tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70418844639929308292024-03-12T23:32:08.036-04:00JB BluesBlues music in the Detroit metropolitan areaJoe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-18398524509599143532016-08-31T15:45:00.000-04:002016-08-31T15:45:02.274-04:00Guitarist Jim McCarty shows hard-rocking side on new Cactus CD 'Black Dawn' <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim McCarty is well known as a blues and R&B guitarist, first appearing on the national scene in the mid-1960s as a member of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and performing later with the Detroit Blues Band and his current blues group Mystery Train.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But McCarty, who has earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Blues Society, has a hard rocking side as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although he in his sixth decade as a performer, McCarty demonstrates that he still has monster chops on the new “Black Dawn” CD by the reunited group <a href="http://www.cactusrocks.net/">Cactus</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim McCarty <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">(Photo by Steve Jessmore)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This is a <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; line-height: normal;">whole different ballgame,” </span>said McCarty, who has also been a member of The Rockets and the Buddy Miles Express. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original Cactus group formed in 1969, with McCarty on guitar and former Amboy Dukes frontman Rusty Day on vocals and harmonica joining the former rhythm section from Vanilla Fudge — drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tim Bogert — to form a lineup dubbed “the American Led Zeppelin” by Creem magazine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band released three albums — “Cactus” (1970), “One Way … Or Another” (1971) and “Restrictions” (1971) — before McCarty left the group at the end of 1971.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Members of the original group reunited in 2006 with McCarty, Appice and Bogert joined by vocalist Jimmy Kunes, who replaced the late Rusty Day. That year, the group released an album titled “Cactus V.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty left the band again in 2008, but returned in 2011 with Appice, Kunes, bassist Pete Bremy, and Randy Pratt on harmonica. Bogert retired from touring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty clearly enjoys the opportunity to rock out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I love playing with Carmine,” McCarty said. “When the band is on, it’s an ass-kicking band.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This album is not for the faint of heart. It rocks … hard.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbelxz3u-e1OMqbTnrhMpw4Lyu2Cta73yXymk7-D739gSANgIbfeRDL2ns17caV97j4p9vuas6HgTH89PvxmpT3tDt-W9mr8wEXMZ7OQU45S-wjhkw3BS-n6EmjaUWj1NZEnoAGfOBp8/s1600/13173755_10154181482312156_3078416939727389224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbelxz3u-e1OMqbTnrhMpw4Lyu2Cta73yXymk7-D739gSANgIbfeRDL2ns17caV97j4p9vuas6HgTH89PvxmpT3tDt-W9mr8wEXMZ7OQU45S-wjhkw3BS-n6EmjaUWj1NZEnoAGfOBp8/s400/13173755_10154181482312156_3078416939727389224_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seven new songs on the album are penned by McCarty, Appice and Kunes. McCarty and Appice wrote the other original tune, “The Last Goodbye.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: normal;">The title tune, </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Black Dawn,” touches on a modern subject.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s a commentary on how we’ve destroyed the planet and now it’s come back to bite us in the butt,” McCarty said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CD also features two songs recorded by the original band circa 1970, an instrumental titled “Another Way Or Another,” and “C-70 Blues,” featuring Day on vocals. They were recently unearthed by Appice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’m not sure where Carmine found those,” McCarty said. “It’s been so long, I really don’t remember recording them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">When you listen to those (two songs) and the stuff from 2016, there’s really no energy drop. That, I think, is a pretty amazing thing. The stuff being done now by the band stands up energy wise to the stuff we did 40 years ago.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Black Dawn,” available Sept. 1, is the band’s first studio album in 10 years. The release will be<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #232323; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #232323; line-height: normal;">followed by a <a href="http://www.cactusrocks.net/Pages/tourdates.htm">mini tour</a> that includes a performance at <a href="http://www.themagicbag.com/concerts-magicbag/cactus-featuring-jim-mccarty-carmine-appice">The Magic Bag</a> in Ferndale on Sept. 17.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This one is, hands down, the best sounding CD the band has ever put out,” McCarty said. “On a lot of our (earlier) CDs, the playing was good but the recording quality and the overall sound left something to be desired. This CD sounds the way it is supposed to from an audio point of view. It’s our most mature work too.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty, 71, has dealt with some health issues, but is grateful that he is still able to perform at the highest level.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He plans to continue playing rock and blues guitar indefinitely.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’ll play as long as I can still play. That’s what I am here for, and that’s what I’ll do.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@yahoo.com</i></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-26592898180143734992016-07-11T09:04:00.001-04:002016-07-14T13:06:09.139-04:00Guitarist Jim McCarty continues to create new music<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s400/Jim+McCarty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guitarist Jim McCarty has two new releases debuting this summer.<br />
(Photo by Steve Jessmore)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Guitarist Jim McCarty has enjoyed a love affair with his Gibson </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Les Paul for decades.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been over 50 years since he began his recording career as a member of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the powerhouse band that produced hits such as "Devil with a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly," "Sock It to Me - Baby" and "Jenny Take a Ride."</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: times; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s320/McCarty+CD.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But McCarty, who just turned 71, isn’t living in the past. He remains a vibrant live performer and is still creating music and inspiring new generations of rock and blues guitarists.<br />“At this stage of the game, the physicality of the thing is the biggest issue,” McCarty said. “When you get to be my age, physical problems rear their ugly head.<br />“But, I love playing. That’s what I’m here to do and it never gets tiring.”<br />McCarty has two new releases debuting this summer.<br />“Jim McCarty and Friends II - Live From Callahan’s” will be celebrated with a CD release party on <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT99_com_zimbra_date" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;">July 15</span> at <a href="http://atcallahans.com/">Callahan’s Music Hal</a>l in Auburn Hills.<br />The new release by McCarty’s blues rock band <a href="http://www.cactusrocks.net/">Cactus</a>, “Black Dawn,” debuts in August, followed by a mini tour that includes a performance at the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Sept. 17.<br />“McCarty and Friends II” features McCarty recorded jamming live on stage with internationally known blues artists such as <a href="http://www.cocomontoyaband.com/">Coco Montoya</a>, <a href="http://tommycastro.com/">Tommy Castro</a>, <a href="http://www.joelouiswalker.com/">Joe Louis Walker</a>, <a href="http://www.nickmoss.com/">Nick Moss</a> and <a href="http://www.mooncat.org/">Jason Ricci</a>.<br />The impromptu jams took the musicians out of their comfort zone and produced some magical moments.<br />“When you’re jamming, you’re on the edge of the cliff and anything can happen,” McCarty said. “Most of these bands on the CD have one guitar with a keyboard player. With me, they have two guitars and there’s more energy and we punch each other up. Something exciting almost always happens.<br />“The track with Tommy Castro is a good example. He’s a big Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels fan and he just yelled out ‘key of C’ and started playing the ‘Jenny-Jenny/Good Golly Miss Molly’ thing off the top of his head. I said to myself, ‘Whoa!’ I didn’t even realize that was what he was doing until he started singing.<br />“Then, he took it up a key when he realized it was too low a key for him to sing. I thought it was great. We were walking on the edge of the cliff, but the band came into the new key balls out. It was like, ‘Boom!’”<br />McCarty describes the perfomance of “Everyday I Have the Blues” featuring <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2012/08/detroit-mourns-passing-of-johnnie.html">Johnnie Bassett</a> and McCarty’s longtime bandmate <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/detroit-blues-world-mourns-passing-of.html?spref=fb">Rick Stel</a> as “really special.” Both Bassett and Stel have passed on since the recording.<br />“Johnnie seemed like he was healthy as he could be that night,” McCarty said. “He was in good spirits and you can tell listening to that track that we had a lot of fun.”<br />McCarty, who is not to be confused with The Yardbirds drummer who shares his name, has had an extensive career that includes stints with the Buddy Miles Express, The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and his current group Mystery Train. He’s recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger.<br />In 1970-71, he played his first stint with the rock “super group” Cactus, dubbed “the “American Led Zeppelin” by Creem magazine.<br />The band reunited in 2006 (with former Savoy Brown frontman Jimmy Kunes replacing the late Rusty Day on vocals) and released the studio album “Cactus V.” McCarty left the band in 2008, but rejoined in 2011.<br />The new CD by the reunited Cactus has McCarty as excited as a school boy hearing the recess bell.<br />“This one is, hands down, the best sounding CD the band has ever put out,” McCarty said. “On a lot of our CDs, the playing was good but the recording quality and the overall sound left something to be desired. This CD sounds the way it is supposed to from an audio point of view. It’s our most mature work too.”<br />The current Cactus lineup features original members McCarty and drummer Carmine Appice, 69, who is also known for his work with Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to McCarty, they continue to rock hard.<br />“Nobody else mine and Carmine’s age are still doing this stuff and pulling it off,” McCarty said. “On the new CD, there are two tracks from 1970 on it. When you listen to those and the stuff from 2016, there’s really no energy drop. That, I think, is a pretty amazing thing. The stuff being done now by the band stands up energy wise to the stuff we did 40 years ago.”<br />McCarty plans to keep rocking as long as he can continue to play.<br />“At this stage of the game, you don’t have quite the energy you had when you were 25 or 30, but the trade off is there is more maturity and weight on the notes. You’re not playing quite as many notes, but they have more meaning.<br />“I’m happy to be in the position I’m in. I’m dealing with some physical stuff, but I can still play guitar and I’m grateful for that. That’s what I am here for, and that’s what I’ll do.”</span><br />
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@yahoo.com</i></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-83552297443837618152016-07-11T09:04:00.000-04:002016-07-14T12:58:51.174-04:00Guitarist Jim McCarty continues to create new music<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s400/Jim+McCarty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guitarist Jim McCarty has two new releases debuting this summer.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Guitarist Jim McCarty has enjoyed a love affair with his Gibson </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Les Paul for decades.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been over 50 years since he began his recording career as a member of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the powerhouse band that produced hits such as "Devil with a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly," "Sock It to Me - Baby" and "Jenny Take a Ride."</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: times; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s320/McCarty+CD.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But McCarty, who just turned 71, isn’t living in the past. He remains a vibrant live performer and is still creating music and inspiring new generations of rock and blues guitarists.<br />“At this stage of the game, the physicality of the thing is the biggest issue,” McCarty said. “When you get to be my age, physical problems rear their ugly head.<br />“But, I love playing. That’s what I’m here to do and it never gets tiring.”<br />McCarty has two new releases debuting this summer.<br />“Jim McCarty and Friends II - Live From Callahan’s” will be celebrated with a CD release party on <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT99_com_zimbra_date" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;">July 15</span> at <a href="http://atcallahans.com/">Callahan’s Music Hal</a>l in Auburn Hills.<br />The new release by McCarty’s blues rock band <a href="http://www.cactusrocks.net/">Cactus</a>, “Black Dawn,” debuts in August, followed by a mini tour that includes a performance at the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Sept. 17.<br />“McCarty and Friends II” features McCarty recorded jamming live on stage with internationally known blues artists such as <a href="http://www.cocomontoyaband.com/">Coco Montoya</a>, <a href="http://tommycastro.com/">Tommy Castro</a>, <a href="http://www.joelouiswalker.com/">Joe Louis Walker</a>, <a href="http://www.nickmoss.com/">Nick Moss</a> and <a href="http://www.mooncat.org/">Jason Ricci</a>.<br />The impromptu jams took the musicians out of their comfort zone and produced some magical moments.<br />“When you’re jamming, you’re on the edge of the cliff and anything can happen,” McCarty said. “Most of these bands on the CD have one guitar with a keyboard player. With me, they have two guitars and there’s more energy and we punch each other up. Something exciting almost always happens.<br />“The track with Tommy Castro is a good example. He’s a big Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels fan and he just yelled out ‘key of C’ and started playing the ‘Jenny-Jenny/Good Golly Miss Molly’ thing off the top of his head. I said to myself, ‘Whoa!’ I didn’t even realize that was what he was doing until he started singing.<br />“Then, he took it up a key when he realized it was too low a key for him to sing. I thought it was great. We were walking on the edge of the cliff, but the band came into the new key balls out. It was like, ‘Boom!’”<br />McCarty describes the perfomance of “Everyday I Have the Blues” featuring <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2012/08/detroit-mourns-passing-of-johnnie.html">Johnnie Bassett</a> and McCarty’s longtime bandmate <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/detroit-blues-world-mourns-passing-of.html?spref=fb">Rick Stel</a> as “really special.” Both Bassett and Stel have passed on since the recording.<br />“Johnnie seemed like he was healthy as he could be that night,” McCarty said. “He was in good spirits and you can tell listening to that track that we had a lot of fun.”<br />McCarty, who is not to be confused with The Yardbirds drummer who shares his name, has had an extensive career that includes stints with the Buddy Miles Express, The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and his current group Mystery Train. He’s recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger.<br />In 1970-71, he played his first stint with the rock “super group” Cactus, dubbed “the “American Led Zeppelin” by Creem magazine.<br />The band reunited in 2006 (with former Savoy Brown frontman Jimmy Kunes replacing the late Rusty Day on vocals) and released the studio album “Cactus V.” McCarty left the band in 2008, but rejoined in 2011.<br />The new CD by the reunited Cactus has McCarty as excited as a school boy hearing the recess bell.<br />“This one is, hands down, the best sounding CD the band has ever put out,” McCarty said. “On a lot of our CDs, the playing was good but the recording quality and the overall sound left something to be desired. This CD sounds the way it is supposed to from an audio point of view. It’s our most mature work too.”<br />The current Cactus lineup features original members McCarty and drummer Carmine Appice, 69, who is also known for his work with Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzfPuuJKqZJ7XJ8ZfMZ68DmXGg1TyiNB5hdMrj68AwLAaCuNH4ZPy7uu-VwzOWcl6oRpBROgKG3hbt7d2bDF9-T0tCZSqCXc5tvcSrr433zigtTp4eHaWPzNe2hL7_XgUud2TY9_kn3o/s1600/McCarty+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu4dP-a_GjiOqIsJmeDtgs2Iyzlx5cg7G2VptEQSnZ_EkwCI0tzm6zjb6ayl36GcIhnJKu2ytw7ytF5vWHfFdZM_xQ66bnIqPg10Yz_5NB48lGQ9Mos8n6erdd2-OycI8YunAmm1Be4k/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to McCarty, they continue to rock hard.<br />“Nobody else mine and Carmine’s age are still doing this stuff and pulling it off,” McCarty said. “On the new CD, there are two tracks from 1970 on it. When you listen to those and the stuff from 2016, there’s really no energy drop. That, I think, is a pretty amazing thing. The stuff being done now by the band stands up energy wise to the stuff we did 40 years ago.”<br />McCarty plans to keep rocking as long as he can continue to play.<br />“At this stage of the game, you don’t have quite the energy you had when you were 25 or 30, but the trade off is there is more maturity and weight on the notes. You’re not playing quite as many notes, but they have more meaning.<br />“I’m happy to be in the position I’m in. I’m dealing with some physical stuff, but I can still play guitar and I’m grateful for that. That’s what I am here for, and that’s what I’ll do.”</span><br />
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-57161974388503698192015-11-05T08:47:00.001-05:002015-11-05T08:47:50.809-05:00Collaboration produces new sounds from Luther Badman Keith<div style="font-size: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the opening horn riff that kicks off “Wow Oui Ole,” the first song on Luther Badman Keith’s new recording “Bluesmen Are Kings,” it is quickly apparent that the CD offers a new sound from the Detroit blues musician.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wow Oui Ole,” a jump blues tune inspired by Louis Jordan, is one of several on the 13-song CD that represent a variety of musical styles, featuring horns and keyboards as well as Keith’s vocals and electric lead guitar.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LUTHER BADMAN KEITH</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The biggest thing with this CD, which is my fourth one, is that it shows my evolution as a musician, and represents the growth from when I started in 1998 until now,” Keith said. “It’s taken time. I couldn’t have produced a CD like this the first 3 or 4 years out. I needed time to grow as a musician and a songwriter.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Keith, the biggest influence on the recording is that he worked with a producer for the first time. It was recorded at Josh Ford’s <a href="http://thesoundshopstudio.com/services.html">The Sound Shop</a> studio in Macomb. Ford, who performs as Motor City Josh, worked with Keith on the arrangements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He is a tremendous producer,” said Keith, who wrote all the songs on the CD. “He took the songs I wrote and helped bring out the best arrangements and refined my ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I can’t say enough about Josh Ford. Because he is a musician, he hears things well and is open to new ideas. If something is not working, he will tell you. And he is willing to take chances and be a little adventurous.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CD features horns by Billy Furman and Mark Croft (members of Keith’s band who also did the horn arrangements), keyboardist Jim David, and the studio rhythm section of bassist Alex Lyon and drummer Todd Glass. <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2010/11/motor-city-josh.html">Motor City Josh</a> also plays on the CD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result is a sound that incorporates the talents of all involved, producing a solid collection of well-crafted tunes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The greatest thing for me is to write great songs with great lyrics,” said Keith, a former long-time journalist who is now executive director of <a href="http://www.arisedetroit.org/">ARISE Detroit!</a>, a community mobilization organization. “That’s what I get a lot of response to. I never fashioned myself as someone trying to be a guitar hero. I want to be appreciated more as a songwriter.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keith also hopes the CD brings appreciation for the many talented working blues musicians in Detroit, as well as blues legends of the past.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkru9Q2AGkyAa0yYDPo6uQbW1FH6j3VTLhDo5w9SvI3OgJWa0DIUq8PCjjQv10ccoBT10m-0jY5vkq-PcsncyLDtutPkc9QJLx6uqlglD2CEtwxlQ7enbg1_5k6uGoxy33mriUyYwkXnI/s1600/Badman+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkru9Q2AGkyAa0yYDPo6uQbW1FH6j3VTLhDo5w9SvI3OgJWa0DIUq8PCjjQv10ccoBT10m-0jY5vkq-PcsncyLDtutPkc9QJLx6uqlglD2CEtwxlQ7enbg1_5k6uGoxy33mriUyYwkXnI/s400/Badman+CD.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Before I could play a note, I would go to shows and I could see that these blues guys were awesome,” Keith said. “I met <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/albert-collins-mn0000611102/biography">Albert Collins</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2011/08/badman-finds-blues-luther-allison.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luther Allison</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and other guys who were all great cats and nice guys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They were really more than average guys. They were people we should revere. I wanted to make that (title) song a tribute, that it is really special to be a bluesman. It is a wonderful experience to share with people the great feeling of blues music.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Keith, the CD has gotten air play in England and Australia and on local radio stations WHFR, WEMU and WDET.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I wanted to produce something listenable and fun, as well as make each song stand on its own. No two sound alike. There is jump blues, hardcore blues and a little rock. All those elements merge for a gutsier, blusier sound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I wanted to open some ears with it and make people say ‘wow oui ole.’”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UPCOMING SHOWS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luther Badman Keith has two upcoming performances scheduled in downtown Detroit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 9 p.m-midnight Nov. 13, Keith will be joined by keyboardist Mickey Atkins in a free show with singer-songwriter <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2013/03/paul-miles-leads-dma-blues-nominations.html">Paul Miles</a> at the Signature Grill, 250 Riverfront Drive, inside Riverfront Towers. Admission is free. RSVP by calling 313-394-0667.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 6-9 p.m. Nov. 24, Keith and his full band will perform at a benefit for the Society of Professional Journalists at PJ’s Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave. (313-961-4668). Admission is a $10 donation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on Luther Badman Keith, click <a href="http://www.badmanbluz.com/">badmanbluz.com</a>.</span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-37835376863548983362015-06-18T14:14:00.000-04:002015-06-18T14:14:23.399-04:00Dirty Basement Blues is 'Coming Clean'<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fUCbAYdSw1Nn9_PfqMNfs7iiCSvqvDxL6uMLzDvBKhIWa0sGeyi_KwOb4FNHIRfY2KUTgTw9KxDg-QKLFTf-EomY1QNS-JLgZcKhfSJhEpEtRPTHkLSmbyAeLROskZ1z3XT2T71XK0c/s1600/Dirty+Basement+Blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fUCbAYdSw1Nn9_PfqMNfs7iiCSvqvDxL6uMLzDvBKhIWa0sGeyi_KwOb4FNHIRfY2KUTgTw9KxDg-QKLFTf-EomY1QNS-JLgZcKhfSJhEpEtRPTHkLSmbyAeLROskZ1z3XT2T71XK0c/s400/Dirty+Basement+Blues.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Dirty Basement Blues: Mike Conley, Joe Stanley, Bryan Miller, Pate Zajicek,Frank Grimaldi.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dirty Basement Blues is “Coming Clean.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band, which garnered a 2015 Detroit Music Awards nomination for best blues artist/group, doesn’t play straight blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band’s album “Coming Clean,” which received a Detroit Music Awards nomination as best blues recording, incorporates rock, soul and other influences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The title speaks for us coming clean about all our musical influences and the things that inspired us to write music,” lead vocalist Frank Grimaldi said. “We’re all influenced by the blues cats, rock ’n’ roll, soul music, church music, anything with soul. We took our influences, put ‘em down, and made them our own.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album, which was recorded live with minimal overdubbing in March of 2014 at Josh Ford’s Sound Shop Studios in Macomb Township, has nine original songs and one cover, “Walk In My Shadow,” by Paul Rodgers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It features the vocals of Grimaldi, who is only 24 but delivers with depth reminiscent of white blues/rock/soul singers from Southeast Michigan who made their mark in the 1960s and ’70s, such as Mitch Ryder, Mark Farner of Grand Funk, Scott Morgan of The Rationals, and the late Rob Tyner of the MC5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’ve loved the MC5 since I was 12 years old,” Grimaldi said. “I love their live record ‘Kick Out the Jams.’ It is so sonically perfect. It feels like it’s going to fall apart at any moment and it doesn’t. That’s rock ’n’ roll.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grimaldi, whose first public performance was singing a Led Zeppelin song during an 8th grade talent show, used to hear vocal comparisons with Robert Plant. Recently, fans have been telling him he sounds like the late Steve Marriott from Humble Pie fame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“That’s the highest compliment,” Grimaldi said. “He was one-of-a-kind.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The group had its genesis as a power trio in early 2012 as two former Jam Samich band members — guitarist/vocalist Joe Stanley and drummer Mike Conley — joined forces with bassist Bryan “Bodi” Miller. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A search for a lead singer brought in Grimaldi, who had been singing and playing guitar with the group Counter Culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band added keyboardist/vocalist Pete Zajicek from the Square Boys for the 2012 Detroit Blues Challenge and advanced to the final round, but could not compete in the finals because Stanley was on his honeymoon. Zajicek blended so well with the other musicians that he eventually joined the group as a band member.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013, Dirty Basement Blues returned to the competition and won the Blues Challenge, which is hosted by the Detroit Blues Society. Earlier, Jam Samich had advanced to the finals, but did not win. That made the victory a little sweeter for the group.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It was just solidifying, a very victorious moment for us,” Grimaldi said. “… As a group, it was like a ‘yeah’ moment.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there, the band went to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Memphis was incredible,” Grimaldi said. “We stayed at the Weston, across the street from the Gibson factory. We were only a block from Beale Street.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“There was great music everywhere. To be around that many musicians was great. Everybody was real cool and by the end of the week people were recognizing us and saying ‘Hey, Detroit!’ It was neat.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The members of <a href="http://musicpage.com/thedirtybasementblues">Dirty Basement Blues</a> are currently working on their second studio album and will also soon release “Dirty Basement Blues Live at Callahan’s,” a live album recorded at Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills, which will host a CD release party on Aug. 21.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-kerning: none;">“We </span>loved doing the studio album but we feel like live performances are our bread and butter,” Grimaldi said. “We get to jam more and people can see more aspects of all of us as performers.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see the Oakland County-based Dirty Basement Blues band perform live from 5:30-6:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 at the <a href="http://starsandstripesfest.com/">Stars and Stripes Festival</a> at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights; and 6-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 on the Summer Sun Stage at the first-ever <a href="http://summermagicfestival.com/">Summer Magic Festival </a>in Mount Clemens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MORE BLUES</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several other blues bands will be performing at the Summer Magic Festival.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Summer Sun Stage (Clock Tower at New Street and Main Street), the Pet Zelenka Project performs classic rock and blues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25. On Friday, June 26, the schedule includes Rolling Blue (blues/rock) at 2:45 p.m. and Downriver Dan (blues/rock) at 5 p.m. On June 27, enjoy The Boa Constrictors at 2:15 p.m. On June 28, one man band Sweet Willie Tea performs a mix of Americana and blues at 1 p.m. and Laura Rain & the Caesars deliver powerful blues and soul music at 2:15 p.m.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Gemini Moon Stage (Roskopp Parking Lot, Macomb Place and southbound Gratiot Avenue), St. Cecelia (4 p.m.) and The Muggs (6:45 p.m.) perform blues rock on Friday. Saturday brings the Todd Wolfe Band (bluesadelic rock) at 7 p.m. and Jack Russell’s Great White (blues rock) at 10:30 p.m.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@yahoo.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-38820370155538163882015-05-07T15:33:00.001-04:002015-05-07T15:33:48.473-04:00A Tribute to Eddie Burns on Saturday<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;">When Little Sonny moved to Detroit from Alabama in 1953, he met Eddie “Guitar” Burns.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burns, who died in 2012 at age 84, will be honored at the concert “A Tribute to Eddie Burns” at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Scarab Club in Detroit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burns was the first musician to give Little Sonny, who became an internationally known harmonica player and singer, encouragement in the budding stages of his musical career.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYJMwMONf-bl3hoDY26hcWfkP1MbAKPD2ScoinRmBHpFh9cmmKBHajpCc7kLzTyzg4SwVdKgJODe8D2L9-oSJ8r7o8Rrf_d89Pvs8NubToHwlEIE9rV5Vg95Reoylu9QJ8F5LVDciPPc/s1600/eddieburns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYJMwMONf-bl3hoDY26hcWfkP1MbAKPD2ScoinRmBHpFh9cmmKBHajpCc7kLzTyzg4SwVdKgJODe8D2L9-oSJ8r7o8Rrf_d89Pvs8NubToHwlEIE9rV5Vg95Reoylu9QJ8F5LVDciPPc/s640/eddieburns.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie Burns in 2005 at Cobo Joe's in Detroit. (BluesPhotos by Don Mc Ghee)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny recalls working as a photographer at various Detroit clubs, including the Plantation Club on Russell near Warren, where Burns was a mainstay.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Eddie found out I played harmonica and he used to let me come up and sit in with him,” Little Sonny said. “(Eddie) was the first one that did that.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny was impressed with Burns’ talent as a singer, harmonica player and guitarist, and also regarding his musical knowledge.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Eddie was blues, but he would mix with some jazz as well, like Louis Jordan. He also knew a lot of Leadbelly and the other old cat’s stuff. He was more educated about the old blues than any of the guys I knew. He could back to Charlie Patton and all the old blues artists. He could not only go back, but he could remember the songs and play them.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was a hell of a musician, from the old type of blues, before Muddy Waters. He knew all those old songs I had never even heard of.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was a good writer too and had hits himself. He would play stuff by Bobby Bland and Louis Jordan and a lot of the old-time musicians, and some up-to-date stuff as well.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He wasn’t just an outright blues artist. He mixed his stuff. I learned to go into a different bag from him.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singer-guitarist Carlton Washington, 29, will lead a veteran band at the tribute Saturday. He will be joined by singer-guitarist Billy Davis, who first gained recognition with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, as well as bassist Frank Bryant and drummer Clyde “Poppa” Lee, both veterans of Eddie Burns’ band.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washington is from a different generation, but he is familiar with Eddie Burns and his music.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’ve always been into the history of Detroit blues," Washington said. "I came up watching Johnnie Bassett, and he provided inspiration to dig deeper.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Eddie Burns was a great songwriter, and it’s an honor to be able to pay tribute to a very important part of Detroit blues.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although Burns later garnered the nickname “Guitar,” he started out as a harmonica player. Burns played the harp “backward,” with the higher register on the left side.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Eddie is the only guy I know who could play ‘Juke,’ and sound like Little Walter,” Little Sonny said.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Burns, a Mississippi native whose brother Jimmy Burns is a Chicago soul-blues musician, played and recorded with John Lee Hooker, and toured internationally. Eddie Burns received the Michigan Heritage Award in 1994, and, in 1998, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Blues Society, which is hosting Saturday’s event.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny was close friends with Burns for over 50 years and performed with him</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at his </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">final live performance, at the Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts in Detroit in 2008.</span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I never had a friend better than him,” Little Sonny said. “He would tell you and show you things a lot of other musicians wouldn’t show you. He would guide you in the music world.</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He would give me information on touring overseas before I went overseas. He let me know about the pitfalls so I would avoid them. That’s the kind of person he was. He would give you some advice to help you. He wasn’t selfish.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny described Burns as “humble.” </span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You couldn’t beat him. He was a beautiful person and he left behind a beautiful legacy with me and other musicians too.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Scarab Club is at 217 Farnsworth near the Detroit Institute of Arts, A $5 donation is requested. For information, click <a href="http://detroitbluessociety.org/">detroitbluessociety.org</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #252525;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@yahoo.com</i></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-49155730845125089542015-01-15T16:12:00.003-05:002015-01-15T16:12:30.872-05:00Anti-Freeze Festival has recipe for hot blues<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s a recipe for some
hot blues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start with a national
headlining act that has roots that go way back in the blues music world. Add a sprinkle
of top local talent. Mix, and let smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repeat for a double batch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s a winning formula
for this weekend’s Anti-Freeze Blues Festival at the Magic Bag in Ferndale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday, the headliner
will be Louisiana swamp boogie legend Lazy Lester. Supporting acts include vocalist
Tosha Owens; Detroit blues veterans Harmonica Shah and guitarist Jeff Grand, and
John Rhoades, one of several younger players making a mark in the Motor City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1bmOD-vN9Mrjr7hhAaLQlLp52WCtzF3WvUBp6ZcddNYPyf3ePhPE8sSWfr1o2Bdhk52JipM1HIyPR0gLqPmbXMYl0YGcykZzqpBlbcV5hJ8B6vpx4pg7jL50os4JWR0WcOl5pB1uhRM/s1600/anti+freeze+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1bmOD-vN9Mrjr7hhAaLQlLp52WCtzF3WvUBp6ZcddNYPyf3ePhPE8sSWfr1o2Bdhk52JipM1HIyPR0gLqPmbXMYl0YGcykZzqpBlbcV5hJ8B6vpx4pg7jL50os4JWR0WcOl5pB1uhRM/s1600/anti+freeze+poster.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday, the Siegel-Schwall
Band headlines; following the Howard Glazer Band, which recently released the fine
CD “Looking in the Mirror;” young guns Jason Alter and Jason “J-Bone” Bone; and
the Chris Canas Band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event is a fundraiser
for the Detroit Blues Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s the first and biggest fundraiser (of the
year) for the Detroit Blues Society,” said Steve Soviak, president of the DBS. “It’s
very exciting. It doesn’t get much better than Siegel-Schwall and Lazy Lester.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Lazy Lester has been around, almost, since day
one. He is 81 years old and was there with Muddy Waters and the whole second generation
of Chicago blues guys, although he’s more of a swamp blues guy, with other guys
like Slim Harpo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I remember seeing Siegel-Schwall at Masonic
Temple in the 1970s, opening for Dave Mason. I believe (drummer) Sam Lay is
still in the band. He played in Muddy Waters’ band at one time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Lay, 79, is also famous for his work with the Paul
Butterfield Blues Band as well as lengthy stints backing up Little Walter, and performed
with Bob Dylan when he </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525;">introduced electric-rock at the Newport Folk Festival </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525;">in 1965</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #252525;">I saw Siegel-Schwall perform at the Magic Bag a few
years ago, and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen at that venue. Harmonica
player Corky Siegel and guitarist Jim Schwall cut their blues teeth as
youngsters performing as the house band at Pepper's Lounge on the south side of Chicago </span>back in the ‘60s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the show, Lay
told me, “I’m so hot, my toenails are sweating.” That’s how hard this band works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soviak is also pleased with the supporting acts
at this year’s festival, the 21<sup>st</sup> in the series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They are the cream of the crop of Detroit
blues,” he said. “Jeff Grand and Harmonica Shah are involved, and Howard Glazer
too. Chris Canas has won the Detroit Blues Challenge four times and will be going
to Memphis to represent Detroit at the (International Blues Challenge).”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General admission tickets
are $25 each night. Stop by and say hello to Soviak at the merchandise table.
The Detroit Blues Society is celebrating its 30<sup>th</sup> year and has
several special events and a membership drive planned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s an exciting year for
us, and we’re starting it off with the Anti-Freeze Blues Festival,” Soviak
said.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see a story about the Siegel-Schwall Band by music writer Gary Graff, <a href="http://www.dailytribune.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150114/siegel-schwall-band-is-hot-for-anti-freeze-blues-festival">click here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-53470182390897089402014-12-26T11:12:00.000-05:002014-12-26T11:14:57.416-05:00Little Sonny recalls Alberta Adams as 'a legend in Detroit'<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4ynIhPE3lKfWAS6fsCmbqhKFXT8WZ9xOCVtfKuCQi4RsJpJb-zXfCOkgwumll9czeS6PWXju69lcw7HCESCoRzzWnMvi4QYDYuliDmCxGfG0yuvnTCjjyGu9QAurvnTgFoZQVP_VRBU/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4ynIhPE3lKfWAS6fsCmbqhKFXT8WZ9xOCVtfKuCQi4RsJpJb-zXfCOkgwumll9czeS6PWXju69lcw7HCESCoRzzWnMvi4QYDYuliDmCxGfG0yuvnTCjjyGu9QAurvnTgFoZQVP_VRBU/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2011.JPG" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alberta Adams performing at the Southfield Public Library in 2011.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When harmonica player and
singer Little Sonny moved to Detroit from Alabama in 1953, singer Alberta Adams
was already a fixture on the Detroit blues music scene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adams, known as Detroit's Queen of the Blues, died on Christmas Day
at the age of 97.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I got to know her many,
many years ago and I knew her very well,” Little Sonny said. “She was always a nice, beautiful lady, and she always had nice things to say.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny, 82, remembers
Adams as a popular performer at the Flame Show Bar and other Detroit blues clubs
of that time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She was playing with all
the big stars, Cab Calloway, T-Bone Walker and those guys,” Little Sonny
recalled. “She did shows with all those big-timers. She had a long history in the
blues and she is one of the last of our blues legends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She paid the dues. People
like that helped set the path for people like me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwzE5Q0Bd1SYg5XvXokkmxAbb8tZz-dDValDVKqsyKeKevX3goMHrvdKrUFPPem0qKRQtAmOcOCP6LQkblAxMZhogCnPzCuva39LjdV8WM4Yq4nBuxNnpCxwZhYxfKUDh5lVbhGIgML4/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwzE5Q0Bd1SYg5XvXokkmxAbb8tZz-dDValDVKqsyKeKevX3goMHrvdKrUFPPem0qKRQtAmOcOCP6LQkblAxMZhogCnPzCuva39LjdV8WM4Yq4nBuxNnpCxwZhYxfKUDh5lVbhGIgML4/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2.JPG" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alberta Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny’s sons -- musicians Aaron
Willis Jr. and Anthony Willis -- performed with Adams on different shows, he
said. According to Little Sonny, Adams excelled at performing old-time blues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She was doing blues back
then that was not as modern as the blues I or John Lee Hooker were doing. In
her day, she was doing blues like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Sippie Wallace
did. She was in that era and never came completely came out of that. She didn’t
change with the trends and move into the modern era, but it worked for her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adams began her
career as a dancer in the 1940s, but soon switched to singing, touring with big
name musicians such as Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, and Eddie
"Cleanhead" Vinson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her solo career enjoyed a
resurgence starting in the 1990s with her association with manager/musician RJ
Spangler. She recorded two CDs for the now defunct Cannonball Records label and
then moved to Detroit-based Eastlawn Records. Adams also
recorded for the Chess, Savoy and Thelma (Gordy) labels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSOvHq7DiRwcqdfJXhg17lR4JobhMD4d2QZ7zdgMxwIAhdJG7SbTR-IGtwsb7bJtNlUekqlMRag22q_YyX1ZWjZEHVOSwMAjmWRvw6c7_AwP-sQKpQLq1uM-bEcKv8NiCD9fnRoTtnQQ/s1600/Little+Sonny+Willis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSOvHq7DiRwcqdfJXhg17lR4JobhMD4d2QZ7zdgMxwIAhdJG7SbTR-IGtwsb7bJtNlUekqlMRag22q_YyX1ZWjZEHVOSwMAjmWRvw6c7_AwP-sQKpQLq1uM-bEcKv8NiCD9fnRoTtnQQ/s1600/Little+Sonny+Willis.JPG" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Sonny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adams was honored at a
tribute event titled “To Alberta With Love” on March 2 at the<span style="background: white;"> Detroit Pub in Clinton Township.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny recalled
Adams as a wonderful person</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Every time I met her, she
had that nice smile. She was a beautiful lady. I’ve never seen her with a bad
attitude. That’s something to say. She was never cocky. She was always pleasant
and had a nice conversation for you. That’s what I loved about her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She was a very outspoken
person and I loved her for that too. She was a natural and she wasn’t a flaky
type person who thought she was so much more than anyone else. Give and
receive, that’s the way she was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She played a big part in Detroit
blues. I’m glad the Lord extended her to be here for a long career and to be able
to continuously go, until the last minute almost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She was a legend in
Detroit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dailytribune.com/arts-and-entertainment/20141225/alberta-adams-the-queen-of-detroit-blues-dies-at-97">To read an article on Alberta Adams by music writer Gary Graff. click here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues,
please email <a href="mailto:Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com">Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</a></i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-77295488766627474702014-12-16T13:02:00.001-05:002014-12-16T13:02:28.980-05:00Blues at the library<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIScfXv7liFxONoihLxx_T89sSdhIXm_LpREkKyRlD6svuu6MRpRKsXBJ67BQd4DqPuneUIWOA9ko98sj-MyXJNsKsH3xgGbbbPoAl_sfGppW1kEqbGmFW4Uni-etXtD7XOwDeqEbMvw8/s1600/Jimmy+Alter+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIScfXv7liFxONoihLxx_T89sSdhIXm_LpREkKyRlD6svuu6MRpRKsXBJ67BQd4DqPuneUIWOA9ko98sj-MyXJNsKsH3xgGbbbPoAl_sfGppW1kEqbGmFW4Uni-etXtD7XOwDeqEbMvw8/s1600/Jimmy+Alter+close+up.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy Alter (photo by Mike Klewicki)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are plenty
of young, talented blues musicians in Detroit, and you can see several as Jimmy
Alter & Friends perform at the Southfield Public Library’s Jazz & Blues series program at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band includes
four of Detroit’s top young blues guitarists – Jimmy Alter, Jason “J-Bone”
Bone, Carlton Washington and Brendon Linsley, a guitar whiz only in his
mid-teens. All four are good friends – between them they play in
many different bands and musical ventures, sometime together, sometimes
separately. They’ll be backed by veterans Chris Rumel on bass and Dave Watson
on drums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General admission
is $5, $3 for Friends of the Southfield Public Library members. There is no
charge for children under 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Southfield
Public Library is in the Southfield Municipal Complex, 26300 Evergreen
Road. For more information, call the Guest Services Desk
at 248-796-4224.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-43378037670847182232014-12-10T14:05:00.001-05:002014-12-10T14:05:34.125-05:00Alberta Adams is still Detroit's' Queen of the Blues<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMRkCASE_vDJht1gCcZwqZAFa5hBqIxGfIZ3M9nJiaPRCaNKD_MAW5-5QrLz4roNI51V0-WsdwYDDP-9ld_N9gPyniUCZFch3IS0O5c2PorUTZq5qpj-TPB8tV_sIVtGBqbKXNQ4URm0/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMRkCASE_vDJht1gCcZwqZAFa5hBqIxGfIZ3M9nJiaPRCaNKD_MAW5-5QrLz4roNI51V0-WsdwYDDP-9ld_N9gPyniUCZFch3IS0O5c2PorUTZq5qpj-TPB8tV_sIVtGBqbKXNQ4URm0/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2011.JPG" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alberta Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singer Alberta Adams, known as Detroit's Queen of the Blues, is featured in an interesting article by Metro Times music writer Brett Callwood, who recently sat down with Alberta and her manager, RJ Spangler, at her Detroit home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://m.metrotimes.com/detroit/alberta-adams-still-reigns-supreme-after-70-years-in-the-music-business/Content?oid=2272854">Click here to read Callwood's article</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have seen Alberta perform several times, most recently in 2011 at the Southfield Public Library. Although she was in her 90s and in a wheelchair, she put on a very entertaining show, exhibiting the vibrancy of a much younger person. My favorite moment from the evening was when she was performing an uptempo tune. She obviously thought people should be dancing, so she pointed to two people in the front of the audience and said "dance!". They most certainly did. Who could turn down a request from the queen?</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhH2L1_8-TEa4B6WPtrjKRQU2gLfA2qEtYU26WaJ8OAQiqIUSoCEVsVEUdlZWMTpYg3Dc3BFiJ-L6Ig1Dm4ju5WhuuduQS7zKkqjVf79C5vSaoVBaNSpbDpq-Zn8YOnaQ6c14L59v7Ek/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhH2L1_8-TEa4B6WPtrjKRQU2gLfA2qEtYU26WaJ8OAQiqIUSoCEVsVEUdlZWMTpYg3Dc3BFiJ-L6Ig1Dm4ju5WhuuduQS7zKkqjVf79C5vSaoVBaNSpbDpq-Zn8YOnaQ6c14L59v7Ek/s1600/Alberta+Adams+2.JPG" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alberta Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alberta was <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/02/alberta-adams-tribute-honors-detroits.html">honored this spring </a>at the <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Detroit Pub Music Room’s Sunday Steak & Blues Series. It was titled “To Alberta With Love.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">If you want to show her some love yourself, check out one of her fine albums recorded when she was in her 80s. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">She recorded two CDs for the now defunct Cannonball Records label and then moved to Detroit-based <a href="http://www.eastlawnrecords.com/artists.htm">Eastlawn Records</a>. Her third record with Eastlawn, "Detroit Is My Home" (2008), features collaborations with pianists Mark "Mr. B" Braun, Al Hill and the late Ann Rabson (Saffire). Thornetta Davis also appeared on the CD. Years earlier, Alberta also recorded for the Chess, Savoy and Thelma (Gordy) labels.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<br />Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-76077567322146354182014-12-08T12:32:00.001-05:002014-12-08T12:37:16.044-05:00Laura Rain and the Caesars perform smokin' hot show at Boo's<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1AgWwg_l-VeJfi0FEx0ouQ3YZ0gOeMshJEq1uzfuAYXpYd-0PusV9313B4klgJ8hDLPcSBj1sA2nkJZ5hxKjKTUZAE-r5mPLWE_x2s9plA8bqt_wtOHj7-70WtK0J7PoVxpRSliquKU/s1600/Laura+Rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1AgWwg_l-VeJfi0FEx0ouQ3YZ0gOeMshJEq1uzfuAYXpYd-0PusV9313B4klgJ8hDLPcSBj1sA2nkJZ5hxKjKTUZAE-r5mPLWE_x2s9plA8bqt_wtOHj7-70WtK0J7PoVxpRSliquKU/s1600/Laura+Rain.jpg" height="362" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Rain and George Friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A near capacity crowd
thoroughly enjoyed what I describe as two “must sees” on Saturday night as Laura
Rain and the Caesars performed a smokin’ hot show at the new Boo’s club inside
Mr. B’s Pub in downtown Royal Oak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rain, singer and
frontwoman for the group, is a dynamic performer best described as a force of
nature. She boasts a powerful voice that is reminiscent of Aretha with a touch of
Esther Phillips. And she delivers her vocals with a ferocity that reminded a companion
of Janis Joplin. Rain, introduced as the “Cleopatra of the Blues,” was resplendent
in a shimmery vintage gown. She has a great stage presence, oodles of sex
appeal, boundless energy, and is a “must see” if you haven’t caught the group’s
powerful mix of blues, R&B, funk and “modern, retro soul.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphSY9FupJSOZusGqHM7dsf7m9wmSE7IrhynrRqPobtMy86nmf_qpuEi_43APZhyqINhKAV3sJrZvtBR_1Qh5Av61wJpHjDq9LiIVDitrS4JDJp_9TAVwDfXrvPKgsCGsUnokXnWDC5Uw/s1600/Laura+Rain+Paz+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphSY9FupJSOZusGqHM7dsf7m9wmSE7IrhynrRqPobtMy86nmf_qpuEi_43APZhyqINhKAV3sJrZvtBR_1Qh5Av61wJpHjDq9LiIVDitrS4JDJp_9TAVwDfXrvPKgsCGsUnokXnWDC5Uw/s1600/Laura+Rain+Paz+Man.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark "Paz Man" Pasman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matching Rain in quality
was guitarist George Friend, a talented and versatile axman who excels in both backup
and solo roles. His playing can be subtle and tasteful, but he can rock out just
as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bassist Gwenyth Hayes and
drummer Scott Veenstra provide a solid rhythm section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friend looked like he was
having a blast on Saturday, not only when he was interacting with Rain, but
also when Boo’s musical host, guitarist Mark “Paz Man” Pasman, joined the group
for a half dozen selections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hearing these two fine guitarists
trading licks was a treat indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boo’s, an intimate upscale
blues club inside Mr. B’s in Royal Oak, is also a “must see.” The club has a
cool vibe and lots of ambient energy, courtesy of the crowd inside Mr. B’s as
well as the individuals who walk by on Main Street past the bank of windows
behind the stage. The group’s dynamic sound produced lots of curious looks by those
passing by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out Laura Rain and the
Caesars and their new CD, “Closer,” at <a href="http://laurarain.net/">laurarain.net</a>. Be sure to catch a live performance
before they head out on tour again. <a href="http://media.dailytribune.com/2014/12/08/photos-laura-rain-and-the-caesars-at-boos-in-royal-oak/#1">Click here to see a photo gallery</a> from Saturday's show.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://media.dailytribune.com/2014/12/08/photos-laura-rain-and-the-caesars-at-boos-in-royal-oak/#1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy8uDcj86l8y8fC1pp6c7qYB1jNpGA-Bfj1rwO4m4ebxfhpE3y6YDku6aNwlI9F5crwlyURIx1Xon3ceAGrGhRlMzsbBukpBjaEFwgAJIooaSyjygefufa0VIEj4srV0dFgG_71xVfnI/s1600/Laura+Rain+12.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.dailytribune.com/2014/12/08/photos-laura-rain-and-the-caesars-at-boos-in-royal-oak/#1">Laura Rain and the Caesars</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Boo’s, you can order
food from the menu that received an overhaul when<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>former auto-executive-turned-chef Johnny
Prep purchased Mr. B’s and renovated the business this summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boo’s has an excellent
sound system that is not overwhelming loud, despite the relatively small size
of the club. Unlike many blues clubs, a reservation holds a table for you, so there’s
no hassle finding a seat. The club does have a cover charge (usually $10) on
the weekends, but it’s worth it to see top Detroit blues performers in such an
intimate setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boo’s has only been open since
Nov. 15, but has already hosted many talented performers including Bobby Murray,
longtime guitarist for Etta James; and singer Thornetta Davis, a Detroit
favorite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can count on Boo’s always
hosting the cream of the Detroit blues crop, since Pasman does the booking. He
knows the Detroit scene as well as anyone, not only as a musician, but as the former
host of the “Motor City Blues Project” radio show for over 25 years. It helps
that the club owner is a fan of the music too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, Robert Noll
performs as part of the <span style="background: white; color: #141823;">Thursday Front Porch series</span>, Howard Glazer celebrates the release of his new recording
“Looking in the Mirror” with a live show on Friday, and The Alligators come in
Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Downtown Royal Oak has not
had a venue for the blues since Memphis Smoke closed. Boo’s presents a new opportunity to enjoy the
best of the Detroit blues scene in a safe, downtown environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check it out as soon as
you can.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-18014040687570047402014-11-13T10:41:00.002-05:002014-11-13T16:49:14.668-05:00Boo's club brings blues to Royal Oak<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS-oHXJQa4uqIQmQmv6HHKE4oi57qxNcM1hGe6WmAYgr_hiutmcPj2X-JqEVh2Rb_07dzoa6U-Ka1O5VgrNeVFJMAeMDAK1JyBAUOpB5q8pW0i_dvLe_g-zeZEUEeQOWjC0-rlpLdwTY/s1600/Mark+Pasman+at+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS-oHXJQa4uqIQmQmv6HHKE4oi57qxNcM1hGe6WmAYgr_hiutmcPj2X-JqEVh2Rb_07dzoa6U-Ka1O5VgrNeVFJMAeMDAK1JyBAUOpB5q8pW0i_dvLe_g-zeZEUEeQOWjC0-rlpLdwTY/s320/Mark+Pasman+at+club.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Pasman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The blues are coming to Royal Oak.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boo’s, a new blues club inside Mr. B’s on
Main Street in downtown Royal Oak, has a new performance space that will be
hosted by a familiar face: blues musician and radio personality Mark
"Pazman" Pasman. who hosted the <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/02/pazman-recalls-motor-city-blues-project.html"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Motor City Blues Project”</span></a> on
WCSX-FM for 26 years before the station canceled the show in February.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pazman will serve as Boo’s host and musical
director, booking the acts for the 100-person capacity room. Pazman kicks things off Saturday, Nov. 15 with a free Pazman's Supersession show. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.dailytribune.com/arts-and-entertainment/20141113/boos-is-bringing-the-blues-to-royal-oak">Click here</a> to see
music writer Gary Graff's story about the new club.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LADY SUNSHINE AND THE X BAND</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Southfield Public Library will feature <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/09/lady-sunshine-and-x-band-kick-off-blues.html">Lady Sunshine and The X Band</a></span> at
the next Jazz & Blues @ Your Library performance at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov.
19.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The band is a two-time winner of the Detroit
Blues Challenge; finished second at the International Blues Challenge in
Memphis, Tenn., in 2005; made it to the IBC semifinals in 2013; and has twice
been named best blues band in Washtenaw County by Current magazine.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">General admission is $5 and there is no
admission charge for children under 12.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">MARCIA BALL CELEBRATES NEW RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Texas-born, Louisiana-raised
pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball celebrates the release of her new
Alligator Records CD, "The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator Man," with
a live performance on Nov. 22 at Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator
Man" is her sixth release for the label. Four of her previous
five releases received Grammy Award nominations. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ball received the 2012 Blues Music Award for
the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Of The Year. She has received 42 BMA
nominations and has nine wins. She received a 2014 Living Blues Readers'
Poll Award for Most</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Outstanding Musician (keyboard) and has seven
Living Blues Awards in all.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For info, click <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://atcallahans.com/">atcallahans.com</a></span>.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span><br />
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-72884350478061465252014-11-06T17:23:00.000-05:002014-11-06T17:23:07.467-05:00Busy weekend for Jim McCarty<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is going to be
a busy weekend for Jim McCarty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rock and
blues guitarist and singer well known internationally for his work with groups
such as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Cactus, and The Rockets, will host
the Detroit Blues Society jam on Saturday at Shelly Kelly’s in Fraser; and then
will be part of a Johnny Winter tribute on Sunday at Callahan’s Music Hall in
Auburn Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaJnewvm5asj6dHP-5xg6zx_lgJODbAwXr1wgPIgJVsY5RluEbBFvZyzMyW-XfowUw4G9QecgGDBlzKvHOh4YMT3bIxI-lK7LWfg94hT2LU3kphzDvJdXB_HO-IgLXLjSYKBf9RfzlgI/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaJnewvm5asj6dHP-5xg6zx_lgJODbAwXr1wgPIgJVsY5RluEbBFvZyzMyW-XfowUw4G9QecgGDBlzKvHOh4YMT3bIxI-lK7LWfg94hT2LU3kphzDvJdXB_HO-IgLXLjSYKBf9RfzlgI/s1600/Jim+McCarty.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim McCarty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday,
he’ll perform with his band Mystery Train, which includes his son Dylan McCarty
on drums and bassist Marvin Conrad. Singer-guitarist Emmanuel Garza completes
the lineup. He joined the band after the death of McCarty’s longtime musical
partner Rick Stel in April.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty’s roots
with Garza are deep as well, going back to their days together in the Detroit
Blues Band. That made the transition to a new lineup following Stel’s death a
little easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We’re a little
more hardcore blues with Emmanuel, but the energy has stayed the same, which is
the most important thing,” McCarty said. “Me and E know each other like the
back of our hands. We work well together and have a lot of fun.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty has
played Shelly Kelly’s before, years ago when it was the Erin Pub. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It should be
fun,” he said. “(Singer) Nikki James is going to be there and we’ll get her up
on stage. It’s always a good time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty and
harmonica player-singer Jason Ricci will join Johnny Winter’s backup band for
the tribute performance on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s going to be
nice to see Jason,” McCarty said. “He was on my ‘McCarty and Friends’ CD, but I
haven’t seen him in a few years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty knew
Johnny Winter for years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We had a few
stories from the old days, some things you can’t put in print,” he said with a
laugh. “In the old days, Johnny was a guitar slinger. He could fire it up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late July, only
two weeks after Winter’s death, McCarty went to see his Cactus bandmate,
drummer Carmine Appice, perform with Vanilla Fudge in the Rock ‘n’ Blues Fest –
A Tribute to Johnny Winter show at DTE
Energy Music Theatre. Also on the bill was the Edgar Winter Group, fronted by
Johnny Winter’s younger brother Edgar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I joined them
for a tribute to his brother at the end of the night,” McCarty said. “We did
‘Highway 61,’ ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Hootchie Coo’ and couple of other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“John is somebody
I respected, so I have no problem paying my respects to a guy who was a great
guitar player.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can’t make it to either show this weekend? McCarty will be back at Callahan’s on Nov. 29 with
his friend, blues guitarist Sonny Moorman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Our first set is
acoustic with my harp player, Kenny Welk,” McCarty said. “People love it. Then, in our second set, we
whip it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-49260017071676364682014-09-09T15:17:00.001-04:002014-09-09T15:17:57.378-04:00Papa Lee and the Body Shop Blues<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtixijTk_odwmbcKS37COv49jjsqeMgKB7xTFqcuw9u8KbZnvqSc510XxjSkcFBgfry8ID3nXMjp8iZmzE52tAeWnkRen2QmADYMWw4hc8-yHJMwkV577AYsu24sSiU5qSTETt75pEpzk/s1600/Papa+Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtixijTk_odwmbcKS37COv49jjsqeMgKB7xTFqcuw9u8KbZnvqSc510XxjSkcFBgfry8ID3nXMjp8iZmzE52tAeWnkRen2QmADYMWw4hc8-yHJMwkV577AYsu24sSiU5qSTETt75pEpzk/s1600/Papa+Lee.jpg" height="400" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clyde "Papa" Lee - BluesPhotos by Don Mc Ghee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Papa Lee and the
Body Shop Blues will be the featured performers at the Southfield Public
Library’s Jazz & Blues program on Sept. 17.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Band leader Clyde
W. “Papa” Lee Sr. began playing drums when he was in middle school in Flint and
he is still at it more than 60 years later. He traveled and recorded with the
Detroit Emeralds in the 1970s and played the famous Club Paradise in Idlewild,
Mich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He’s played with
John Lee Hooker, Bobo Jenkins, Washboard Willie, Chicago Pete and just about
every well-known Detroit blues artist during the past 50 years, including Eddie
Burns, Calvin Frazier, Willie D. Warren, Mr. Bo and Little Mac Collins, Uncle
Jessie White, and the Butler Twins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ_xt51MWbErVPgEKEnhz_HtVx2nbfZxu_JwYf7hjBBDaWxXXHQ0UPbCOIE4WjByVB0Ur3q6GpTyCZ0acd3COlE5lrVtg-3kQDqtTGLjXhcVDXec7SzO8Y8R8sgwy9ZTFxgVqRMdqxbA/s1600/Little+Arthur+Anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ_xt51MWbErVPgEKEnhz_HtVx2nbfZxu_JwYf7hjBBDaWxXXHQ0UPbCOIE4WjByVB0Ur3q6GpTyCZ0acd3COlE5lrVtg-3kQDqtTGLjXhcVDXec7SzO8Y8R8sgwy9ZTFxgVqRMdqxbA/s1600/Little+Arthur+Anderson.jpg" height="200" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Little Arthur" Anderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening will
feature “Little Arthur” Anderson on harp and vocals. Also joining Papa Lee will
be guitarists Joe Mitchell and Nick Tabarias, and bassist Buster Wylie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band will
perform at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Southfield Public Library,
26300 Evergreen Road. General admission is $5, $3 for Friends of the Southfield
Public Library members. There is no admission charge for children under age 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jazz & Blues
is sponsored by the Friends of the Southfield Public Library and the Detroit
Blues Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more
information, call the Guest Services Desk at 248-796-4224 or click
</span><a href="http://www.southfieldlibrary.org/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.southfieldlibrary.org</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-81822469286115288872014-09-08T12:48:00.001-04:002014-09-08T12:48:43.469-04:00Lady Sunshine and the X Band kick off Blues at the Elks series<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O7zCy9NRtlECvF6-LdRoybK5M0azI4BO534Ev56ZMGE71QpQx6id0tjS0IdYExD8dPuGJxhJoXzH6uGnYob24r9vo1yeESNJIAz1uVTqdqirRreYSfuwzGVerH_COAvrq7IH4ZzLpn4/s1600/Lady+Sunshine+and+the+X+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-O7zCy9NRtlECvF6-LdRoybK5M0azI4BO534Ev56ZMGE71QpQx6id0tjS0IdYExD8dPuGJxhJoXzH6uGnYob24r9vo1yeESNJIAz1uVTqdqirRreYSfuwzGVerH_COAvrq7IH4ZzLpn4/s1600/Lady+Sunshine+and+the+X+Band.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The 2<sup>nd</sup>
year of the Blues at the Elks series kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 9, with a performance
by Lady Sunshine<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>X
Band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Lady
Sunshine</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> was born on</span> a plantation in West Helena,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ark.,
and grew up singing gospel music as a little girl. She moved to Ann Arbor in
1975 and began singing professionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sunshine
Band came together in 1994 and made an immediate impact. The band, which has
shared the stage with blues/R&B notables such as Koko Taylor, Bobby Rush,
Little Milton, Roomful of Blues, War, Big Bill Morganfield, and many more, has
garnered many awards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band
is a two-time winner of the Detroit Blues Challenge; finished second at the
International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., in 2005; made it to the IBC
semifinals in 2013; and has twice been named best blues band in Washtenaw
County by Current magazine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnawJ6dWHHdLETHUNIsdAhjPgET9sF5CyxvDPY-SFq5kO_OD-M1nyCekF8fLLbRez6pwfboyq0UcLuNjn6DmDqqm3_WmzJi0ay-Mhi-3izvfxoj4zhl7Bg0kbHgk_mNrgceln7OXl6MI/s1600/Janiva+Magness+for+web+by+Jef+Jaisun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnawJ6dWHHdLETHUNIsdAhjPgET9sF5CyxvDPY-SFq5kO_OD-M1nyCekF8fLLbRez6pwfboyq0UcLuNjn6DmDqqm3_WmzJi0ay-Mhi-3izvfxoj4zhl7Bg0kbHgk_mNrgceln7OXl6MI/s1600/Janiva+Magness+for+web+by+Jef+Jaisun.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janiva Magness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Lady
Sunshine and the X Band will perform from 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Plymouth-Ann
Arbor Elks Lodge, 41700 Ann Arbor<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Road in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Plymouth,
a half mile west of I-275. Admission is $5. There will also be a cash bar and
pizza.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>
For more information, call <span style="color: black;"><a href="tel:734-453-1780" target="_blank">734-453-1780</a> </span>or click <br />
<span style="background: white;"><a href="http://www.plymouthelks1780.com/" target="_blank">http://www.plymouthelks1780.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></span>.<br />
<span style="background: white;">Blues at the Elks is a co-production of the
Plymouth-Ann Arbor Elks</span> Lodge and the non-profit <a href="http://www.detroitbluessociety.org/">Detroit Blues Society</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blues In
Ann Arbor</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ark in
Ann Arbor has an impressive lineup of blues artists performing in the next
eight weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Standout
singer <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2011/04/janiva-magness-advocate-for-foster.html">Janiva Magness</a>, </span><span style="background: white;">a Michigan native who attended Mount
Clemens High School while living with her grandparents</span>, is the recipient
of many top blues music awards. She’ll be at The Ark on Sept. 19.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other
blues artists headed to The Ark include singer-songwriter <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/03/dream-session-becomes-real-for-laith-al.html">Laith Al-Saadi</a> (Sept.
21), roots music performer George Bedard (Oct. 10), Shari Kane and Dave Steele
with Brooks Williams (Oct. 16), and folk-blues singer and songwriter Chris
Smither (Oct. 31).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For information, click <a href="http://www.theark.org/">www.theark.org</a>.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-12361059720969250852014-08-03T10:21:00.001-04:002014-08-03T10:21:23.447-04:00‘Girls of Summer’ blues fest<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RYRig-S_OzTkYKxSeyBC9L1aHeHdLkZ-24m3FHlLR1GZnCaYoI0E75ZU6ceZD2JgB5FXw-BIdS2yyC2EzZ3X9izHiyXi1w2w3XJ5uZwVYAkHG7IDH6P66E6Zy-R4RaKVontrq90Z-EY/s1600/Thornetta+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RYRig-S_OzTkYKxSeyBC9L1aHeHdLkZ-24m3FHlLR1GZnCaYoI0E75ZU6ceZD2JgB5FXw-BIdS2yyC2EzZ3X9izHiyXi1w2w3XJ5uZwVYAkHG7IDH6P66E6Zy-R4RaKVontrq90Z-EY/s1600/Thornetta+Davis.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thornetta Davis</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could take weeks to see all of Detroit's top female blues artists perform at various clubs and concert halls.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.652000427246094px; margin-bottom: 11.326px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, the Detroit Blues Society is presenting the opportunity to catch them all at one venue on one show.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.652000427246094px; margin-bottom: 11.326px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The “Girls of Summer” Blues Fest, which runs from 2-10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Hastings Street Ballroom & Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., will feature 10 of Detroit’s most dazzling blues divas, including Thornetta Davis, Tosha Owens and the GTO Band, Laura Rain and the Caesars, Kathleen Murray and the Groove Council, Heather Jones, Jennifer Westwood, Nikki Pearse and Cannonball Underground, Marley and Spoonful, and Sandy Mulligan and the Gypsies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These performers will also compete in a “Pretty Outfit Contest,” with the winner receiving a $100 prize.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alberta Adams, “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues,” will be on hand to celebrate her 97th birthday. There will also be a “Babes and Blooms” print show, and a garden barbeque presented by Side Car Detroit and Captain Kool Ice Cream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admission is $15 at the door with all proceeds benefiting the Detroit Blues Society. All artists are donating their talent. Free lighted and secure parking as well as a cash bar will be available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information, click<a href="http://detroitbluessociety.org/"> detroitbluessociety.org</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-2558545848232856562014-07-07T14:25:00.001-04:002014-07-07T14:25:18.631-04:00Doug Deming returns<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBsOZjkMlNiO3s33YGEBwRaW4e9-LdPdOusHf80WV3nT1gX3oLGpGd5OCZb9_epPM_Tu_8_R9NNB8eZtMmPa93lZ3mhgK3LjoKjIHKVtWhyphenhyphenf7yEeT0GDgC4mJ74iA2IkeaJFMUYJcFG8/s1600/Doug+Deming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBsOZjkMlNiO3s33YGEBwRaW4e9-LdPdOusHf80WV3nT1gX3oLGpGd5OCZb9_epPM_Tu_8_R9NNB8eZtMmPa93lZ3mhgK3LjoKjIHKVtWhyphenhyphenf7yEeT0GDgC4mJ74iA2IkeaJFMUYJcFG8/s1600/Doug+Deming.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Deming</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fans of Doug Deming will
be happy to note that he is back in town and performing with his band the Jewel
Tones from 7-10 p.m. Tuesday at the Plymouth Elks Lodge 41700 Ann Arbor
Road .<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deming is an east side Detroit native
who now hails from Florida’s Gulf Coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A talented singer,
guitarist and songwriter, Deming first made his mark on the local Detroit music
scene in the early 1990s. He spent much of the following years<span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">backing many of the day’s
top touring blues artists, including </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabulous
Thunderbirds front man Kim Wilson, Louisiana swamp bluesman Lazy Lester, harp man Gary Primich, Chicago greats Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones and A.C. Reed, and
Detroit’s own Queen of </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Blues, Alberta Adams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deming is equally adept at
performing traditional blues, West Coast and Texas swing, early rock, country
and roots music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deming is paired with
acclaimed harp man and touring partner Dennis Gruenling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admission is $5. The Lodge
features pizza and a cash bar. Call 734-453-1780 for further
information.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more on Doug Deming, click <a href="http://dougdeming.com/">dougdeming.com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues,
please email <a href="mailto:Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</span></a></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-44576774287278632282014-06-10T09:40:00.002-04:002014-06-10T09:40:54.899-04:00The Alligators at the Plymouth Elks Club<div link="blue" vlink="blue">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOHgvVlnPcmKlsSzlkcN3SR1YfRefH0M5UktYtOPa0R2yhgafs7OWfOaciLx_1fWo1i7MQrkFg_2pgRd_fOIq7t9kkkQO5a1wfP4kcsNMoEY6EuKfhmnPZImY48oNA9czgAbEltPuW9o/s1600/Wailin+Dale+and+David+Krammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOHgvVlnPcmKlsSzlkcN3SR1YfRefH0M5UktYtOPa0R2yhgafs7OWfOaciLx_1fWo1i7MQrkFg_2pgRd_fOIq7t9kkkQO5a1wfP4kcsNMoEY6EuKfhmnPZImY48oNA9czgAbEltPuW9o/s1600/Wailin+Dale+and+David+Krammer.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wailin' Dale and Dave Krammer </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thealligators.com/">The Alligators</a> have been playing blues in Detroit and throughout the Midwest for 30 years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lead vocalist Dave Krammer and harmonica player Wailin’ Dale started the band in 1984, The band also includes Frankie Lee on bass (joined in 2007), Jon Johnson on drums (joined 2008), and Nick Tabarias, guitar (joined 2012).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see them tonight (June 10) from 7-10 p.m. at the <a href="http://www.plymouthelks1780.com/">P</a><a href="http://www.plymouthelks1780.com/">lymouth-</a><a href="http://www.plymouthelks1780.com/">Ann Arbor Elks Club</a>, 41700 Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band made their recording debut in 1994 with “Gimme Some Skin.” They have recorded four successful and highly acclaimed CDs to date. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blues Fest scheduled</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Elks will also be the site of a blues festival on Sunday, Aug. 17. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the bill are Carl Henry, The Boa Constrictors, The Greg Nagy Band, RJ’s Kansas City Six and Thornetta Davis and her band.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gates will open at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1365895340" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12:30 p.m.</span></span> and music begins at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1365895341" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:30 p.m.</span></span>. The donation is $10 for adults and $5 for those under the age 12. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Plan on bringing a lawn chair and enjoying the music.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mark your calendars.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-28474933133318903632014-06-09T15:22:00.003-04:002014-06-09T15:22:59.786-04:00Another gem from Little Sonny<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqShdvw-E7zzpYn9KhIJ3t67XE4RVPABPB2n3ukFgia1N1MSCMvrWSLoFSRa4yTe19os1WXw7DGesV7U4stXzPhLHRCwuSO7_YLN3H-g6wMzkGlu82C5vkAe5-Vcw6Dk9o_oZvWp_iw6k/s1600/little+sonny+best+love+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqShdvw-E7zzpYn9KhIJ3t67XE4RVPABPB2n3ukFgia1N1MSCMvrWSLoFSRa4yTe19os1WXw7DGesV7U4stXzPhLHRCwuSO7_YLN3H-g6wMzkGlu82C5vkAe5-Vcw6Dk9o_oZvWp_iw6k/s1600/little+sonny+best+love+cover.jpg" height="386" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since he
moved to Detroit from his native Alabama in 1953, singer-harmonica player
Little Sonny has been among Detroit’s elite blues performers. The man who got
his start with Washboard Willie and His Super Suds of Rhythm, and who was
friends and performed with late blues luminaries such as John Lee Hooker and
Eddie Burns, is 81 now, still spry, but no longer touring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny
feels he still has one more album in him. Until that happens, we have another
gem to enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny’s
“The Best Love I Ever Had” (Glynn Record Company), originally released in Japan
in 1995, has recently been released to the U.S. market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CD features
Little Sonny’s trademark blues that blend in a bit of funk and Southern soul.
Recorded when he was in his early 60s, the CD finds Little Sonny in fine vocal
form, especially on the title track “The Best Love I Ever Had,” where he pleads
to be “used” by his woman with a strong voice reminiscent of great Stax/Volt
artists such as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. This is no surprise, as Little
Sonny recorded a trio of albums (“New King of the Blues Harmonica,” “Black
& Blue” and “Hard Goin’ Up”) for Stax or subsidiary labels. Still, Little
Sonny’s vibrato laced voice is unique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A funky harp riff
kicks off “The End of Your Rope,” in which Little Sonny tells his woman “if I
give you enough rope, I’m sure you’ll hang yourself.” It is one of several songs
on the recording, including “When Love Begins Friendship Ends” (featuring Don
Whyte on soulful tenor sax) and “Love Mechanic,” that demonstrate Little Sonny’s
prowess as a songwriter and ability to turn a clever phrase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny
wrote seven of the 10 songs on the album, including “Watching the Peoples” that
advises you to “watch the people and not what they say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donny Hathaway’s Latin
jazz flavored instrumental “The Ghetto” gets a funky treatment here. Two other
instrumentals, “Jam” and “Harmonica Funk Blues,” were penned by Little Sonny’s
sons Aaron Willis Jr. and Anthony Willis, who perform on guitar and bass,
respectively. These songs provide an opportunity for Little Sonny and his sons
to stretch out and display their considerable chops. Guitar work by Aaron Jr.
(The Dramatics, Bobby Womack) is also featured on “I’ll Never Trust You Again,”
while Anthony sets the pace on bass on “Outer Funk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny’s band
on this CD also included keyboard player Rudy Robinson, well known as a performer
and arranger for many soul stars until his death in 2002 at age 61, and Dwayne “Butch”
Lomax and Curtis Sharp on drums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Sonny is a
perfectionist and this studio album, released as a tribute to his late wife Maggie
Willis, demonstrates his considerable prowess as a musician, songwriter and
arranger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also provides
an opportunity to check out Little Sonny’s funky, soulful blues on a recording
that is receiving long overdue exposure to a wider audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To order the CD “The
Best Love I Ever Had,” mail a money order for $15 (includes shipping and
handling) to Glynn Enterprises, 18648 Fleming, Detroit, MI 48234-1309.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To read more on Little Sonny, <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-sonny-king-of-blues-harmonica.html">click here</a>.</i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-54557849456487127202014-04-29T12:22:00.000-04:002014-04-29T12:22:44.335-04:00Rick Stel memorial concert scheduled<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYxszkZ0i_7K1Dy0-aX6wwfbnKv3yPR_e8zb7yVxl_XVETpPP93ltm0uexkruPYlp1LI8QBnbbRzugqmLxX9hvkSERHjbqgAg9KidgEPbO04nrGT4M7QxEYoaWE1BEixzKvKP0UT-CSg/s1600/Rick+Stel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYxszkZ0i_7K1Dy0-aX6wwfbnKv3yPR_e8zb7yVxl_XVETpPP93ltm0uexkruPYlp1LI8QBnbbRzugqmLxX9hvkSERHjbqgAg9KidgEPbO04nrGT4M7QxEYoaWE1BEixzKvKP0UT-CSg/s1600/Rick+Stel.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick Stel (Photo by Wolfgang Spider)</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tribute to blues musician Rick (Stel) Salansky has been scheduled from 6 p.m. to midnight on Sunday, May 4, at the Blue Goose Inn, 28911 Jefferson Ave., in St. Clair Shores. Stel passed away on April 8 at age 60.</span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening will open with sets by the Rick Stel Project, </span></span></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the Yazoo Brothers, and </span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim McCarty and Mystery Train. There will be other special guests and a jam session.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Members of the Rick Stel Project -- keyboardist Mark LoDuca, bassist Jef Reynolds and drummer Dave Marcaccio -- will be joined by guitarist Paul Carey and the Wicked Horns four-piece horn section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stel's brother Dale will perform with the Yazoo Brothers, one of Rick's early bands. Noted guitarist Jim McCarty, who played with Stel for 20 years, will lead the Mystery Train band.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"When we found out Rick wasn't going to be with us much longer, we decided we would do a musical memorial or tribute," Marcaccio said. "Rick was all about the music, that's what he loved most. I can't imagine we wouldn't do something like this for him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's going to be real strange to do this thing this weekend because he won't be there. It will be like, 'Where's Rick?' But, he will be there in spirit."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Marcaccio, Stel's son Eric approached the band about a tribute concert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Everyone wanted to be a part of this," Marcaccio said. "It's a collaborative effort."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no admission charge. A bucket will be passed to benefit the Detroit Blues Society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"That's another thing Eric wanted to do," Marcaccio said, "to help keep the blues and music alive in this area."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click to see previous blog posts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/detroit-blues-world-mourns-passing-of.html?spref=fb">Detroit blues world mourns passing of Rick Stel</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/bandmate-recalls-rick-stel-as-source-of.html">Bandmate recalls Rick Stel as 'a source of inspiration'; memorial service set</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-25778594409303596292014-04-16T12:16:00.000-04:002014-04-16T14:37:01.578-04:00Save Detroit Benefit Show<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnNktpujKiG9Q8YZfJEZv1lsZc1GmDW6uyXBAcLCNdnvlqDExoFmVcAMPGGWleT632yzwBmiEhDS0sqUK9yU6FeJgUzk9sa2Sfpdo0ixEFfLaqVM3O1L2SmZPEbnJynfkFeup2nQdKNQ/s1600/Paul+Miles+Spirit+of+Detroit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnNktpujKiG9Q8YZfJEZv1lsZc1GmDW6uyXBAcLCNdnvlqDExoFmVcAMPGGWleT632yzwBmiEhDS0sqUK9yU6FeJgUzk9sa2Sfpdo0ixEFfLaqVM3O1L2SmZPEbnJynfkFeup2nQdKNQ/s1600/Paul+Miles+Spirit+of+Detroit.jpg" height="400" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Miles has the "Spirit of Detroit."</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blues musician Paul
Miles knows that no one person can solve the problems Detroit is experiencing.
But, he also knows that great things can result from small beginnings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miles presents the
"Save Detroit Benefit Show" at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 20 at NextWave
Media Lab, <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">950 Stephenson Highway in Troy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We want to make an
effort to lift Detroit up, socially, and focus on what we are able to do and go
ahead and remedy and fix,” Miles said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The show we’re
doing is like tossing a pebble into a pond here and starting the wave of
compassion. There are lots of organizations and people doing positive things in Detroit,
and if what we’re doing encourages people to go up and do something in their own
realm, then we’re doing our job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-FkW1f1jMysBG0ybPfW0gdcedQN15ukT4piiNxnTyBHLa0WihxBiQBYVKEdszlg2DDXsNYk8YHeQV_q51duv_1AQ9hZWxmQGPtsMHOrDT4uf4I5kCu18umROAtTGmCWtqQGpxgKjjcA/s1600/Paul+Miles+08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-FkW1f1jMysBG0ybPfW0gdcedQN15ukT4piiNxnTyBHLa0WihxBiQBYVKEdszlg2DDXsNYk8YHeQV_q51duv_1AQ9hZWxmQGPtsMHOrDT4uf4I5kCu18umROAtTGmCWtqQGpxgKjjcA/s1600/Paul+Miles+08.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Miles</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Featured artists at
the benefit show will be singer-songwriter and storyteller Michael on
Fire, country music singer Julianne Ankley, blues musician Carl
Henry, and singer-songwriter Michelle Held. Miles, a singer-songwriter and
guitarist, will also perform and will serve as co-master of ceremonies with musician
Emily Rogers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I wanted a nice
mix featuring different people and different sounds,” Miles said. “Julianne was
happy to jump on board, Michelle is a newcomer who is doing a lot of good
things here in the folk acoustic style, and Carl, who is nominated as the best
acoustic artist at the Detroit Music Awards and represented Detroit in Memphis (at
the International Blues Challenge), has always been a community minded person and
contributed to many projects in the past.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miles is especially
pleased that Michael on Fire is on the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseYSF6mZEhk71lCILReT1XsGStcRJjt7n-LN4napWLuvqchHkg4uI3ygFcOZimPXAaf5Z52wWpn1zlo7NT3aC7YdxsMtWyoTsCNJBrpzQmaOOwPke0OsDNHXLAikiO9_CGr5tm-OZMWI/s1600/Michael+on+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseYSF6mZEhk71lCILReT1XsGStcRJjt7n-LN4napWLuvqchHkg4uI3ygFcOZimPXAaf5Z52wWpn1zlo7NT3aC7YdxsMtWyoTsCNJBrpzQmaOOwPke0OsDNHXLAikiO9_CGr5tm-OZMWI/s1600/Michael+on+Fire.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael on Fire (Photo by Greg Sadler)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Michael has toured
more than any of us, collectively, and he’s generally out of town and doesn’t
do that many shows here. He has performed with Stephen Stills and lots of other
people you would know and is an award winning songwriter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donations will be
accepted at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Money raised at
the event will be donated to the general fund of the City Of Detroit. Available
at the event will be copies of the song <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/paulmiles/song/20301743-save-detroit?1336410755">"Save Detroit"</a> with all
proceeds going to the City of Detroit. Each artist is donating his or her time
for this event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We’re doing it
to raise the social consciousness of what is going on in Detroit,” Miles said. “We’re
not getting into the politics of who is doing what, or where the money is going.
Our intention is to highlight what people are going to go ahead and do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For information
on the concert, or if you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation,
click <a href="http://pauljmilesmusic.com/">pauljmilesmusic.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blues at the library</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Jazz and Blues Series
at the Southfield Public Library continues at 6:30 p.m. tonight (April 16) with
a performance by Jo Serrapere, John Devine and Friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serrapere’s music blends elements
of modern and traditional folk music, old-time and electric blues, roots rock,
garage surf, swing, and alt-country. Devine, trained as a classical guitarist,
developed a love of traditional blue styles of the 1920s and ‘30s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admission is $5, with a discount
for <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Friends of the Southfield Public Library members. Admission is
free for children under age 12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Detroit Blues Society jam</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Blue Cat Band hosts the
Detroit Blues Society Monthly Meeting and Jam on Saturday, April 19, at the Sky
Box Sports Grill in Highland Township.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a set by the host band, jammers
take over the stage and there is always a lot of local talent on display.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s no cover charge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smokin’ Saturday blues</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Saturday, the annual
Carrick Guitars for Kids concert comes to Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn
Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">A fantastic lineup, including the
Bobby Murray Band, Peter “Madcat” Ruth and </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #141823;">his Madcat Midnight Blues Journey, Drew Nelson,
School of Rock Rochester, Chris Degnore, and Erica Mourad, will perform.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tickets are $15 general admission, $25 for preferred seating. All
proceeds from ticket sales go directly to purchasing guitars for children. Click
<a href="http://atcallahans.com/">atcallahans.com</a> for ticket information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also on Saturday, fans of the J. Geils Band will enjoy the tribute band Raputa
at the Packard Grill in Shelby Township. They promise to "blow your face out!." Click <a href="http://packardgrill.net/">packardgrill.net</a> for info.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please
email <a href="mailto:Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com">Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-6538756825167033512014-04-10T09:01:00.002-04:002014-04-10T10:00:43.080-04:00Bandmate recalls Rick Stel as 'a source of inspiration'; memorial service set<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzpV4pO9EYASdoLHBW4_gZaJQ6diUMGyfq0If0SbB4UvfkkJLgZwUNW2SnpDhO93pWrkVMCvKuyyrGS_QsfNybti6k9dqf9bJ782X1Y74SXffliQy_odKD_mQkincp7Hgn4i8DrK_tHM/s1600/Rick+Stel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzpV4pO9EYASdoLHBW4_gZaJQ6diUMGyfq0If0SbB4UvfkkJLgZwUNW2SnpDhO93pWrkVMCvKuyyrGS_QsfNybti6k9dqf9bJ782X1Y74SXffliQy_odKD_mQkincp7Hgn4i8DrK_tHM/s1600/Rick+Stel.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick Stel (Photo by Wolfgang Spider)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bassist Jef
Reynolds has been friends with singer-guitarist Rick (Stel) Salansky for 30
years or so, starting when they were part of a network of friends from Utica,
Mich. that were in their 20s and “all about the music.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stel’s death from
cancer at age 60 on Tuesday prompted lots of calls and messages to Reynolds,
who played with Stel for years in the Rick Stel Project band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“(The list) is a
mile long, you hear from everybody,” Reynolds said Wednesday. “You know how it
is when you’re longtime buddies and friends. When you hear about it, you say
‘damn!’ There have been long discussions and lots of reflection. Rick and I
have gotten really close the last 7 or 8 years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reynolds and his
Rick Stel Project bandmates – keyboardist Mark LoDuca and drummer Dave Marcaccio
– expect to be involved in a memorial tribute to Stel at a yet to be
specified date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Rick’s son Eric
(Salansky) said he would like for us to be involved when we do a tribute,”
Reynolds said. “Everybody in our
network is in the same generation and we all have the same friends. A lot of us
are in the Detroit Blues Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We’’ll try to
find the most common thread, maybe at a Detroit Blues Society function, or
maybe at Callahan’s (Music Hall) where Rick played with us, with Jim McCarty’s Mystery Train, or sometimes with The Millionaires (swing
band).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reynolds is
working on completing production of a video of the Rick Stel Project performing
at a festival last fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Rick did a lot of
music in town, but there’s not too much of this type of high quality
documentation,” Reynolds said. “It looks pretty nice, he’s happy and he’s
playing really good guitar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reynolds
described Stel as “a fun man to work with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“As far as his
music, he was really a source of inspiration to all of us,” Reynolds said. “A
lot of the music he wrote was based upon his life experiences. He was divorced,
but he would write about it in a humorous way. He wrote songs called ‘My Wife
Don’t Cook’ and ‘Chasin’ Women Blues.’ There was some remorse, but he would
make fun of himself and write tongue in cheek. That endeared him to all of us
who played with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reynolds, a
retired engineer from Chrysler, had another bond with Stel, who was still
working as a design engineer for GM. Marcaccio is a car guy too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I would
characterize him as a roll up your sleeves type of guy, a blue collar guy,”
Reynolds said. “He was pragmatic and hardworking. A lot of us came from the
same culture from cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We’re all buddies
from that different side of life. We do the car thing during the day and come
out at night and play the blues.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to
Reynolds, Stel was the type of person everyone could relate to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was kind of a
Walt Whitman type, a plain spoken and poetic person.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TRIBUTES TO RICK
STEL BY FELLOW MUSICIANS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rick’s Stel’s
passing prompted lots of comments on social media, many from the top musicians in
Detroit, a tribute to his talent. Here are a few excerpts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You were a true
blues man who will be missed by many. Thank you for all the great years of
music!” – Dylan McCarty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Rick Stel was as kind as he was talented - a truly sweet soul and I am proud to call Rick my friend.” – Bobby Murray </span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I didn’t know
him well, but every time you saw him he put a smile on your face. And that my
friends is the greatest legacy perhaps we can hope for.” – Carl
Henry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A strong & swinging blues guitarist, a fine singer, he was
also a talented blues piano man. ... He was a damn good person beyond his musical abilities. A
major loss in our community.” – RJ Spangler</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was a hell of
musician and a fine, soulful singer who was a VERY important part of our music
scene here, for many years." – Erich Goebel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Rick was an excellent guitar player and a multi-talented musician. He was a class act and had ZERO ego. He will surely be missed." </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Steve Allen</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see a previous blog post with comments from Jim McCarty about Rick Stel,<a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/detroit-blues-world-mourns-passing-of.html?spref=fb"> click here.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MEMORIAL SERVICE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A memorial
gathering for Rick (Stel) Salansky will be from 4-9 p.m. Friday, April 11 at
Lee-Ellena Funeral Home, 46530 Romeo Plank, Macomb Township. A service is
planned at 7:30 p.m. For information, click <a href="http://lee-ellenafuneralhome.com/">lee-ellenafuneralhome.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailyrtribune.com</i></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-67250765201733891672014-04-08T16:35:00.000-04:002014-04-11T17:22:02.327-04:00Detroit blues world mourns passing of Rick Stel<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIb3TRvupy77PTWdKX1iPCuLVHAiXhuo3CbP0OaKK7K1y998BsHRBllwckRfNEluTRNaH_qu7t6NSUPhaXQDNMmpPGc-zqMTgEw5P9qOh9Z3F-v85mTtNol_q6jHB7KD-ZzIf-qft71w/s1600/jimmccarty13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIb3TRvupy77PTWdKX1iPCuLVHAiXhuo3CbP0OaKK7K1y998BsHRBllwckRfNEluTRNaH_qu7t6NSUPhaXQDNMmpPGc-zqMTgEw5P9qOh9Z3F-v85mTtNol_q6jHB7KD-ZzIf-qft71w/s1600/jimmccarty13.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim McCarty, center, with Rick Stel, 2nd from right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guitarist Jim
McCarty has had many musical cohorts over his legendary career, but none of his
collaborations lasted longer than his partnership with singer-guitarist Rick
Stel, who passed away this morning at age 60 from cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What makes it
heartbreaking is that he was a guy who never abused himself,” McCarty said. “He
never used drugs or alcohol. I don’t think he even smoked. It makes you wonder
why?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty and Stel first played together in the
Detroit Blues Band when Stel took over for bassist Billy Landless. Their
musical collaboration took a big step forward when McCarty formed his group Mystery
Train.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Memphis Smoke
wanted me to put together a band as the house band,” McCarty recalled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stel moved over to
his main instrument, guitar, and was the main singer in the band. The two
guitarists instantly clicked, according to McCarty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was terrific. We always had that understanding.
It either fits or it don’t. It has to be there. I’m not sure it’s something you
can work on. We had it right out of the gate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Rick came from the
jazzy blues and I was doing more of the blues rock thing, but I listen to jazz
at home more than anything else, so we had a deep bond with that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Over the years,
things would get fine tuned and it just became second nature. I knew what he
was going to do before he did it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McCarty described
Stel as a “good guy, a straight ahead guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You could always
count on him. He was always on time and always did the job.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The interplay
between Stel and McCarty was featured on the 2013 recording “Jim McCarty & Mystery
Train Live.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #3e454c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I’m really glad
that CD is there,” McCarty said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Twenty years is the
longest I’ve played with anybody, even (drummer Johnny ”Bee”) Badanjek. That’s a lot of
notes. It’s a real drag.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see a blog post with comments by Jef Reynolds of the Rick Stel Project, <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2014/04/bandmate-recalls-rick-stel-as-source-of.html">click here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3e454c; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To contact JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-15719731825654652472014-03-31T15:39:00.001-04:002014-03-31T15:39:04.526-04:00Dream session becomes 'Real' for Laith Al-Saadi<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPS-7SoWHOgJCgtScLESU9tIx05hha8c1ESnwF8vi1QHE9xcXK_PtVQEdUbxFHECTMgWEStTLoEvsT7T2pgow9pqVhmcmmA41l3yPdscAFjNc_Bzc2aqPiC8WBWvmr_YVlU6ZQkVkZ5I/s1600/Laith+Al-Saadi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPS-7SoWHOgJCgtScLESU9tIx05hha8c1ESnwF8vi1QHE9xcXK_PtVQEdUbxFHECTMgWEStTLoEvsT7T2pgow9pqVhmcmmA41l3yPdscAFjNc_Bzc2aqPiC8WBWvmr_YVlU6ZQkVkZ5I/s1600/Laith+Al-Saadi.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laith Al-Saadi records at Ocean Way Studio. (Photo by Barry Holmes)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every musician has
envisioned a dream session, where he jams with his all-time favorites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For blues musician Laith
Al-Saadi, his dream became a reality when he recorded his new EP “Real” in Los
Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Producer Jeffrey Weber saw
the Ann Arbor native performing at an L.A. club and was impressed by Al-Saadi’s
songwriting and performing talent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He said he wanted to do a
record with me,” said Al-Saadi, who performs Friday at the Magic Bag in
Ferndale. “I got done with the gig at 2 a.m. and had to leave at 5 a.m. to fly
back to Michigan. When I got back that morning, I already had an email and two
phone messages from him, so I knew he was serious.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weber suggested recording
the session live to two track and Al-Saadi loved the plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I was excited by that
idea and totally up for it. There’s not enough music recorded without a net
these days. I asked him ‘who can I ask to be on the record?’ and he said to ask
whoever I wanted, and that the worst they can say is no.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Al-Saadi ended up with a
backup band of legendary session musicians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bassist Lee Sklar has
performed on over 2,000 recordings, and has worked with James Taylor, Jackson
Browne, Neil Diamond, Hall & Oates, and Linda Ronstadt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drummer Jim Keltner has
worked with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, and the
Traveling Wilburys. He played on Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” and
George Harrison’s “The Concert for Bangladesh.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organist Larry Goldings
has worked with many jazz artists and pop musicians including Tracy Chapman,
Walter Becker, Leon Russell, John Mayer and Norah Jones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The horn section included
jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, who has recorded with such diverse artists as
George Harrison, The Grateful Dead, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Rod
Stewart, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston, and Frank Sinatra.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baritone saxophonist
Brandon Fields, trombonist Nick Lane, and trumpeter Lee Thornburg also have
impressive credentials.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I didn’t go to the Paul
McCartney level, but I picked the studio cats whose records I love, and
everyone said yes,” Al-Saadi said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Al-Saadi’s parents did not
listen to rock ‘n’ roll music in their home. His mother preferred classical and
spiritual music and his father, who is Iraqi, listened to Arabic music. Laith
was exposed to classic rock ‘n’ roll by two older sisters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I started listening more
when I started playing guitar and discovering music on my own,” he said. “I
learned more about the individual performers, and these guys played on so many
records I loved.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing he only had one
day to work with these great artists in famous Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood
put pressure on the 36-year-old singer-guitarist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It was really exciting
and scary at the same time,” Al-Saadi said. “Knowing these guys so well, I was
not worried about their ability to get it, but it was still intimidating
because they had never heard my music before.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Al-Saadi, the
first take was the initial time the musicians heard the song. Most cuts were
finalized between 2-6 takes, he said. There was no mixing, editing or
overdubbing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It was a really fun,
interesting experience and the guys had a blast. They don’t get to record like
that often enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In the 1950s, ‘60s and
‘70s, it was normal to cut a song several times in order to get a good take.
The improvisational nature of blues and jazz was an influence on the record as
well. I really wanted to capture the music of the moment and the right
treatment captured the right vibes for the tunes.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weber was impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Laith is the real deal,”
Weber said in a release. “He has jaw-dropping technique and an evocative vocal
character that captures the unbridled passion of his lyrics. He made a believer
out of every one of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The session was scheduled
for four songs, but the group ended up knocking out six — five originals and a
cover of The Band’s “Ophelia,” as a tribute to the late Levon Helm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’ve
always been a huge fan of The Band,” Al-Saadi said. “Levon Helm passed away in
2012. I wanted to dedicate the album to his memory and the song ‘Ophelia’ is a
fitting tribute.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jimmy Vivino, best known
as the leader of the house band for late night talk show host Conan O’Brien,
played resophonic guitar on “Real.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Jimmy Vivino was so
generous,” Al-Saadi said. “The producer asked him to rearrange his schedule to
record one song that I needed resophonic guitar on called ‘Complete Disgrace.’
(Vivino) said, ‘If Laith wants anything else, I’ll do it for free,’ and he
ended up playing on the whole record.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Vivino, who is scheduled
to perform with The Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux on Saturday at the
<a href="http://www.michtheater.org/shows/the-fab-faux/">Michigan Theater </a>in Ann Arbor, will join Al-Saadi for the concert at the<a href="http://themagicbag.com/"> Magic Bag</a> on Friday. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Also performing will be bassist David Stearns and
drummer Mark Damian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Magic Bag show is sure
to revive memories of the “dream” recording session for Al-Saadi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It was intimidating, but
I was in ‘go mode’ all day,” Al-Saadi said. “We had so short a time and I knew
the recording was on the line. They were consummate professionals and
incredibly nice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It was so much fun to
make. I love it as a testament to that moment in time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LEARNING
TO LOVE THE BLUES</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like
many musicians, Al-Saadi started playing as a teenager, learning to play guitar
so he could accompany himself on tunes by The Beatles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
only took about 6 months before he started playing the blues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It
always has appealed to me,” he said. “It’s the visceral and emotional quality
of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I
always gravitated to Ray Charles and Louie Armstrong and a lot of musicians
with a blues influence, before I really got into the blues. It is one of the most
expressive musical forms out there in this country and the common denominator
for all types of music I like – jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, bluesgrass and
most forms of American roots music.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more on Laith Al-Saadi, click <a href="http://laithmusic.com/">laithmusic.com</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041884463992930829.post-63146369992102355782014-03-10T13:17:00.001-04:002014-03-10T13:29:46.611-04:00Howard Glazer leads Detroit Music Award blues nominations<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsqndp67lXsFRl89DSKvGuzJwWqbCyTdKwtjD_bSi915yjnQ0NdPf24y16fx3LcIlDkDpWiNeU4o1haZP_r6Ei_hnNVoy-O7rYoY2J7dgxdDb5r4TsMEhbiOIoJHTfYepBwviX2-V7jc/s1600/Howard+Glazer++Emanuel+Young+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsqndp67lXsFRl89DSKvGuzJwWqbCyTdKwtjD_bSi915yjnQ0NdPf24y16fx3LcIlDkDpWiNeU4o1haZP_r6Ei_hnNVoy-O7rYoY2J7dgxdDb5r4TsMEhbiOIoJHTfYepBwviX2-V7jc/s1600/Howard+Glazer++Emanuel+Young+2011.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard Glazer left, with Emmanuel Young</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Official nominees for the Detroit
Music Awards have been announced, and singer-guitarist Howard Glazer tops the blues
artist list with five nominations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glazer has been nominated in
the Outstanding Blues Artist/Group, Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist, and
Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter categories. He received a nomination in
the Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording category for his recording <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2013/12/howard-glazer-celebrates-release-of.html">"Stepchild Of The Blues,"</a> and also received a nomination for Outstanding R&B
Artist/Group with Detroit blues veteran Emanuel Young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’m honored,” Glazer
said. “We’ll see what happens. There’s definitely a lot of competition. There
are a lot of good players out there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glazer, who has had
several prior DMA nominations, but is still looking for his first win, was most
pleased about the nomination he shares in the Outstanding R&B Artist/Group category
with Detroit blues veteran Emanuel Young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s quite an honor for
me, and even more so for Emanuel, who turned 75 in November,” Glazer said. “He’s
been pretty much under the radar and there are so many people in the city who don’t
know who he is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glazer said he
first met Young in 1999 when Young was performing with Billy Davis (Hank Ballard
and the Midnighters) at the Olympia nightclub on Grand River and McGraw in
Detroit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He was there every Sunday
night for eight years,” Glazer said. “Another
club he played was Cooley’s Lounge on Van Dyke. He was there on Friday and
Saturday nights from 1977 until 2005 when it closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He’s played in inner city
neighborhoods, but he is someone who definitely deserves to be known (by a
wider audience).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glazer said that Young
played with blues legend John Lee Hooker in 1959-60, but that Young probably
considers himself more of a rock ‘n’ roller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He doesn’t play that
gutbucket, Delta style of blues,” Glazer said. “He plays a fusion of blues and
late ‘50s rock ’n’ roll and R&B and puts them all together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He’s a really good guitar
player with a very melodic style.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE4O5xGV7kSdsoqIAIwQRXFCc9afBk61iSfSZzRU05SjKiuJ_HAZcFkJ-HWPwdNxZK7N3Wp-pZOff5Uo_eE2OMUS2a5jzrz0jsmxpGq4eXEqfdhuCbK3GCfWd5hfj_vBoDbCl_YZNl-Y/s1600/Bobby+Murray+mugshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE4O5xGV7kSdsoqIAIwQRXFCc9afBk61iSfSZzRU05SjKiuJ_HAZcFkJ-HWPwdNxZK7N3Wp-pZOff5Uo_eE2OMUS2a5jzrz0jsmxpGq4eXEqfdhuCbK3GCfWd5hfj_vBoDbCl_YZNl-Y/s1600/Bobby+Murray+mugshot.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby Murray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several other artists received multiple DMA nominations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guitarist Bobby Murray,
best known for his over two decades working with the late Etta James, received nominations
as Outstanding
Blues/R&B Instrumentalist, Outstanding Blues Artist/Group, and Outstanding
Blues/R&B Recording for his CD <a href="http://jbblues.blogspot.com/2013/10/bobby-murrays-new-cd-labor-of-love.html">“I'm Sticking With You.”</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “I’m completely surprised – and honored, especially
to be among so many wonderful artists, who are so deserving,”<b> </b>said
Murray, who won his first DMA last year for <span lang="EN">Outstanding Blues/R&B
Instrumentalist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul Miles,
who also sings, received nominations in the Acoustic/Folk
Instrumentalist, Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist, and Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter categories.
Miles also garnered a nomination in the <span style="background-color: white;">Outstanding
Urban/Funk/HipHop Recording category for the recording "Save</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span class="textexposedshow">Detroit" by Paul
Miles & Friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="textexposedshow">Singer-guitarist Laith Al-Saadi received nominations in the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outstanding Blues Artist/Group, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording ("Real") and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist categories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DMA nominees include:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding Blues Artist/Group</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bobby
Murray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Howard
Glazer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laith Al-Saadi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal
Blackbirds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Erich
Goebel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broken
Arrow Blues Band<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Howard
Glazer - Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bobby
Murray - Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brett
Lucas - Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laith Al-Saadi -
Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pete Peltier -
Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chuck
Bartels -Bass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philip
Hale - Keyboards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motor City Josh
- Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul
Miles-Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bobby
Murray "I'm Sticking With You”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Howard
Glazer "Stepchild Of The Blues"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laith Al-Saadi -
"Real"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harper
and Motor City Josh "Bare Bones"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Infatuations "Yesterday Morning"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura
Rain and the Caesars "Electrified"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tino Gross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Howard
Glazer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul
Miles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim
McCarty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Al McKenzie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura
Rain & George Friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thornetta Davis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barbara
Payton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kathleen
Murray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tosha Owens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caleb
Gutierrez<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laith Al-Saadi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Outstanding R&B Artist/Group</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Infatuations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mainstreet Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura
Rain and the Caesars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tosha Owens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Groove Council<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emanuel
Young & Howard Glazer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Detroit Music Awards
will be at the Fillmore Detroit on April 25. For more information, click <a href="http://detroitmusicawards.com/">detroitmusicawards.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>To send info to JB Blues,
please email <a href="mailto:Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com">Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Joe Ballorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472990303053252576noreply@blogger.com0