Featured Articles

On the C over : Mia Vermil l ion By Kathy Sorger

Mia Vermillion: Singing the Blues

The D & R Theater

L illian McMurray: Godmother of the Blues

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Celebrating 23 Years of Blues1989 - 2013

April 2013 BluesletterVol. XXV, Number IIII

Publisher Washington Blues SocietyEditor & Art Director Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com)Secretary Rocky NelsonCalendar Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com)Advertising Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org)Printer Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

Contributing Writers: Billy “The Pocket” Barner, Bob Horn, Malcolm Kennedy, Jesse Yancy, Suzanne Swanson, Rocky “Rock Khan” Nelson and Eric Steiner

Contributing Photographers: The Blues Boss, Tim and Michelle Burge, Suzanne Swamnson, Darrel Westmoreland and Kathy Sorger

Cover Photo: Mia Vermillion by Kathy Sorger

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 5th of each month in the following formats: plain text or Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We encourage submissions. If a submitter intends to retain the rights to material (e.g., photos, videos, lyrics, textual matter) submitted for publication in the Bluesletter, or the WaBlues.org website, he or she must so state at the time of submission; otherwise, submitter’s rights to the material will be transferred to WBS, upon publication. We reserve the right to edit all content. The Bluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual.

© WBS 2012

Mission Statement The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve, and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Washington Blues SocietyP.O. Box 70604 - Seattle, WA 98127

www.wablues.org

mia vermillion by Kathy Sorger

Kathy Sorger was born and raised in the Pacific NW and developed a passion for the graphic arts early in life. She received her first camera at age 7 and is a self-taught freelance photographer and artist. Kathy and Mia Vermillion have been friends since childhood and while attending one of Mia’s performances, Kathy started snapping pictures. Kathy enjoys attending Blues events and feels “there is no better way to capture moments of pure human emotion than by immersing yourself into the Blues scene with a camera.” You can find examples of Kathy’s photography and artwork at the website of: http://ohshooot2.deviantart.com/

On the Cover:

Letter from the Editor

Blues Hall of Fame Inductees 25 Celebration of Jini Dellacio 26The D & R Theatre 28Blues Ballot 31

Letter from the President 7Festival Preview: Gray Skies 7Movie Review: Pocket Full of Soul 8Maple Blues Awards Winners 10Birmingham Buzzkill 12

March Blues Bash 14CD Reviews 17Preview: North Bend Blues Walk 17Remembering Lillian McMurray 18Calendar 20

Mia Vermilion: Singin’ the Blues 21Blues on the Radio Dial 22Jam Guide 22Venue Guide 22Talent Guide 23

In This Issue...

There’s so much that goes into the Bluesletter each month, and so many volunteers who make it happen, that it boggles my mind every single month that we manage to pull yet another miracle out of our collective hats. And then, if we’re really lucky, we have a chance to proofread it and hope that we catch everything. And sometimes we don’t. For those sometimes, I truly apologize; and I’d like to apologize for a big one last month:

We had a gorgeous photo of Janiva Magness and an article written about her, and darned if I didn’t spell her name wrong on the cover! (So sorry, Janiva! I owe you a cuppa!)

See, the thing about the world of Blues that anyone outside looking in might miss, is that we’re more than just singers on a stage and listeners in an audience; more than just fans

and musicians, we’re a family. If I don’t know someone, heaven knows that someone I know knows them, knows what’s going on with them, how their new album is coming along and what everyone thought of it.

That is one of the things I love about the Washington Blues Society - we are known, nationwide for caring for - really caring - for our bands, musicians and singers. WBS even has a program that helps keep the blues alive just by offering to by groceries or pay bills for blues musicians/singers/songwriters who are hard up. Simply amazing!

So, please note that this is a fully volunteer run magazine and organization. Which means that there will be some snaffoos from time to time, but we’re still here, giving it all we’ve got - and sometimes more than we’ve got to give - to keep the Blues in our wonderful state alive and kickin’. Thanks to all who support us and the blues, financially, emotionally and with an occasional pat on the back or kick in the pants. We couldn’t do it without you.

Until next time,

Jesse PhillipsEditor/Art Director

Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

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Hi Blues Fans! Happy April! In this space, I’ve often wondered about how we can promote “the only band that mattered” – I’m not speaking of The Clash (one of my favorite bands of

all time), but rather, Milli Vanilli. I’ve joked about this in prior “April Fool’s” columns in the past, but this month, I’m going to ask (and answer) two very simple questions that I receive from new and frequent contributors to our publication.

First of all, I’m often asked: “why the review of my CD review hasn’t landed in the pages of the Bluesletter?” My standard reply is that we have far too many CDs that we receive from artists throughout the region and the world, and we have far too few

CD reviewers who contribute short reviews (think 200 to 300 words, tops) on or before the editorial deadline each month. We routinely receive CDs from musicians unsolicited, largely due to the buzz that our society’s involvement has created in this state and in Memphis, and one of my goals this year is to expand our reviewer base from three or four CD reviewers to 10. I’m grateful to Malcolm “Yard Dog” Kennedy’s contributions, as I am to Rick Bowen, but if any Washington Blues Society member wants to contribute CD reviews, I have CDs for review.

Secondly, many photographers ask me: “why aren’t my pictures in the Bluesletter?” My standard reply to that is simple: I’ve asked contributors in these pages to save photos at 300 dots per inch high resolution in .png, .eps, or press-quality .pdf formats with specific identification in the file name that is sent to us: the name of the subject of the photograph and the photographer’s name each are essential, but far too many potential contributors just send the camera-generated number like “DCS12345.jpg.” Please, in the future: identify your subjects, give the photographer some credit: we want to run more photos than less in our pages. We also do not yet have a process to receive CDs or DVDs of photos: for now, please just send them as attachments to me and Jesse Phillips.

If we can recruit for CD reviewers and photographers, this will expand the opportunity to Washington Blues Society members to get further involved in our blues society. Sure, some of the CDs may not rise to the top of any listener’s list, or a photo just might be out-of-focus, but Jesse Phillips and I will work with new contributors to help expand our pool of writers and photographers. Thank you again for celebrating the blues with the Washington Blues Society.

Eric SteinerPresident, Washington Blues Society

Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

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Washington Blues SocietyProud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation

2013 OfficersPresident Eric Steiner president@wablues.orgVice President Tony Frederickson vicepres@wablues.orgSecretary Mary McPage. secretary@wablues.orgTreasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer treasurer@wablues.orgEditor Jesse Phillips editor@wablues.org

2013 DirectorsMusic Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage music@wablues.orgMembership Michelle Burge membership@wablues.orgEducation Roy Brown education@wablues.orgVolunteers Rhea Rolfe volunteers@wablues.orgMerchandise Tony Frederickson merchandise@wablues.orgAdvertising Malcolm Kennedy advertising@wablues.org

2013 Street TeamDowntown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.netWest Seattle Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.comNorth Sound Malcolm Kennedy & Joy Kelly advertising@wablues.orgNorthern WA Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.comPenninsula Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.netSouth Sound Smoke smkdrms@aol.comCentral WA Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.comEastern WA Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.comBallard Marcia JacksonLopez Island Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.comMiddle East “Rock Khan” rocknafghanistan@gmail.comEastside Liz Caraway lizcares@juno.com

Special ThanksWebmaster The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.orgWeb Hosting Adhost www.adhost.comWBS Logo Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.comCalendar Maridel Fliss calendar@wablues.org

May 2013 DEADLINES:Advertising Space Reservations: April 5thmalcarken@comcast.net

Calendar: April 10th calendar@wablues.org

Editorial Submissions: April 5th - editor@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: April 12th - editor@wablues.orgCamera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Advertising Rates:Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPGText: Plain .txt or WordFull Page: $260 (8.5” x 11”)Half Page: $150 (8.5” x 5.5”)Back Half Page: $200 (8.5” x 5.5”)Quarter Page: $90 (4.25” x 5.5”)Fifth Page: $65 (4.25” x 3.5”)Business Card: $25 (3.5” x 2”)ADD COLOR: ADD 25%

We’ve Got Discounts!20% off- 12 month pre-payment15% off- 6 month pre-payment10% off- 3 month pre-paymentContact: advertising@wablues.org

We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to advertising@wablues.org with a

copy to Malcolm “Yard Dog” Kennedy at malcarken@comcast.net

THANK YOU FOR READING THE BLUESLETTER AND SUPPORTING LIVE

BLUES IN THE EVERGREEN STATE!

ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS: WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE BLUESLETTER?

GOT A BLUES CD FOR US?

Need help in getting the word about your music? We’d like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, we’d like to encourage musicians to consider the Washington Blues Society a resource.

If you would like your CD reviewed by one of our reviewers, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues Bash) to the following address:

Washington Blues SocietyATTN: CD Reviews

PO Box 70604Seattle, WA 98027

Ad Rates Change-Effective in the July 2013 issue

Due to increased costs in both publishing and postal rates the Bluesletter needs to increase our advertising rates. This is the first increase we have implemented since February 2007 and our costs have gone up several times since then. You can take advantage of our current rates with a discounted pre-paid long term ad commitment. We are willing to negotiate payment terms for long term ads. Please contact me at advertising@wablues.org if you have any questions.

Though the skies may be gray…great music will brighten your day! This is an all age event !!

South Sound Blues Association members felt that after enduring the seemingly endless overcast days of winter, a lot of usually chipper people were suffering from a bad case of the gray sky blues. So, they created the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival as a fun way to welcome spring and the brighter days ahead. Please join us on Saturday, April 13, 2013 in downtown Tacoma for the Sixth Annual Gray Sky Blues Music Festival. The best way to start shaking off those gray sky blues is find a good spot along Pacific Avenue between 10th and 21st Streets before 10:30AM and enjoy the annual Grand Floral Daffodil Parade. The floats can be previewed between South 7th and 10th on Pacific Avenue before the parade starts.

After the parade, the thing to do is head to the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival venues for lunch, a favorite beverage, and some great music! Festival admission is free (except for headliner, see below) so it is easy to sample the great food and beverages available or do some shopping at the retail stores downtown. The event’s live music venues include The Harmon Brewery, The Swiss Restaurant & Pub and Cutters Point Coffee. Included in the festivities is a Rod and Custom Car Show, sponsored by The Harmon Brewery. Over 100 custom rods will be located in front of the Harmon as well as across the street.

Over 12 acts will entertain throughout the day at the three downtown venues. The headliner for the festival this year is Franco Paletta and the Stingers from Portland, Oregon. Franco’s group represented the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January, and they are a Chicago Style Blues Band that makes you want to get up out of your seat and dance the night away. Franco’s unique vocals and dynamic harp, along with the best players on the local scene and beyond make this a “must see” blues act. Franco and the Stingers take the stage at six o’clock.

Festival organizers are always searching for

young blues talent from around the country. This year the South Sound Blues Association is sponsoring a young group from Los Angeles, California: The Chase Walker Band. The Chase Walker Band was selected to represent the Los Angeles Blues Society at the 2013 International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, and this past February, they opened for BB King in Anaheim. They will take the stage at The Harmon Brewery, 2:30 PM. After the day’s events are over, there is an after-party at Stonegate Pizza in South Tacoma, starting at 8:30 PM, with live blues upstairs, and an all-ages jam, downstairs. Appearances will be made from headliners and other musicians who performed throughout the day

GRAy SKy BLuES FESTIVAL APRIL 13Th

The Swiss Pub (1904 S Jefferson)1:00 - 2:00 PM Paul Green and Straight Shot 2:30 - 3:30 PM Maia Santell and House Blend 4:00 - 5:30 PM Nolan Garrett 6:00 - 7:30 PM Franco Paletta and the Stingers The harmon Brewery (1938 Pacific Ave.)10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Harmon Rod and Custom Car ShowNOON - 1:00 PM Mary McPage and the Assassins1:30 - 2:30 PM The Chase Walker Band3:00 - 4:00 Pm The Crazy Texas Gypsies4:15 - 5:30 PM Alice Stuart & the Formerlys Cutters Point Coffee (1936 Pacific Ave.) 12:30 –2:30 PM Malcolm Clark 2:30 –4:30 PM Alyx Phippen

Stonegate Pizza (5421 So. Tacoma Way)“After Festival Party”

8:30 PM – Midnight Blues Redemption (upstairs in the Loft)

(2013 Semi-Finalist International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN)8:30 – 11:30 PM All Ages Jam hosted by Jumpin’ Josh Violette (downstairs)

Festival Preview:Gray Skies Blues Music Festival

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Pocket Full of SoulA special one-day screening of the documentary Pocket Full of Soul was held nationwide on Thursday, February 28th, and Seattle was one of 14 lucky cities participating. Washington Blues Society Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipients Michelle and Tim Burge stepped up to the plate to line things up and get the word out to our membership. For the screening to take place 65 tickets had to be pre sold by February 21st, and I’m pleased that not only did our membership responded quickly to lock in the screening with the required advance sales, but also the screening sold out two weeks before the deadline. Seattle was the first of only two cities to do so, shortly followed by Austin.

We settled into our comfortable seats and the steep angle of the theater seating provided perfect sightlines even for those seated behind a tall person. Michelle greeted us and thanked us all for coming out, and Tim read us some notes from the producers. The lights dimmed, and the movie started with the unmistakable sound of Magic Dick performing “Whammer Jammer.”

Pocket Full of Soul is not a two hour movie of live harmonica performance clips; it is much, much more than that. The editing was superlative as the film interjected scenes from days gone by: a train going down a lonesome track or a mule team plowing a field; pearls of wisdom, humor or informative insights from

world renowned harmonica players from many genres, and some live clips, too. There were several quick screen shots showing harmonica references from daily life including comic strips and even a funny scene from an old episode of the Twilight Zone.

The film explored the history of the instrument, how they are made, and how they became so common.

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln played the harmonica?

There was footage of non-blues performers like Larry Adler, Howard Levy, The Harmonicats, the Harmonica Rascals, and even a harmonica band from Taiwan. The film included information on diatonic and chromatic harps that are familiar to blues fans, but also bass and chord harmonicas. For more details, I highly recommend Kim Field’s book Harmonicas, Harps & Heavy Breathers.

There is plenty of footage of blues harp legends like Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee Williamson,) Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck Rice Miller,) James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, and more. There were also bits on younger contemporary artists like John Popper, Jason Ricci, and Dennis Gruenling, as well as long established players like Jerry Portnoy, Billy Branch, Lee Oskar, Joe Filisko, Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, and the late Gary Primich. The

information was interspersed with musical pieces and presented in such a way that would keep the interest level high even for non-harp playing viewers.

I especially liked how some of the harp players talked about their instrument: “You can make it speak, talk, cry, growl”(Jerry Portnoy), “It’s like a band in the hand” (Magic Dick), and You gotta get ugly with it!” (Rick Estrin).

I thoroughly enjoyed Pocket Full of Soul and I am certain the others in attendance did as well since almost everyone stayed until the end of the credits listening and watching for one last note or one final quip.

In the closing moments, John Popper is talking on his cell phone to a friend. His friend asks“What do you call someone hanging around with a bunch of musicians? A: A harp player!”

We all chuckled, and filed out more than satisfied.

I also heard a sentiment as we left the theatre that “I would buy this on DVD to watch again.” Although there are no immediate plans to release the movie on DVD, the producer informs me that it will probably happen eventually, we can only hope it is sooner than later.

I wi l l keep Bluesletter readers posted. For additional information go to www.pocketfullofsoulmovie.com.

Movie ReviewArticle by Malcolm Kennedy, Photos by Tim and Michelle Burge

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Internationally renowned Canadian Blues Artist from Coast-to-Coast were honoured by their peers at the 16th Annual Maple Blues Awards gala in Toronto on January 21, 2013 as a sold out crowd of blues lovers gathered to celebrate Canadian blues at Koerner Hall.

Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk and its members took home three awards, including, Electric Act of the Year, Harmonic Player of the Year (Steve Marriner) and Drummer of the Year (Matt Sobb). Hamilton guitar slinger Steve Strongman also received three awards including Songwriter of the Year, Recording of the Year for his recent release “A Natural Fact” and Guitar Player of the Year. Now based in Toronto, Saskatoon native Suzie Vinnick won awards for Acoustic Act of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.

Nova Scotia’s Matt Minglewood was honoured with the Blues With a Feeling (Lifetime Achievement Award). Minglewood’s extensive career as a blues performer, spanning nearly four decades, makes him widely considered to be a Canadian music icon. John Valenteyn, a founding member and tireless volunteer of the Toronto Blues Society received the Blues Booster of the Year award, a very special Maple Blues Award honouring outstanding contribution to the Canadian blues music industry, presented by internationally recognized blues artist and Maple Blues Award winner Shakura S’aida and former Toronto Blues society vice president, “Blues Doctor” Julie Hill. Mrs. Laureen Harper wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, alongside blues guitarist Jack de Keyzer, presented the awards for Harmonica Player of the Year to Steve Marriner and Horn Player of the Year to Jon Wong.

Hosted by Raoul Bhaneja, a Toronto actor and musician most noted for his work performing Shakespeare’s Hamlet solo and his blues band Raoul and the Big Time, the Maple Blues Awards included outstanding performances from Maple Blues Award nominees past and present, including Matt Minglewood, Nanette Workman, Carlos del Junco, Harrison Kennedy, Suzie Vinnick, Steve Strongman and The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, all backed by gala house band, The Maple Blues Band.

Winners of the 16th Annual Maple Blues AwardsEntertainer of the Year: Colin James

Electric Act of the Year: MonkeyJunk

Acoustic Act of the Year: Suzie Vinnick

Male Vocalist of the Year: Matt Anderson

Female Vocalist of the Year: Suzie Vinnick.

New Artist or Group of the Year: Steve Kozak

Recording of the Year: “A Natural Fact” Steve Strongman, Producer Rob Szabo

Blues With a Feeling (Lifetime Achievement): Matt Minglewood

BB King International Artist of the Year: Tedeschi Trucks Band

Guitar Player of the Year: Steve Strongman

Harmonica Player of the Year: Steve Marriner

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year: David VestHorn Player of the Year: Jon Wong

Drummer of the Year: Matt Sobb

Bassist of the Year: Gary Kendall

Songwriter of the Year: Steve Strongman

Blues Booster of the Year: John Valenteyn

Annual Maple Blues Awards Winners16th

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Members of Hometown Blues Band were Billy Barner (drums and vocals), Doug Skoog (Keboards, blues harp and vocals), Bill – B.J.- Krett (lead and rhythm guitar, Curt Southworth (tenor, alto sax and flute), Thom DeRosa (bass guitar and vocals), Bud Brown (trumpet, Flugal horn, flute and vovals) and Terry Gunter (bass sax and vocals) Recapping the first and second installments:

It’s Spring 1972. The South is still in the throes of civil unrest. After driving overnight (500 miles) straight through from the gig we did last night in Shreveport Louisiana, we members of the Tacoma/Seattle based Hometown Blues Band have arrived in Birmingham Alabama. It’s just past day break and already over 100 degrees. The citizens of Birmingham that we have encountered so far have been unfriendly to downright hostile. In town now for little more than an hour, we have already:

- Gotten a warning from a colored woman to get out of town if we know what’s good for us.- Been banished to the “Colored Only” section of a restaurant by a bigoted, white “Soul Food Nazi” who refused us service. - Avoided a potential brawl with some intoxicated colored guys in the alley behind the Showboat.- Been rudely turned away from a motel and a hotel where we had made a reservation.-We are feeling very un-welcome and conspicuous. We are tired, hungry, dehydrated and want to clean up after or long trip. We have located a restaurant the appears to be safe and not segregated only to come to the realization that we have walked into more trouble than any of us has bargained for. The kind of trouble we might not live to tell about. This last part of the story continues from discovery of the rib house........

Finally, on the outskirts of town we spot a little rib joint. There are no “White Only - Colored Only” signs, just one screen door at the entrance. This looks promising! We park in the dirt parking lot, naively oblivious to the fact that all the other vehicles parked there are pick up trucks and they all have shotguns mounted inside the rear windows.

Road weary, tired, wearing wrinkled clothes we’ve slept in, crammed around and on top of our equipment and not able to clean up anywhere, we definitely don’t look our best. We, once again, disembark and head toward the restaurant together in hopes that we may experience some semblance of “normalcy” on the other side of that screen door.

The spring in the screen door squeaks as we open it and enter the restaurant. Three or four of the tables have two to four men sitting at them. One of the empty tables is a large one just inside the door. All the men inside are white farmer types. About half of us have come through the door and none of the seated regulars have paid us any mind.

Suddenly the kitchen door swings open as a white waitress hurriedly steps though carrying a large tray piled with silverware and dishes. Glancing our way, with an expression of horror she stops dead in her tracks, throwing both hand up, she drops the tray. Silverware, dishes and the tray crash loudly to the floor.

“Oh, my Gawd!,” she exclaims in unison with the crash. As the last unbroken dish spins to a stop on the floor you could hear the men’s denim clad butts squeak on the plastic seat cushions of their chairs as they turn, curiously, to see what was cause of the commotion.

“Stop right theah,” says the waitress in an agitated, almost panicky voice. Pointing at the large table

just inside the door, she barks the next command. “Y’all just sit right thay-uh that thay-uh table. Don’t y’all come in he-ah any futhur! I can smell y’alI from he-ah. I’ll bring y’all catfish and greens. Y’all eat fast, leave three dollars each on the table, and leave on outta he-ah.”

The “good ol’ boys” glare at us with disgust as, one by one, the rest of the seven of us filter through the door. The prolonged squeal and a final slam of that screen door gives us a hopeless feeling... similar to that of an incarcerated first offender hearing the prison door slam shut behind him, while hardened criminals inside salivate at the sight of fresh meat (him). We feel like we’re the main coarse on an all you can eat Hippie Smorgasbord at Redneck Convention. With the melodramatic demonstration performed by the waitress and the hateful, snarling expressions on the faces of the redneck regulars, we know this is no safe house.

Hell, no.

This is the lions’ den.

After moving a few extra chairs to the table we all sit down. Once seated, the silence in the room is unnerving. The first thing to break the silence is the amplified sound in my ears of the blood coursing through my veins. I can feel my heart trying to leap out of my chest. This is truly a fight or flight moment and I, for one, feel like bolting for the door and getting the hell out of here. Understand, the guys in Hometown Blues Band are no push-over’s. We don’t go looking for trouble, but when trouble comes looking for us, we don‘t back down. We handle ourselves pretty damned good when we need to and have had to kick some butts in the past. I remember a time, in Bozeman Montana, when Skoog reached over the bar and dropped a bartender like sack of laundry with

Birmingham Buzz Kill(or I Hate To Eat And Run….For My Life! )

By Billy “The Pocket” Barner (All rights reserved)

Part Three (Conclusion)

(An excerpt from the book Real Road Stories Of A Blues Musician, work in

progress from Billy “The Pocket” Barner)

one punch for unfairly firing us. And another time when a drunk bartender broke a cue stick over my head while I was shooting pool and the whole band was on him like swarm of killer bees. But that’s another story. This situation was much more convoluted. This was, seemingly, us against the City of Birmingham and the State of Alabama. The rednecks denim squeaks in their chairs again as they turn back around, saying not a word, but looking at each other cunningly as they began eating again. We’re thinking maybe this silence is a good sign. Maybe they are just going to ignore us. We start to make conversation with each other and try to act and appear composed. We are speaking to each other sort of under our breath, though, because it was so eerily quiet in there. It is uncomfortable because we know that the conversation was flowing freely in there before our intrusion. Without looking up from their plates, the rednecks finally break their silence when one of them says “ My shotgun’s in my truck. I think shootn’em is the best thing’.” We look at each other with expressions of inquisitive horror. Are they talking about us?

We start talking a little louder and trying to make more conversation and trying to act natural.

Just then, the kitchen door blasts open again and the waitress and the cook emerge with our meals. The waitress puts two or three meals on the counter and the cook brings the ones he’s carrying to our table. He then goes to the counter and returns with the meals that the waitress did not want to bring. We thank the cook and ask him for some waters. He brings the waters and briskly retreats to the kitchen without saying a word. We begin eating and re-hydrating ourselves with the water. The eerie silence returns as we eat our catfish and greens. Suddenly the silence is broken once again.

“Naw! Shootin’ em’s too fast….too messy! I’ve got enough rope in my truck for all of em’. I say we take em out and hang em’. Slow and neat”! says a second redneck.

“Sounds good to me. Let‘s do it!!” says a third guy. Now we know they are talking about us. And they aren’t just talking about us! They’re talking about killing us! We finish consuming our food as fast as we can, using only our eyes to communicate with each other. We slowly put our money on the table and

with a nod for a cue we all stand up and start walking toward the door. At this moment our worst fears become stark reality. All the “Rednecks” get up at the same time and head toward us. We break into a dead run for our vans and the rednecks break into a dead run hot on our heels. Diving into our vans, we peel out of the parking lot of the rib joint and make a beeline for the Showboat. We’re hoping and praying that someone will be there when we get there. We’re hauling ass! Skoog is driving the Travelall with the pedal to the metal. BJ’s right on our tail in the Econoline van with four pick up trucks full of armed, pissed off rednecks in hot pursuit ! We know we are literally running for our lives! I don’t know how Skoog manages to remember the route back to the club, but thank God he does. We turn onto the dirt river road in a two wheel drift. We’re still a couple miles from the club, sliding and fishtailing and throwing up clouds of red dust from the road. We have to be doing 80 miles an hour in those two relic vans with the rednecks breathin’ down our necks the whole way. Driving through that huge, billowing, blinding dust cloud, made by the speeding Travelall and the river right next to the road, it’s a wonder how BJ or the rednecks keep up the pace without ending up in the river or rolling over. We see the Showboat venue dead ahead. We roar into the back lot screeching to a stop on the blacktop. Even before our vans stop moving, we’re piling out like rats out of a sinking ship and running for the load-in door. The rednecks screech to a stop right behind us and are making there way toward us with murder in their eyes. Some of us are pounding on the load-in doors and yelling “Open up! Let us in!: as the rest of us turn and face the rednecks to begin fighting for our lives. Like an explosion, the load-in doors fly open and a big fellow emerges yelling at our pursuers.

“What the hell is going on out he-ah?,” he yells at the top of his lungs.

We instantly run past him into the club. The hefty guy shouts at the rednecks: “Y’all leave these guys alone. These guys are my entahtainment this week. Ah paid good money for ‘em, just get back in ya’ll’s trucks and get the hell outta he-ah before ah call the po-leece!”

The gallant hero, who has just rescued us from sure death, disfigurement or potential arrest and jail time at the hands of Governor Wallace’s Militia (for defending ourselves), is the owner of the Showboat. With a huge feeling of relief and gratitude we thank him profusely. After explaining our plight and calming down with some cold beverages, we unload, set up, do our sound check…. and finally find out where the hell that musicians’ motel is. I have since forgotten the name of the motel. I just remember it was really funky. There was no air conditioning and the cold water was not cold. It was hot. There was no relief from the relentless Birmingham heat and humidity. Once at the motel we met another really great band that was also staying there called Mothers Finest from Atlanta. Our stay at that motel is another story all it’s own. Our gig at the Showboat was cut short. The Showboat owner had heard repeated rumors that the rednecks weren’t giving up on getting us. This was not an isolated event in Birmingham and the owner was taking those rumors very seriously and suggested we take them seriously, too. He paid us for in full for the gig even though we had only done one show. We left Birmingham secretively in the dead of night with the owner’s blessing. As usual, RB Greaves went on ahead of us. We had lots of time to kill before going on to our next show in Fort Worth, Texas, so we drove to Atlanta, hung out with Mothers Finest and caught one their shows. WOW! Talk about a GREAT BAND! And that is yet another story.

R.B. Greaves passed away September 27, 2012. He was 68.

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before while Mia concentrated on delivering inspired vocals backed up by a great guitarist. Other times they sang in astounding harmony. I loved hearing Mia sing “In The Evenin’” and some of her other songs. Kevin sang a couple of his own too, like “Washington Blues” and it had a different flavor doing it with Mia instead of his usual band.

What blew me away though is what they did on a couple songs where it was neither of their own songs but became their own when they did it. One would not have recognized “Saint Louis Blues” or “Everyday I Have the Blues” done in a newly created style that only these two could have created. The cadence was one never used before as far as I know (and that was the result of the mixture of the styles of these two) and the vocal harmony as well as musicianship made it special. It reminded me of a chef show on TV where great chefs are given some ingredients and create something great and original.

After announcements and free CD’s were given to the audience the electric band got on stage and immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Muddy Sons is an explosive band made up of drummer Jeff Hayes, and guitar player/vocalist Madman Sam. Yes he goes by Madman Sam. His wife is an artist named Tiger so you know he has to have some power in his art. The first

It is not often that the electric set at the WBS monthly Blues Bash is a duo. It is not often that the two bands performing at this monthly gathering are two-piece bands. On March 12 though, it happened. The acoustic set was first and two very familiar faces were on stage. Both Mia Vermillion and Kevin Sutton have been on the cover of the Bluesletter before but not as part of the same act. Mia Vermillion was on the cover of the Bluesletter back in December of 2009 and back then she told about her development which brought to life Eddie Cantor’s statement that “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success”. She burst on the scene to get national attention when she released her first CD. She prepared a long time for that moment. Her style is a little like the giants of traditional blues/jazz female vocals. On this night I heard people mention Billie Holiday, and Ma Rainey while listening to her. Kevin Sutton is the front man for The Wired Band and they won first place at the International Blues Challenge a year ago. His style seems to bridge the gap between the 1940’s style one could think of while listening to “Minnie The Moocher” and a rockin’ out blues/rockabilly band his songlist sometimes corresponds to. Before the first notes I wondered how it would work. Would it be like two names drawn out of a hat which could produce a Lawrence Welk trying to do music with Jimi Hendrix and taste like mayonnaise pie or ice cream and tabasco sauce? No, it worked perfectly. Kevin sometimes just concentrated on playing slide guitar as well or better than he ever played it

song began as Sam opened his mouth on stage without the guitar in hand and Jeff not yet on the drums. As he sang the audience clapped in time and cheered at the end. He then opened up guitar artillery that knocked the doors off the building starting with the second song they did. This band mainly does original songs written by Madman Sam and some of their song titles include “I’ll Be Satisfied”, “Girl’s Gonna Miss Me” and a song the guitar makes great that has the title “Stainless Steel Toilet”.

There was one song they did that many are familiar with that was around before they were though: “Rollin’ N Tumblin’” is a blues classic many of the early blues legends did and Canned Heat popularized in the late 60’s, but the rendition Madman Sam did was as powerful as any I have heard in a while.

A band named “Muddy Sons” is sure to have something that came from the era of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. I talked to Sam about

Hubert Sumlin (the guitar wizard for Howlin’ Wolf who a lso played for Muddy Waters at times---they fought over him) saying he sometimes bent

notes to where they need to be instead of tuning his guitar. Sam said he sometimes does the same. We talked a while about that.

Sam is from Portland and Jeff is from Seattle so for each gig at least one of them has to travel. I learned a little about the ways to get back and forth fast and without doing the driving which could be a whole other article.

Muddy Sons

Mia Vermillion

The March 2013 Blues Bashat the Red Crane

By Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

Muddy Sons is an explosive band made up of drummer Jeff hayse, and guitar

player/vocalist Madman Sam.

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Blues Reviews

New Blues that you can Use

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the

Blues you can use.Blues Reviews

4JACKSDeal With It(Eller Soul Records)

The 4JACKS are Anson Funderburgh on guitar, Big Joe Maher on vocals and drums, Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Dynaflows) on piano and Hammond B-3, and Nashville session man extraordinaire Steve Mackey on bass. Kevin produced, recorded and mixed the dozen tracks on Deal With It, nine of which are originals, in his studio The Rock House. From the opening notes of the lively Hammmond B-3 laden opening title instrumental track the stage was for some cool old school R&B and blues. The jazzy mid-tempo of “Have Ourselves a Time” has some tinkling piano and T-Bone style guitar licks, too. The Chicago blues shuffle “Bobcat Woman” simply struts with Anson’s guitar front and center as Big Joe sings ‘I got me a Bobcat Woman, mean as she can be…yes that Bobcat Woman she gonna be the death of me.’ For straight up Texas blues look no further than “Thunder & Lightning” and the instrumental with shades of Freddie King, “Texas Twister” speaks for itself. The slow paced “Bad News Baby” has a subdued; but inspired guitar solo. They finish things off with the funky groove of the Hammond B-3 fueled instrumental “Painkiller.” The 4JACKS’ 2013 release on Elller Soul Records release is tough stuff. So, Deal With It. Recommended. Malcolm Kennedy

On April 20th, 12 venues in historic downtown North Bend will play host to an evening celebrating the musical art form of the blues. The venues span four blocks in charming old-town North Bend, including The Pour House, Pioneer Coffee, Snoqualmie Valley Moose Lodge, Emerald City Smoothie, North Bend Theatre, Twede’s Cafe, Euro Cafe, George’s Bakery, Valley Center Stage, Boxley’s, Chaplin’s, and Scott’s Dairy Freeze. All venues are family-friendly and all ages except the Pour House which is 21 and over.

This event is sponsored by the Boxley Music Fund, a member-run non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting live music performance and education. Only 31 miles from Downtown Seattle, North Bend is becoming a destination featuring live music seven nights a week at Boxley’s, named one of the best jazz rooms in the world by Downbeat Magazine.

One ticket allows you to see music at all the venues. Plan on walking from venue to venue and checking everyone out. Save money and buy your tickets in advance. Adult Tickets $18.00 Advance / $20.00 at the door, Children Tickets (age 14 and younger) $8.00 Advance / $10.00 at the door. Tickets are available at www.northbendblueswalk.com.

Preview:North Bend Blues Walk We are proud to feature great Northwest Blues Artists including T-Town Aces, Blues Redemption, Bryant Urban, Nick Vigarino, Rod Cook, Eric Madis, The Wired Band, Brian Lee Trio, Kim Field, Paul Green, Brian Butler, Chris Stevens Band, Dan O’Bryant, John Stephan Band, James King & the Southsiders, Little Bill and the Blue Notes and many more

North Bend Blues Walk sponsors include the City of North Bend, The Valley Record, Sno Valley Star, Blues To Do, Washington Blues Society, Frankie’s Pizza, Intek Integration Technologies, Birdsong Cottage, Encompass, Hauglie Insurance, PC Bennett Consulting, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, Weaver Financial, Jeff Warren Agency, Singletrack Cycles, Destiny by Design, Roy Spain Salon, Si View Metro Parks, Twin Star Car Wash, Bob Baumann and Friends and the members of the Boxley Music Fund.

The North Bend Blues Walk is supported by the Boxley Music Fund, a recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. The Boxley Music Fund is dependent on ticket sales, membership and sponsorship to fund the Blues Walk, Boxley’s Music performances and educational events. For more information about the Boxley Music Fund visit www.boxleymusicfund.com.

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These days it’s difficult enough to think about a turntable at all, much less to think about one as a piece of furniture. But in the middle decades of the 20th century, vinyl record players had become mammoths. These record players (for that’s essentially what they were, hi-fi or stereo) came in all sorts of styles to match your other furniture, too: Mediterranean, French provincial, Queen Ann, you name it.

Furniture stores sold these primitive behemoths as well as recordings themselves, and it’s through the furniture business that Lillian Shedd McMurry, a former secretary and law student, fell down a rabbit hole and into the land of the blues.

According to her nephew, recording artist John Webb (“Wilder”) McMurry, “My Uncle Willard, Lillian’s husband, and his family weren’t real musical folks. They all had furniture stores. Willard and a furniture store, my dad, Webb, had a furniture store, and my uncle Card had Super Furniture Market in Jackson.”

“Willard’s niche was used furniture stores and he would buy the pre-existing stock out of a bankrupt store and get it going again. So there was some stock in a hardware store Willard had bought on Farish Street that included 78s of black music, what would have been called “race music” at the time. Lillian had a lot of get-up-and-go, had played the piano early in her life and was interested in music. But she knew nothing about blues or secular music.” Lillian selected a record

and put it on the turntable The record she chose was Wynnie “Mr. Blues” Harris’s “All She Wants to Do Is Rock”, and according to an interview with Living Blues magazine in 1986, what she heard changed her life.

“It was the most unusual, sincere and solid sound I’d ever heard,” she said. “I’d never heard anything with such rhythm and freedom.”

“S o L i l l i an ,” Webb cont inue d, “ b e ing enterprising, set the rest of the records out on the counter and they sold like hot cakes. And she began to get more involved.” Lillian acquired more records and began selling them on a full-time basis. She made trips to New Orleans and Memphis to being in more recordings and eventually the couple converted the hardware store into a record/furniture store called Record Mart-Furniture Bargains. The store specialized in blues, gospel and other black music. Between walk-ins and mail order the business began to thrive.

“The Record Mart became a very big mail-order business,” Webb said. “I didn’t know until recently how big a deal that was.” It wasn’t long before Lillian got the idea to record her own material using local talent. Lillian and Willard McMurry became the founders and owners of the Diamond Record Company, which released records on the Trumpet label. “God, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” Lillian said later.

What she was getting into was a pioneering position in the roots music recording industry.

The label’s first releases were gospel recordings by the St. Andrews Gospelaires, a 3-piece jubilee group from the Enoch Grove Baptist Church, and the Southern Sons, who were among the most popular and influential gospel groups performing during the early 50s in the Mississippi Delta.

McMurry made many trips to the Delta to sign up talent, and one trip she signed up a “harp” player who called himself Sonny Boy Williamson. Sonny Boy Had garnered a devoted following through his appearances on “King Biscuit Time” over station WFFA in Helena, Arkansas. McMurry signed Sonny Boy to a contract in December, 1950. She did not learn until years later that his real name was Alex “rice” miller. Miller had appropriated the name of another highly-regarded harmonica playing blues singer because he had once been convicted of stealing a mule from a neighbor. He had whitewashed the mule, which was a sure disguise for the animal until the next inevitable Delta downpour.

With McMurry riding herd on him, Sonny Boy Williamson turned out a strong of blues standards, including “Eyesight to the Blind”, “Nine Below Zero” and “Red Hot Kisses”, written by Lillian herself. Sonny Boy also wrote a tribute to McMurry’s car, which was recorded as “Pontiac Blues”.

Edward Komara, former head of the Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi, said, “The main thing I remember about Lillian McMurry is her toughness, which was a

combination of a low tolerance for bullshit and a lion-taming instinct. This toughness was not something she had to develop while running Trumpet. She may have well had it since birth. She was also born with a pageant-quality beauty, as evidenced by the published photos of her in her 30s, taken during the Trumpet years. But musicians and record industry people alike learned she was much more than a pretty face.”

However she came by it, Lillian McMurry’s toughness became a key asset in the rough-and-tumble world of the independent record business. Sonny Boy Williamson, her biggest star, was hard-drinking, cantankerous and prone to drunken brawling. Williamson also carried a knife and a gun and freely used profane language, but only once around Lillian. Legend has it that when Williamson began cursing in the studio one day, Lillian told him to leave. When he refused, McMurry took his own gun, which she had taken the precaution to relieve him of, marched him outside and sent him on his way. A much-humbled Williamson returned a couple of weeks later, and McMurry took him back in.

According to Webb, McMurry had problems with other artists as well. “She had Elmore James under contract, but Elmore had problems sticking to it. At one point, she got a tip-off and had to go to Canton to bust up a recording session that Elmore had no right to do. There’s actually a tape recording of a telephone conversation between Elmore and Lillian where he’s asking about coming back, and she said, ‘Well, Elmore, would you stand hitched?’ meaning would he honor a contract. But he never followed up on it.” Elmore James’s only Trumpet recording, “Dust My Broom”, became a nation-wide hit and a classic in the blues repertoire.

“She and Willard were visiting with my parents when I was in high school or junior high, and she was sitting there in the front room and I was dashing out the door with a vinyl copy of “Tommy” by The Who. And she said something like, ‘Oh, I thought the rock opera was an abortion,’ or an abomination or something like that. And I left thinking, ‘Well what does she know?’ but later I realized they recorded HER song wrong. She cut the original ‘Eyesight for the Blind’ but they did it in a minor key with a whole different feel and melody.”

But the Trumpet label was short-lived. Even with such brilliant talent stock as Jerry McCain, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and Willie Love, competition with labels having deeper pockets eventually proved to be too much. According

to blues aficionado Dr. Woody Sistrunk, “One of the biggest reasons Trumpet ended was that a large record distributor in Texas went broke. And back then, it was not cash for sale. A lot of business was on credit, especially as records became hits. If a record became a hit, you had to get it to a pressing plant, and no one had a pressing plant except for the big labels. You had to have it pressed, and if you didn’t get paid by your distributors, or one-stops as it were for stocking juke boxes at the time, you simply didn’t have any money to pay them off,” Sistrunk explained.

“At the very end of Trumpet, Sonny Boy Williamson was the largest artist that the label had. His contract was traded to Buster Williams’’ Plastic Products in Memphis as a trade for some of the label’s debts,” Sistrunk said. “Williams then turned over Sonny Boy’s contract to the Chess Brothers with options, who in turn picked up Sonny Boy and ran with him.”

After only five years (1951-56) in the business, this was Trumpet’s last note. “That was it, except for another $50,000 that Lillian and Willard had to absorb, which they did strictly through hard work,” Sistrunk said. “A lot of people don’t realize how important their studio was. Many of the records were cut at the old State Furniture Company at 211 State Street on the corner of State and Pearl. For a long time, they would cut records in the back room on Sunday afternoons with someone else’s equipment. But by 1954, they had a studio at 309 Farish Street where they were cutting a number of things. That was another big expense during 1953-54, and that set them back some as well.”

L i l l i a n M c Mu r r y w a s a s c r u p u l o u s businesswoman, a meticulous bookkeeper, and obsessive when it came to royalties. “For eight years, I maintained her Trumpet papers at the Blues Archive,” Komara said, “and she never let a single detail slip by. She fought hard and successfully for the artists whose financial estates she assisted. She continued until her death to assist her Trumpet recording artists, scoundrels though they sometimes were. She demanded honesty and got honesty and delivery of contracted promises from them during the recording sessions, and in return she made sure they received what was due.”

“She knew about artists’ egos and she protected them, plus she knew about artists’ sufferings and made sure they all got paid,” Sistrunk said.

Vitrice McMurry Rankin, Lillian and Willard’s daughter, said, “Mom was always a strong-willed and pierce person who fought for

what was right, treated the musicians with a great deal of dignity and fought for their rights. She was incredibly cagey, and could deal with copyright lawyers on a level of legal think so that she was able to win most of the suits she brought.”

“She was actually close to graduating from Jackson School of Law when she met my Dad and got married, which seems untypical of her that she wouldn’t have gone ahead and finished school,” Rankin said. “She had that kind of steel clamp of a mind that could handle thousands and thousands of legal ramifications and technicalities and argue to the death. I think some of the settlements she got were just to get her off their backs because she was so utterly relentless in her pursuing of these people who did so much bold-faced thievery.”

“She would tend to sp end $10 ,000 to make$10,000. Who knows ult imately i f financially it was worth it, but ethically it was, because so many people were vindicated.” But McMurry’s upstanding business ethics were often sorely lacking in other recording business personalities of the 50s. And the demise of the Trumpet label may have been in part to unscrupulous machinations on the part of other record labels.”

“Lillian told me that there were some people who wanted to press her out of the business,” Sistrunk said. “And one big label allegedly said, ‘If you stock her labels, we won’t let you stock ours.’ This was a big label, and every jukebox carried this label, and it seemed pretty ugly.”

After McMurry got out of the music business, she still maintained a studio. According to Sistrunk, “’From the Bottom’ and a lot of the later Sonny Boy Williamson songs were recorded there, and she was the one ‘at the knobs’ when Earl King did ‘Those Lonely, Lonely Nights’ for Ace Records. ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woofie Flu’ could very well have been recorded there as well.”

The impact of the Trumpet label on American music has been profound and lasting. “You can’t describe Trumpet’s contribution to music history strictly within a blues niche,” Sistrunk said. “You’d have to describe it in terms of the music of Mississippi that was not being recorded, that being gospel with the Southern Sons Gospel Quartet, that being Lucky Joe Almond, Jimmy Swan and all the other hillbilly artists and that being Sonny Boy Williamson and Willie Love with the blues. Because all of those folded together are basically what made rock-and-roll as we know it. It’s all incredible.”

Lillian McMurray: The Godmother of the Blues

and Trumpet Records

By Jesse Yancy

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Jones Band, 1pm

April 27 - Saturday (continued) Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Two Scoops Combo, 7pm13 Coins, Seattle: AstroCats w/ Brian Lee

April 28 - Sunday

April 29 - Monday88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: New Orleans: New Orleans QuintetSwiss Tavern, Tacoma: Gin Creek, 8pm

April 30 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

May 1 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm

May 2 - ThursdayNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Triple Door: Shemekia Copeland with Charles Mack

May 3 - FridayWhite Center Eagles: Mark Whitman band

May 4 - Saturday

may

April 1 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: Jam Host Symposium #2 w/ Tim Turner, Manuel Morias, Andy Koch

April 2 – TuesdayKent Sr. Center Koffee Klach: Norm Bellas solo piano, 11amKent Sr. Center: Norm Bellas solo piano 12:30pmNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

April 3 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engels Pub: Lone State, 8pmHighway 99 Blues Club, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely with Drummer Boy Jeff Hayes, 8pmMadison Avenue Pub, Everett: Tim Turner Band, 7:30pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmPike Pl. Bar & Grill, John Stephan Band, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice Stuart & A Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pmWaterwheel Lounge, Ballard: Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill & Tom Brighton w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm

April 4 - ThursdayHighway 99: Alice Stuart opens for Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers, 8pmNew Orleans: Ham Carson QuintetSalmon Bay Eagles: John Stephan Band, 8pmTwo Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

April 5 - Friday Amigos Mexican Restaurant, Stanwood: Blues PlaygroundCrossroads, Bellevue, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 7pmEngels Pub: Ravin’ Wolf Elliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm Highway 99: T-Town AcesSapolil Cellars, Walla Walla: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm13 Coins, Seatac: AstroCats w/ Brian Lee, 8:30pmUpstage: Fork in the RoadYuppie Tavern, Kirkland: Tim Turner Band, 8:30pm

April 6 - SaturdayBarrel Tavern, White Center: Norm Bellas Band, 8:30pm

CalendarBlues

April 6 - Saturday (continued)Engels Pub: Guy Johnson Band Ice Harbor Brewery, Kennewick: Stacy J ones Band, 8pmHighway 99: Bump KitchenMadison Ave, Everett: “Bare Cupboards - a benefit for Everett Food bank”. AcousticKattz, Ryan LaPlante, Unbound w/ Joe Misiuda, Mary McPage & the Acoustic Assasins, Richard Allen and Kevin Sutton, Scott Drexler. 1pm Raging River, Fall City: TubeKings, 8:30pmRockfish Grill, Anacortes: Brian Lee & the OrbitersRumor Mill, Friday Harbor: Blues on TapSnoqualmie Brewery: Brian Butler & Paul Green, 7pmUpstage: Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers

April 7 - Sunday Jazz Vespers at Seattle First Baptist Church: Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton, James Middlefield w/ guitarist Bill Chism, 6pmSpar, Tacoma, Alice Stuart &the Formerlys, 7pm

April 8 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

April 9 - TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmWBS Blues Bash, Club Hollywood: Stacy Jones band, 7pm Blues Bash at the Red Crane: Stacy Jones Band-Acoustic and Jeff Menteer Band-Electric 7pm

April 10 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pmEngels Pub: Nick Vigarino Meantown Blues, 8pm Highway 99: Louisiana House PartyNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmRockfish Grill: Stilly River bandRoyal Lounge, Olympia: Alice Stuart & A Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pm

April 11 - ThursdayHighway 99: James King & the SouthsidersNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles, Ballard: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm, followed by Eric Madis, 10pm Upstage: Alice Stuart

April 12 - Friday Engels Pub: Dirty Rice Highway 99: Nearly Dan Match Coffee & Wine, Duvall: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7:30pm Museum of Flight: “Yuri’s Night” Two Scoops Combo, 7pmNorms Place, Everett: Moon Daddy BandPorthole Pub Bar & Grill, Ocean Shores: Tim Turner Band, 8pmRepp, Snohomish: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 6:30pm

April 13 - Saturday Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds: Moon Daddy BandEngels Pub: AstrocatsHarmon Brewery/Gray Sky Festival, Tacoma: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 4pmHighway 99: Missionary PostionNeptune Theater: Keller WilliamsPorthole Pub Bar & Grill, Ocean Shores: Tim Turner Band, 8pmRockfish Grill, Anacortes: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the FugitivesRoyal Lounge, Olympia: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (Bakin’ Phat opens) Scotch & Vine, Brian Lee Trio, 8pmUpstage: the New Iberians Zydeco band

April 14 - Sunday

April 15 - Monday88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: Mr. Villa, Lake City/Seattle: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7pm

April 16 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Sugar BlueNew Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

April 17 - WednesdayBlue Martini, Bellevue: Stacy Jones Band, 7pm Engels Pub: Band, Blutopia Band, 8pmHighway 99: Dirty RiceJazz Alley: Sugar BlueNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice Stuart & A Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pm

April 18 - Thursday Highway 99: Hot Rod Holman Blues BandNew Orleans: Selbred/Jackson

Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

April 19 - FridayElliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm Engels Pub, Edmonds: 44th st. Blues BandHighway 99: Wylie & the Wild West / Mashall Scott WarnerNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Upstage: Mark GrahamYuppie Tavern, Kirkland: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 8:30pm

April 20 - Saturday Carpenter Creek Winery, Mt. Vernon: Annie Eastwood &Kimball Conant w/host Dan Duggin, 6pm Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman band, 12noonEngels Pub: Tweety & the Tom Cats EuroCafe (Northbend Blues Walk), Northbend: Eric Madis (acoustic), 7pmNorth Bend Blues Walk, John Stephan Band, 8pm… Brian Butler & Paul Green, Valley Center Stage / Blues Walk,North Bend: Brian Lee Trio

April 21 - SundayCentral Club, Kirkland: John Stephan Band, 8:30 pmTriple Door: Bobby ‘Blue” Bland, 7:30pm

April 22 - Monday 88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: Triple Door: Bobby ‘Blue” Bland, 7:30pm

April 23 - TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmTriple Door: Shuggie Otis, 7pm

April 24 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engles Pub: Tim Turner Band, 8pmHighway 99: Little Ray & the Uppercuts

Engels Pub: Tim Turner band

April 24 - Wednesday (continued) Madison Pub, Everett: Annieville & Brian Butler, 7:30pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmPike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia, Alice Stuart & A Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pmTriple Door: Shuggie Otis, 7pmTrail’s End, Oregon City, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys

April 25 - ThursdayDusty Strings, Seattle: Lunchtime Concert w/Eric Madis (acoustic), 12pmHighway 99: Monster RoadNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet

April 26 - FridayEngels Pub, Edmonds: Moon Daddy Band Highway 99: Left Hand SmokeJazzbones, Tacoma: Slide Show w/Kenny Williams, Brian Lee, Billy Stapleton & Blues Redemption, 7pmLaurelthirst, Portland: Alice Stuart solo, 6pm New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Slider’s, Carnation: Eric Madis & Blue Madness, 7:30pm Top Shelf Broiler, Kirkland: Stacy Jones BandWhite Center Eagles: Kid Quagmire Band - Phil Lane, Kimball Conant, John Rockwell & Annie Eastwood, 8pm

April 27 - SaturdayEngels Pub: Highway 9Highway 99: Hot Wired Rhythm bandProhibition Gastropub, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pmRockfish Grill, Anacortes: Stacy Jones Band Sound Harley Davidson, Smokey Point: Stacy

attention all music people:

If you would like to add your music schedule to our calendar please send it to: wbscalendar@yahoo.com It is greatly preferred to be sent in this format: (Arial, 8pt). date - venue, city(if other than Seattle): band name, time(if other than 9pm) please no bold or Caps. Thank you, your calendar girl, Maridel

Mia Vermillion: Singin’ the Blues by Eric Steiner, Photo by Kathy Sorger

I first discovered Mia Vermillion in the Spring of 2009 when she played with Orville Johnson at a Sunday afternoon concert at the Jazz at the Library Series at the Anacortes Public Library. The place was packed with music fans of all ages. I’ve often considered public libraries as under-utilized resources by blues musicians, and when artists like Son Jack, Jr., and Michael Wilde brought their blues storytelling to the Kirkland Library, I knew that Mia, Son Jack, Jr., and Michael were onto something. Yes, I know that an afternoon gig in a public library may be new for some performers, but I think it’s an opportunity to reach a new audience, and depending on the library’s policies, an opportunity to sell CDs and talk about upcoming

shows in bars and clubs. That Sunday in Anacortes, Mia sang a number of songs from her excellent Alone Together With the Blues CD, and I especially remember “I’m Going to Copyright Your Kisses” and “In the Dark.” Orville and Mia went on to win our International Blues Challenge, and they were set to go to Beale Street. Sadly, a health issue prevented Mia and from playing in the international competition. Since then, her health has bounced back, and she’s played a number of venues like Jazz Alley, the Lakeside Bistro, Bake’s Place, the Bite of Seattle, Jazzbones, and the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club. In this month’s issue, Robert Horn recaps her work with Kevin Sutton at last month’s Washington Blues Society Blues Bash at the Red

Crane in Shoreline. This month, Mia sings solo at La Conner’s Washington Sips on the 13th, and returns with Kevin Sutton at the Yuppie Tavern’s Singer Songwriter Showcase on the 25th. Keep up with Mia Vermillion online at www.miavermillion.com as she adds new shows and news updates frequently.

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SundaysAlki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel MoraisDawson’s, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmCastle’s, Sedro Wolley: Gary B’s Church of the Blues, 6-10pmEastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pmPony Keg, Kent: Rafael Tranquilino JamRaging River: Tommy WallSilver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

TuesdaysBarrel Tavern: hosted by Doug McGrew, 8pmDawson’s, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pmElmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew April 16 - Alice StuartEngels Pub, Edmonds: Jam Session with Lou & Don, 8pmJ & M Cafe Jam:Pacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pmSnohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friendsSummit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pmWild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

MondaysCaffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month)88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pmJR’s Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pmOpal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pmOxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 - 11pmTen Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee

MondayKUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AMwww.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson

KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: “Blues On Rye” 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn

Mighty Mouth Blues on NWCZ Radio - www.nwczradio.com - Monday 8:00-11:00PM Pacific

Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samson’s BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

TuesdayKBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AMwww.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte’

WednesdayKEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon / KSVU 91.9FM Hamilton - “The Blues Note with Janice” 8:00PM - 10:00PM ww.ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Cleven Gage

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon / KSVU 91.9FM Hamilton - “Lester’s Blues Tour” 10:00PM -Midnight www.ksvr.org - DJ, Les Anderson

ThursdayKSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancy’s Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan

FridayKEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

SaturdayKPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM

www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler

KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: “Blues For Breakfast” 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K

KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund

KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Blues Odessey 9:00PM - 11:00pM www.kser.org - DJ, Leslie Fleury

SundayKEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn

Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon

KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, Patrick Henry and Jumpin’ Jerry.

KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler

KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcw.net - DJ, “Biggdaddy” Ray Hansen and

Armand “The Doctor” Parada

KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster.

KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe

Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Washington Blues Society Blues Jams

Central & Eastern BBQ & Blues – Clarkston (509) 758-1227Breadline Café – Omak (509) 826-5836Club Crow – Cashmere (509) 782-3001 CrossRoads Steakhouse – Walla Walla (509) 522-1200Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Lakey’s Grill – Pullman (509) 332-6622Main Street Tavern – Omak (509) 826-2247Peters Inn – Packwood (360) 494-4000Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434Ram’s Ripple – Moses Lake (509) 765-3942Rattlesnake Brewery – Richland (509) 783-5747Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge – Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

SeattleBlarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777Fiddler’s Inn (206) 525-0752Grinder’s (206) 542-0627Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660New Orleans (206) 622-2563Paragon (206) 283-4548Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791St. Clouds (206) 726-1522Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599Triple Door (206) 838-4333

North End (Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):Anchor Pub – Everett (425) 252-2288Balefire – Everett (425) 374-7248Bubba’s Roadhouse – Sultan, (360) 793-3950Canoes Cabaret – Tulalip (888) 272-1111The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse – Mukilteo (425) 355-4488Engel’s Pub – Edmonds (425) 778-2900Historic Spar Tree – Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402Mardini’s – Snohomish (360) 568-8080Mirkwood & Shire Café – Arlington (360) 403-9020North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 (Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon – Stanwood (360) 629-2888Stewart’s – Snohomish (360) 568-4684Timberline Café – Granite Falls (360) 691-7011Tracey’s Place – Everett (425) 259-0811Wicked Rack BBQ – Everett (425) 334-3800

South Sound Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etcAl Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-86362 Wheel Blues Club – TacomaBarnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000The Barrel – Burien (206) 246-5488CC’s Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society – (360) 754-3635Cascade Tavern – Vancouver (360) 254-0749Charlie’s – Olympia (360) 786-8181Cliff House Restaurant – Tacoma (253) 927-0400Destination Harley Davidson – Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169(The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586Lighthouse – Des Moines (206) 824-4863Maggie O’Toole’s – Lakewood (253) 584-3278Magnolia Café – Poulsbo (360) 697-1447Mint Alehouse – Enumclaw (360) 825-8361Pat’s Bar & Grill – Kent (253) 852-7287rrPick & Shovel – Wilkeson (360) 829-6574The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369Silver Dollar Pub – Spanaway (253) 531-4469The Spar – Tacoma (253) 627-8215The Swiss – Tacoma (253) 572-2821Tugboat Annie’s – Olympia (360) 943-1850Uncle Sam’s Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808Wurlitzer Manor – Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

North Sound Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etcChina Beach – Langley (360) 530-8888Just Moe’s – Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997LaConner Tavern – LaConner (360) 466-9932Little Roadside Tavern – Everson (360) 592-5107Old Edison Inn – Edison (360) 766-6266Rockfish Grill – Anacortes (360) 588-1720Stump Bar & Grill – Arlington (360) 653-6774Watertown Pub – Anacortes (360) 293-3587Wild Buffalo – Bellingham (360) 312-3684Viking Bar and Grill – Stanwood (360) 629-9285

Eastside Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.Bake’s Place - Bellevue (425) 454-2776Central Club – Kirkland (425) 827-8808Crossroads Shopping Center – Bellevue (425) 644-1111Damans Pub – RedmondForecasters – Woodinville (425) 483-3212Raging River Café & Club – Fall City (425) 222-6669Rockin’M BBQ, Golf Range & Lounge - Everett (425.438.2843)Time Out Sports Bar – Kirkland (425) 822-8511Top Shelf Broiler & Tervelli Lounge - Kirkland (206) 239-8431Vino Bella – Issaquah (425) 391-1424Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334Wilde Rover – Kirkland (425) 822-8940Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336Yuppie Tavern - Kirkland (425) 814-5200

Peninsula Clearwater Casino – Suquamish (360) 598-6889Destiny Seafood & Grill – Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon – Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456Junction Tavern – Port Angeles (360) 452-9880Little Creek Casino – Shelton (360) 427-7711Seven Cedars Casino – Sequim (360) 683-7777Siren’s – Port Townsend (360) 379-1100Upstage – Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

WednesdaysCharlies Olympia: Blues AttitudeDaman’s Pub, 8 PMDogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pmEddie’s Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pm88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Blues on Tap, 8pmHalf Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy BarnerLocker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pmMadison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30pm April 3 - Tim Turner April 10 - James Howard April 17 - Mikel Rollins April 24 - Annieville Blues & Brian ButlerSalmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

ThursdaysBad Alberts: Invitational w/Annieville BluesBarrel Tavern: hosted by Tim Turner, 8pmClub Flight Nightclub: w/Cory Wilde, 9pmConway PubDawson’s, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pmEddie’s Trackside, Monroe: Tommy Cook, Patrick McDanel & Teri Anne Wilson, 8:30pmO’Callahan’s: Tim Hall, 7pmTop Shelf (formerly Olive You), Kirkland: hosted by Chester Dennis, 8pmOxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm

Washington Blues Society

Venue Guide

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Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience / Richard Allen’s AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413Author Unknown (206) 355-5952Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464Bare Roots (206) 818-8141Billy Barner (253) 884-6308Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551Black River Blues (206) 396-1563Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490Blue 55 (206) 216-0554Blue Healers (206) 440-7867Blues on Tap: 206 618-6210Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662Blues Playground (425) 359-3755Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.comBlues County Sheriff (206) 979-0666Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016Ellis Carter 206-935-3188Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749Colonel (360) 293-7931Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910ZCoyote Blues (360) 420-2535John Scooch Cugno’s Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620Double Cookin’ (253) 945-7441Double Scott’s on the Rocks (206) 418-1180Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340Richard Evans (206) 799-4856Fat Cat (425) 487-6139Fat Tones (509) 869-0350Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561Filé Gumbo (425) 788-2776Jimmy Free’s Friends (206) 546-3733Gin Creek (206) 588-1924Paul Green (206)795-3694Dennis “Juxtamuse” Hacker (425) 512-8111Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134)Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994JD Hobson (206) 235-3234Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644James Howard band (206) 250-7494Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937Harry “The Man” Joynes (360) 871-4438

Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511

Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130Mick Knight (206) 373-1681

Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253Kolvane (503) 804-7966

Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com

Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002

Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961

Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615

Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254Brian “Jelly Belly” McGhee (253) 777-5972

Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016

Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820

Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081Jim Nardo’s Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300

Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206Randy Norris & the Full Degree (425) 239-3876

Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755Randy Oxford Band (253) 973-9024

Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108

Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589

Mark Riley (206) 313-7849Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210

Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427

Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105

Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772

Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506

Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737Smokin’ Jays (425)746-8186Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034

Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171-145Billy Spaulding (206) 310-4153

Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498

Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935

Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113

Dudley Taft (206)795-6509Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559

Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101Tone Kings (425) 698-5841

Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384

T-Town Aces (206)935-8985Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566

Unbound (425)212-7608 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420

Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413

Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 /(425) 327-0944

Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739

Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877

Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917

Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829Zydeco Trio (206) 369-8114

Washington Blues Society Talent Guide

Blues Foundation Announces

2013 Blues hall of

Fame InducteesThe Blues Foundation announces the 2013 inductees for the Blues Hall of Fame, including soul blues singer Otis Clay, blues guitarists’ guitarist Earl Hooker, pianist Little Brother Montgomery, The Blue Yodeler Jimmie Rodgers, contemporary, progressive bluesman Joe Louis Walker, and early Chicago guitarist Jody Williams.

Among the individuals recognized by The Blues Foundation for their behind-the-scenes contributions are: quintessential record promoter Dave Clark, producer, arranger and songwriter Henry Glover, and New Orleans studio magician Cosimo Matassa.

The book Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records by Rob Bowman is the sole literature entry into the Blues Hall of Fame this year.These albums are being honored: Complete Recorded Works (Herwin1975), also recorded as Texas Worried Blues (Yazoo 1989) by Henry “Ragtime Texas” Thomas; More Real Folk Blues by Howlin’ Wolf on Chess from 1967; and Louis Jordan’s Greatest Hits by Louis Jordan (Decca, 1969).

The following singles will be inducted during the ceremony: “How Many More Years” by Howlin’ Wolf (Chess 1951); “Canned Heat Blues” by Tommy Johnson (Victor 1928); “Let the Good Times Roll” by Louis Jordan (Decca 1946); “Mystery Train” by Little Junior [Parker]’s Blue Flames (Sun 1953); and “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” by Memphis Minnie (OKeh 1941).

The induction ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 8, at the Memphis Marriott Downtown in

Memphis, Tennessee, the night before the 34th Blues Music Awards. With living musicians like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, and legends like Muddy Waters and Koko Taylor, the Blues Hall of Fame consists of blues music’s best and brightest stars.

The Blues Foundation is now raising the capital needed to showcase these legendary performers and their work by establishing Blues Hall of Fame exhibits at its 421 S. Main headquarters in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The Blues Hall of Fame will honor inductees year round, provide interactive and educational exhibits, and create a place for serious blues fans, casual visitors, and students to congregate, celebrate and learn more about the Blues. The Raise the Roof ! campaign hopes to raise the remaining funds necessary to commence construction in the fall of this year. For more information about Raise the Roof !, please visit https://www.blues.org/capitalcampaign/index.php

On May 9, the night after the Blues Hall of Fame inductions, The Blues Foundation will present the Blues Music Awards for the 34th time. Performers, industry representatives and fans from around the world will celebrate the best in Blues recording, songwriting and performance from the previous year at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. The evening will feature performances by 2013 Hall of Fame inductees and Blues Music Award nominees.

Major funding is provided by ArtsMemphis and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The 34th Blues Music Awards and Blues Hall of Fame events are also sponsored by BMI, Catfood

Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, First Tennessee Foundation, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Sony/Legacy Records.

Inductees’ biographies follow and are available, as well as all Hall of Fame inductees, at http://www.blues.org/halloffame/index.php.

The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renown as THE organization dedicated to preserving our blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excel lence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation has 4500 individual members and 200 affiliated local blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals around the world. Its signature honors and events--the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards--make it the international center of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance while its Sound Healthcare program offers musicians health insurance access. Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues scholarships expose new generations to blues music. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.

For more information, contact Jay Sieleman, President & CEO; jay@blues.org; 901.527.2583 ext. 12.

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Over the past two years I have had the privilege and opportunity to meet and hear some of the legends of Pacific Northwest rock and roll. Oh, I was familiar with their names, but as I did not grow up here, the faces and energy that they gave to the local music scene had escaped me. Still, when my good friend Maridel Fliss, contacted me that she was organizing a benefit to assist with the production costs of Karen Whitehead’s extraordinary documentary, “Her Aim Is True,” about the life of Seattle area rock n’ roll photographer Jini Dallaccio, I immediately offered my skills to help out.

As I walked down the sunlit steps on a Sunday afternoon and entered the Highway 99 Blues Club, musicians were loading in their amps, guitar cases, and other gear. There were calls of recognition, laughter, pats on the back, smiles, as Bill Stapleton (Lil’Bill & the Bluenotes) carried his case toward Mark Whitman, who was doing a sound check at his keyboard.

Steve Lalor, Barry Curtis, and Don Wilhelm (Daily Flash, Kingsmen) were setting up for the first set, and there was a flurry of last-minute activity with instructions from Maridel for the silent auction, as well as handing out a tentative set list that told the musicians when they would take the stage. The harmonies and musicianship that awakened our long-ago memories were simply exhilarating. They were the perfect group to kick off this extraordinary night of music at the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club.

The film’s director, Karen Whitehead, had flown in from the East Coast, and screened the film’s trailer at the beginning of the evening. Having seen the ‘rough cut’ of the documentary, we embraced as old friends and colleagues. Like Karen, I have been filming and recording musicians for my own documentary project, and I felt we were truly kindred spirits.

Many musicians and fans agreed that, as the evening progressed, that this evening of music

was very special. Actually, it was a piece of Seattle’s diverse cultural and musical history. Almost all those who played that night had been photographed by Jini Dellacio, and they were there to show their support, as well as endless affection, for the now 96-year old pioneer of rock and roll photography who had accepted them unconditionally into their lives nearly six decades earlier.

The list of musicians read like a “who’s who?” of Pacific Northwest rock and roll and early punk.

The evening featured a number of legends from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Little Bill Englehart, Dick Powell, Chris Leighton, James King, Ron Hendee, Jeff Beals, (Jr. Cadillac), Bill Stapleton (Lil’ Bill & the Bluenotes), Buck Ormsby, Andy Paripa (The Fabulous Wailers), John Hanford, Ricky Johnson, and Freddie Dennis (Freddie & the Screamers), who set fire to the audience with his flamboyance and charisma. Then, Mark Whitman (King Biscuit Entertainers, Springfield Rifle, Bitteroot, Sweet Talkin’ Jones), Charlie Morgan, Ray Hartman, Jimmy Free, also Danny Hoefer, played with finesse. When keyboard player Daryl Lombard sang “Stormy Monday,” we were mesmerized by his chops. I would love to hear him perform this classic blues tune again.

They may not have played together for a while, but with the expert handling of the sound board by the Highway 99 Blues Club’s expert soundman, it all came together for one of the very best shows ever held at Seattle’s authentic blues juke joint. Jeff Mason (Dynamic Logs) Chris Leighton, Dave Delzotto, Ron Hendee, James King (James King & the Southsiders), were up next. The set changes were smooth and without a hitch, because each of these musicians are consummate professionals.

When Merrilee Rush (Merrilee Rush & the Turnabouts, The Statics) and Billy Mac took their places alongside Robert Shangrow, Mark

Riley (Mark Riley Trio), Valerie Rosa, and Michael Kinder (Gabriel), the packed venue moved forward. There were obvious smiles, hugs, and a few tears as Merrilee sang her signature tune,“Angel of the Morning.”

The final set of the evening was led by Tim Turner (Child), Bill Barner on the drum kit, Chris V, and Justin Kausal-Hays. They finished the night with a great music experience that I will never forget.

With tunes like “The Witch.” ‘”Strychnine,” “The French Girl,” “Tall Cool One’, ‘I Love an Angel’, “Night Train, “”Put It Where You Want It,” “If You Want Me To Say,” and “Use Me,” to name just a sampling, the evening featured a diverse and exciting mixture of original and cover tunes. More than a few audience members told me that they wished that Kent Morrill and Rick Dangel were still alive to enjoy such an evening.

It was a remarkable tribute to have the number of musical talents in one room at the same time to raise funds for the final touches to “Her Aim Is True.” Jini Dellaoccio’s life has been a catalyst for so many artists in the Pacific Northwest, and she is also known for her singular and iconic style in fashion photography as well as striking and memorable photographs of Neil Young and Mick Jagger early in their careers.

We deeply appreciated the faith and determination that Karen Whitehead has shown in making this important work of art. Many thanks also go to all the musicians who came to be a part of this incredible evening of music. The management and staff of the Highway 99 Blues Club were thanked profusely for their professionalism and care of all attendees. Maridel Fliss, her superb volunteers, are all to be congratulated for taking the initiative to assist in keeping the music alive in our memories in the Pacific Northwest legends of rock n’ roll through the lenses of Jini Dellacio and Karen Whitehead.

In Celebration of Jini Dellacio:A Night of Memories!Article and Photos by Suzanne Swanson

Mark Whitman

The Fabulous Wailers

Southside Johnny & Tim Turner The mighty horn section

Chris Leighton & Randy Jackson Lil Bill Englehart & the Bluenotes

Merrillee Rush

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There’s a new shining star in the concert crown of Western Washington. One that combines the old school glamour of early 1900’s classic vaudeville venues with 21st century state of the art sound technology. It’s a venue hand-built by craftsmen who knew how to create spaces for community art and entertainment in an era before the advent of “talkies”. It has been majestically restored with loving care by tradesmen devoted to achieving that clear, clean sound so critical to professionals and listeners alike.

Named after founders and builders Dolan and Reynolds, The D&R Theater located at 205 South I Street in Aberdeen, is that shining star. Much consideration has been given to making the entertainment experience both positive and unforgettable. Acute attention to detail and a keen sense of historical conservation shows in the quality of the renovations.

Originally built in 1923, the theater reopened for business in 2009. The D&R Theater today is

an intimate venue that offers class, comfort and an allure that is seldom part of a contemporary concert experience. The old pipe organ installed to add sound to silent movies and vaudeville acts is long gone, but the impressive neon marquee is a real work of art that would make the Las Vegas strip envious after dark. An attached coffee shop staffed by friendly baristas serves a bustling crowd and boasts a cozy fireplace to dry your bones while you sip a caffe breve. On the other side of the main entrance is “Scoops,” an ice cream and candy store that has everything for that sweet-tooth moment.

Inside, the concession stand offers up beer or wine for patrons enjoying this “old school” theatrical experience. Photojournalist, digital and film expert Darrell M. Westmoreland’s iconic images grace the front entrance. The roomy building is wheelchair accessible and capable of seating 1,200 comfortably including the mezzanine area. The movie theater style chairs are relaxing in a first class way. It’s cushy with a hip and casual ambience. Well-placed, high-quality monitors give an even surround-sound. Expertly lit, the 32 feet wide stage and 40 foot backdrop sits four feet above the floor and allows the audience an easy, eyes level view from all angles. The open space naturally oozes atmospherics.

Advertised as “up close and personal live entertainment where every seat in the house is a good seat,” the D&R Theater is a labor of love for owner John Yonich. I talked to him

briefly while trying to get some information about this new great live music venue that I had heard so much about from a number of knowledgeable blues fans.

One fellow Washington Blues Society member from Vancouver, British Columbia, Suzanne Swanson, told me that she had a wonderful time enjoying the Ventures and didn’t mind the long drive down from Canada to get there. Suzanne’s a frequent contributor to the Bluesletter, and last month’s pictures of Guitar Shorty in action are, like the D & R Theater, first-class.

John was an engaging, civic-minded host

who is proud to be able to help revitalize the Aberdeen area. I wondered what motivated him to create such a beautiful entertainment setting. The following is a short recap of part of our conversation at Backstage Espresso, which is located just off the lobby.

RN: “What’s your mission statement?” I asked John as I sat down with him to have a latte. He answered my question with a quote from one of my favorite blues movies.

JY: “We’re on a mission from God,” he said without hesitation.

RN: “Well, that was quite a Blues Brothers moment.” It begged the next question: “What do you think Aretha Franklin would have to say about that bold statement?”

JY: “I would hope she’d say R-E-S-P-E-C-T”!

RN: “Care to elaborate on that?”

JY: “Hopefully, someone like her would appreciate this venue, would come in here and see what a great venue this is. Everyone who has played here respects the quality of the acoustics. People really appreciate the venue, it’s ROCKIN! The Harlem Gospel Choir contacted us to find out what the venue is like. You know they’re not going to come to some sterile environment. They sent someone out here to check it out. They have to see the venue before they come into it. Once he saw the venue, that person had three words to say about it: “This is it!” You know what it’s like

The D&R TheaterFirst-Class Power house in Grays harbor County

By Rocky “Rock Khan” Nelson Photos by Darrel Westmoreland

in this industry. If you play guitar and you played in here, you’d hear the acoustics and you would know it’s perfect. I don’t know the proper adjective but it’s a feeling. You know it when you hear it.” RN: “How do folks know about your venue or your lineup of events?”

JY: “From our web site: www.DandRtheater.com . We’re updating it right now. We just got through our season for last year and we started out with the Beach Boys and ended up with Celtic Women and a lot of people in between.”

RN: “Sounds like your marketing for all intents and purposes is word-of-mouth.”

JY: “With social media these days it is a lot more word of mouth. We can put out a clip of our upcoming artists and people can hear what they are going to come to listen to. Nowadays people are starting to hear about us more and more. I do a little bit on the radio and I do a little bit of advertising on TV. You know it’s

hard to advertise such high quality shows that we bring to the D&R Theater on a billboard! I do have an email list, more than 20,000 people that have been to our shows here. I send that information out to them.”

RN: “What Blues acts have you had since you opened your doors three years ago?”

J-Y: “It’s quite a list: Robert Cray, Jimmy Vaughn. Duff McKagan from Guns and Roses came in and did a half-blues show. Another guy, local talent Randy Hanson, played blues here. He’s coming back in February to play the Heart Tribute with the original Heart band members. Amy Grant, of all people, showed

our audience that she can really sing the blues. In this local market you got to play a little of everything.”My research showed that a number of national and local acts have played here. Blues Traveler, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Great White, Styx, Soul Asylum, REO Speedwagon, Tower of Power, Spike and the Impalers, The Ventures, Trace Adkins, Loretta Lynn, Travis Tritt, LeAnn Rimes, Clint Black, and Randy Travis.

RN: “Your venue here holds 1,200 patrons in comfort and class. Does this limit you in your search for that quality talent that you want to bring here?”

JY: “If you have the right act here people will come. We had Robert Cray play here twice and he just loves it. This year, we have a lineup from Willie Nelson to BB King. I want to bring national acts into this area. Like Steve Miller, John Mayall, Johnny Lang or Dr. John. They’ve made their money and want to have fun, too. They want to come to an area where

they can relax and enjoy themselves and they also want to give back to the people that are there to listen to them. Those types of people don’t play much bigger venues anymore, they just don’t. You’re going to get a good quality act here. Our sales are much higher in beer and wine products with blues acts and blues seems to have a high-class crowd. One thing about the blues crowd and they are great crowd, is they don’t quibble over a dollar here or a dollar there on a ticket. It’s like a fraternity. Even though we do sell beer and wine, it’s an all-ages venue. When we did the Buddy Guy show there was a lot of kids that came to listen. Usually these artists are playing in a casino or a bar and kids don’t get a chance to see

them. You can bring your 10 year old here. There’s no smoking. I want everybody to have a good time here. Have a few beverages have some fun, but if you want to get out of hand this is not the place to go. This is our house. That artist is also our guest, and if guests get out of hand, those guests will have to leave.”

TN: “Pretty sure Buddy Guy, being a fun loving guy that he is, would understand that!” (We both laughed). “What type of entertainment mix do you look for that maximizes your out of town draw? “

JY: “Rock, Country, Blues, Comedy, you name it. We have had the Moscow Ballet, and we’ve had the comedy of Bill Cosby to Gallagher. Bill Cosby was my most expensive ticket and I like to keep prices affordable. Gallagher was a riot! He hurt his back and we had to help him get into his “character.”

RN: “Well now, do you have a crash cart here on station for music emergencies?”

JY: (laughing) “Yeah, we took care of it! He’s a professional. His show was supposed to be an hour and a half. He did a three hour show! I didn’t know he was that good with standup. He said in the 1980s he was the highest-paid comedian in America. More than Sam Kennison. Gallagher is a real funny guy.”

RN: “What is your vision to support the community and suppor t l ive ar ts and entertainment?”

JY: “Grays Harbor is trying to get an identity as a destination and a place to go. It’s near the beach, it’s in the country, and it’s not very far

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The D&R TheaterFirst-Class Power house in Grays harbor County

By Rocky “Rock Khan” Nelson Photos by Darrel Westmoreland

from the I-5 corridor. One hour forty five minutes from downtown Seattle. I should know, because I work in Bellevue. There is the jazz festival at Ocean Shores once a year, and there’s also the blues Festival in Westport. I would like to have a three day event that includes other venues around the Grays Harbor area.”

RN: What are your thoughts on this festival?”

JY: “Well there’s The D & R Theater, the Aberdeen High School, the Grays Harbor College has a great hall called the Bishop Center, Hoquiam has the 7th Street Theater built in 1926 by the same people, Dolan and Reynolds, who built this place, and there is the Ocean Shores Convention Center, too. If we get some great acts in here, like Bonnie Raitt whom I have been talking too about this, we could have a great weekend event with five shows going on all the time. I am talking to people about Presidents’ Day weekend which is February. I’ve been throwing this around

for a while. There’s some tourism money for it. We could have a three day deal here and all the hotels from Aberdeen to Ocean Shores are pretty much empty then and we can get great rates. I’ve talked to agents of musicians and they could go to the beach, have a good time and that’s the key to that. You would be less than five minutes away from any venue. The main event could be on Sunday and end with a big jam. We could have a big deal. But we would need some real heavy hitters to come. BB King, Buddy Guy…people like that. We get them, and people know they will be around for a few days, and so will they.”

As our conversation came to an end, I thought about how this sounded like Beale Street on the Barbary Coast! Lumber, fisheries, and shipbuilding have fueled the local economy for much of the region’s history. So did the “art” of “Shanghai’ing” which was the dubious practice of conscripting men as sailors using rather coercive techniques. Music also is a natural here, too. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana grew up here, Dale Crover of the Melvins, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Kirkland Arrington and Duke Erickson all of Metal Church, and Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers all grew up here as well. Then again, “No Name Jane,” an award-winning pornographic actress also hails from Aberdeen. This recalls the whole early history of the area and the human condition. By 1900, Aberdeen was considered one of the grittiest towns on the west coast with many saloons, whorehouses and gambling

establishments in what locals simply call “the harbor.” Aberdeen was nicknamed “The Hellhole of the Pacific,” or “The Port of Missing Men,” because of its relatively high murder rate. Part of the first revival of Aberdeen began after the whole town burned to the ground in 1903 with the building of The D&R Theatre and the 7th Street Theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The current revival plans are equally centered on community. John Yonich and crew’s classy resurrection of the D&R Theater is a crowning example. John’s dreams of a community-wide festival is one more way to rebuild the harbor

area and exorcise those demons from a town that came of age in a hardscrabble life of hard working, desperate individuals living through tough times. He has a very good start on it too. Scratch the surface patina of Aberdeen, and you’ll find real life underneath. It’s a community filled with honest, good hearted people like John willing to step up and support their community by hard work and dedication. With the recent closings of so many local manufacturing and timber industry job sources, the new D&R Theater is a major step forward in bringing life (through live entertainment) back to the Grays Harbor area.

Despite double digit unemployment rates, along with a rather colorful and troubled past, community-based efforts like The D & R Theater are sure to bring blues fans from throughout the Pacific Northwest (and Canada’s

Lower Mainland) to Grays Harbor County.

The D&R Theater can be rented for a variety of community events or functions.

Special rates for non-profits are available. Please contact: http://dandrtheater.com/contact 360-532-9348

Mark Dufresne Male Vocalist AwardCurtis hammondSammy EubanksJim King

Blues Female VocalistStacy JonesLisa De CostaJada AmyMary McPage

Electric Blues Guitar Danny hoefferMark RileyKevin Sutton

Slide Blues GuitarMark RileySam MarshallBrian Lee Kimball Conant

Blues BassFarko DosumovPatrick McDanelRobert Baker

Chris Leighton Blues Drummer Award Richard SabolAndrew CloutierRick Bowen

Blues hornMike MaringJim King Dave Bernhardt

Paul Green Blues harmonica AwardJames KingJim McLaughlinStacy Jones

Blues Piano/KeyboardBahaa SadakFrank “hot Rod” holmanArlin harmonRon Weinstein

Acoustic Blues GuitarMark RileyStacy JonesRandy Norris

Washington Blues Society 2013 “BB Awards”All Ballots Must be Received by the Washington Blues Society no later than Tuesday, May 14, 2013

during our May 2013 Blues Bash at the Red Crane in Shoreline or at our PO Box: Washington Blues Society, PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127

Please circle one in each category and vote! For additional instructions, please refer to the guidelines published in the January and February 2013 Bluesletters.

L i t t l e B i l l a n d t h e B l u e N o t e s Traditional Blues ActBrian Lee & the OrbitersGin CreekThe WIRED! Band

Solo/Duo Blues ActNorris & NicelyBack Porch StompSon Jack Jr & Michael Wilde

New Blues BandMichelle Taylor and the Blues Junkieshot Wired Rhythm BandRJ Knapp & honey Robin

Blues PerformerKevin SuttonSammy EubanksJames King

Blues SongwriterRJ Knapp Eric “Two Scoops” MooreKathi McDonald

Washington Blues Recording Don’t Blame the Dynamite… by RJ Knapp & honey Robin Live at unTapped, Stacy JonesWashington Blues, The WIRED! BandLive, Lee Oskar & Friends Orchestra

Blues WriterRobert hornRick BowenMalcolm KennedyEric Maloney

Blues Clubhighway 99Rockfish GrillThe yuppie Tavern Blues ImageWinthrop Festival GraphicsMount Baker Festival GraphicsKathi McDonald Bluesletter Cover by Blues Boss

Blues Graphic ArtistDennis hackerJesse PhillipsNicole Tyo

Blues DJJonathan “Oogie” RichardsJanice Cleven Gage Clancy DunaginJohnny horn

Keeping the Blues Alive AwardSteve SarkowskyJonathan “Oogie” RichardsPaul Quilty & Willow Stone

Lifetime Achievement Award Nick VigarinoBilly StoopsMary McPage

Blues hall of Fame Kathi McDonaldJames “Curley” Cooke Mark Riley

Non-Festival Blues EventJam for CansTaste of Snohomish REC RoomJones Family Christmas

Best Blues FestivalWinthrop Blues FestivalMount Baker Blues FestivalFreedom Festival at Ebey Island

Best Open Blues JamRaging River Blues JamThe Madison Pub88 Keys

As soon as we identify a venue and date for the 2013 Best of the Blues Awards (“BB Awards”) of the Washington Blues Society, we’ll post it online at Facebook, the Washington Blues Blog, and announce the event through our monthly e-mail blast.

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Seattle, WAPermit No. 5617

P.O. Box 70604Seattle, WA 98127

The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award

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