology Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival '12 will be held on Saturday, February 18th and Sunday,
February 19th, at Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida. The gates open at noon on Saturday and
1:00 PM on Sunday, with the music following shortly thereafter. The promoters have put together a
fantastic line-up for this year's event, with Saturday's headliner being Buddy Guy. Soul-blues giant
Curtis Salgado and blues mandolin master Rich DelGrosso open on Saturday. The next day, Janiva
Magness headlines, with boogie-woogie pianist Eden Brent and blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks
opening. The Michael Williams Band, Franc Robert, Beverly McClellan, and Selwyn Birchwood will
also be appearing during the weekend.
New York City bluesman Johnny Childs is eager to tell anyone who will listen why he initiated the
grassroots movement to establish an International Blues Music Day. Johnny envisions a day on
which blues societies all over the world schedule festivals and events celebrating the genre, and the
origins of blues music will receive the homage to which they due. His latest CD Groove is attracting
attention, and his full-length movie, The Junkman’s Son, chronicles his relentless quest to get a
record deal and earn a Blues Music Award. He is also the Founding President of the New York City
Blues Society.
In other blues news, on February 14th, Ruf Records will release Essential Collection, a two-disc, 30-
song compilation album that takes a look back at the lengthy career of Omar and the Howlers. The
album is a career-spanning retrospective, beginning with the songs "Magic Man," "Border Girl,"
and "East Side Blues" from the band's 1984 sophomore album I Told You So, and running through
2004's Boogie Man, their last studio album. The first CD features 15 fan favorites, including "Hard
Times In The Land of Plenty," "Muddy Springs Road," and "Jimmy Reed Highway," from Dykes'
2008 collaboration with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. The second CD of Essential Collection includes
15 of Omar's favorite moments with the band, songs that "represent a snapshot of influences and
heroes throughout my career and are special to me for one reason or another," he says, in a press
release for the album.
Blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Guy Davis is preparing to drop a new album in February.
Davis is calling The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed With The Blues an "audio play," and the
2CD set is certain to break new ground and take the blues back to the theatre stage.
The bluesman will be hitting the road in support of the new album, and on March 5th, he'll be at The
Blue Note, in New York City.
The Oxford American - a Southern literary journal - has published their annual "Music Issue,"
focusing on the rich diversity and musical heritage of a single state. For the publication's 13th annual
music issue, they're taking a look at the state of Mississippi, much beloved of blues fans. The
Oxford American's 13th annual music issue features a photo of blues giant Howlin' Wolf by noted
photographer Sandy Guy Schoenfeld, and the issue's cover story an essay by noted music biographer
Peter Guralnick on Sun Records producer Sam Phillips' greatest artistic find, the legendary Chester
Arthur Burnett. This issue also includes blues historian Elijah Wald's controversial article on the x-
rated origins of blues lyrics, as well as William Gay writing about Mississippi John Hurt.
Alligator founder Bruce Iglauer has been named as one of nine "Chicagoans of the Year" by The
Chicago Tribune newspaper. Nominated for the honor by music critic Greg Kot, Iglauer is being
recognized for his contributions to the city's musical heritage.
Virginia bluesman Bobby "BlackHat" Walters, who launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the
completion of his latest album, Blues On Cardboard. Walters raised nearly $3,000 through the
generosity of fans, enough to finish up the album, reports The Daily Press newspaper of Newport
News, Virginia. "As you might imagine, funding a music project is not an easy task during these
challenging economic times," says Walters on his Kickstarter page, "this Kickstarter opportunity will
not only help us make this project a reality, it's also an opportunity for everyone who donates to
help Keep the Blues Alive."
In other Blues News, Matthew Davidson, a 13-year-old blues and rock guitarist has won the 2011
Robert Johnson New Generation Award! The Shreveport Times reported that Davidson, who is from
Shreveport, Louisiana, was chosen from among 25 artists by the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation.
As the winner, the guitarist and singer was given a Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 guitar, along with the
opportunity to perform at a future foundation event.
The only newcomer to the blues music charts this week is singer Beverly McClellan and her Fear
Nothing album, which debuted at number fifteen. A veteran of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida roots-
music scene, McClellan was a contestant on the first season of the NBC reality show The Voice.
On February 13th, Telarc Records will release Otis Taylor's Contraband. Contraband features 14
tracks, from the romantic heartbreak of "Yell Your Name" and the racial questions of "Open These
Bars", to the historical commentary of "Contraband Blues", about slaves in the Civil War that were
held by Union soldiers as actual "contraband."
The competition for the 2012 Best Self-Produced CD had a record-setting 74 submissions to start the
competition this year. The Best Self-Produced CD contest semi-finalists are:
Cleveland Blues Society: Blue Lunch - Saxophone Shootout III
Frederick Blues Society: Bad Influence - Under the Influence
Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation: Mikey Jr It Ain't Hard to Tell
Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society: Dave Keller - Where I'm Coming From...
Toronto Blues Society: - Suzie Vinnick Me 'n' Mabel
The winner will be announced February 4th at the Band Finals on the stage of the historic Orpheum
Theatre on the corner of Main and Beale Street in downtown Memphis, TN.
The 2012 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio have been announced.
Blues guitar legend Freddie King will be inducted into the Hall in the "Early Influences" category,
joining other influential artists like Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, and Robert Johnson.
The Vintage Vinyl News website reported that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards insisted on paying
the funeral costs for the recently-departed blues great Hubert Sumlin. Richards, in particular, has
some history with the former Howlin' Wolf guitarist, performing on his 2004 album About Them
Shoes and helping Sumlin out with his medical bills when he underwent treatment for lung cancer
back in 2002.
Recently, Rolling Stone magazine featured the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. The list
honors a number of blues music's most beloved artists, including B.B. King (#6), Albert King (#13),
Freddie King (#15), Buddy Guy (#25), Elmore James (#30), John Lee Hooker (#33), Hubert Sumlin
(#43), Muddy Waters (#49), Otis Rush (#53), Albert Collins (#56), T-Bone Walker (#67), and Robert
Johnson (#71).
In other blues news, the list of honorees for the 33rd Blues Music Awards includes Blues Hall of
Fame members Denise LaSalle, Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush. Leading with four
nominations each are Sugar Ray & the Bluetones with their Evening CD, and Tab Benoit with his
Medicine release. The Tedeschi-Trucks Band's Revelator has four nominations. Tommy Castro, his
band and the various artists on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue--Live! CD also combined for
four nominations. Three nominations each went to Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Lazy Lester, David
Maxwell, Ana Popovic and Johnny Rawls. More than thirty other first time nominees were
recognized including well-known blues-rock performers Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes and George
Thorogood. The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge is proving a path to success; it's
full of past winners Eden Brent, Grady Champion, Diunna Greenleaf, Zac Harmon, JP Soars,
Trampled Under Foot and Lionel Young, all receiving nominations.
The Recording Academy has announced the nominees for the 54th Grammys for the Blues Category.
They are: Low Country Blues by Gregg Allman [Rounder] Roadside Attractions by Marcia Ball
[Alligator] Man In Motion by Warren Haynes [Stax Records] The Reflection by Keb Mo [Yolabelle
International/Ryko Records] Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band [Masterworks].
There were a couple of benefit shows held for guitarist "Dangerous" Dan Toler at Herschberger
Ranch on Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th. The beloved Gulf Coast musician
has contracted ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and the benefit shows are being held to help Toler with
medical expenses. Toler has been a part of the Florida blues and rock scenes since the early 1970s.
He was a member of Dickey Betts' band Great Southern in the mid-1970s, which led to a gig with the
Allman Brothers Band in 1979. Toler was with the ABB for three years, appearing on three albums,
including the best-selling Enlightened Rogues. Toler was also a member of the Gregg Allman Band,
working with the singer on his hit I'm No Angel album in 1986. Toler later re-joined Great Southern
in 2002, staying with Betts for several years before forming the band TGZ. Dickey Betts headlined
the two shows, and will be joined by singer Bonnie Bramlett, the Artimus Pyle Band, Sean
Chambers, American Idol season four runner-up Bo Bice, the Mike Kach Group, country band
BlackHawk, and many others.
British blues-rock guitarist Matt Schofield enjoyed his first North American tour last summer,
receiving a warm welcome from blues fans across the continent, and then went on to win both
"Best Guitar Player" and "Best Blues Album" for his 2009 Heads, Tails & Aces album in the
first annual British Blues Awards. This year, Schofield is jumping right back in with a new
album, Anything But Time, which he recorded with Grammy-winning producer John Porter. It
was released on June 14th by Nugene Records. Along with the new LP, Schofield has booked a
summer tour across the U.S. and Canada, with a few festival dates in north Europe. He was
Jerry's guest back in June.
Updated: 01/28/12
guitarist Gary Clark Jr. has unseated long-time champ Hugh Laurie from the number one spot. New
Releases this week: Dion's Tank Full of Blues (Blue Horizon Records).
The Knology Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival '12 will be held on Saturday, February 18th and Sunday,
February 19th, at Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida. The gates open at noon on Saturday and
1:00 PM on Sunday, with the music following shortly thereafter. The promoters have put together a
fantastic line-up for this year's event, with Saturday's headliner being Buddy Guy. Soul-blues giant
Curtis Salgado and blues mandolin master Rich DelGrosso open on Saturday. The next day, Janiva
Magness headlines, with boogie-woogie pianist Eden Brent and blues guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks
opening. The Michael Williams Band, Franc Robert, Beverly McClellan, and Selwyn Birchwood will
also be appearing during the weekend.
New York City bluesman Johnny Childs is eager to tell anyone who will listen why he initiated the
grassroots movement to establish an International Blues Music Day. Johnny envisions a day on
which blues societies all over the world schedule festivals and events celebrating the genre, and the
origins of blues music will receive the homage to which they due. His latest CD Groove is attracting
attention, and his full-length movie, The Junkman’s Son, chronicles his relentless quest to get a
record deal and earn a Blues Music Award. He is also the Founding President of the New York City
Blues Society.
In other blues news, on February 14th, Ruf Records will release Essential Collection, a two-disc, 30-
song compilation album that takes a look back at the lengthy career of Omar and the Howlers. The
album is a career-spanning retrospective, beginning with the songs "Magic Man," "Border Girl,"
and "East Side Blues" from the band's 1984 sophomore album I Told You So, and running through
2004's Boogie Man, their last studio album. The first CD features 15 fan favorites, including "Hard
Times In The Land of Plenty," "Muddy Springs Road," and "Jimmy Reed Highway," from Dykes'
2008 collaboration with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. The second CD of Essential Collection includes
15 of Omar's favorite moments with the band, songs that "represent a snapshot of influences and
heroes throughout my career and are special to me for one reason or another," he says, in a press
release for the album.
Blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Guy Davis is preparing to drop a new album in February.
Davis is calling The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed With The Blues an "audio play," and the
2CD set is certain to break new ground and take the blues back to the theatre stage.
The bluesman will be hitting the road in support of the new album, and on March 5th, he'll be at The
Blue Note, in New York City.
The Oxford American - a Southern literary journal - has published their annual "Music Issue,"
focusing on the rich diversity and musical heritage of a single state. For the publication's 13th annual
music issue, they're taking a look at the state of Mississippi, much beloved of blues fans. The
Oxford American's 13th annual music issue features a photo of blues giant Howlin' Wolf by noted
photographer Sandy Guy Schoenfeld, and the issue's cover story an essay by noted music biographer
Peter Guralnick on Sun Records producer Sam Phillips' greatest artistic find, the legendary Chester
Arthur Burnett. This issue also includes blues historian Elijah Wald's controversial article on the x-
rated origins of blues lyrics, as well as William Gay writing about Mississippi John Hurt.
Alligator founder Bruce Iglauer has been named as one of nine "Chicagoans of the Year" by The
Chicago Tribune newspaper. Nominated for the honor by music critic Greg Kot, Iglauer is being
recognized for his contributions to the city's musical heritage.
Virginia bluesman Bobby "BlackHat" Walters, who launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the
completion of his latest album, Blues On Cardboard. Walters raised nearly $3,000 through the
generosity of fans, enough to finish up the album, reports The Daily Press newspaper of Newport
News, Virginia. "As you might imagine, funding a music project is not an easy task during these
challenging economic times," says Walters on his Kickstarter page, "this Kickstarter opportunity will
not only help us make this project a reality, it's also an opportunity for everyone who donates to
help Keep the Blues Alive."
In other Blues News, Matthew Davidson, a 13-year-old blues and rock guitarist has won the 2011
Robert Johnson New Generation Award! The Shreveport Times reported that Davidson, who is from
Shreveport, Louisiana, was chosen from among 25 artists by the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation.
As the winner, the guitarist and singer was given a Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 guitar, along with the
opportunity to perform at a future foundation event.
The only newcomer to the blues music charts this week is singer Beverly McClellan and her Fear
Nothing album, which debuted at number fifteen. A veteran of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida roots-
music scene, McClellan was a contestant on the first season of the NBC reality show The Voice.
On February 13th, Telarc Records will release Otis Taylor's Contraband. Contraband features 14
tracks, from the romantic heartbreak of "Yell Your Name" and the racial questions of "Open These
Bars", to the historical commentary of "Contraband Blues", about slaves in the Civil War that were
held by Union soldiers as actual "contraband."
The competition for the 2012 Best Self-Produced CD had a record-setting 74 submissions to start the
competition this year. The Best Self-Produced CD contest semi-finalists are:
Cleveland Blues Society: Blue Lunch - Saxophone Shootout III
Frederick Blues Society: Bad Influence - Under the Influence
Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation: Mikey Jr It Ain't Hard to Tell
Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society: Dave Keller - Where I'm Coming From...
Toronto Blues Society: - Suzie Vinnick Me 'n' Mabel
The winner will be announced February 4th at the Band Finals on the stage of the historic Orpheum
Theatre on the corner of Main and Beale Street in downtown Memphis, TN.
The 2012 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio have been announced.
Blues guitar legend Freddie King will be inducted into the Hall in the "Early Influences" category,
joining other influential artists like Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, and Robert Johnson.
The Vintage Vinyl News website reported that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards insisted on paying
the funeral costs for the recently-departed blues great Hubert Sumlin. Richards, in particular, has
some history with the former Howlin' Wolf guitarist, performing on his 2004 album About Them
Shoes and helping Sumlin out with his medical bills when he underwent treatment for lung cancer
back in 2002.
Recently, Rolling Stone magazine featured the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. The list
honors a number of blues music's most beloved artists, including B.B. King (#6), Albert King (#13),
Freddie King (#15), Buddy Guy (#25), Elmore James (#30), John Lee Hooker (#33), Hubert Sumlin
(#43), Muddy Waters (#49), Otis Rush (#53), Albert Collins (#56), T-Bone Walker (#67), and Robert
Johnson (#71).
In other blues news, the list of honorees for the 33rd Blues Music Awards includes Blues Hall of
Fame members Denise LaSalle, Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush. Leading with four
nominations each are Sugar Ray & the Bluetones with their Evening CD, and Tab Benoit with his
Medicine release. The Tedeschi-Trucks Band's Revelator has four nominations. Tommy Castro, his
band and the various artists on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue--Live! CD also combined for
four nominations. Three nominations each went to Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Lazy Lester, David
Maxwell, Ana Popovic and Johnny Rawls. More than thirty other first time nominees were
recognized including well-known blues-rock performers Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes and George
Thorogood. The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge is proving a path to success; it's
full of past winners Eden Brent, Grady Champion, Diunna Greenleaf, Zac Harmon, JP Soars,
Trampled Under Foot and Lionel Young, all receiving nominations.
The Recording Academy has announced the nominees for the 54th Grammys for the Blues Category.
They are: Low Country Blues by Gregg Allman [Rounder] Roadside Attractions by Marcia Ball
[Alligator] Man In Motion by Warren Haynes [Stax Records] The Reflection by Keb Mo [Yolabelle
International/Ryko Records] Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band [Masterworks].
There were a couple of benefit shows held for guitarist "Dangerous" Dan Toler at Herschberger
Ranch on Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th. The beloved Gulf Coast musician
has contracted ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and the benefit shows are being held to help Toler with
medical expenses. Toler has been a part of the Florida blues and rock scenes since the early 1970s.
He was a member of Dickey Betts' band Great Southern in the mid-1970s, which led to a gig with the
Allman Brothers Band in 1979. Toler was with the ABB for three years, appearing on three albums,
including the best-selling Enlightened Rogues. Toler was also a member of the Gregg Allman Band,
working with the singer on his hit I'm No Angel album in 1986. Toler later re-joined Great Southern
in 2002, staying with Betts for several years before forming the band TGZ. Dickey Betts headlined
the two shows, and will be joined by singer Bonnie Bramlett, the Artimus Pyle Band, Sean
Chambers, American Idol season four runner-up Bo Bice, the Mike Kach Group, country band
BlackHawk, and many others.
British blues-rock guitarist Matt Schofield enjoyed his first North American tour last summer,
receiving a warm welcome from blues fans across the continent, and then went on to win both
"Best Guitar Player" and "Best Blues Album" for his 2009 Heads, Tails & Aces album in the
first annual British Blues Awards. This year, Schofield is jumping right back in with a new
album, Anything But Time, which he recorded with Grammy-winning producer John Porter. It
was released on June 14th by Nugene Records. Along with the new LP, Schofield has booked a
summer tour across the U.S. and Canada, with a few festival dates in north Europe. He was
Jerry's guest back in June.
Updated: 01/28/12
~ Blues News with Marisa! ~