Blues News Home Page - (Updated once a month. Last update 1st January 2012) 

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The Next Blues & Rock Night at The Limelight

Friday 27th January

The Riotous Brothers 

+ Sidewinder

The Limelight Theatre at QUEENS PARK ARTS CENTRE, Queens Park, Aylesbury Bucks.. HP21 7RT
For information or advance tickets call 01296 424332 / 431272 Fax 01296 337363  info@qpc.org  

Get tickets now - buy online at www.qpc.org  

Driving powerhouse rhythm and blues, from The  Riotous Brothers

 More info on the Venues & Gigs page.

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Following news guitarist Hubert Sumlin's recent death, Bob Corritore reflects on his memories of Hubert. I was lucky enough to get to know Hubert Sumlin from seeing Howlin' Wolf in Chicago in the mid 1970s. I was living in the Chicago area at that time. I first met Hubert when I was 18 years old. I went to see Wolf at Eddie's Place AKA The 1815 Club at 1815 W. Roosevelt on the West Side. This club was owned by Eddie Shaw and was where Wolf made his home base when he was not touring. I would see the Howlin' Wolf at Eddie's Place every chance I could. I was thrilled to personally meet the man who crafted those magical guitar lines on all those great Howlin' Wolf records. I will never forget how Hubert was so kind and happy to take me in. He would sit down with me and talk to me like I was the only person in the world for that moment. How great it was to hear Hubert's chemistry with the Wolf and how those guitar hooks defined the songs! There was an unspoken sameness of purpose between Wolf and Hubert as they leaned on each other to fulfill the task at hand. It was effortless and spellbinding. Often times I was in the first row of seats just a few feet from the stage taking it all in. I remember shaking Hubert's hand and noticing that it was the softest, meekest handshake I had ever experienced, and then contrasting that to Howlin' Wolf's assertive handshake where my hand seemed to disappear into Wolf''s.  I fondly remember Hubert playing that black Rickenbacker guitar with no pick. How he caressed sweet, amazing runs of notes and chords. His style seemed to defy gravity and you were left on the edge of your seat - thrilled and wondering what he would come up with next! Seeing Wolf and Hubert was like witnessing a miracle. Through my experiences at the 1815 club, I met the great Chico Chism who was Wolf's last drummer. Chico would become my lifelong friend and musical collaborator.

Picture from Early Blues website. Check it out www.earlyblues.com

Wolf died on January 10, 1976 and the next day everyone gathered at the 1815 club for an impromptu tribute to this great man. Hubert was there, sunk into his seat and looking completely lost. I gave him a big hug and tried to comfort him. That night he and many others played to honor the Wolf. Some of the many artists that night were Eddie Shaw, Detroit Junior, Lucille Spann, Lee Jackson, George Mayweather, Highway Man, Chico Chism, Eddie Burks, and Tail Dragger. This was the first time that I played with Hubert. This was also the night that I met Tail Dragger, who is one of my close friends to this day. After Wolf died Eddie Shaw tried to keep the band together with Hubert, Detroit Junior, Shorty Gilbert, and Chico. For awhile that worked, but eventually Hubert was lured off and spent some time in Texas with Clifford Antone and found comfort staying with his friend Sunnyland Slim who had a room for Hubert at his Southside Chicago home. Hubert had some trouble adjusting after the Wolf and often times seemed out of sorts. When I moved from Chicago to Phoenix in 1981 I lost touch with Hubert but when Chico moved to Phoenix in 1986 I felt a strong connection to those great days at the 1815 Club. Hubert came to Phoenix in 2006 to play at my 50th birthday party with a super band that also included Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Henry Gray, Bob Stroger, Little Frank, and Kenny Smith. This was the last time that Hubert and Chico saw each other (Chico died in early 2007 at age 79) but they were inseparable that night! I was trying to arrange a reunion of the original Wolf Gang for Chico's 80th birthday but that was sadly not to happen. Hubert also made a great showing at the Rhythm Room for Amanda's Roller Coaster (an amazing event) in October of 2010 and a cut from that great set with James Cotton and Kim Wilson will appear on a forthcoming live CD. I had the extreme privilege of performing with Hubert in October of this year at the King Biscuit Blues Festival (thank you Pat Morgan and Bob Margolin) and that may have been one of his last festival appearances. He played brilliantly that day but after his set was having a rough time catching his breath. So sorry to say goodbye to this wonderful man and his great legacy. He enriched everyone's life with his kindness and wisdom. My time in the 1970s at the 1815 Club was formative and I feel fortunate to have those wonderful experiences. Thank you Hubert for the important part you unknowingly, and yet so generously played in my life. I am forever grateful to have known you. - Bob Corritore.  www.hubertsumlinblues.com 

George "Harmonica" Smith performes "Juke" on YouTube! please enjoy George "Harmonica" Smith's rockin' adaptation of the Little Walter classic "Juke" with a tight, rockin' band that includes J. D. Nicholson on piano. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4hqOqg1m_E&feature=related

Information taken from  Bob Corritore's Blues Newsletter. If you want to receive this on a regular basis  by email  - email him at     bobcorritore@yahoo.com  

Drummer Jimi Bott, has been nominated for his 13th Blues Music Award by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN! For those of you who don't know, The Blues Music Awards (once called the Handy's) are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in Blues music. Voting is open to all members of the Blues Foundation, and if you are not already a member, please consider joining The Blues Foundation by going to www.blues.org. Membership is only $25 a year, and it goes a long way towards helping keep the blues alive.

Although this is his 13th nomination, Jimi has yet to bring home the award. That is 13 nominations in the 17 years there has been a drummer category, and 11 in a row. His 13 nominations now make him tied with Willie "Big Eyes' Smith and Sam Lay for the most by any drummer. But  a lot of people still do not know who he is.

Jimi has one of the most impressive resumes around as he has spent nearly three decades touring the world with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, Rod Piazza, and Mark Hummel. He has nearly 70 recordings to his credit (including William Clarke, Billy Boy Arnold, and James Harman) and his latest with The Mannish Boys earned three 2011 Blues Music Award Nominations.

But this is not about his past resume...this is about what Jimi has done JUST THIS YEAR! In 2011 he has performed over 150 shows in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including the 2011 Blues Music Awards Ceremony, Lucerne Blues Festival, The Simi Valley Blues Festival, Labatt Blues Festival, and The Waterfront Blues Festival. If you want to vote for Jimi Bott or any other categories in the awards, go to the Blues Foundation website to join and then register your vote

To hear a sample of Jimi's recording with 2012 BMA Nominee and Delta Groove Recording artist Big Pete, CLICK HERE BIG PETE "CHOICE CUTS" FEATURING... Big Pete / Alex Schultz / Willie J. Campbell / Jimi Bott / Johnny Dyer / Al Blake / Kim Wilson / Paul Oscher / Kirk Fletcher / John Marx / Mojo Mark / Shawn Pittman / Kid Ramos / Rusty Zinn / Rob Rio / Malcolm Lukens / and more... Big Pete's 'Choice Cuts' is pn the Delta Groove label. For the latest label info and artists visit www.deltagroovemusic.com  You can buy this CD in the UK from Blues CD Store. It is featured in the new minimag  Bluesletter 411. Click here to buy or call 01296 634991 or email info@bluescdstore.com  or visit www.bluescdstore.com

Papa George has contributed 3 songs to Awareness Music - see his Profile under “Contributing Artists” awareness-music.com

William Johnston’s and Lauren Maddox’s Aims for Awareness Music:

William & Lauren met on the film set of the short film, ‘Victor’, at Pinewood Studios in 2009. William composed the music for that film. In 2009, William & Lauren decided to join forces and begin, jointly creating music and writing lyrics, in preparation, for Film Companies to choose music from, for their Film scores, as well as for Art Galleries to use within their Art exhibitions, so as to raise funds for key Charities on our website. Lauren asked William to set up a Music Website to help Charities, through Film Companies choosing songs for their Film Scores, to help people, less fortunate. We decided upon the name ‘Awareness Music’, to raise Awareness around the World. They became a song writing and Production team, in 2009.  In the near future Sky News will be covering the project and launch event, (where contributing artists will perform).

To see where Papa George is playing check out his website at www.papageorge.co.uk  You can also keep in touch via  facebook.com/papageorgeblues and twitter.com/papageorgebluez

In 2011 Music Maker provided 629 grants to artists in need, providing food, medical expenses, housing and transportation to ensure they can meet their needs and continue to focus on their art. We were able to increase monthly support to artists in need by 38% thanks to generous donations from supporters like you. Through our booking support and career development services, Music Maker increased partner artists' earned income by 54%. They hope to do all this and more in 2012!  They recorded twelve albums, some of which have already been released. 190,000 people worldwide experienced a performance by Music Maker artists, who traveled to 9 countries and 80 cities this year, spreading traditional music to new audiences. Music Maker guys with some of the blues artists they have helped this year MMF Photo of the Week Guitar Gabriel  by Axel Kustner      Whistlin' Britches and Cool John Ferguson-  Listen  Cool's Click Haskel Thompson  a.k.a. Whistlin’ Britches passed away early last week succumbing to throat cancer. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC in 1932, and lived there until his passing. His friend and fellow Music Maker, Captain Luke gave him the name, Whistlin Britches, years ago. Known for his unique rhythmic clicking, joke telling and general merriment, Whistlin’ was a beacon of laughter and joy wherever he went. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. RIP

Information above above taken from the latest MMRF newsletter. If you want to see the whole contents of this MMRF newsletter Click here

If you want the newsletter emailed to you on a regular basis contact: corinne@musicmaker.org

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Darth Vader plays the blues. Have a look at this - superb; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJqPNpUhxPY   

Here's a new site for blues impro - you'll love it whether you play or don't. Instant blues musician and band www.instantblues.com

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