Rockin’ Johnny Burgin Neoprene Fedora West Tone Records Johnny Burgin was raised in Starkville, Ms. and Greenville, S.C. He went to The University of Chicago with the intention of becoming a writer but instead fell into the Chicago blues scene. He started backing up the Chicago blues vocalist Taildragger. Later he wound up touring with […]
Billy Flynn Lonesome Highway Delmark Records Guitarist Billy Flynn has played with Jimmy Dawkins, Sunnyland Slim, The Legendary Blues Band, Mississippi Heat and the Cash Box Kings. He recorded with Bryan Lee, Willie Kent, Snooky Pryor, Big Bill Morganfield, Jody Williams, Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson and many others. Flynn also has ten […]
Coco Montoya Hard Truth Alligator Records Coco Montoya apprenticed with Albert Collins and The Icebreakers for five years and with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for ten. In 1993 he broke-out and formed his own band and never looked back. Montoya’s debut recording was 1995’s “Gotta Mind to Travel” on Blind Pig Records. Montoya released two more […]
Adrianna Marie Kingdom of Swing Vizztone Label Group/Barking Blues Music Adrianna Marie Hansen grew up in a musical family and left Westport, CT. for California when she was seventeen. She and her husband, guitarist L.A. Jones, now live an hour and half from Los Angeles. She recorded a demo called “Spellcaster” just to get her […]
Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train M.C. Records Guy Davis is a blues musician and an actor. Davis made his Broadway debut in 1991 in the musical “Mulebone” featuring the music of Taj Mahal. He also performed in 1993’s “Robert Johnson Trick The Devil” where he played Johnson; as a direct […]
Vin Mott Quit the Women for the Blues Independent Vin Mott is from Pequannock, N.J. While still a teen he got bit by the blues bug; it was the sound of the blues harp. His influences included Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and James Cotton. Mott studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and […]
Professor Louie and The Crowmatix Crowin’ The Blues Woodstock Records Aaron Hurwitz a.k.a. Professor Louie was a sought after New York City producer and engineer. When he moved up to Woodstock he began to work with the remaining members of the Band; Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm. Dubbed Professor Louie by Danko he […]
Sean Chambers Trouble & Whiskey American Showplace Music In the early 1990’s Florida’s Sean Chambers fronted a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band. In 1998 he released his debut recording “Strong Temptation” on the Vestige imprint. Some called the album “the most impressive debut since SRV’s Texas Flood”. While in Memphis Chambers was asked to sit […]
Beth Hart Fire On The Floor Provogue/Mascot Label Group Los Angeles is the home of Beth Hart who appeared on the TV show Star Search hosted by Ed McMahon. In 1993 she won the Female Vocalist competition for that season. Hart released her first album “Immortal” on Atlantic Records in 1996. Her follow-up recording, also […]
Vanessa Collier Meeting My Shadow Ruf Records Vanessa Collier hails from Clarksville, Maryland where she attended River Hill High School. While a student at River Hill she was co-captain of the Girls Basketball team as well as a soloist with their Jazz band. Collier attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she graduated […]
Hurricane Ruth Ain’t Ready For The Grave Hurricane Ruth Records Hurricane Ruth LaMaster is from southern Illinois. Her father Milt owned the Glendale Tavern in Beardstown. On Sundays musicians would come to jam and her father sat in on drums. She has been performing professionally since 1979. Ruth has been on stage with John Lee […]
Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado Change My Game Ruf Records The Thorbjorn Risgaer Blue 7 was founded in 2002. Their debut album was “Live 2004”. In 2005 Risager was named the Danish Blues musician of the year. After eight albums Risager signed with Ruf Records. The band became an octet and took the name […]
Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band Standing On Faith CPL Publishing Corey Ledet was born and raised in Houston, Texas but would spend his summers in Parks, Louisiana. Ledet’s primary influence was his grandfather, Buchanan “Tbu” Ledet, a drummer who worked with Clifton Chenier the King of Zydeco; and so he started out as a […]
Geoff Achison Another Mile, Another Minute Landslide Records/Jupitor 2 Records Geoff Achison is an Australian who formed his band the “Souldiggers” in 1994. He has also been a guitar instructor at Jorma Kaukonen guitar camp, Fur Peace Ranch, since 1988. In 1995 Achison, representing the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society, competed in the International Blues Challenge […]
Jack Mack & The Heart Attack Horns Back to The Shack SSR Free Roll Jack Mack and The Heart Attack were originally formed as an R n B cover band in 1982. The Eagles had just broken up and Glenn Frey hadn’t yet started his solo career. So Frey found some friends to have fun […]
Delbert McClinton & Self Made Men Prick of The Litter Hot Shot Records Delbert McClinton was born in Lubbock, Texas in November of 1940. He worked in a blues band that backed up Sonny Boy Wiliamson II, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Jimmy Reed. In 1962 he played harmonica on Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”. He […]
Southern Avenue Stax/Concord Music Group Southern Avenue is the first Memphis based band to be signed to the new Stax Records. They are a quintet that combines the soul, blues and gospel traditions of that city with a youthful exuberance all their own. They are named after Southern Avenue, the street that leads to Soulville, […]
Scott Ramminger Do What Your Heart Says To Arbor Lane Music Scott Ramminger is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. He graduated from the U. of Tennessee with a degree in journalism and settled in the Washington DC area. Ramminger has a broad musical taste he developed working as a sideman. He released “Crawstickers” in 2011 with […]
Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio Alligator Records Elvin Bishop has been active on the Blues scene ever since he met Paul Butterfield in 1963. He left The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and formed his own band, The Elvin Bishop Group, in 1968. This is Bishop’s twentieth studio album and twenty-eighth album overall. A lot has […]
Lisa Biales The Beat of My Heart Big Song Music Lisa Biales hails from Oxford, Ohio. She attended Ohio University in Athens. Her first full length album was released in 1999. Her last album 2013’s “Belle of The Blues” was co-produced by EG Kight and Paul Hornsby. “The Beat of My Heart” is Biales’ ninth […]
Big Bill Morganfield Bloodstains on the Wall Black Shuck Records In 1999 Big Bill Morganfield, the youngest son of the late McKinley Morganfield a.k.a. Muddy Waters, released his first authorized studio recording. It was the result of a fifteen year odyssey of self discovery. On “Rising Son” Morganfield surrounded himself with personnel who had played […]
Thornetta Davis Honest Woman Sweet Mama Music Thornetta Davis was born in Detroit. Davis released her first full length studio recording “Sunday Morning Music” in 1996. Her song “Cry”, from that album, was featured in an episode of “The Sopranos”. She appeared at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Fest and sang onstage with Bonnie […]
John Ginty featuring Astor Pheonyx Rockers American Showplace Music John Ginty is an in demand organ player appearing on approximately sixty albums for other artists. Ginty’s grasp of American contemporary music enables him to play in a variety of different contexts. In 2013 Ginty starting working with producer Ben Elliot of American Showplace Studios and […]
Book Review The Blues: Why It Still Hurts So Good By Marie B. Trout, PhD Dr. Marie Trout has written a book about me. If you are reading this then it’s probably about you too. Why do I/we love the blues? The book starts “where a study of the blues normally ends. It is written […]
A ROOM WITH A VIEW OF THE BLUES by Richard Ludmerer Favorite Vinyl that made me love The Blues These albums are not supposed to be the best blues albums of all time They are albums in my collection that influenced me and made me love the blues Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee The Keys […]
John Mayall Talk About That Forty Below Records John Mayall is the influential British bluesman who formed his band The Bluesbreakers in 1963. A great guitarist, harmonica player, singer, songwriter and bandleader he is still going strong after more than fifty years. Mayall’s band members have included guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey […]
Eight O’Five Jive Swing Set Red Rudy Too Tunes Eight O’Five Jive are a jump blues band. Their first album was 2014’s “Too Many Men”. That album consisted mostly of covers of songs by Big Maybelle, Memphis Minnie, Clyde McPhatter, Peggy Lee, Etta James and Big Jay McNeeley. The arrangements by the band were fabulous. […]
Ronnie Baker Brooks Times Have Changed Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group Ronnie Baker Brooks was born Rodney Dion Baker in January, 1967. Brooks is a Chicago blues, and soul blues guitarist and vocalist, and the son of Lonnie Brooks. Brooks joined his father’s band in 1986 and appears on his father’s 1988 Alligator records album “Live […]
Tom Craig and Soul Patch “Get Ready For Me” Independent Vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Tom Craig was first inspired by Jazz vocalists. He first discovered Frank Sinatra with The Count Basie Orchestra; and Ella Fitzgerald too. Craig even studied to be a Jazz vocalist while in College. Craig later discovered the classic soul sounds of […]
The Blues Foundation Presents The International Blues Challenge #32 The Blues Foundation’s “mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of the uniquely American art form.” The foundation maintains two premier events. The Blues Music Awards “brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, […]
Peter Karp Alabama Town Rose Cottage Records Peter Karp was born in Leonia and raised in New Jersey and Enterprise, Alabama where his father, a retired military pilot, lived. Karp’s stepmother was an African-American woman who helped raise him. In New Jersey his birth mom would take Karp to concerts. As a teen Karp played […]
Wee Willie Walker & The Greaseland All-Stars Live at The Notodden Blues Festival Little Village Foundation Wee Willie Walker recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. It wasn’t until he was introduced to Rick Estrin that he was re-discovered. Walker’s 2015 album “If Nothing Ever Changes”, co-produced by Estrin and Kid […]
Si Cranstoun Old School Ruf Records When Si Cranstoun refers to “Old School” he is referring to the golden era of rock and R n’ B. His primary influences are Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and Big Joe Turner. Cranstoun was born in Caterham, Surrey, England. Cranstoun’s father Bill promoted Ska and Reggae music and Cranstoun […]
Ilana Katz Katz Movin’ On Regina Royale Records Ilana Katz, fiddle, married Warren Katz therefore she became Ilana Katz Katz. Ilana is also a busker. She plays her fiddle in the Boston subway system collecting donations from who ever enjoys her music. She attended a Billy Boy Arnold concert where she met Ronnie Earl. Earl […]
Rory Block Keepin’ Outta Trouble a tribute to Bukka White Stony Plain Records Rory Block hails from Princeton, NJ but spent a lot of her formative years as part of the Greenwich Village folk music scene. At the age of fourteen she was introduced to the music of the Mississippi Delta. She recorded for Elektra, […]
Smoke Wagon Blues Band Cigar Store Independent The Smoke Wagon Blues Band, from Hamilton Ontario, was formed in 1996. Their now out of print debut was 1997’s “Smoke Wagon Blues Number 36”. They followed up in 2001 with the live “Low Down Righteous Blues”. “The One and Only” was issued in 2005 and resulted in […]
MonkeyJunk Time to Roll Stony Plain Records MonkeyJunk, the Ottawa Ontario based trio, is Tony “D” Diteodoro, rhythm and lead guitar; Steve Mariner, lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica and organ; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. The band released its first album “Tiger in Your Tank” in 2009 and won the […]
The McKee Brothers Enjoy It While You Can Independent The accompanying publicity sheet states that “Enjoy It While You Can”…features great performances by a talented roster of players from Los Angeles and Michigan…” I will list them later. But who are these McKee Brothers that they can attract such a talented ensemble when this is […]
Taj Mahal Labor of Love Acoustic Sounds Taj Mahal was born Henry Saint Claire Fredericks in Harlem on May 17th, 1942. He was raised in a West Indian-American and African-American family. He grew up in Springfield, Ma. and in the early 1960’s studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He graduated and moved […]
Biscuit Miller Wishbone Bluebass Music David Miller was born and raised on Chicago’s south side. He was nicknamed “Biscuit” by his grandma as he wouldn’t get outta’ her kitchen. He learned to play bass from his friend’s older brother. He formed his first band “Clever” with another friend Ivan Wallace. The family moved to Minneapolis […]
Mike Zito Make Blues Not War Ruf Records Mike Zito worked ten years at a downtown St. Louis guitar shop where an older employee taught him an appreciation for The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and B.B. King. He released “Blue Room” his first independently produced album in 1997. Follow up albums included 1999’s “America’s Most […]
The 2016 Bradenton Blues Festival Text and photos by Richard Ludmerer The Bradenton Blues Festival is an annual festival now in its fifth year. It is brought to us by Realize Bradenton. Realize Bradenton is a nonprofit organization that brings people together to create a vibrant and prosperous downtown area for residents, visitors, and businesses. […]
The Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome Interscope Records The Rolling Stones started out as high school classmates listening to the blues. Their early influences were American blues artists Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed. Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts used to sit in with British blues artist Alexis Koerner when he played The Marquee. […]
Big Head Blues Club Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon Big Records The Big Head Blues Club is a project of Big Head Todd and The Monsters. The Colorado based band was originally formed in 1984. Todd Mark Mohr, guitar; Brian Nevin, drums; and Rob Squires, bass; all met while attending Columbine High School. […]
Mississippi Heat Cab Driving Man Delmark Records Mississippi Heat is one of Chicago’s best working blues bands. The ensemble has talent galore. Their leader Pierre Lacocque is the talented songwriter and harp player who formed the band twenty-four years ago. This is their twelfth recording overall and sixth for Delmark records. Lacocque has written eleven […]
Dawn Tyler Watson Jawbreaker Independent Dawn Tyler Watson was born in England but raised in Montreal where she studied Jazz and Theatre at Concordia University. As an actress she was featured in several movies including 2004’s “Jack Paradise (Les Nuits de Montreal)” which translated means the “Nights of Montreal”; and in which she played a […]
Little Boys Blue Tennissippi Vizztone Label Group/Jaxon Records Little Boys Blue is a Tennessee based blues band originally formed in 1993. They may have taken their name from Aleck Miller who used the names Rice Miller and “Little Boy Blue” before renaming himself Sonny Boy Williamson II. Or possibly their name came from the song […]
Tas Cru Simmered and Stewed Vizztone Label Group/ Crustee Tees Records When talking about his last album Tas Cru states “after five albums everything fell into place, the songwriting, the performance, and the production.” That album 2015’s “You Keep The Money” was one of the hottest albums of the year. At the International Blues Challenge […]
Trudy Lynn I’ll Sing The Blues For You Connor Ray Music Trudy Lynn released 2006’s “I’m Still Here” recorded with the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra. As a result she received two 2007 Blues Music Award nominations; one for Soul Blues Album of The Year and one for Soul Blues Female Artist of The Year. In […]
Mary Jo Curry Guitar Angels Records Mary Jo Curry is from Springfield, Illinois. She is from a big family and has seven older brothers all whom are musicians. She plays piano and studied theater and voice while in college. She has been with theatrical touring companies and sang with an 80’s cover band. Five years […]
