Louisiana, a magical place with a unique culture found nowhere else. Creoles and Cajuns, alligators and crawfish, red beans and rice. All these things helped give rise to the special chemistry of the Sportsman’s Paradise. These things also shaped the experiences of Earl Sally. Now, after a 30 year musical career, he’s letting those influences find a voice in his first CD. The new CD “Home Grown” features 10 songs including classic Zydeco tunes and soon to be new fan favorites.

Joining Earl on this effort are well known Zydeco frontmen Terrance Simien, Chubby Carrier, Geno Delafose and Curley Taylor. Also making major contributions are his current band mates, Corey Duplechin, Randy Ellis and AJ Bellow.

On the new CD, Earl had a vision for what he wanted. HOME is a reference to his upbringing. Three of his special guests are friends that he has known for most of his life. HOME also is a place for family and as anyone that has been to Louisiana knows, friends are family. The contributions of his family of friends add a special touch to the music. GROWN applies to the journey he has made as a musician. Starting when he was 13 and practicing with his musical influence Clinton Broussard to that skinny kid jumping off the stage in the movie "The Big Easy" to the polished entertainer that we see today, Earl has perfected his style playing numerous cities, states, countries and continents.

Because of the skill and familiarity of the performers involved, along with masterful engineering by Ivan Klisanin, Home Grown has a refined sound not normally found in a first offering by an artist. 

http://members.cox.net/washboardsally/

Boo Boo Davis is a survivor and belongs to the last generations of musicians that write and play the blues based on first hand experience of a hard life in the Mississippi Delta. He was born and raised in Drew, Mississippi in the heart of Delta.  The entire Delta region was rich with blues, but the town of Drew was a particularly fertile one. Charley Patton stayed near Drew for many years and several legendary performers spent time there.

 In the early sixties he went north to St Louis and together with his brothers  were the weekend house band in Tabby's Red Room in East St Louis for eighteen years.

His first European tour took place in April 2000 and since then Boo Boo is touring Europe at least twice a year. So far Boo Boo has released 4 CD's on Black and Tan Records and all of them were very well received. The last one (DREW, MISSISSIPPI) was listed with the 10 best blues records of 2006 by MOJO Magazine (UK). In 2007 Boo Boo was invited to perform on the POCONO BLUES FESTIVAL, one of the biggest blues festivals in the USA and in March 2007 Boo Boo performed live on CBC Radio One, national radio in Canada.

All the music and extemporaneous sounds that you'll hear on this record are coming from Boo Boo's vocal chords and harmonica, John Gerritse's drum kit or Jan Mittendorp's guitars. What started as a crazy idea after the tour with Boo Boo in October 2007 has turned out to be not too crazy at all. In the Spring Tour of 2008 they decided to leave out the bass and tour as a trio. The audiences loved it and were amazed all that sound was coming from just three pieces. Unlike many modern blues bands, Boo Boo and his band focus on the groove, the feel, and the basic truths found in the blues. Blues doesn't come any 'realer' then this.

http://www.booboodavis.com/

WORLD CLASS HOTEL AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX WILL LOCATE IN CLARKSDALE, MS.


The Crossroads Hotel and Entertainment Complex will be a reasonably priced world class resort offering guests the very best in southern charm and hospitality. Theme rooms such as The Muddy Waters, The Bessie Smith or the Robert Johnson room will be available and some of the rooms will be equipped with a Retro Wurlitzer Style Jukebox.

The Entertainment Complex will offer world class venues to showcase the blues influenced music of every stripe, from Blues Festivals, Rock Concerts, Late Night Jazz  to Gospel Music on Sunday. Local and International Artists will be featured. Mississippi Delta Blues, Inc., CEO, Carol Marble, www.mississippideltabluesinfo.com, will be handling the booking aspect of the entertainment through its sister company Blues Mamas Booking Agency Inc., www.bluesmamasbooking.com, owned by Peggy Brown and Carol Marble.

The Crossroads Hotel and Entertainment Complex Group, (C.H.E.C.G.) believes in a philosophy of cooperative tourism and community involvement. To this end, the C.H.E.C.G. hopes to work with local and statewide public and private organizations. Plans are to work also with museums, educators, music historians and others interested in the roots of America’s music.

Memphis, TN – September 3, 2008. 

The annual election of one-third of The Blues Foundation’s Board of Directors and its officers for the coming year has been completed. The recently-elected members will begin three-year terms October 25 at the next Board meeting in Memphis, TN , while the officers will serve for one-year.  Three seats were filled by the vote of the membership and four were elected by the current Board.   

The membership elected: Thomas Ruf, founder of  Ruf Record, an international Blues record company, Lindewerra, Germany; Blues fan and long-time Foundation volunteer Ricky Stevens, Arkabutla, MS; and  Cassie Taylor, a Boulder, CO based-Blues music performer and the youngest Board member ever at age 21.  Current Board members directly elected the following new members: Thomas Cain, Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations with BMI, Nashville, TN; Gaynell Rogers, marketing and media consultant, Blues Muse Management, Nevada City, CA; Joey Sichting, Managing Director, International Sales-Central Region, FedEx, Memphis, TN; and Sade Turnipseed, Director, Education & Community Outreach, BB King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola, MS. 

Following the Board election, the new Board selected the following Board members to leadership positions:  Paul Benjamin, founder of the North Atlantic Blues Festival, Rockland, ME, was re-elected President and Pat Morgan, artist manager for Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, was elected Vice-President.  Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Gary Anton, a Tallahassee, FL, attorney and owner of Bradfordville Blues Club; Kevin Kane, President and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau;  and Bill Wax, disc jockey and programmer on XM Satellite Radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville channel, Washington, DC.

http://www.blues.org/

THE BLIND LEMON BLUES FESTIVAL PAYING HOMAGE TO OUR MUSICAL ROOTS 

In Dallas, Texas on September 13, 2008 at Poor David's Pub, The Blind
Lemon Blues Festival will feature an all acoustic line-up honoring the
life and musical style of Blind Lemon Jefferson.  The venue is just a
few blocks away from the very street corners of the Deep Ellum district
where Mr. Jefferson played from around 1912 to the early twenties. 

In the comfort of air conditioning and in one of the best listening
venues in North Texas, you will hear two incredible local acts: Hash
Brown - solo, and Texas Slim and JMAC -duo.  Each of these gentlemen are
not only phenomenal guitar players, acoustic and electric, they are some
of the most knowledgeable blues historians around.  They each have their
own bands and JMAC is also the Monday night DJ for Texas Blues Radio on
KNON 89.3 FM.for twenty plus years! 

They are thrilled to have in the third set this year an upcoming blues
star from Maine, Samuel James.  For a young man in his twenties his
talents as a song writer, guitar player, harp, banjo and keyboards are
stunning.  While you can hear influences of Charlie Patton, Sonny Terry,
and Skip James his style is very much his own. Samuel has been busy this
summer playing festivals supporting his recent Northern Blues release,
Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy. 

Paul Geremia, a master of the Piedmont style blues and as Acoustic
Guitar magazine says, "one of the best country blues finger-pickers
ever." Mr. Geremia has been traveling Uncle Sam's Backyard (the title to
his last live CD release) for 40 plus years.  As Mr. Geremia says, "It's
all about the music; keeping the dying ghosts of the old masters alive
with love, a couple of finger picks, and an old beat-up guitar. Paul has
created a style which is very much his own combining his interpretations
of the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie
McTell, Scrapper Blackwell and Blind Blake. Paul Geremia is truly a
living legend of the blues! 

The Blind Lemon Blues Festival is produced by the North Texas Blues
Society and is our yearly fund raising event.  All of the proceeds go
toward continuing our mission: preserving, promoting and performing
blues and roots music.

http://blindlemonbluesfest.com

http://northtexasblues.com

WXPN LAUNCHES "POWER OF SONG" DURING SEPTEMBER TO HIGHLIGHT MUSIC'S IMPACT ON POLITICS AND CULTURE


WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A (Album Adult Alternative) music and noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania will debut "Power of Song," a radio and Web based series highlighting music and musicians that have had an impact on society and culture. In interviews and short-form profiles "Power of Song" explores the intersection between music and politics, tracing the history of music rich in social commentary.

Drawing on diverse styles from folk to funk to jazz and blues, Power of Song will both enlighten and entertain. It will be available to listeners on-air and online. WXPN will broadcast the pieces three times a day and the audience will also be able to listen and download the program from the station's Web site. The web component will offer related video and additional resources to complement each song profile. This unique program will only run during September.

"In the context of the election year we thought it would be an excellent public service to let the music do the talking about some serious political, cultural and social issues that in some part still impact our lives," said Bruce Warren, WXPN, program director.  "I don't believe you will find a more varied list of artists to talk about how songs have shaped or colored politics, culture and society in this country. Some of these songs have had an historical impact on this country or have been indirectly responsible for political or social change. It's an opportunity to understand how artists see culture and political change from the artists' perspectives."

http://www.xpn.org 

RHYTHM & BLUES FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PIONEER AWARDS CO-HOSTS


Music legends Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Raitt and Jerry Butler will co-host the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's star-studded 20th Anniversary Pioneer Awards gala. The event, to be held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on September 9, 2008, will pay homage to Chaka Khan with the Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition, Bill Withers, Teena Marie, and singer-songwriter Sugar Pie DeSanto will receive the Foundation's Individual Artist Award; The Whispers and Kool & the Gang will receive the Foundation's Group Artists Award; Motown session players the Funk Brothers will receive the Foundation's Sidemen Award; Soul legend Donny Hathaway will posthumously receive a Legacy Award in recognition of his influential output in the 1970s; and Al Bell, former president of two renowned record labels, Stax Records and Motown Records, will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Leadership Award.

Patricia Wilson Aden, Executive of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, commented on the Foundation's 20th anniversary: "Over the years', the active support Jerry Butler, Dionne Warwick and Bonnie Raitt has been enormously beneficial to the work of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. Its only fitting that they serve as co-hosts as we celebrate our accomplishments over the past twenty years and prepare to meet the challenges that will come in the next twenty years.

For more information about the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and to purchase tickets for the 2008 Pioneer Awards, please visit www.rhythmblues.org or call 215-568-1080.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has nabbed U.S. rights to Rachel Samuel's "Dark Streets," based on Glenn M. Stewart's stage musical "The City Club."
Set in a struggling 1930s nightclub, the movie stars Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, and Elias Koteas while boasting originals tunes by Etta James, Natalie Cole, Solomon Burke and B.B. King.

"We are excited to release a film in which stunning blues musical production numbers are an integral part," said Samuel Goldwyn prexy Meyer Gottlieb. "Audiences will be blown away by the soundtrack." "Dark Streets" preemed at CineVegas, where it won a special jury prize. 

This film is dedicated to the blues musicians of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. A portion of the film's profits will be donated to them via The Blues Initiative.

BO DIDDLEY ETCHED INTO HISTORY ON PLAZA

(Gainesville, FL) The Gainesville Downtown Community Plaza will now carry the name of Bo Diddley — a cornerstone of rock ‘n’ roll for the world but also a legend of generosity locally.
“His heart was always there and now his name will be there as well,” said Garry Mitchell, one of Diddley’s 15 grandchildren.

Diddley was 79 when he passed away on June 2 at his home.

Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan shortly thereafter proposed that the downtown community plaza — where Diddley played several free concerts — carry the star’s name.

“Those who knew Bo, knew he would play for any event — ribbon cuttings — he would never ask for any compensation at all,” said County Commission Chairman Rodney Long. “He was one of the most famous people who has ever played on the plaza for free.”

Gainesville city commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to rename the plaza and also allocated more than $1,500 to change the signs on the plaza to carry his name and image.

Diddley lived in Archer FL.  for 30 years and had become an active part of the community. “My granddad was honored to be a part of this city as a resident, as an entertainer, as a patron to the stores … and as a friend to the public and the people who had conversations with him on a regular basis,” Mitchell said as he accepted the honor on behalf of his family. “We’re looking forward to whatever ... plans the city has. It is a great honor to know that (Diddley’s name will be a part of) the place where he has done so many things, on the plaza location, for free, for nothing, other than the looks on people’s faces.”

Diddley was a pioneer of rock in the mid-1950s and had major hits such as “Bo Diddley” and “I’m a Man.” His signature beat is heard in music spanning the years and genres.

“He is who he is,” Mitchell said. “He may not be the king, but he is definitely a pharaoh.”

B.B. King regrets not serving his country in World War II. The guitar great was saved from full national service because he worked as a cotton picker in Mississippi at a time when plantation owners cut a deal with draft officials to keep their employees in the fields.

He tells Parade magazine, "We got only partial basic training, served a few months, and went back to work on the plantation. So, when I die, there won't be a flag on my coffin."

And King also regrets not taking his education more seriously. Despite picking up honorary degrees from Yale and Brown universities, he says, "There's never a day goes by that I don't miss having graduated and gone to college."

Although the little city of Dayton, Ohio is no Memphis or Chicago and the Great Miami River looks nothing like the Mississippi Delta, the heritage of the blues is wedged deep in the soul of this Miami Valley area. From Robert Ward & the Untouchable and the great Piney Brown to the blues jams with Snapper Mitchem and the Blues Invaders, blues music has been an inseparable part of our musical history. And now we join many in trying to preserve and promote that part of us by forming the Dayton Blues Society.

Cultivated thru the spring, the society signed our first members at the Dayton Blues Festival on July 20^th and has since had our first monthly blues jam in August. Held on the second Sunday of each month, the DBS jam will be held at a different location and hosted by a different band each month. Plans for a DBS WinterBluesFest and a Blues Challenge are underway. For more info go to www.daytonbluessociety.com.

NEW BLUES & ROOTS SONGS OF PEACE AND PROTEST

ATLANTA, GA – Ruf Records announces an October 7 release date for Rich Man’s War: New Blues & Roots Songs of Peace and Protest, a 12-song CD compilation of performances from a dozen artists that brings the protest song art form into the 21st century. 

Produced by Kenneth Bays, editor of the internationally celebrated magazine Blues Revue, the new CD includes performances from such established blues and roots artists as Bob Brozman, Guitar Shorty, Norman & Nancy Blake, Candye Kane, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael Hill and Doug MacLeod, as well as a number of rising stars in the blues field.

“The seeds for Rich Man's War came out of the oft-repeated argument that today’s blues music isn’t ‘about’ anything -- that modern blues songs are all either about partying, romantic entanglements, or about celebrating the blues itself,” says Kenneth Bays. “I’d heard several people say that, and I knew that it wasn’t true, that there was more to today’s blues music than just those time-worn topics.

“In 2004, the progressive political organization MoveOn.org put out a CD called Future Soundtrack For America that consisted of indie rock artists performing songs that were politically themed -- some subtly so, others less subtly. Beyond its message, though, it was just a great, enjoyable collection of music that I found myself listening to over and over again. I’ve always been a fan of the protest song genre, and I thought, ‘Why hasn’t somebody done one of these in the blues world? Is it that there aren't enough great protest songs in blues?’”

With that idea, Bays began a quest and discovered literally hundreds of recent protest songs from blues artists both established and unknown. He culled them down to those songs that were very clear in their focus, that had an intelligent point to make, that were performed with the greatest passion, and that were just plain good to listen to. Because of space limitations, he wasn’t able to include many of the others he uncovered. 

“It was when I started reaching out to the artists that I knew we had something really good,” remembers Bays. “All the artists I contacted were excited and enthusiastic about the CD, and many of them said they’d waited a long time for a disc like this to come about. New York bluesman Michael Hill called it ‘an important and much-needed project.’ Matthew Skoller said ‘the blues world is frightfully devoid of projects such as this, and I applaud you for doing it.’ The artists were unanimous in allowing us to use their songs.

 “It bothers me when people say that music and politics shouldn’t mix. If that were the case, we wouldn’t have Bob Dylan. We wouldn’t have had Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger. And we wouldn’t have a lot of what we now consider to be classics of the blues genre, either. Blues music was born from a population voicing their frustration with the great injustices perpetrated against them. So it’s only natural that today’s blues artists would want to voice their feelings about the injustices they observe today. It’s part of the tradition. 

“My greatest hope is that blues artists will hear Rich Man’s War and say, ‘You know, maybe it IS okay for me to sing about the things I see going on in the world. Maybe it’s okay for me to write about issues I believe in. Maybe somebody will listen.’”

http://www.rufrecords.de/