Savoy Brown City Night Quarto Valley Records Savoy Brown, the British blues band, was formed by Kim Simmonds in London, in 1965. Their first album, released in the United Kingdom, was 1967’s “Shake Down”. They began to achieve success in the U.S. with the release of their seventh album 1971’s “Street Corner Talking”. The band […]
Terry Robb Confessin’ My Dues NiaSounds Born in Canada, Terry Robb is one of the most heralded acoustic guitarists on the International scene. Moving to the Pacific Northwest, at an early age, his original music draws on Delta blues, ragtime and jazz traditions. His primary influences include Lightning Hopkins, Reverend Gary Davis, and Merle Travis. […]
Keb’ Mo’ Oklahoma Concord Records Keb’ Mo’ is a blues, Americana and roots music stylist. He released his first album under his birth name Kevin Moore back in 1980 but it wasn’t until he re-surfaced fourteen years later, using his childhood nickname Keb’Mo’, that he received “overnight” success. The self-titled “Keb’ Mo’” album, often referred […]
Griff Hamlin and The Single Barrel Blues Band I’ll Drink To That Independent Griff Hamlin started taking guitar lessons at the age of nine. As a teenager he was inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, and B.B. King. Hamlin started playing professionally in 1992 when he formed a quartet with […]
Darrell Nulisch The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1 Bluebeat Music Darrell Nulisch, vocals and harmonica was the original singer with Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets and first recorded with them on 1979’s “Live At Cactus Jacks”; Nulisch stayed with Funderburgh through 1985. From 1986 until 1989 Nulisch was a member of Mike Morgan and The Crawl. […]
Michele D’Amour and The Love Dealers Heart of Memphis BluesKitty Records Michele D’Amour hails from the Seattle area. She started by playing piano and singing in church. In her early teens she was a published poet. She soon began writing her own songs, and singing with several bands; and in 2017 won the Grand Prize […]
Jon Gindick Love At The All Night Café Independent Jon Gindick was born in California. In the 1960’s influenced by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he acquired his first guitar and harmonica. Gindick attended the University of California at Berkley where he began playing music. After graduation Gindick tried […]
Tony Campanella Taking It To The Streets Gulf Coast Records Back in St. Louis in the 1990’s Tony Campanella used to run with a guy by the name of Mike Zito. Campanella was from the northside and Zito from the southside but they were both Italian, Catholic and shared a love for the Blues and […]
Southern Avenue Keep On Concord Music Group The band “Southern Avenue”, named after the street that leads to “Soulville” the original home of Stax Records, combines soul-blues and gospel infused R n’ B. They released their self-titled debut and took home the 2018 Blues Music Award as Best Emerging Artist Album. When Israeli born guitarist […]
Instru Mental Various Artists Bigtone Records “Big” John Atkinson is the owner and President of Bigtone Records. This all instrumental album was one of several albums the label just released. The eleven tracks are either original or re-arranged by the artists listed on the cover. These were recorded at different sessions by Atkinson and Danny […]
“Big” Jon Atkinson Raw Blues Bigtone Records In 2014 “Big” Jon Atkinson recorded his debut album “Boogie With You Baby” on Bluebeat Music and it received rave reviews. Two years later the guitarist/vocalist collaborated with the Blues Music Award winning harmonica ace Bob Corritore and they released “House Party at Big Jon’s”; the album received […]
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Kingfish Alligator Records Christone “Kingfish” Ingram grew up near Clarksdale, Mississippi. Born into a musical family, his mother Princess Pride is first cousin to country music’s Charley Pride, and he started playing drums at the age of six. At nine years old he switched to bass. His mother enrolled him in a […]
The Texas Horns Get Here Quick Severn Records Tenor saxophonist Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff has played on approximately 200 recording sessions starting out in the 1980’s on Blacktop Records. He appears on albums by Earl King, Marcia Ball, Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl, and many others. He played on 1999’s “Lone Star Shootout” with guitarists, Lonnie Brooks, […]
Alexis P Suter Band Be Love Hipbone Records Alexis P Suter’s roots are in the church and she possesses a powerful bass/baritone voice. B.B. King once remarked “It’s a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady”. Suter also wound up opening for Levon Helm over 90 times. Suter’s debut […]
The Forty-Fours Twist The Knife Rip Cat Records The Los Angeles based 44’s caused quite a stir when they released their debut recording “Boogie Disease” in 2011. The album was produced by ex-Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kid Ramos who also played on four tracks. They followed up with 2012’s “Americana”; and a 2015 live set called […]
Jimmie Vaughan Baby, Please Come Home The Last Music Company Jimmie Vaughan is the older brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan. While SRV was forming Double Trouble his older brother was founding The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1979 The Fabulous Thunderbirds with lead guitarist Vaughan released their debut recording “Girls Go Wild” on Takoma/Chrysalis Records. Jimmie stayed […]
Albert Castiglia Masterpiece Gulf Coast Records Albert Castiglia’s credentials include apprenticeships with Junior Wells and Sandra Hall. He recorded his debut album in 2002. He signed with Bluesleaf Records in 2006 and released four albums including 2008’s “These Are the Days”; the lead off track “Bad Year Blues” resulted in his first Blues Music Award […]
The Cash Box Kings Hail To The Kings! Alligator Records The Cash Box Kings were founded in 2001 by Joe Nosek. Oscar “43rd Street” Wilson joined in 2007. Born in Chicago in 1953 Wilson grew up in the company of blues royalty such as Junior Wells, Elmore James and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Chicago’s 43rd Street […]
The South Austin Moonlighters Travel Light Station House Records The South Austin Moonlighters are a roots-rock band. A group of local music veterans got together in 2011 just to have a good time. Included were bassist/mandolinist Lonnie Trevino Jr. who had previously toured with Mike Zito, played with singer-songwriter Drew Womack, and was soon to […]
B.B. King Blues Band The Soul of the King Ruf Records When B. B. King passed away on May, 14th 2015 the world mourned. He also left behind this fabulous ten piece band. They pay tribute to his memory on “The Soul of the King”. In order to help keep the tribute vibrant the thirteen […]
The Duke Robillard Band Ear Worms Stony Plain Records Duke Robillard is one of the most heralded recording artists, guitarists and producers in the blues genre. He founded Roomful of Blues in 1967 but left that band two years later to form his own. Between 1985 and 2017 Robillard released thirty-three albums; the last being […]
Carlo Ditta Hungry For Love Orleans Records Carlo Ditta is a Grammy nominated New Orleans record producer with over thirty years experience. On his own Orleans Records label Ditta produced albums by Professor Longhair, Mighty Sam McClain, Coco Robicheaux, Rockie Charles and others. Recently he produced “Fried Rice & Chicken”, a Little Freddie King compilation; […]
Harpdog Brown For Love & Money Dog House Records Harpdog Brown was born in Alberta, Canada and adopted into a musical family. His mother played guitar and he picked up the instrument when he was fifteen. He formed his own blues band in the early 1980’s, but didn’t release his debut recording until 1993. His […]
Steve Katz The Juggle Independent At the age of fifteen Steve Katz was already studying guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis. He met guitarist Stefan Grossman and together they spent time rediscovering bluesmen Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Son House. Living in Greenwich Village Katz and his friends, Grossman, Maria Muldaur, […]
Cara Being Blue Grit Independent Cara Lippman is a native of Hopkinton. Ma, a Boston suburb, who was mentored by that cities “Regal Queen of the Blues” Shirley Lewis. Cara relocated to Nashville over a decade ago to hone her live performance skills. Quickly she became a pro blues jam host and eventually wound up […]
Peter Ward Train To Key Biscayne Gandy Dancer Records While growing up guitarist Peter Ward and his brother were bitten by the blues bug. Influenced by the music of Muddy Waters and Little Walter they would attend as many live concerts as possible. Peter backed Jimmy Rogers, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Lowell Fulson and others when […]
Bob Corritore & Friends Do The Hip-Shake Baby! Vizztone Label Group/Southwest Musical Arts Foundation Bob Corritore is a Blues Music Award winner with a total of six nominations including one again this year as Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. His last album was 2018’s “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”. Corritore is also back with a […]
John Clifton In The Middle of Nowhere Rip Cat Records Harmonica player John Clifton and his brother Bill founded the MoFo Party Band in the late 1980’s. Their 1999 debut recording “Call the Doctor!” made numerous “Best” lists and they followed up with three more albums. As a result Clifton was often featured with Mark […]
Bad Influence Got What You Need Bad Blues Records The Bad Influence band was formed in 1988 by Michael “Jr.” Tash. They recorded their debut album “Where You Been” in 1997. The bands 2001 follow-up recording, had my favorite album title, “Tastes Like Chicken”. Their last, self produced, recording 2011’s “Under The Influence” helped to […]
Willie Buck Willie Buck Way Delmark Records William Crawford a.k.a. Willie Buck was born in Houston, Mississippi. Buck relocated to Chicago in 1953. Though still a teenager an older relative snuck him in to see Muddy Waters when Waters was in his prime. The sound of that classic band had such an impact on Buck […]
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith & The House Bumpers Drop The Hammer Big Eye Records Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith is a native Chicagoan who learned the drums from his father the late Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. His father was the drummer for Muddy Waters for over eighteen years. Other drummers who inspired him were Odie Payne, […]
Kerry Kearney Smokehouse Serenade Highlander Records Kerry Kearney is a slide guitarist deserving additional recognition. Although not as well known as Sonny Landreth or Roy Rogers his fretwork at times has been compared to theirs. Long Island’s Kearney has been performing for over forty years as this is his seventeenth recording. A review of his […]
Henry Townsend and Roosevelt Sykes Blues Piano and Guitar: Washington University 1973 Omnivore Recordings Roosevelt Sykes spent his formidable years in his home state of Arkansas and in St. Louis. Sykes learned the rudiments of the keyboard on his grandfather’s organ. When he would return home to visit relatives in West Helena he would be […]
Tim Gartland Satisfied Taste Good Music Ohio born Tim Gartland saw Muddy Waters in concert when he was fourteen and it proved to be a life changing experience. He studied the harmonica, began playing in bands and started writing his own songs. After graduation from college Tim relocated to Chicago where he studied with Jerry […]
Big Daddy Wilson Deep in My Soul Ruf Records Big Daddy Wilson was born Wilson Blount in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina. He recalls “Me and my sisters were raised by mom and grandma. We lived a simple life, we went to church every Sunday, school on weekdays. I also worked back then […]
Mitch Woods A Tip of the Hat To Fats Blind Pig Records Brooklyn born Mitch Woods fell in love with boogie-woogie when he was eight years old. His stepfather purchased him a piano and he began classical training at eleven. In his mid-teens Woods was already moonlighting in Greenwich Village night clubs. He attended the […]
Meg Williams Take Me As I Am: The Muscle Shoals Sessions Nola Blue Records Meg Williams hails from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. She formed the Meg Williams Band a.k.a. MWB and her debut recording was released in 2014 when she was compared to Sheryl Crow. She came to national attention with the […]
Shane Dwight No One Loves Me Better Red Parlor Records Shane Dwight was born in California. As a youngster he was diagnosed with a debilitating bone disease. He began playing guitar in high school as his early influences were mostly rock acts such as Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. As a late bloomer he […]
Manx Marriner Mainline Hell Bound For Heaven Stony Plain Records Harry Manx is a Canadian musician best known for blending slide-guitar blues, gospel music and the Mohan veena. The latter is a Hindu stringed instrument learned by him while living in India. Manx recorded his debut in 2001. His fourteen previous albums include three recorded […]
Rosie Flores Simple Case of the Blues The Last Music Company Rosie Flores was born in San Antonio, lived in San Diego and now resides in Austin. The guitarist/vocalist is an artist who blends rockabilly, honky-tonk, Western swing and blues. Flores released her self titled debut recording in 1987 on the Reprise Record label. In […]
Madison Violet Everything’s Shifting Big Lake/Passenger Sounds Madison Violet is Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIssac. The duo first met in Toronto in 1999 only to discover that their fathers were high school classmates. They are genre crossing instrumentalists with flawless harmonies. Hailing from small Scottish towns, in close proximity to Nova Scotia, their sound has […]
Rick Vito Soulshaker Vizztone Label Group Rick Vito is best known as being a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987 until 1991 when he took over for Lindsey Buckingham. Vito’s first solo album was 1992’s “King of Hearts” on Atlantic Records. In 2001 Vito won a Blues Music Award for writing the Song of the […]
Mighty Mike Schermer Bad Tattoo Firedog Records/Vizztone Label Group As a youngster Mike Schermer played guitar, trumpet and clarinet. He played in school and in various bands. Then one night in 1984 he saw Albert Collins and it was a life changer. Schermer soon expanded his influences to include T-Bone Walker, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, […]
Arlen Roth Tele Masters Aquinnah Records Arlen Roth released his first album “Guitarist” in 1978 and it won the Montreux Critics’ Award for “Best Instrumental Album”. He recorded “Foolin’ Around” in 1993 with Danny Gatton and Duke Robillard, and a documentary commemorating the event. In 2008 he recorded the sequel “Foolin’ Around Woodstock”, with Levon […]
Kenny Parker Hellfire Rock-a-while Michigan born Kenny Parker began playing guitar in a local band when he was fourteen. While still in high school he discovered blues guitarists Albert and B.B. King. After graduating college he worked in a General Motors auto factory and began to moonlight at night. He worked with Detroit’s Louis “Mr. […]
Michael Jerome Browne That’s Where It’s At Borealis Records Michael Jerome Browne was born in South Bend, Indiana. His family moved to Montreal when Browne was still in his teens. Browne had mastered the guitar and harmonica and toured Europe as a one man band before returning to join the Stephen Barry Band. He released […]
Murali Coryell Made In Texas Shake-It-Sugar Records Murali Coryell is the son of jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell. As a youngster he started playing drums but soon switched to the guitar. Wanting to forge his own musical path Murali released his recording debut, the soul-blues “Eyes Wide Open”, in 1995. Four years later he formed […]
Matt Andersen Halfway Home By Morning High Romance Music/True North Records Matt Andersen is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Brunswick, Canada. In 2010 Andersen finished first in the solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. He is a seven time Maple Blues Award winner; and winner of two European Blues Awards. “Halfway […]
John Primer The Soul of A Blues Man Blues House Productions Alonso “John” Primer was born in Mississippi but moved to Chicago where he played the blues clubs on Chicago’s south side; he was a regular at Theresa’s Lounge at 48th and South Indiana Avenue. He was also a member of Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues […]
Brandon Santini The Longshot American Showplace Music Brandon Santini hails from the Piedmont region of North Carolina. He relocated to Memphis in 2003 and began fronting the Delta Highway Band. In 2009 they received a Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist. Santini released his own debut recording “Songs of Love, Money and Misery” […]
