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“Keepin’ the Blues Alive in Hampton Roads Since 1984”

NATCHEL’ BLUES NETWORK

The official bi-monthly publication of The Natchel’ Blues Network, Inc.: a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Blues. AFFILIATE OF THE BLUES FOUNDATION

Recipient of 1998 KBA Award

“Blues Organization of the Year”

NON PROFIT

U.S. Postage

PAID

Norfolk, VA

Permit #344

Volume 24 Number 6 November/December 2008 Norfolk, Virginia

BANDS THAT PLAY BLUES IN HAMPTON ROADS

ANNUAL TAX DEDUCTIBLE MEMBERSHIP DUES:INDIVIDUAL $20 FAMILY $30 CORPORATE $100

Please return this membership application with your check or money order to: Membership, Natchel’ Blues Network, P.O. Box 1773, Norfolk, VA 23501-1773.

Dues are for the period of one calendar year, starting with your application date. Thank you for supporting the blues!

20 Blues News November/December 2008 www.natchelblues.org

BLUES AT THE BEACH

FESTIVAL WRAP-UP

INTERVIEW WITH

CANDYE KANE

TATE’S VINTAGE ViGNETTES

THE ATTUCKS DISCOVERY

MUSIC SERIES PHOTOS

BLUES HEAVEN

BLUES CALENDAR

BLUES BITS

SHOW REVIEW

DVD/CD REVIEWS

AND MORE

Natchel’ Blues Network, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to promoting blues as a true American art form. Your annual contribution puts you on our mailing list for the newsletter/calendar and notices of special NBN events and meetings. If you enjoy blues music and/or play blues music, please join the NBN! Become an NBN Member = Receive discounts at area businesses on food, entertainment and musical merchandise! (Discounts applicable only when presenting valid NBN Membership Card.) Please support your local blues organization!

Questions? Please call (757) 456-1675 Moving? Please send your new address. Bulk mail is not forwarded!

Date________Name____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________City________________State________Zip_____________________________________

Telephone (Home)__________________(Work)______________(E-Mail Address)____________________________________________

What hours are you most available by phone & where?______AM_____PM______Home/Work_________________________________

Type of Membership: ___Individual___Family___Corporate___New_____Renewal_______Band_________________________________

Please check the activities you would like to help us with:

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Promotion/Policy_______Education Programs________Monthly/Semi-Monthly Shows___Website______________________________________

NBN is sponsored in part by The City of Hampton and the Hampton Arts Commission, Virginia Commission for the Arts, & the City of Virginia Beach through the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission.

TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL!DO NOT FORWARD

NBN 15th Annual Blues at the Beach

Wrap-Up

Amy Ferebee - 434-5385

Back Alley Hoo Doo - Jack Mace - 804-513-4692

Big Fun – Bruce Gray – 622-7325

Billy Thompson – 621-7390

Black Rose Blues Band - JD Silvia – 523-4372

Black White Blues – Carlton Newsome – 947-4669

Blues Empacts – Bill Kelly – 757-229-9672

Blues Xchange – Tommy Parker – 498-3545

Bobby “BlackHat” Walters - 757-871-5485

Bryan Dunn – 631-8790

Corporate Woods Drive - Jay Einhorn - 757-748-6775

Crimson Velvet - Ron Hanchin - 757-289-7324

dc3 – Dave Coghill – 463-2384

DOAD – Ted Doty – 486-9740

Fat Tony – Sandy Martin – 406-2425

Freeborn Blues Band – Dan Lubertazzi – 872-8580

Grant Austin Taylor Band – David Taylor – 757-439-2064

HammerHead Blues – Phil Branton – 483-1350

H.M. Johnson Band – Carlton Lillard – 547-4506

HRB Blues Band - Herbie D - 757-679-9671

Incognito Brothers – Ron Parker – 481-6425

John Baldwin Group – John Baldwin – 735-4409

Michael Clark Band – Michael Clark – 418-1788

M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio – Jackie Merritt – 722-5811

Planet Full of Blues – Johnny Ray Light – 757-719-3271

Rhythm Kings – Mike Coghill – 460-6414

Right Time for the Blues – Reggie Barber – 237-6920

RYLO – Gabriel Baesen – 729-4660

Shakedown – Howard Anby – 566-3770

Shelly Craig-Potter – 546-1528

Sweet Papa & the Too Hot Blues Crew – Ernie Williams – 855-7461

T-Ford 2 Blues Project – Teaford Webber – 287-8784

The Janitors – Danny Morgan – 437-4419

The Straight Up Blues Band – Earl Holiday – 717-4789

Tim Morgan & the Mojo Brothers – Tim Morgan – 875-0447

More on pages 10-11

Dani Wilde, Candye Kane, Deborah Coleman - 2008 Blues Caravanphoto by Alan Grossman

September 12-14, 200817th St. Stage, Virginia Beach, VA

Happy Holidays

192 Blues News November/December 2008 www.natchelblues.org www.natchelblues.org November/December 2008 Blues News

CLASSIFIED ADS NOW AVAILABLE!!

Looking for an additional musician for your band?

Selling or searching for an instrument?

Want to advertise your business?

Only $10!Maximum 25-30 words

Contact Beth Jarock at (757) 623-8559 or [email protected]

Reservation deadline: 6 weeks prior to publication date. Copy deadline: 5th of the month prior to publication date.

Rates Classified Ad $10 Business Card $30 1/2 page $85 1/4 page $45 Full page $150 A fee of $35 will be added if not camera-ready

For more information, contact AdvertisingBeth Jarock (757) 623-8559

e-mail - [email protected]

Graphic Info Jackie Merritt (757) 722-5811

FAX 722-5811

Membership and Volunteer InformationNatchel’ Blues Network

P.O. Box 1773Norfolk, VA 23501-1773

NBN HotlineFor updates, call (757) 456-1675

NBN ADVERTISING INFO

If you’re having problems receiving Blues News or NBN’s Calendar, please contact

Bill Cann at [email protected]

• Promote, perpetuate, and preserve blues music as a true American art form.

• Develop and provide an educational resource for the community (i.e. schools, churches, civic organizations, etc.) as to the history and evolution of the blues.

• Disseminate information to and act as a network for blues musicians and others interested in the blues, both locally and nationally.

• Advocate and work toward an increase in contributed support for the blues in the Greater Hampton Roads. area.

Natchel’ Blues Network Mission Statement

Compiled by Beth Jarock

Congratulations to Billy Thompson & Friends! Billy, bassist Gene Monroe, and drummer Gary Rosenweig won the DC Blues Society Battle of the Bands and will represent them at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Feb. 4-7, 2009!

Planet Full Of Blues has released their debut CD, a full length, self-titled and independently produced album recorded at Awe Struck Studios in Kansas City, MO with the help of legendary producer Larry Gann. The album contains eleven original songs and includes several well-known guest artists on horns, keyboards, and bass. Look for their CD review in this issue! For more information email PFOB at [email protected], call (804) 815-3016, or visit www.planetfullofblues.com.

The Blues Empacts, our Williamsburg-based blues band, has a new and improved website! Check it out at www.thebluesempacts.com

Lil’ Ronnie endorsees Hohner’s new Hoodoo Hand wireless system! Check out the Hohner web site for their new Hoodoo Hand products (www.hoodoobyhohner.com). Ronnie is the featured endorses with audio clips showcasing the new Hoodoo Hand products & Hoodoo Box harp amp. Joining Ronnie on the audio clips are: Ivan Appelrouth - guitar, John Sheppard - bass and Mark Young - drums. Sample clips were recorded live at Sheptone Studios.

Richmond’s River City Blues Society sent this (thanks, Wanda): Please check our calendars for RCBS and local shows. I HAVE AN IDEA! - On an early Friday, why don’t you & some blues friends load up a car or 2, or 3 ... then just cruise I-64 west towards the beautiful sunset. In Richmond, Capital Ale House, at 6th & Main Sts.; going west on Main, Cap. A on left after 7th, turn left on 6th, turn left into free parking lot; every Friday from 5-8pm you’ll hear LIVE BLUES, and another show after-pay, sometimes blues, or maybe another venue. Hotel! On Saturday, walk along the canal walk along the river near Shockhoe Slip & Bottom, nice restaurants, shops, etc. Then, be ready to go get YOUR MOJO WORKIN’ again somewhere! [email protected] or www.wegotblues.com

Saffire-the Uppity Blues Women are working on a new album titled Havin’ The Last Word, tentatively set for February release, to be followed by a national tour, their first in a long time!

Rock Hall To Honor Father of the Electric Guitar: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the “father of the electric guitar” this fall. Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins November 10. A tribute concert is scheduled November 15 at Cleveland’s State Theater.

2009 Blues Foundation Board of Directors and Officers Announced: The membership elected: Thomas Ruf, founder of Ruf Records, an international blues record company, Lindewerra, Germany; blues fan and long-time Foundation volunteer Ricky Stevens, Arkabutla, MS; and Cassie Taylor, a Boulder, CO based-blues music performer and the youngest Board member ever at age 21. Current Board members directly elected the following new members: Thomas Cain, Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations with BMI, Nashville, TN; Gaynell Rogers, marketing and media consultant, Blues Muse Management, Nevada City, CA; Joey Sichting, Managing Director, International Sales-Central Region, FedEx, Memphis, TN; and Sade Turnipseed,

Director, Education & Community Outreach, BB King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola, MS. Following the Board election, the new Board selected the following Board members to leadership positions: Paul Benjamin, founder of the North Atlantic Blues Festival, Rockland, ME, was re-elected President and Pat Morgan, artist manager for Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, was elected Vice-President. Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Gary Anton, a Tallahassee, FL, attorney and owner of Bradfordville Blues Club; Kevin Kane, President and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Bill Wax, disc jockey and programmer on XM Satellite Radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville channel, Washington, DC. In addition, Chad Webb, KPMG, Memphis, was re-elected Treasurer. The newly-elected members and officers join fellow Board members Barbara Blue, Betsie Brown, Domenic Forcella, Jostein Forsberg, Zac Harmon, Bruce Iglauer, Fred Litwin, Nashid Madyun, Jerry Mason, Karen McFarland, Dorothy Moore, Patrick Reilly and Chris Sabie.

Gatemouth Brown Grave Damaged: Hurricane Katrina chased bluesman Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown from his adopted home in New Orleans to his hometown on the Texas Gulf Coast, where he died in exile. Now, another hurricane has disturbed his rest. The 1982 Grammy Award winner’s casket was one of dozens belched up by the ground when gulf and rain waters from Hurricane Ike flooded Hollywood Cemetery, an all-black burial ground on the west side of Orange, Texas, on the Sabine River. The 81-year-old musician was living in the New Orleans suburb of Slidell when Hurricane Katrina inundated that city. Dying of lung cancer, he evacuated to Texas and never got back. He died on Sept. 10, 2005, not two weeks after the storm. Brown’s family lived two blocks from Sparrow Funeral Home. Wayne Sparrow, the third-generation owner, surveyed the damage. Sparrow said he had talked with city officials and had been assured they were working on restoring the historic graveyard.

(757) 495-8506 (757) 495-0961Providence Square Shopping Center

Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Birdland

BIRDLAND has the

largest selectionof BLUES in

Hampton Roads!

RECORDS, TAPES, & COMPACT DISCS

BLUES . ZYDECO . COUNTRY. CLASSICAL

ROCK . REGGAE & MORE!

BIRDLAND’S got it or we’ll get it for you!

10% Discount to NBN Members

WE NOW CONVERT ALL VINYL & CASSETTE RECORDINGS TO CD

NBN Membership Meeting & Holiday Party!

@ The Jewish MotherThursday, December 4, 2008

7 pmGood food, good company and good music!

Elect new members to NBN’s Board of Directors!Bring a wrapped CD for the CD Exchange!

Blues Birthdays NOVEMBER DECEMBER

1 Sippie Wallace2 Mark Wenner3 Sonny Rhodes 4 James Peterson5 Ike Turner6 Rory Block8 Bonnie Raitt9 Linda Hopkins Susan Tedeschi10 Wilbert “Big Chief” Ellis Bobby Rush11 Sippie Wallace Mose Allison LaVern Baker12 Bukka White13 Blue Lu Barker John Hammond Jr. Candye Kane14 Carey Bell Buckwheat Zydeco15 Anson Funderburgh16 W.C. Handy Hubert Sumlin19 Chris Cain21 Mac (Dr. John) Rebennack22 Angela Strehli23 R.L. Burnside24 Rosa Henderson Donald “Duck” Dunn25 Jimmy Johnson Jerry Portnoy26 Tina Turner27 Jimi Hendrix29 Lucille Hegamin John Mayall30 Robert Nighthawk Brownie McGhee Smokin’ Joe Kubek Mike Morgan

1 Lou Rawls4 Larry Davis Little Jimmy King5 Sonny Boy Williamson II7 Johnny Mars8 Henry Johnson9 Junior Wells10 Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones11 Big Mama Thornton12 Joe Williams13 Wayne Bennett Robert Covington Lurrie Bell Lucky Peterson17 James Booker Paul Butterfield18 Peg Leg Sam Pee Wee Crayton Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson Lonnie Brooks Rod Piazza19 Professor Longhair Cornell Dupree21 Peetie Wheatstraw Walter “Wolfman” Washington22 Lil Green23 Rosco Gordon Esther Phillips24 Dave Bartholomew25 Tampa Red Little Richard Joe Louis Walker27 Matt “Guitar” Murphy Tracy Nelson28 Johnny Otis30 Bo Diddley31 Odetta

LOCAL BLUES BANDS

NBN MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

18 3

6

BLUES CALENDAR

12WHERE U CAN HEAR

THE BLUES

14NBN NEW MEMBERS

& RENEWALS

15

CD/DVD REVIEWS

2009 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

20

9

Words from the PRESIDENT

Blues News November/December 2008 www.natchelblues.org www.natchelblues.org November/December 2008 Blues News

SHOW REVIEW

17-18

10-1115TH ANNUAL BLUES AT THE BEACH FESTIVAL WRAP-UP

NATCHEL’ BLUES NETWORK, INC.P.O. Box 1773

Norfolk, VA 23501-177324 Hour Blues Hotline:

(757) 456-1675

BLUES NEWSPublished bi-monthly by

the NBN, Inc. 2008

BLUES NEWSThe official publication of the

Natchel’ Blues Network, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, run by

volunteers dedicated to promoting the blues as America’s one true musical art form.

BLUES NEWS EDITORBeth Jarock

LAYOUT & DESIGN

CALENDAR COORDINATORRon Parker

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Deborah Antonucci, Cathy Dixson, Alan Grossman, Bruce Kincaid, Alan Kurzer,

Bob O’Neal & Shar Wolff

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJack Campbell, Bill van Elburg, Beth Jarock,

Alan Kurzer, Paul Shugrue, Gary Tate, & The Blues Foundation

2008 NBN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lynn Allred, Cathy Dixson, Bill van Elburg, Georganne Fischer, Debra Hanbury,

Dylan Jones, Jackie Merritt, Diana Prather & Greg Williams

2008 NBN OFFICERSBill van Elburg – President

Vice PresidentLorena Rice – Treasurer

Beverly Levinson – Secretary

BOOKKEEPERMartha O’Berry

WEBMASTERJeff Miller

(757) 722-5811

GRAPHICS & MUSICJACKIE MERRITT

5

BLUES BITS

BLUES BIRTHDAYS

19

CD REVIEWS

16-17

13BLUES HEAVEN

THANK YOU BLUES AT THE BEACH VOLUNTEERS

DVD ReviewsBy Alan Kurzer

THE GROUNDHOGSLive at The AstoriaEagle Vision EE30258-9www.thegroundhogs.co.uk

Unsung British bluesman Tony (T.S.) McPhee took his first guitar and music in the direction of skiffle. Upon discovering harmonica ace Cyril Davies, he immersed himself into blues music, forming his first Groundhogs

outfit. In the mid-‘60s, that lineup was instrumental in touring and recording with blues legend John Lee Hooker. The Groundhogs’ quirky, bluesy jamming style gave birth to three Top 10 UK releases in the early ‘70s. Although McPhee’s fellow bandmates have changed over the forty-year, twenty-plus recordings, the intriguing guitarist still continues to tour in England.

Filmed February 20, 1998, Live at London’s Astoria sandwiches nine fan favorites between two hyperactive Howlin’ Wolf numbers. Those include the Willie Dixon penned “Shake For Me” and “Down In The Bottom.” The former shuffle spotlights McPhee’s formidable guitar chops, including dive bombing vibrato, while the latter is a boogie-driven scorcher featuring gutsy slide guitar. “Cherry Red” takes off like a patented Led Zeppelin hard blues rocker, chocked full of high-ended vocals, distorted guitar shapes, and heavy-handed percussion. Drummer Peter Correa and bassist Eric Chipulina are rock solid, while “under the weather,” McPhee’s gravelly singing approaches blues guitarist Peter Green.

The Groundhogs early ‘70s extended soloing vibe creates an 80-minute audio assault, capably crossing blues and progressive boundaries throughout this DVD-CD set. Clearly not for blues purists, Live at London’s Astoria still manages to translate all the heart, power and nervous energy that are pure McPhee.

JONNY LANGLive at Montreux 1999 Eagle Eye Media EE39147-9 www.jonnylang.com

Hailing from North Dakota, guitarist-vocalist Jonny Lang became the latest in a stream of young guitarists to declare their allegiance to the blues. Picking up on his instrument at age thirteen, he joined his guitar instructor’s group, The Bad Medicine Blues Band. He

eventually left Fargo for Minneapolis as his recording career began to blossom. Following his first self-released CD Smokin’, the sixteen-year-old Lang exploded on the music scene with his 1997 platinum disc Lie to Me.

This 54-minute DVD spotlights nine compositions culled from Lang’s first big seller album and the follow up, Wander This World. Lang slows down Sonny Boy Williamson’s classic “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,” but still manages to retain its blues luster, even after his hyperactive shouting, screaming, high-ended guitar lines, and keyboardist Bruce McCabe’s rollicking piano workouts. Nervous power chords flesh out the blues rocker hit “Lie to Me,” taking Lang’s angst ridden vocals to another level, while he stalks the stage spitting out his wah-wahed lead attack. “There’s Gotta Be a Change” turns out to be a funky-blues musical change. After one gritty lead vocal, Lang joins the blues jamming free for all, with second guitarist Paul Diethelm, bassist Doug Nelson, and drummer Billy Thommes all dueling for airtime.

While his latest gospel music recording snagged a Grammy recently, those of us aching for the earlier Lang as upstart guitarist and gut-wrenching vocalist are amply rewarded by the very engaging Live at Montreux 1999 concert film.

2

THE ATTUCKS DISCOVERY MUSIC SERIES PHOTOS

7INTERVIEW WITH

CANDYE KANE

The views & opinions expressed in this publication by individual writers are not necessarily the opinions of NBN or Blues News. The staff cannot guarantee the return of submitted material.

Wow! Just think about it. Twenty-five years. A quarter-century. Isn’t it just amazing to consider that our organization, our beloved Natchel’ Blues Network will, in a just few short months, celebrate this momentous event? It’s hard to believe.

Plans are already underway for a truly gala event to commemorate this milestone and Cathy Dixson is chairing the ad hoc committee working to make the event one that will be remembered for years to come. Got ideas, remembrances, or photos to share? Want to volunteer to help? Please get in touch with Cathy through the Hotline (456-1675).

In the meantime, our collective thanks go out to those of you who were around and helped nurture and grow the fledgling NBN into the organization we have today. While many of you are now enjoying a well-deserved rest after years of actively supporting the NBN, some however are still involved with the Board of Directors, chairing committees, volunteering for events and teaching the next generation what it needs to know to keep NBN moving forward. We would not be here today without all of your hard work, dedication and love of the blues.

More information on the 25th Anniversary Gala will be coming your way soon.

On a more immediate front, the Natchel’ Blues Network’s Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Party will be held Thursday, December 4th at The Jewish Mother starting at 7 pm. As always, we’ll have lots of good eats, good company, good music and only a little bit of business.

This year we have a number of folks whose terms on the Board of Directors are coming to an end. There will be three positions we will need to fill, so please consider running yourself or asking a friend, co-worker or acquaintance from some other organization you feel would be a good addition to the NBN family. We need new faces, fresh ideas, lots of energy and as always… a strong desire and commitment to promote an appreciation of and for the blues.

In closing, thank you once again to all our wonderful NBN sponsors, volunteers and supporters. You worked so hard and gave so much to make all of our events this year a resounding success. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

PeaceBill “Big Dog” van Elburg

NBN BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

December is NBN election month. The election will be held during our Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Party at the Jewish Mother, Thursday, December 4th @ 7 pm.

Beginning in Jan. ‘09, the NBN will have three seats vacant on the Board Of Directors. If you are interested in running for the NBN Board, please know that you are agreeing to serve for a two-year term. The Board meets once a month. If interested, please contact the Nominating Committee Chair, Shar Wolff, no later than Nov. 30, at [email protected]. Please put NBN in the subject line of your email.

2009 International Blues ChallengeThe 2009 International Blues Challenge will be the 25th year of blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The Blues Foundation will present the 25th International Blues Challenge February 4-7, 2009 in Memphis, TN. The world’s largest gathering of blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2008, 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts entered, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. We will have at least that many in 2009.

25th International Blues Challenge announces Youth Showcase.

The Blues Foundation will add a youth showcase for the 25th year of the International Blues Challenge. Smokin’ Bluz of Charlotte, NC has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor. Over the years this event has witnessed the influx of younger musicians competing for top honors at this international event. In an effort to gain maximum exposure to this new crop of talented artists, the 25th IBC will include an afternoon (Friday, February 6, 2009) of these talented young people showcasing their talents for record labels, media, festivals, managers, talent buyers and the fans.

This will be a showcase, not a competition. Acts may also be competing at night in the challenge, but they are not required to be the affiliate’s entry for the competition. Each affiliate has the right to send a youth act for the showcase. While the definition for youth act is loose, we would expect no member of the band to be over 21. The essence of the showcase is to expose the blues world to future stars of this genre.

The weekend’s events will once again kick off Wednesday night with a Meet & Greet hosted by the Beale Street Merchants Association at the New Daisy Theater, the performance of multiple IBC participants at the FedEx Forum during the Memphis Grizzlies NBA game, followed by a special 25th IBC Concert with some of the winners of recent IBC’s. In addition to the evening blues competition, the days are filled with seminars and workshops and topped off in a moving Saturday morning brunch in which the blues community will honor its own with the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) awards that honor the men and women, who have made significant contributions to the blues music world, in 20 categories such as journalism, literature and photography and to the best clubs and festivals, as well as managers, promoters and producers.

Media Sponsors include XM Satellite Radio, House of Blues Radio Hour, Big City Rhythm and Blues, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Revue, BluesWax, Downtowner, Blues Blast, Living Blues, Memphis Flyer and WREG-TV.

The 25th International Blues Challenge is sponsored by ArtsMemphis, bandVillage, Beale Street Merchants Association, Budweiser and its local distributor, D. Canale Beverages, FedEx, Gibson, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sonicbids, T. Clifton Art, Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission and XM Satellite Radio.

The IBC has evolved into the nation’s biggest and most respected showcase for blues musicians ready to take their act to the national stage. The IBC is a judged “Battle of the Bands” in which competitors take the stage and play a short set for a panel of judges. The acts are judged based on an established set of criteria.

Good luck to The Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark!They’ll be representing the River City Blues Society.

8TATE’S VINTAGE VIGNETTES

4 17Blues News November/December 2008 www.natchelblues.org www.natchelblues.org November/December 2008 Blues News

CD ReviewsBy Alan Kurzer

GREAT PERFORMANCE SER I ES PRESENTED BY

T I C K E T S NOW ON SA L E !Visit COXTIX.com or call 1-888-3COXTIX

Full season schedule at www.sandlercenter.orgSandler Center for the Performing Arts • Town Center of Virginia Beach

SusanTedeschiwith special guest James HunterThursday, November 6, 7:30 PM

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitarinfluence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck,and Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Sidesound, and a living link to that city’s halcyon days ofelectric blues. “He was for me what Elvis was probablylike for other people,” Clapton remembered at Guy’sRock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2005. “Mycourse was set, and he was my pilot.”— Eric Clapton

Buddy GuyFriday, November 21, 8:00 PM

SANDLER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

This multi-talented musicianhas established a formidablereputation as a deeplyexpressive singer, a prodigiouslytalented guitarist and distinctivesongwriter.

She's won a large and loyalaudience for her ability tocraft elements of classic blues,rock, R&B, folk and gospel intoa distinctly individual style thathonors rootsy musical traditionswithout being subservient tothem. Joining her is the“Extraordinary Soul Voice”(La Times), James Hunter.

MORELAND AND ARBUCKLE1861Northern Blues Music NBM0044www.morelandarbuckle.com The recent outpouring of electric-acoustic blues artists mining the fertile territory of pre-war blues have included both John-Alex Mason and Dave Arcari. Add to that growing list fellow Kansans, guitarist Aaron “Chainsaw” Moreland

and vocalist-harmonica player Dustin Arbuckle. Moreland’s early influences started with Led Zeppelin, but were moved greatly by bluesman Son House. Arbuckle sites his musician father, B.B. King and Elmore James as catalysts on his musical journey.

Drummer Brad Horner kicks Hound Dog Taylor’s “Gonna Send Ya Back to Georgia” into one shuffling barnburner. Arbuckle’s Chicago harp lines and gravelly singing take on Moreland’s slip sliding “Cigar Box” guitar runs through early Fleetwood Mac terrain. A droning country blues vibe reaches out through Arbuckle’s harp-led “Tell Me Why,” drifting back to the days of acoustic slide guitar, front porch jamming. This already effervescent trio augments Chris Wiser’s lush Hammond organ jabs into the hypnotic boogie, “Diamond Ring.” Moreland’s repetitive guitar works Arbuckle’s snarling vocals and blues harp screaming into a full throttled rocker, akin to the bluesier side of the late lamented Rounders.

“Wiser Jam” turns into a six-minute-plus instrumental attack, ala Paul Butterfield’s “East West,” less all the hyperactive guitars. Riding over Wiser’s rhythmic keyboard wave, Moreland’s eastern-leaning electric slide guitar drifts over Arbuckle’s soft-spoken harmonica swirls. Preceded by their acoustic recorded favorites Caney Valley Blues and Floyd’s Market, 1861 finds 2005 IBC finalists Moreland and Arbuckle dishing out one memorable old school vibe after another.

PLANET FULL OF BLUESPlanet Full of Blues Independent Release www.planetfullofblues.com

For this train jumping, AM clock radio listening free spirit, songwriter-guitarist Johnny Ray Light didn’t really get serious musically until he reached thirty. Performing locally in JRL & the High Beams and Fully Loaded, he mixed

commercial blues with his own high-powered original compositions. Light, along with drummer Brock Howe, traveled to Kansas City, funded and recorded their eleven-track musical project, Planet Full of Blues. There’s a common thread that weaves throughout PFOB’s maiden voyage, namely one really deep sense of rhythm. Whether it’s Light’s chunky chord intro to the driving rocker “You Can’t Always Be Right” or his guitar blasting, boogie driven “Got The Blues,” PFOB’s groove is relentless. “Man Tamer” steams along with a gutsy “I’m a Man” groove, highlighting Paul Draper’s Hammond organ lines and Light’s seductive vocals and fuzz-driven guitar breaks. Richard Yeager’s and Eric Stark’s tight horn arrangements create a spirited Blood Sweat & Tears meets Archie Bell musical backdrop on Light’s gem, “Pain Will Melt Away.” The radio-friendly ‘70s southern rocker “When Will You See Things My Way?” blends Light’s tasty guitars and formidable singing (akin to BS & T’s David Clayton Thomas), alongside Howe’s and bassist James Albright’s solid rhythms.

With Light’s and Howe’s impressive “Back to The Future” musical approach, Southeastern Virginia’s all-original Planet Full of Blues features one enthusiastic global mix of rock, funk and R&B.

ERIC SARDINAS AND BIG MOTOREric Sardinas and Big MotorFavored Nations FN2990-2www.ericsardinas.com

Yet another young guitarist by age six, Floridian Eric Sardinas was inspired early on by Elmore James, Charlie Patton, gospel and rock & roll. Born left-handed, he has mastered his rather unique amplified dobro technique as a righty.

All over this fourth CD, the two major guitar influences Sardinas wears like a badge of honor are certified legends Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher. From drummer Patrick Caccia’s relentless snare drum attack to Sardinas’s Delta meets Middle Eastern intro, the hard blues rocking “All I Need” rhythmically resembles a bastardized “Train Kept a Rollin’.” After Sardinas growls, “You’ve got to keep my motor running,” he wastes no time releasing some Winter-like slide guitar activity. Sardinas is clearly “Gone to Memphis” more so for the musical vibe that the city represents. Mixing Dave Shulz’s organ and a soulful female vocal trio with his spicy resonator guitar, Sardinas creates a late ‘60s rocking Stones vibe ala “Sticky Fingers.” Sardinas takes on Gallagher’s old Tony Joe White composition “As The Crow Flies,” melding Indian and blues elements together into driving southern rock. It’s a sweet roots-oriented version that alternates between Delta acoustic and percolating rocker. Elvis Presley’s ‘70s hit “Burning Love” receives a countrified R&B makeover, initiated by the returning female vocalists singing inspiring a capella harmonies behind Sardinas’s vocals and dobro strumming. Sardinas has carved out a rather invigorating country, blues and rock musical groove on his latest eleven-track entry.

JOHN MAYALLLive at The Marquee 1969Eagle Records ER20129-2www.johnmayall.com

Never let it be said that British blues Godfather John Mayall hasn’t had an adventurous spirit. The well-known performer, who taught himself guitar and boogie-woogie piano by age fourteen, formed his popular Bluesbreakers outfit in the ‘60s. Through that band’s hallowed halls have passed guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green and many more. Stylistically, Mayall’s

music has run the gamut between Marshall amplified electric blues to jazz-blues fusion. Going drummerless in 1969, he added acoustic finger-style guitarist Jon Mark, bassist Steve Thompson, and saxophonist/flautist Johnny Almond to his radical acoustic musical mix. The embryonic bluesy journey of “Can’t Sleep This Night” begins with Mark’s ascending country blues guitar line. When Thompson’s solid bass falls in, the hypnotic beat is cast. Mayall lays down some rich blues harmonica blasts, followed closely by Almond’s well-placed sax accents and jazzy riffing. The slow minor blues, “So Hard to Share,” shifts gears midway with Almond’s horn excursions and Mayall dueting vocally his rhythmic guitar fills. “California” are two extended jazz-blues jams initiated by Thompson’s funky bass figure, allowing Almond on flute and Mayall on blues harp to lay down some mighty fine unison melody lines.

This seven-track companion piece to Mayall’s recent two CD release The Masters features lively renditions recorded at London’s famous Marquee Club on June 30th, 1969.






The Attucks Discovery Music Series

Photos by Cathy Dixson

JASON RICCI & NEW BLOODRocket Number 9Electo Groove EGRCD502www.jasonricci.com

Jason Ricci - vocals, harmonica, and nose flute; Shawn Starsky - guitar and back-up vocals; Todd “Buck Weed” Edmunds - bass, clavinet, hells bells, and back-up vocals; Ron Sutton - drums and back-up vocals; Michael Peloquin - tenor sax on track 4

Jason Ricci continues to stretch the boundaries of blues, stretch our imaginations, and stretch the limit of how the harmonica can be played. The band is tight. Ricci can take them on a wild ride from low down blues to exotic experimental jazz--sometimes in the same song--and they stay right with him.

“The Way I Hurt Myself” is the most well crafted blues song I believe I have ever heard. Like the rest of the CD, it has a theme of past addiction. As Ricci so eloquently puts it, “… even though I’m nine years sober, I still feel a sinister force battling for my soul… although it comes in other forms than it used to.” It’s basically an ode to self-destruction and to people that seem to have that need genetically imprinted within themselves. I’ll drink to that! But anyway, this song…. it’s in the key of C minor. Ricci starts out with a soulful harmonica solo, followed by slow smoking vocals, intermixed with searing guitar fills, then a poignant guitar solo, more emotion-drenched vocals, then the money shot--a classic Ricci harmonica solo (Bb harp in 3rd position) complete with overblows, overbends, octaves, and finally a musical quote of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”…Lord, it will make you smack yo’ mama!

Jack Campbell

THE MANNISH BOYSLowdown Feelin’Delta Groove Productions DGPCD122www.themannishboys.com

A veritable plethora of artists contribute to this remarkable CD by The Mannish Boys (arguably the third band in music history to use that name.) The lineup follows: Vocals - Finis Tasby, Randy Chortkoff, Little Sammy Davis, Johnny

Dyer, Cynthia Manley, Bobby Jones, Frank Goldwasser, Jessica Williams; Harmonica - Randy Chortkoff, Little Sammy Davis, Lynwood Slim, Al Blake; Guitar - Kid Ramos, Fred Scribner, Junior Watson, Frank Goldwasser, Kirk Fletcher; Bass - Ronnie James Weber, Tom Leavey; Piano – Fred Kaplan; Trumpet - Scot Steen; Saxophone - David Woodford; Drums - Richard Innes.

With all these fine musicians cranking out 17 cuts, what’s not to like? All of these guys were somehow interlaced throughout their music careers. You know - this guy played with that one, who played with that cat over there, who used to play with blah blah blah…. In a word, they are TIGHT!

One particularly nice feature of this effort is that it is not a jam band CD. You might think with all these guys all in one place to produce a CD, the result might be long drawn out solos. Au contraire! The longest song is “Rude Groove” at 7:50 and it happens to be one of my favorite cuts. The focus seems to be everyone contributing to put out solid blues songs that have a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Most cuts are between 3 and 5 minutes. Very listenable! It holds lots of different styles, beats and chord changes. If you can’t find what you like on this CD, just give up listening to music!

Jack Campbell

DARRELL NULISCHGoin’ Back To DallasSevern Records CD0041www.darrellnulisch.com

Who is Darrell Nulisch you might ask? I can tell you Nulisch is a bluesman of the first degree. And what a resume he carries! Born in Texas in 1952, Nulisch was inspired by

Otis Redding, Jimmie Vaughan, and Al Green. He was a founding member of Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, and played with both Mike Morgan & the Crawl and Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters for a time. Even the great James Cotton hired him as a vocalist when his voice started to wane. He is truly a man that has paid his dues. Here are the musicians performing on this CD: Darrell Nulisch - vocals and harmonica; Jon Moeller – guitar; Kevin Anker – keyboards; Steve Gomes – bass; Robb Stupka – drums; David Earl - second guitar on track nine.

Four of the songs were written by Nulisch and his long-time songwriting partner and bass player, Steve Gomes. The balance are covers of Jimmy Reed, Albert Collins, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, and Freddie King.

This release was recorded live in the studio, which gives the whole recording a nice, gritty edge. This is late night, last call, that lady is starting to look good, dirty dancin’, bumpin’ and grindin’, let’s get out of here, low down blues, roots music. Nulisch’s silky smooth, honey sweet, rough as sandpaper, got-plenty-in-reserve vocals deliver just the right punch on every cut. Never does his voice or any one instrument overpower the musical effort. His harmonica playing is tasteful, poignant, well phrased, and just in time. Lucky for us, he plays it on almost every cut.

Jack Campbell

M.S.G.-THE ACOUSTIC BLUES TRIO Done Spoke My MindIndependent Releasewww.acousticbluesmsg.com

A common misconception about the blues is that it makes you feel bad. M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio understands the uplifting power that music has in any form and their second CD, Done Spoke My Mind, packs that kind of emotional wallop. The range

of sentiments from love, grief, reverence, outrage and LOL humor relates to what we all have in common. And isn’t that what the blues is all about? With a mix of traditional and original tunes, and an instrumental lineup that includes not only guitar and harmonica but rubboard, bicycle horn, tin cup, bones and even kazoo, Done Spoke My Mind varies widely in its arrangements, or as one of the songs says, “It’s always something, unless it’s something else.” M.S.G. is based in Hampton and specializes in the Piedmont Blues style, which originated in Virginia and is closely related to folk music. The band’s name comes from their initials--Jackie Merritt on harmonica, Miles Spicer on guitar and Resa Gibbs on practically everything else. They trade off vocals with Resa’s deep dramatic tones perfectly offsetting the more playful styles of Jackie and Miles. “Mean Church People” features hilarious interplay between its two singers and a shout out to “Brother Pat.” “Penniless Rag” has the band passing the hat and pleading “give until it hurts, I want you to feel my pain!” “God Don’t Like It,” “Racetrack Blues” and “I Need More Trouble Like That” are critical of certain lifestyles while subtly celebrating them at the same time. The ambitious “The Katrina Flood” rewrites the traditional ballad “A Mighty Storm” into an indictment of those at fault in New Orleans. Contemporary in subject, yet traditional in form, M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio lives up to its mantra as the “non-toxic preservative of the blues.”

Paul Shugrue

Listen for songs from the album Done Spoke My Mind by M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio on Paul Shugrue’s new music show “Out of the Box” on Hampton Roads public radio 89.5 WHRV, Mon.-Thurs. from 7-9 pm, Sat. afternoon from 1-5 pm, and on-demand at www.whrv.org/outofthebox

CD Reviews

“Great songs, great arrangements, and some stellar musicianship. This is a tight CD that should definitely be on any playlist.” - Gordon Bulcock, Blues Festival Guide E-Guide Editor

A New Shade Of Blue For The 21st Century

On Sale Now! CD Baby iTunes Digstation Napster

For more information please call 804-815-3016 or visit: www.planetfullofblues.com

Imagine Stevie Ray Vaughan colliding with Blood, Sweat, & Tears and you get a new shade of blue for the 21st Century. The debut release of Planet Full Of Blues offers 11 compelling and intelligent originals infused with heart-stopping Kansas City horns and spacey Hammond organ.

New Release!

Guitar player with Billy Thompson - Gregg Sullivan who used to play with

Blood Sweat and Tears.

NBN Fundrasier and Birthday

Celebration for NBN president “Big Dog” van Elburg at Goodfellas 8/08

Photos by Cathy Dixson

Henry ButlerBilly Thompson opened for Henry Butler

Sharrie Williams

Robin Rogers opened for Sharrie Williams

Don’t miss Guy Davis Nov.1st. and

Otis Taylor Nov. 8th.

MSG-The Acoustic Blues Trio will open for Otis Taylor


November 2008 BLUES CALENDARCities: (N) Norfolk…(VB) Virginia Beach…(P) Portsmouth...(C) Chesapeake…(S) Suffolk…(H) Hampton…(R) Richmond…(NN) Newport News…(W) Williamsburg…(Y) Yorktown

For Listings to the NBN Calendar please contact: Ron Parker [email protected] [For Mid-Atlantic listings and links to local band websites, visit www.natchelblues.org]

Saturday 1Chris Duarte - Jewish Mother (VB) 9 pmGuy Davis – Attucks Theater (N) 7:30 pmDoad (band) - Green Parrot (VB)H.M. Johnson Band - Waterside (N) 6:30 pmMichael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark – J.M. Randall’s (W)Monday 3Billy Thompson - H2O (VB) Wednesday 5Billy Thompson - Green Parrot Grille (VB)Thursday 6James Hunter, Susan Tedeschi - Sandler Center for the Performing Arts (VB) 7:30 pmH.M. Johnson Band - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Denny Fohringer - Savannahs (w/ Slippin’ & Slidin’) (C) Friday 7Bobby Messano – Jewish Mother (VB) 9 pm Doad - Abbey Road (VB)H.M. Johnson Band - Battered Women’s Shelter Benefit (TBA)John Baldwin (solo acoustic) - Bistro 501/The Broken Egg Bistro (C)Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - Goodfellas (H)Black White Blues - Savannah’s (C)Saturday 8Otis Taylor Band (Opening Act: MSG-the Acoustic Blues Trio) – Attucks Theater (N) 7:30 pmThe Nighthawks (Opening Act: RYLO) - Jewish Mother (VB) 9 pmBobby Messano – J.M. Randall’s (W)Billy Thompson (winner of the DC IBC contest) IBC / DC Winnerfest@ the Surf Club (Hyattsville, MD)Straight Up Blues Band - Greet Parrot (VB)Grant Austin Taylor - Waterside Center Stage (N) 6:30 pm Sunday 9H.M. Johnson Band – Boneshakers (VB)Monday 10 Billy Thompson - H2O (VB)Wednesday 12Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark – J.M. Randall’s (W)Denny Fohringer (solo) - Green Parrot Grille (VB) Thursday 13H.M. Johnson Band - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Doad (band) - Savannah’s (C) Friday 14Doad (band) - Tanner’s Creek (N)Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Saturday 15RYLO - Marker 20 (H) Shakedown - Enzo’s (Short Pump, R)Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - Waterside (N) 6:30 pmBlack White Blues - J.M. Randall’s (W)Sunday 16Blues Empacts – Boneshakers (VB)Monday 17Billy Thompson - H2O (VB)Tuesday 18Doad (solo) - Green Parrot (VB) Thursday 20H.M. Johnson Band - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Denny Fohringer (solo) - Green Parrot Grille (VB) Friday 21Robin Rogers – J.M. Randall’s (W) 8pmBuddy Guy - Sandler Center for the Performing Arts (VB) 8 pmDoad (band) - Green Parrot (VB) John Baldwin (solo acoustic) - Bistro 501/The Broken Egg Bistro (C)Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - Luxury Brown’s (VB) 6:30 pmBlack White Blues – Schooner’s CNU Village (NN)

Saturday 22Bobby “BlackHat” Walters & Friends - College of William & Mary Swing/Dance Club (TBA)Shakedown – J.M. Randall’s (W)Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - Bleu Bistro (R)Sweet Papa & the Too Hot Blues Crew - Green Parrot (VB)Monday 24Billy Thompson - H2O (VB) Thursday 27 H.M. Johnson Band - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Friday 28Michael Clark Band featuring Tracy Clark - Capt. Ron’s (N) Saturday 29Doad (duo) - Baron’s Pub (P)H.M. Johnson Band - O’Sullivan’s Wharf (N)Black White Blues - Redbones (C)Denny Fohringer - Savannahs (w/the SpeedBumps) (C)

Show R e v i e w

EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT!Open Mic Night w/Don Butcher

@ Goodfellas (H)Open Mic @ Boar’s Nest (N)

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT!Open Mic @ Hat Tricks (H)

EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT!Open Mic @ Tribeca (NN)

Open Mic @ Brass Lantern (H)

EVERY 3rd FRIDAY! 6-8:30 pmOpen Mic @ Quality Music Ctr. (C)

(No drum kits, mostly acoustic/some amplified.)

EVERY SATURDAY! 2-4 pmOpen Session @ Quality Music Ctr. (C)

The Nighthawks Live at Town Point Park

[Norfolk, VA - August 31, 2008]

Yes, it wasn’t their usual cramped and sweaty bar backdrop, but Maryland’s own legendary Nighthawks still brought their blues game face out Sunday evening at the August 31st finale of the AT&T Town Point Sunday Music Series. With drummer/vocalist Pete Ragusa’s and harp player/vocalist Marc Wenner’s 30 plus years musical alliance still going strong, the band launched into a ninety-minute set that touched on all facets of their storied career.

How about soul and R&B? They seriously worked over the Temptation’s “I Can’t Get Next to You,” and James Brown’s “I Go Crazy” with soulful vocals spread out all ’round. Yes, Ragusa, Wenner, guitarist Paul Bell, and bassist Johnny Castle all took major turns around their respective vocal mics. Their harmonies were well thought out, bringing new life to the cool and funky blues “Where Do You Go When You Go Without Me?” “Ninety Nine Pounds (of Natural Born Goodness)” was a motivating Humble Pie gem, as the group laid out a dance groove to get the downtown blues loving audience up and shaking.

Tackling ‘50s rockabilly, lead guitarist Bell brought down the house with his smooth as silk, dead-on Telecaster picking on Carl Perkins’ “Put Your Cat Clothes On” and the Elvis Presley classic “Mystery Train.” Virtuoso harmonica man Wenner showed off his natural groove, blowing gritty, picture perfect harp throughout the evening, especially on the cranking J. Geils instrumental “Whammer Jammer,” “Blue Moon in Your Eye” and “Sugar Never Was So Sweet.”

Other energetic tunes included “Trying to Get to You,” “She Ain’t Giving Up None of That Stuff” and “Honest I Do.” For a rousing finale, The Nighthawks returned to make Elmore James proud, as they launched into the blues harp dripping, slide-infested nugget “Shake Your Moneymaker.”

Alan Kurzer

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Photos by Deborah Antonucci

J.D. Silvia accompanies a young harmonica enthusiast.

Bill Cann & Jack Campbell demonstrate how to hold a harmonica.

NBN Members conducted 3 classes and handed out 144 harmonicas at the Children’s Festival. J.D. Silvia accompanied on guitar while Jack Campbell and Bill Cann played, talked about and demonstrated harmonica technique.





Interview with Candye Kane To say that East Los Angeles bred blues diva Candye Kane is a survivor is a gross understatement. By nine, she had learned to shoplift from her mother and eight years later had given birth to her first child. Ms. Kane’s life journey took her from the wild world of adult entertainment to the exciting L.A. punk rock movement in the early eighties. With eight solo releases, including 2007’s impressive Guitar’d and Feathered, she has toured the world over, giving up her time and energy to many charitable

organizations. Diagnosed earlier this year with pancreatic cancer, Kane underwent an eight-hour operation (whipple procedure) on April 18th, and by mid-June was well enough to do a tour of Europe. I spoke to Ms. Kane following her energetic set with the Blues Caravan at the Blues at the Beach Festival on September 12th.

Blue lovers this evening who witnessed you belting out “I Could Fall for You” would be shocked to have known about your marathon surgery a mere five months ago. How are you doing, Candye?

I feel okay, you know. I had an iodine IV MRI the day before yesterday where they shot me up with iodine and they’ll let me know in a few days. I was really messed up for a few months after surgery. I couldn’t do anything. It was really hard for me, but I knew when I got strong enough to get on my bike again, that I’d be better.

Most musicians have little or no health care available. Your friends around the globe have stepped up to help you though this difficult time.I’ve been so blessed, because I have so many friends that are so wonderful all around the world. It was pretty overwhelming at first, people were so helpful. I’m lucky. It’s just amazing how people all over the country have rallied together to help me. There are basic interventions that have also helped like Singers.org that are wonderful.

Haven’t musicians also raised money for you with benefit concerts?In Jersey, Gina Sicilia did one that Bob Margolin played on. They did one in Seattle, Germany, a couple in San Diego, L.A. with all my friends out there, and Denver, Colorado with Jody Woodward.

Who were you listening to as you were growing up? What I listened to was on the radio, so I liked Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Carly Simon. That’s how I started out. Then Ronstadt made this record featuring a bunch of songwriters, like Hank Williams. Once I discovered Williams, then I started discovering all kinds of hillbilly music, the Carter Family and Kitty Wells. I started out singing hillbilly music and I do yodel.

You’re also into country & western music, trailing back from your East L.A. days with all the musical diversity at that time. I was really into country back in the ‘80s, where you could see all kinds of bands on one show. You could see Los Lobos, Dwight Yoakum, James Harman, The Paladins and me on one show. It was a really wonderful time to be in music. Everybody was steeped in roots music.

You might’ve been an opera singer, if not for the birth of your son Evan.In my teens I was really into pop music. I had a short-lived scholarship to USC Music Conservatory when I was fifteen. They wanted me to be an opera singer, so I was taking opera lessons there. But then I got pregnant with my son Evan and that put some of my career goals on hold for a little bit. As soon as I was able to I started playing music and putting bands together. Evan grew up on stage and backstage in bars, sitting in with Katie Webster who gave him his first piano lesson when he was six years old.

Describe the play about your life that will be premiering in San Diego. It is a multi-media thing from my book called “The Toughest Girl Alive.” We’re doing it in

January at the Diversionary Theatre in San Diego. The head of the San Diego Ballet, Javier Velasco, adapted it to the stage. We’re putting on a four-day run of the play. There’s a video show where they show a lot of old footage. In the different chapters of my book, they’ll be going to the relevant songs for each. It’s kind of done like the “Vagina Monologues.” The female actor will play all the female characters like my Mom and my drunken aunt, while the male actor will play my Dad and all the male characters.

You’ve put your heart behind the Netherlands-based group “United By Music” who work with people with intellectual disabilities. How did that originate?Well, there is a man who’s a big blues fan in Holland named Joris van Wijngaarden, who came and saw me and hired me for a private party. He’s a big financial manager for the second biggest health care group in the Netherlands. They really take care of the sick there and are taxed quite a lot for it. At the party, we played at a bigger event, but I went in to check out what these special kids were doing. At my show I noticed that these same special kids were standing by the side of the stage, so I called them up during the end of the show to sing with me on “Everybody Needs Love.” Wijngaarden then got this inspired idea that we should do a project with me and these kids who’re people with intellectual disabilities between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five. We have hoped to take it worldwide. It’s a really beautiful project, such a mitzvah.

Where did you sing alongside the legendary Ray Charles?That was at the Cognac Blues Festival, which was one of his last performances. Ray Charles died not too long after that. He was also on the festival, which featured me and Otis Rush. I’ve been so blessed to play with so many amazing people and open for so many amazing people.

You also performed for the President of Italy at the French Embassy in Rome. I was very popular in France. I do a lot of shows there and have recorded some songs in French. I also have appeared on the Prime Minister Mitterand’s son’s TV show.

About eight years ago, I was hired by Chanel and had also performed at the Cannes Film Festival. The French ambassador was at one of those parties and hired me to play a big event sponsored by Cartier.

Describe the genesis of the Blues Caravan, including your excellent guitarist Laura Chavez and your future daughter-in-law Dani Wilde?The Blues Caravan has been really fun. I did the first one with Sue Foley and Ana Popovic. Sue Foley and I have been friends for a long time. She’s the one who put me up with my guitarist Laura Chavez. Sue is my favorite female guitar player bar none. She’s the best. I was on Antone’s Records the same time as Sue. We’ve done a few tours together, including the “Two Texas Women and

the Blues” tours with LouAnn Barton. By the time the Blues Caravan came around, it was actually my idea. I told Ruf Records that you need to start your own blues review show like Clifford Antone did and have all the girls on your label come together and play. So I did the first one. It was a lot of fun. This one with Deborah (Coleman) and Dani has been really special, because that’s where my son met Dani. Originally we wanted Dani to be my guitar player. So I had Ruf send Evan to Amsterdam. I had a show there and I wanted Dani to sit in. Well Dani wasn’t ready to be my guitar player, but apparently she was ready to be my daughter-in-law. Because Evan and Dani fell in love at the same time, Sue Foley called me up and said you’ve got to see this girl Laura Chavez. You’re going to love her. She’s perfect for the Blues Caravan. So I called up Laura, who was playing in the Lara Price Band. She quit Price and it was her loss and our gain. Laura’s an amazing and humble girl, too. It’s like I never had a daughter and this year I’ve gotten two daughters, Dani and Laura.

Thanks for spending a little time with us, Candye. Stay well out there on the road.

Alan Kurzer

Please send your donations to:Candye Kane Cancer Fund, 315 S. Hwy 101, #47, Encinitas, CA 92024


Thanks to the following new members or renewals over the last couple of

months. Your support is helping to keep the Natchel’ Blues Network and blues

music in Hampton Roads alive!

Lynn AllredCarla Hope AndersenBilly ArmstrongLinda P. AsheRobert A. BaileyEllen BarryThom BronezStuart & Beth Burnley, Hermitage Farms NurseryWalter CampJudy CarsonAlonzo Cherry & Ann Stephens-CherrySteve Cofer & Diane Chesnick-CoferWayne CranfordAlan & Valerie Daly

NEW NBN MEMBERS & RENEWALSKim DaughertyLinda DouglasJanee & Will EdwardsCarol EvansLinda FlanneryGary GarnesAndy & Patty GreggBustea GrubbPam HamannBruce Harlow, The Original RhondelsStephanie & John HartFrank W. & Thelma HodgesJohn B. HoltDavid & Cynthia HorenStan Houk & Carla ParkEmma InmanChristopher D. JonesDylan C. JonesLoretta KahnJohn D. McDonald

Nancie T. MilliganRuth & Tim Morgan, Ruth and Tim EnterprisesPaul O’KeefeRobert O’NealKevin PeekAnn RabsonPaula RosatiScoop RoseRobin R. ShaversCarmen SilmonGary TateGary Thon, Blues Cats (NBN Band)Carol VaughnPatricia VedomskeBobbi WaldropLaurie White & Jim HerleySteve & Anita WhiteGregory & Carithia WilliamsClarence WilsonShar Wolff & Bruce KincaidRoland Young

Honorary SponsorsDiane Carl & Kenny Lupton, Goodfellas

Scotty Miller, Jewish Mother

Stuart Burnley, Hermitage Farms Nursery

Walter T. Camp, State Certified Mediator

Betz Girouard, WhirledVisions Production Studios

Bruce Harlow, The Original Rhondels

Deborah Mann, City of Norfolk Cultural Affairs

Jeff Miller, Dirt Cheap Blues Dance Club

Danny Morgan, The Janitors (NBN Band)

Paul Puckett, Beacon Wealth Advisors

NBN CORPORATE MEMBERSDaryl Roadcap, Seven Cities Electric, Inc.

Ruth & Tim Enterprises, LLC

Eric Stevens, Locks Pointe / Hodad’s

William G. Sykes, Patent Attorney

Steve Wilkins, Wilkins & Associates, Inc.

WHRO

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Alan Kurzer and Candye Kane

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CAPTAIN ZIG-ZAG

Lowell Fulson: His career stretched nearly six full decades, starting in 1939. It revealed his remarkable facility in adapting to emerging trends, beginning with those urbane ‘40s combos. Oklahoma-born Lowell Fulson later caught the raw ‘50s R&B bug; by the ‘60s he was dealing in Soul, and he later made his mark with Funk.

Blessed with natural talent, Fulson possessed a harsh, desolate voice. Seldom had despair and loneliness been configured with such utter believability. 1954’s

“Reconsider Baby” on Checker Records was an instant classic, followed by “Lonely Hours,” “Trouble Trouble,” “Took A Long Time,” and “Rollin’ Blues.” Other towering performances included “Blue Shadows” and “I Want To Know.”

Fulson switched over to Jules Bihari’s Kent Records in 1964, but got blindsided when they re-spelled his name as ‘Fulsom.’ Some exemplary Kent sides include “Just One More Time,” “Every Time It Rains,” “Key To My Heart,” “No More,” and “My Aching Back.” He had experienced his first major success in 1946 with “3 O’Clock Blues”--later immortalized by B.B. King as “3 O’Clock In The Morning.” Fulson’s version of Memphis Slim’s “Every Day I Have The Blues” inspired B.B. King’s eventual signature tune.

His final makeover occurred in 1967 when Fulson recorded “Tramp”--co-written with West Coast buddy Jimmy McCracklin. This funk-saturated anthem became an international sensation when covered by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. Fulson continued performing and recording right until a few years prior to his 1999 death. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1993.

Jean Shepard: A Country music icon and staunch traditionalist, Jean Shepard also holds several Country & Western firsts: first female vocalist to sell a million records, first to become a Grand Ole Opry member (1955), and first to overdub her vocals on records.

Shepard’s role was as crucial as Kitty (“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”) Wells in laying the groundwork for the distaff gender to

become a force to be reckoned with in C&W. The California-based Shepard, along with Wanda Jackson and Rose Maddox, comprise the female pillars behind the influential Bakersfield Sound.

As a teenager, Shepard was discovered singing with The Melody Ranch Girls by the legendary Hank Thompson, which led to a 1952 Capitol Records contract and a 15-year run of chart toppers commencing with 1953’s “A Dear John Letter” (partnered with Ferlin Husky). Other hits included “Beautiful Lies,” “Many Happy Hangovers,” “Have Heart Will Love,” “Satisfied Mind,” and “Second Fiddle.” Shepard remained a top-ranked artist well into the 1970’s. Actually, 1973’s “Slippin’ Away” might just rank as her biggest success. But life wasn’t always uplifting. She lost first husband, Country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins, in the infamous 1963 airplane crash that killed Patsy Cline.

While record sales have their importance, the enduring Shepard legacy is how she convincingly tugged at our heartstrings while imparting a certain defiant tone that went against the grain of the downtrodden female stereotype. The extent of her peers’ respect is evidenced by Jim Reeves’ oft-repeated remark: “All the girl singers should sound like Jean Shepard. She always hits her notes, holds them and wraps them around an audience like nobody else can.”

An ongoing series of revealing portraits of relatively obscure

artists who dared to be different, by Canadian resident and blues

aficionado Gary Tate. Gary welcomes your comments at

[email protected]


Blues HeavenISAAC HAYES, the pioneering singer, songwriter

and musician whose relentless “Theme From Shaft”

won Academy and Grammy awards, died on August

10th. He was 65. A family member found Hayes

unresponsive near a treadmill and he was pronounced

dead about an hour later at Baptist East Hospital in

Memphis. The apparent cause of death was from a

stroke.

In the early 1970s, Hayes laid the groundwork for

disco, for what became known as urban-contemporary

music and for romantic crooners like Barry White.

And he was rapping before there was rap. His career

hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of

Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man

on the animated TV show “South Park.”

The album Hot Buttered Soul made Hayes a star in 1969. His shaven

head, gold chains and sunglasses gave him a compelling visual image. Next came

“Theme From Shaft,” a No. 1 hit in 1971 from the film Shaft starring Richard

Roundtree. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for

another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys.

Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Hayes

was born in 1942 in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., about 40 miles north of

Memphis. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mother died and

his father took off when he was 1 1/2. The family moved to Memphis when he

was 6. He held down various low-paying jobs, including shining shoes on the

legendary Beale Street in Memphis. He also played gigs in rural Southern juke

joints where at times he had to hit the floor because someone began shooting.

A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis

as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others.

He also played saxophone.

He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David

Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as “Hold On, I’m

Coming” and “Soul Man.” All this led to his recording contract.

CHICAGO HARMONICA ACE LITTLE ARTHUR DUNCAN passed away

August 20, 2008 at Kindred Hospital in Northlake, IL from complications from

brain surgery. He was 74. He had been incapacitated for months with little hope

of recovery. Born February 5, 1934 in Indianola, Mississippi, Arthur moved to

Chicago at age 16, where he heard and befriended Little Walter, who inspired him

to take up the harmonica. While holding down a construction day job, he began

performing around Chicago with John Brim, Floyd Jones, and Hip Lankchan. He

would later own and operate the Artesia Lounge on Lake Street, which moved to

West Madison Street and reopened as Backscratcher’s Social Club.

Owning a club gave Duncan a regular place to perform, and he became a

popular neighborhood attraction on the West Side. Twist Turner produced some of

Duncan’s first recordings, which appeared first on cassette and then on Cannonball

Records’ Blues Across America series. As Arthur’s stature grew in Chicago, he

recorded more, cutting two beautiful CDs for Delmark (Singin’ With The Sun and Live

At Rosa’s Blues Lounge), and one for Random Chance (Live In Chicago).

He was a great vocalist, with tremendous power and expressiveness; and his

sparse harmonica was always on the money. He specialized in third position and

chromatic harmonica. His final band included Illinois Slim, Rick Kreher, and Twist

Turner. He had a warm and gracious personality, and his passing leaves a huge hole

in the Chicago Blues scene, as he was one of a handful of the dwindling old school

harmonica masters.

GUITARIST/VOCALIST PHIL GUY, the younger brother of the legendary Buddy

Guy, passed away Aug. 20 at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, IL, after a battle

with kidney and liver cancer. He was 68.

Born April 28, 1940 in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Phil learned to play guitar as a

child. He followed in Buddy’s footsteps, playing after him with Baton Rouge artists

Big Poppa and Raful Neal. He recorded as accompanist for his brother in 1957, for

Raful Neal around 1958, and for Slim Harpo in the mid-‘60s. He joined his brother’s

band in Chicago in 1969, and has been based there ever since.

He has worked and recorded with many of the city’s leading artists, such as

his brother, Junior Wells, Byther Smith, and Jimmy Dawkins. Phil began focusing

his efforts on advancing his own musical career during the ‘80s and he developed a

solid reputation as a tough, electrified Chicago blues guitarist. He toured all around

the world; and though he never achieved the fame or recognition that his brother did,

he was considered a star in his own right. His recordings are numerous and appear on

labels such as JSP, Wolf, Isabel, and Red Lightning.

NAPPY BROWN DIES AT AGE 78. Nappy left us on September 20, 2008. He went

peacefully in his sleep. Nappy Brown, one of the last remaining classic R&B vocalists

and blues shouters, is featured on the cover and in the lead article in a recent issue

of Living Blues magazine. The article chronicles Brown’s life from his birth in 1929

in Charlotte, NC as well as his highly successful singing career, which began with a

series of hit recordings in the mid-‘50s.

During his heyday, in the mid to late ‘50s, Nappy was a prolific recording

artist for Savoy Records and a much-in-demand stage performer. During that period

he traveled and performed with Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Little

Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Richard, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Eddie Cleanhead

Vinson, and T-Bone Walker.

He provided groundbreaking hit songs for other artists, one of his biggest

being “Night Time Is The Right Time,” which was recorded and made famous by Ray

Charles in 1958. Nappy Brown was active as a performer until the end, performing

until his illness was too much.

His last CD was recorded with a group of younger musicians with an abiding

knowledge of and respect for Nappy’s music and the era of its greatest success.

Guitarists Sean Costello and Junior Watson, among others, provided superb backing

for Nappy on Long Time Coming, his first studio recording in many years, which was

released by Blind Pig Records on September 25, 2007. Said an exultant Nappy at the

end of the recording sessions, “This is the best record I have done since 1955.”


CD WINNERS

NBN DrawingOnce a month we will draw the name

of a new/renewing member for a FREE CD

September – Linda FlanneryOctober - Bustea Grubb

Where U can Hear the BLUESWHRV 89.5 FM Blues Stage with Melvin Van Peebles Thursday @ Midnight

Out of the Box with Paul Shugrue Monday-Thursday 7-9 pm, Sat. 1-5 pm

A Shot of the Blues with Paul Shugrue Friday 8-10 pm Blues Before Sunrise with Steve Cushing Sunday 1-6 am

WHOV 88.1 FM Nothin’ But the Blues Wednesday 7-10 pm

WFOS 88.7 FM Who’s Got the Blues with Richie Babb 3rd Sunday of month 4-7 pm Blues Traffic Jam Monday-Friday 3-7 pm

Natchel’ Blues Network Bands!!

Advertise in Blues News with a 1/4 page ad (usually $45) for only $30 per issue.

Provide us with the info and we will DESIGN the ad for you.

One picture only.

Ad must be pre-paid. Call Beth Jarock at 623-8559

NBN Members Discounts:

Birdland Music

10% Off

Records, Tapes, & Compact Discs Providence Square, Virginia Beach, VA

Captain Zig-Zag

Newsletter Advertisement Coupons

4704 Hampton Blvd.Norfolk, VA

(Unisex haircutting, across from ODU)

Goodfellas 10% Off Food only

50% Off Cover Charge for National Acts

13 E. Queens Way Hampton, VA

Quality Music Center 10% Off In-store Merchandise

300-A N. Battlefield Blvd.Chesapeake, VA 23320

The Jewish Mother 20% Off Food only

20% Off Cover Charge for National Acts

3108 Pacific Avenue Virginia Beach, VA

J.M. Randalls20% off Food only

2 for the Price of 1 Cover Charge for National Acts

4854-16 Longhill Rd.Williamsburg, VA 23188

Tidewater Friends of Folk $4 Off tickets for all blues acts

Brenda Barkley, Booking & Media Contact P.O. Box 1266, Suffolk, VA 23439-1266

757.538.3210 / 757.338.1358 cell

[Discounts applicable only when presenting valid NBN Membership Card]

NBN membership form is on the back page

Receive the bimonthly Blues News and the NBN Calendar.

Plus, enjoy discounts with your Membership Card at these participating area businesses:

Lynn AllredJohn AndyDeb Antonucci Linda Ashe Bob BaileyDale ButcherRicky Caballera Susie Caballera Bill CannAlonzo CherrySteve ClarkHenry Connolly Wayne Cranford John DemetrosJimmy Edlgo Janee EdwardsWillard Edwards Eileen ErmerDenny Fohringer Nick GalottiGary Garnes Dan Gauldin Lisa Gauldin Allen GrayRuth GrayDebra HanburyLaurie HarmonBob Haugland

HerbieDavid Horen Jim HurleyCharlie Jeckell Mark Johnson Martin JohnsonMike JohnsonDylan Jones Kathy JonesRandy Kanucson Jim Kidder Mike Kidder Bruce KincaidLoretta KoehlPaul KoehlBeverly Levinson Jan LindemanBob Mahan Deb Malenda Bernard Mayer Debbie Mayer Jim McCormack Kim McDonaldSharon MeachamJackie Merritt Nancy Miligan Bo Montague Lolita Norman

THANK YOU BLUES AT THE BEACH FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS!from Volunteer Co-Coordinators Diana “Hot Flash” Prather and Rudy Norman

What a great weekend! The Blues at the Beach Festival is the biggest annual event of NBN. The festival could not be accomplished without volunteers. Below is a list of those who donated their time, talents, sweat, and hard work. I apologize if I missed someone. Some volunteers worked more than one shift, and we

appreciate your commitment to NBN. Kudos to all! - Hot Flash

Richard Noyes Sheryl NoyesJeff Nuckols Bob O’NealRoss PagePaulaAmy PayneJim PayneBilly PotterShelly PotterKitty PressnellPaul PuckettMike Reed Lorena Rice Nick Rice Toby Rice Dan RogersTom ShawCarol SmithSarah Smith Bobby “BlackHat” Walters Joy WaltersPaul WarrenLaurie WhiteCarithia WilliamsGreg Williams Shar Wolff

10 11 www.natchelblues.org November/December 2008 Blues NewsBlues News November/December 2008 www.natchelblues.org

15th Annual Blues At The Beach Festival WRAP - UP

Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers, photo by Shar Wolff

Laura Chavez & Candye Kane, photo by Alan Grossman

Dani Wilde, photo by Alan Grossman

Deborah Coleman, photo by Alan Grossman

David Maxwell’s Maximum Bluesphoto by Shar Wolff

NBN raffle, Shar Wolff, photo by Bruce Kincaid

Grant Austin Taylor, photo by Alan Kurzer

Kenny Neal, photo by Bruce Kincaid

NBN

The Straight Up Blues BandJimmy Williams and Tommy Parker, photo by Bruce Kincaid

Lurrie Bell, photo by Alan Grossman

Harmonica Workshop with Bill Cann,

photo by Bruce Kincaid

Swing VA Dancers, photo by Bruce Kincaid

Scenes from the 15th Annual Blues at the Beach Festival

September 12-14, 2008 was a terrific weekend for the blues and the Natchel’ Blues Network! At 17th Street Park in Virginia Beach we were treated to some amazing talent. Artists included: Grant Austin Taylor, The Blues Caravan featuring Deborah Coleman, Candye Kane & Dani Wilde; The Bobby “BlackHat” Blues Band, The Sean Carney Band, The John Nemeth Band, The Lurrie Bell Band, Kenny Neal, The Straight Up Blues Band, David Maxwell’s Maximum Blues, and Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers.

Fantastic workshops were given as well! On Saturday we were treated to a Dance Workshop by Swing Virginia and were educated by the harmonica/guitar duo Bobby “BlackHat” & Larry B. Sunday’s harmonica workshop was presented by our own Bill Cann & Jack Campbell. Thanks also to the Jewish Mother for the post-festival entertainment—Deborah Coleman & Friends on Friday night and Michael Burks on Saturday night. This year was another highly successful Blues at the Beach Festival!

Sean Carney, photo by Alan Grossman Sean Carney,

photo by Alan Grossman

Guitar Player with David Maxwell’s band,

photo by Shar Wolff

Bill Cann and Jack Campbell Harmonica Workshop,

photo by Shar Wolff

NBN tent, photo by Bruce Kincaid

Candye Kane, photo by Alan Grossman

NBN’s MC Mark Johnson, photo by Alan Kurzer

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