MAR/APR08 - Blues Blowtorch Society

BLUES
NEWS
[email protected]
downtown municipal lots.
SPONSORED BY:
The Blues Blowtorch Society
Eastland Suites Hotel and
Conference Center
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
1) How To Start Your Own Band
2) Guitar and/or Harp Lessons
Harmonica player
extraordinaire Steve “The Harp”
and master guitarist Bill Porter
are planning to present a seminar
and workshop for musicians who
want to start a band and learn
how to organize a band.
Also, if enough interest is
shown, these two can provide
Blues guitar lessons and
harmonica lessons, for example,
after meetings of the Blues
Blowtorch Society.
Contact: Steve the Harp at
309-662-0996 or
[email protected]. Contact
Randy Hoffman, President, 309531-2533 or
[email protected]
BBS UPCOMING BLUES EVENTS
HONESTLY NOW!
Most of us are Baby Boomers.
We are old, but not dead!
We still want live music.
We want it early, like 7:00 PM
We want dinner with the show.
We want to be home by 9:30 PM
That is exactly where BBS
responds:
TOO SLIM AND THE TAIL
DRAGGERS
Thursday, May 08, 2008
March - April 2008
Too Slim at NV Ultra Lounge
Last October
Delta Frank and Too Slim
7:00 PM Early Show--to 10:00 PM
NV Ultra Lounge
107 East Beaufort St.
Normal, Illinois 61761
Come early and have dinner
there. NV Ultra Lounge serves
appetizers, salads, deli
sandwiches, Angus burgers,
chicken tenders, chicken wings,
wraps, and quesadillas. Waitresses
come right to your table or at the
bar.
Make “Dinner and an Early
Show” a viable model for BBS.
Please show your support by
attending and joining the fun.
Tickets: $5.00 At The Door
Parking: Children's Museum,
Amtrak Station (in back of NV),
1
BLUES JAM / VOLUNTEER PARTY
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Afternoon to Early Evening (@
2:00 6:00 PM)
Cheeks Bar & Grill
1206 N Towanda Ave
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-829-3655
Hey, it's a party and an
opportunity for area musicians to
jam and not interfere with Fri &
Sat bookings. We will sign up BBS
Volunteers for the Nothin' But The
Blues Festival.
NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES
FESTIVAL
Celebrating 7 Years!
Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July
19, 2008
Tri Lakes, Bloomington IL
www.nothinbutthebluesfestival.c
om
The following bands are booked as
of March 26, 2008. More bands are
to be added, and there will be a
couple of surprises.
Friday July, 18th
Larry McCray
Teeny Tucker
Mike Wheeler Band
Saturday, July 19th
Holmes Brothers
Janiva Magness
Alvin Jett and the Phat Noiz band
Thornetta Davis
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
Steve “The Harp” Blues Band
What it 'tis
It's big city sound in your own
backyard. It's the Nothin' But The
Blues Festival in its 7th year of
keeping the blues alive and
kicking in central Illinois. Enjoying
its new location at
Bloomington's Tri-Lakes, the
festivals crew is ready to roll.
The Blues festival has grown
from a one-day affair with 5
artists to a two-day, 5,000 plus
attendee, open air extravaganza
with the biggest blues names in
the country including Grammy and
Blues Music Award winners and
nominees. Families come for the
entire festival, spread out
blankets, feast on New Orleans
style food and enjoy a day of topnotch musical acts.
It's summertime and the livin'
is easy, especially at the Nothin'
But The Blues Festival. It's
parents, it's kids, it's blues fans
from all over the country, kicking
back and having a great time.
Nothin' But The Blues Festival
has traditionally been held on the
third weekend of July which is far
enough away from the Fourth of
July and before the McLean
County Fair.
The Place - Bloomington TriLakes, 2100 Bunn Street
How do you make the hottest
blues concert in Central Illinois
even hotter? Just add water.
That's right, the Pantagraph's 7th
annual Nothin' But the Blues
Festival has moved to Tri-Lakes in
Bloomington, 2100 Bunn St. TriLakes is located in the heart of
Bloomington, a luscious hideaway
of green trees, open grass and
three peaceful lakes, carefully
hidden behind a junkyard.
It's a journey as old and varied as
the blues themselves. Traveling
through the mountains of
abandoned cars piled one on top
of the other; you feel the
desperation, the emptiness that is
the junkyard blues. Then you
unexpectedly reach Tri-Lakes, the
beautiful jewel of pastoral
beauty, and you feel the healing
power of the blues. It's all there,
in one place, in one moment, in
STEVE “THE HARP” by R. Weisheit
one festival that is the 7th annual
Nothin' But the Blues Festival.
The Food Awesome!
What kind of food goes with
the blues? How about some
walleye or catfish? Or some
gumbo? Or some ribs? All washed
down with a cold beverage of
your choice. And there's plenty of
corn dogs, ice cream, and cotton
candy as well. Whether you want
to enjoy a taste of 'Nawlins' or
play it safe with a corn dog, if
you crave it, you'll find it here.
For The Kids
BBS Harmonica Workshop with
Harmonica Master Steve "The
Harp."
Free harmonica for children 17
and under attending the
workshop; $5.00 for adults
attending the workshop that want
a NBTB. Harmonica lessons are
free for adults if they bring a
harmonica in the key of "C."
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets go on sale May 1, 2008.
Prices TBA
Children 12 and under FREE!
Buy by Phone! 309-820-0099
Visit:
www.nothinbutthebluesfestival.com
CENTRAL ILLINOIS BLUES
CHALLENGE
We are moving the date and
location of the CIBC event, which
qualifies bands to compete in the
International Blues Challenge in
Memphis, 2009.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Tri-Lakes
2100 Bunn St
Bloomington IL
Give your input to Randy
Hoffman, President. Current ideas
include: 1) Limiting the number of
bands to six or less, which
equates to a four hour event.
(2)Try using touring acts that still
meet the IBC criteria. (3)
Advertising/Marketing We have
an offer to use a Marketing
professional for the Challenge.
ASK DELTAFRANK
Note: This column can also be
read on the BBS website “Forum.”
Send questions to
[email protected] or
[email protected]
In the last issue, we left you with
this question:
Question: Delta Frank, the late
Ike Turner is lauded as a Rock and
Roll pioneer. But, didn't he have
deep roots in the Blues?
Answer: In 1951, the Kings of
Rhythm traveled to Memphis to
record at Sam Phillips' Sun studio.
Their original tune "Rocket 88"
(actual authorship is still
disputed) was recorded with a
lead vocal by sax player Jackie
Brenston, and as a result was
released under the name Jackie
Brenston & His Delta Cats, not Ike
Continued on next page
3
Continued from previous page
Turner & His Kings of Rhythm.
"Rocket 88" zoomed to the top of
the R&B charts and is today
regarded by many critics as being
quite possibly the first true rock &
roll record. Brenston subsequently
departed for an unsuccessful solo
career.
Frank Black and Honeyboy Edwards
Ike Turner and his band
became session regulars around
Edwards with Kilborn Alley Blues
Memphis. They went on to back
Band in Decatur back in February?
legendary bluesmen like Howlin'
Answer: See next issue of Blues
Wolf ("How Many More Years"),
News
Elmore James, Otis Rush ("Double
Trouble," (see note below) "All
OFFICIAL RAMBLINGS
Your Love"), Robert Nighthawk,
FROM THE PREZ
Buddy Guy, and Sonny Boy
Williamson II, plus an assortment
of Sun artists.
During the early '50s, Turner
switched from piano to guitar, and
also doubled as a talent scout for
the Bihari Brothers' Los Angelesbased Modern Records, where he
helped get early breaks for artists
like Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King.
AND, NOTE THIS: Inducted into
the 2008 Blues Hall of Fame is the
song “Double Trouble” by Otis
Rush (Cobra, 1958). At the age of
23, Otis Rush was able to mine
the essence of deep blues with his
classic single "Double Trouble" for
the Cobra label of Chicago in
1958. The minor-key masterpiece
depicted a sleepless soul not only
plagued with “false love,” but
with trouble keeping in a job in
Randy Hoffman Mardi Gras 2006
“this generation of millionaires.”
Rush has been justly hailed for
The Blues Blowtorch Society may
his guitar work when he has done
be alive and well! Our March
this song in live performances,
General Membership Meeting had
but the signature licks on the
a great turnout. The group had to
Cobra session were actually
overcome the VFW booking a band
played by Ike Turner.
for the evening, but that was a
This record, of course,
one-night, temporary issue.
influenced Eric Clapton and every
The main item of business was
band since and inspired Stevie Ray
the
proposal for our
Vaughan's band to name
entertainment events for the
themselves after it.
remainder of the year. We
Thanks for asking,
switched some things around, and
Delta Frank.
I want to make you aware of our
new plans.
Question: Delta Frank, Tell us
about going to see Honeyboy
June 1st we are going to hold
a Sunday afternoon Blues Jam at
Cheeks from 2 ~ 6 pm. We are
yet to finalize the host band, and
this early in the plan, you will
want to keep your eyes open for
any changes.
The Jam is also going to be a
Volunteer Signup for the July 18th
and 19th Nothin' But The Blues
Festival. This year we will be
signing up Volunteers for only the
BBS tent. We will be selling
merchandise, signing up and
renewing memberships, and
assisting the artists in selling and
signing their CDs and
merchandise.
If you would like to sign up to
volunteer for other jobs at the
NBTB Festival itself, please
contact Chances Entertainment at
309-820-0099.
Our Central Illinois Blues
Challenge is tentatively set for
September 21st. The plan is to
move the CIBChallenge back to
the Twin Cities this year, probably
to Tri-Lakes. This affords us an
excellent outdoor venue, with the
peace of mind of being able to
move indoors easily if the
weather doesn't cooperate.
We had great weather luck and
some wonderful events at the
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, and
they plan on holding some Blues
events this summer, themselves.
We will keep you informed as
events develop, and encourage
you to enjoy their fine venue.
As encouraged as I am with the
meeting attendance and the
assurance that these folks are
interested in helping as
volunteers at our events, I am still
concerned about having personnel
to manage the future
organization. My hope is that it
will develop from the renewed
interest. So come on out and have
some fun with us!!
Randy Hoffman
Prez
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
KNOW YOUR BLUES BLOWTORCH
SOCIETY
www.bluesblowtorch.com/society
Our Website Is Our Treasure, and
YOU CAN POST!
Our Forum is a great source for
the latest information, reviews,
anecdotes, humor, Meeting's
Minutes, and links. Delta Frank
posts the concert listings he
receives, especially ones for
Central Illinois. You can submit
replies, reviews and articles, too.
If you or anyone legitimate
ever wants to post questions for
Delta Frank, etc., you certainly
can. Send them to Delta Frank or
James Walker. Addresses: Delta
Frank: [email protected];
James Walker:
[email protected] or
[email protected].
WGLT AND WKCC PLAYLISTS IN
FORUM
In the BBS website Forum, one
can find play lists for Delta Frank's
shows, GLT choices, and Skyy
Dobro's and Shuffle Shoes's
Friends of the Blues radio show
for stations WGLT and WKCC.
• Remember Randy Hoffman's
niece Katie O'Neall who
competed at the first Central
Illinois Blues Challenge in October
2002, when she was 17, and won
the People's Choice Award? Her
name is now Katie Eckeberger,
and she is still singing and writing
songs -- both with her husband
Jacob in Nashville TN. Hear their
great songs and visit:
www.sonicbids.com/KatieEckeber
ger and visit
www.myspace.com/eastonoakland
• Congratulations: 25th
anniversary for Steven and
Deborah Mehlberg. Steven and
Deborah Mehlberg of Bloomington
recently celebrated their 25th
wedding anniversary with a
dinner.
Mehlberg and Deborah Hinshaw
were married Feb. 14, 1983, at
St. Mary's Catholic Church in
Bloomington. Now, you kids, go
for 50!
FROM THE EDITOR’S BLUES
SHACK
BROOKS PONDERS CURRY
http://video.google.com/videopl
ay?docid=5252879782162690859&
pr=goog-sl
Use this address for video of 12year-old Matthew Curry Live
with Ronnie Baker Brooks,
Tommy Castro, Magic dick, and
Deanna Bogart Thursday night,
February 7, at The New Lafayette
Club. At the end is when the
power went off in ¼ of the city!
• Good Luck to all our artist
friends nominated for a Blues
Music Award. The Awards Show is
May 8 in Tunica MS.
Katie O'Neall Eckeberger
• Dave Riley of Calumet City IL &
Bob Corritore of Phoenix are
pegged to play the Blues Music
Awards Thursday, May 8, 2008 at
The 29th Blues Music Awards at
the Grand Casino and Hotel in
Tunica, Mississippi. Their CD,
Travelin' The Dirt Road on Blue
Witch Records, was nominated
this year under the category of
“Acoustic Album Of The Year.”
Fans are thrilled about the
nomination in addition to the
great response that the CD has
received.
• A DVD of the 2007 Blues Music
Awards is for sale for $20 at
www.blues.org, click on The Blues
Store. There are some very
touching moments in the one-hour
DVD. People who came to tears
when it was live have commented
they did the same when they saw
it again on DVD. It is not just
music and not just the
presentation of the awards. You
will see some very personal
moments from some of your
favorite Blues musicians. So order
one today and help The Blues
Foundation get their investment
back and clear some space in
their cramped office!
• Had a note from Karen Brault of
After Midnight Blues to check out
by their myspace page:
www.myspace.com/aftermidnight
blues. Cool site!
• Radio playlists - WKCC - are
now viewable on the BBS Forum
from 91.1 FM - WKCC Kankakee
Community College, Kankakee IL.
The March 13 & 20, 2008 shows
featured only artists from Central
Illinois and Northeastern Illinois
(outside Chicago). Among those
featured were 6V6, Fishbone
Willie (Bill Porter), Steve The
Harp Blues Band, Chris “Stinger”
Stevens, Hip Pocket, JuJu Kings,
After Midnight Blues, Deak Harp,
David Berchtold, Haley Crouch,
South Side Cindy & the Slip Tones
and T-Bird Huck.
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
WKCC is a young station and
the newest station playing Blues
in north Central Illinois. WKCC is a
broadcast service of Kankakee
Community College in Kankakee
IL. It has public radio
programming from Public Radio
International (PRI). And, they
feature local programming daily
4:30- 6:00 PM. James “Skyy
Dobro” Walker and D'Arcy “Shuffle
Shoes” Ballinger, “Play da
bluuuues, baby” every Thursday.
Currently the signal only covers
the Kankakee metro area, and
there is not yet internet audio
streaming. Stay tuned; we're
growing.
• Dave Riley becomes winter
resident of Phoenix! Bluesman
Dave Riley has just purchased a
trailer in Scottsdale, so he and his
family can be winter residents of
the Phoenix community. Dave has
been a frequent visitor, and just
loves the Arizona winters. Dave
has been warmly welcomed to
their blues community. Dave will
spend his non-winter months at
his residence in Calumet City IL.
Dave is originally from
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and his
deep southern roots flavor his
great blues music.
South Side Cindy Youngren
• Interesting news from South
Side Cindy and the Slip Tones:
Mighty Mighty is being played on
blues radio shows all over the US,
France, Netherlands, and now in
Skopje, Macedonia! Hats off to
those guys! Look them up next
time you are in the neighborhood.
• Note from Marc Boon and Hip
Pocket: Greetings from the Hip
Pocket winter lodge. I know you're
anxious to get outside and play
some too. The band is hard at
work with new tunes and new
arrangements of some old
standards. The schedule is
starting to fill up and we have a
few newer venues that we hope
you'll take advantage of as the
summer unfolds. The new outdoor
amphitheatre in Normal will host
the band for the grand opening of
that facility on Sunday May 18th.
The venue is where the bridge for
the Constitution Trail crosses over
Linden St. The city of Normal has
an annex down there and the new
stage's back is against the trail.
Should be very cool.
• Champaign-Urbana's Delta
Kings have a lineup change for
the first time in 15 years.
Guitarist and vocalist Kenny
McNichols has retired and is being
replaced by Andy Baylor. Enjoy
your break, Kenny; you've earned
it!
• Note from Felix Reyes (Sean
Costello's teacher in Atlanta when
Sean was around 13). Felix also
wrote the title track for Susan
Tedechi's CD, Wait For Me. Felix
and the Cats band had a vocalist
named Dave “Elmo” Bliss in the
spring of 2002. That is now the
Kansas City singer Dave “Elmo”
Bailey with the National
Debonaires who won the “Blewzzy
Award” for Best album of 2007,
New Sounds from Kansas City.
Visit: www.Mary4Music.com for all
winners.
Says Felix, “My nephew Dave
Herrero moved to Chicago from
Austin, and we are booking shows.
His new CD, recorded in my studio
in Oak Park, will released in April!
Check it out!”
www.myspace.com/felixandtheca
ts and myspace.com/daveherrero
• Visit:
www.bluescritic.com/2007bluescr
iticawards.htm to see the Blues
Critic Awards for 2007 both
reader's poll and critic poll.
• Old time jazz and blues on
line: http://www.jazz-online.com/index.htm. Skyy, I got
this one from Kim Komando. I
don't know if you have it, but you
might want to check it out. I like
Dixieland , but they had a lot of
old time selections from other
sounds. Earl Z
• There's a much anticipated new
film Cadillac Records. The movie
tells the story of Chess Records
and includes many of the gifted
musicians who started there. See
more info in “Blues News Notes”
in this issue.
http://www.bobcorritore.com/p
hotos73.html
New Photo Page features the
1970's blues photos by Lindsay
Shannon: Radio show host and
blues club proprietor Lindsay
Shannon is sharing these amazing
images of Louisiana Red with
Odetta, Muddy Waters, Frank
Frost, Clifton Chenier, and more.
Lindsay is a huge contributor to
the Kansas City blues community
with his blues club and restaurant
B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ, and with his
long running radio show on KCFX,
101FM, "The Kansas City Blues
Show", which earned him a 1992
KBA Award.
• The 25th International Blues
Challenge in 2009 has been
changed to February 4-7. This is a
change from the original
announcement.
• Plans for Jimmy Rogers Book
announced: Though still in the
research stages, Dr. Wayne
Everett Goins has announced his
intentions to author a book that
will be titled That's All Right: The
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
Jimmy Rogers Story. Jimmy
Rogers is simply one of the
greatest blues artists that ever
lived, and he, along with Muddy
Waters and Little Walter, were
architects of the classic Chicago
Blues style of the early 1950s.
• Little Walter's induction into
the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
on YouTube: Little Walter was
considered by many as the most
brilliant and innovative blues
harmonica player who ever lived.
On Monday, March 10, 2008, Little
Walter was inducted into The
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with a
televised ceremony live at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New
York. The film short that opened
Little Walter's segment of the
induction contains samples of his
great harmonica work with some
interviews, classic photos and
rare footage.
BLUES NEWS NOTES
BRAND NEW: MYSPACE SITE FOR
BBS
www.myspace.com/blues_blowtor
ch_society
Just up, this is absolute bare
bones to start. We can have any
available song play on opening, so
we can add to or change this as
often as needed. Look through,
and Deborah Mehlberg will be
adding material from the old site
as well as adding new items, too.
Contact her with ideas.
WONDERFUL HONOR:
Out of the “blue,” Steve “the
Harp” Mehlberg received this
letter in March,
Dear Steve “The Harp”
The Uunderground Blues Hall
Of Fame really wants you to have
this.
All us here at the UBHOF really
want to send you
CONGRATULATIONS on your New
UBHOF Induction Certificate
Further mission: To "SING" the
unsung, unsigned Heroes of the
Blues, recognizing their
contributions to the quest we
share of "Keeping the Blues Alive."
RESPONSES:
Steve,
That is so cool! What
wonderful news! As Deb pointed
out, two of the five incuctees are
BBS members!
Skyy Dobro, Blues News Editor
Steve,
On behalf of the BBS Board Of
Directors, Congratulations from
all of us on the BOD, you are so
deserving of this recognition. Is it
recognition if you are
“Underground??!?!!”
Randy Hoffman, President
UBHOF Inductees for 2008
Induction into the UBHOF. You are
one amazing Harpin' Blues Artist.
You really deserve this Induction
Certificate. This is for you. Have
an awesome day.
Thank You,
The UBHOF,
Rosa, Co-Assistant
Contact:
http://www.myspace.com/henrys
blueshalloffame
THE UNDERGROUND BLUES HALL
of FAME BYLAWS MISSION: This site
is dedicated to those BLUES
artists and groups on myspace
that are presently in the Blues
underground, namely Blues
persons that have not been signed
by a major record label. Those
folks that are out there weekend
after weekend keeping the blues
alive, in the small joints, and the
big halls, playing for crowds of 25
or 2,500 just bending the Blues.
NEW MOVIE ABOUT CHESS
RECORDS
Cadillac Records
Bruce Springsteen was there.
Marshall Chess was there. These
giants of the recording industry
were listening as Barrelhouse
Chuck and an all star blues band
recorded the soundtrack for Sony
BMG's much anticipated new film
Cadillac Records. The movie tells
the story of Chess Records and
includes many of the gifted
musicians who started there.
Beyonce Knowles is executive
producer, Darnell Martin writes
and directs. Beyonce will also
portray famed blues singer Etta
James. Adrian Brody plays historic
Chess Records founder Leonard
Chess; Jeff Wright is cast as blues
great Muddy Waters; and Cedric
the Entertainer plays legendary
songwriter Willie Dixon.
Barrelhouse Chuck (real name
Charles Goering) was asked by
Kim Wilson, lead singer and
harmonica player for the Fabulous
Thunderbirds, to participate on
this recording. Other musicians in
the session include bassist Larry
Taylor (Canned Heat), Steve
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
Jordan on drums, and guitarists
Eddie Taylor, Jr., Billy Flynn and
the legenday Hubert Sumlin.
INAUGURAL BLUES CONCERT
TOUR HEADED TO IRAQ &
KUWAIT IN APRIL
BLUZAPALOOZA, the first Blues
concert tour to go to a war zone,
ships out to military bases in Iraq
and Kuwait on April 1, 2008 to
entertain our troops. Created by
Blues producers Steve Simon and
John Hahn and presented by
Armed Forces Entertainment, this
inaugural BLUZAPALOOZA tour
stars Blues icon and four-time
Blues Music Awards (BMA)
nominee Bobby Rush, two-time
BMA Contemporary Blues Female
Artist of the Year Janiva Magness,
Beale Street Entertainer of the
Year Billy Gibson, and Tony
Braunagel from The Phantom
Blues Band heading up the
BLUZAPALOOZA All-Stars Blues
Band.
This inaugural BLUZAPALOOZA
tour has been made possible with
the help of Armed Forces
Entertainment, The Blues
Foundation, Blind Raccoon, Blues
Revue, Gibson Guitars, Alligator
Records, NorthernBlues Music,
Delta Groove Records, Blind Pig
Records, Hohner Harmonicas,
Telarc Records, Sony Corporation
and Ruf Records.
Armed Forces Entertainment
(AFE) is the lead Department of
Defense agency for providing
entertainment to U.S. military
personnel serving overseas.
Founded in 1951, AFE brings a
touch of home to more than
500,000 troops each year.
BLUZAPALOOZA is proud to be
working with AFE. Contact Steve
Simon at 340-643-6475 or at
[email protected].
PUBLIC RADIO, MORE THAN PBS,
FILLS A VOID
Full story at:
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/ar
ts/television/17mcgr.html?_r=1&o
ref=slogin
...But by far the greatest
advantage of public radio is that,
by not trolling after ratings, it has
managed to stay distinctive: it
does what nothing else on radio
does and sticks to its core: news
and public affairs and the oddball
weekly show like “Car Talk” and
“A Prairie Home Companion.” At
the same time, public radio
thrives, in a way that public TV
does not, from internal
competition: in addition to NPR,
the old standby, there is the
newer, hipper PRI (Public Radio
International), importer of the
invaluable BBC World Service
news program and distributor of
innovative shows like “Studio 360
With Kurt Andersen” and “This
American Life,” for which NPR did
not fight.
Where would we be without
this stuff, gathered so
conveniently at the low end of
the FM dial? How would we fill
those otherwise empty hours
when we're held hostage in our
cars? At its best public television
adds a little grace note to our
lives, but public radio fills a void.
SAD NOTICES OF PASSING:
Our condolences to President
Randy Hoffman for his mother
who passed in January. The BBS
sent a memorial in her honor.
Chuck Ely of Peoria 1939 2008
A celebration of the life and
times of Chuck Ely was held March
22 at Bradley University Student
Center Ballroom. Pastor Carol
Lakota Eastin of the Native
American Fellowship conducted
the proceedings. Following the
ceremonial memorial, Chuck was
honored with a toast and with
musical selections from his
playlist by the Chuck Ely Rhythm
and Blues Jam Band of the Silver
Dollar Saloon.
Skeeter Brandon playing pool-side
at Dr. Hoelscher's house
Calvin “Skeeter” Brandon, April
22, 1948 - March 20, 2008
Calvin “Skeeter” Brandon
rd
performed at the 3 annual
Nothin' But The Blues Festival on
July 23, 2004. In my review, I
noted, “Brandon did knife-pointsharp impersonations of Ray
Charles on “Georgia” and Al
Green and Curtis Mayfield doing
“When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Skeeter has suffered from a
number of ailments throughout
the past several years- most
significantly diabetes. Known as
"The Energizer Bluesman," he
consistently mustered the
strength to perform despite his
health problems. Skeeter
delighted audiences around the
world with his gritty blues/soul
voice. He had a great sense of
humor, and he was loved by
everyone he encountered. His
legacy lives on through his family
and his music. Know he
appreciated everything everyone
has done for him over the years.
Jeff Healey, March 25, 1966
March 2, 2008
Arguably one of the most
recognized blues-rock guitarists of
the early 90s and beloved around
the world, Jeff Healey passed
away in a Toronto hospital after a
long bout with cancer. He was 41.
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
Blind since childhood, Healey
came into the limelight in the
early 90s with his
Grammy-nominated album for
Arista Records See the Light that
blended blues with a rock
sensibility, topping the charts
with the single “Angel Eyes.”
More about IKE TURNER:
Inducted into the Blues Hall of
Fame is the song “Double
Trouble” Otis Rush (Cobra, 1958)
At the age of 23, Otis Rush was
able to mine the essence of deep
blues with his classic single
Double Trouble for the Cobra label
of Chicago in 1958. The minor-key
masterpiece depicted a sleepless
soul not only plagued with “false
love,” but with trouble keeping in
a job in “this generation of
millionaires.” Rush has been justly
hailed for his guitar work when he
has done this song in live
performances, but the signature
licks on the Cobra session were
actually played by Ike Turner. This
record influenced Eric Clapton
and inspired Stevie Ray Vaughan's
band to name themselves after it.
Buddy Miles, Sept 5, 1947 Feb
26, 2008
Legendary Drummer Buddy
Miles passed away peacefully at
his home in Austin TX. He was (60)
sixty years old. He is best known
for his work with Jimi Hendrix and
bass player Billy Cox in Band of
Gypsys. He suffered from
congestive heart failure, but the
official cause of death is not
known. Buddy performed with
some of the greatest names in
music including Stevie Wonder,
Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood,
Jr., David Bowie and others.
Buddy Miles recorded over 70
albums and performed in
numerous world tours, television
commercials, and videos. Band of
Gypsys recorded one album
appropriately titled “Band of
Gypsys” in 1970 at Fillmore East
in New York. Two of the songs on
the album were written by Miles,
"We Gotta Live Together" and
"Them Changes.”
Calvin Owens, April 23, 1929 Feb 21, 2008
Legendary bandleader and
trumpeter Calvin Owens
succumbed to kidney failure. He
was 78. Owens is best known for
being an early bandleader for B.B.
King in the early fifties while King
recorded his famous sides at the
Kent Label in Texas.
Schoolboy Cleve, 1925 February 5th 2008
Cleveland “Schoolboy Cleve”
White, Louisiana Hall of Fame
Blues musician inductee in Baton
Rouge LA; World War II Veteran,
Double Bronze Star recipient, and
whose picture once hung at the
World Trade Center in New York
because of years of service with
the Wall Street Journal - Dow
Jones Company Inc. The photos
were destroyed during the 9/11
attack on our nation. Schoolboy
Cleve is known worldwide and is
considered one of the greatest
Harmonica players that ever
lived. He played with other
legendary artists like Lightnin'
Slim (his first harpist), Sonny Boy
Williamson, Muddy Waters, Buddy
Guy, Grammy nominee Ron
Thompson and many others. He
encouraged a friend to also play,
Slim Harpo.
WHY SHEMEKIA COPELAND
CANCELED JANUARY 24
CONCERT AT NEW LAFAYETTE
CLUB
Many thanks to Karen Brault, After
Midnight Blues, for forwarding this
story.
Written by Jeremy Baum who is a
band member of Shemekia
Copeland's band. It is about the
car accident they had. Thank God
they were not seriously hurt.
“January 25, 2008: At least no
one was seriously injured or
killed. We are all ok. As most of
you know, I've been touring with
Shemekia Copeland's band for the
last 3+ years. Overall its been
fantastic. I've been all over
Europe, Canada and the USA
playing great music and meeting
all sorts of people and other
musicians.
The hardest part of touring is
the touring. lol. Most of your life
on the road is just that, hours and
hours and hours in a van driving
from gig to gig.
Last Wednesday night, the
band met up in East Stoudsburg PA
at midnight at the "road
manager's" house. We had a 12
hour drive ahead of us to Chicago
to Shemekia's house, then another
couple hours to Bloomington IL for
our gig Thursday night. Arthur
Neilson drove the first couple
hours. Then, I drove from 2:30 am
till 8 am. Damon Eppely, "road
manager," took over. We made a
pitstop around 11am somewhere
in Indiana. It was a beautiful day,
blue sky and brisk.
Back in the van, Damon (“da
mon”) was driving the full size
van pulling a large trailer with our
equipment and luggage doing
about 70 mph. Then it started
snowing hard. It was the lake
effect snow that was forecast.
The interstate was covered with
snow/ice. Damon slowed a little
to 50-60 mph. Then it snowed
harder. Both the drummer Rod
and I said, “Hey Damon, it's a
whiteout! It looks slippery.” He
actually said "ITS NOTHING!"
A minute later through the
snow, we saw the tail end of a
tractor trailer standing still in our
lane (the left lane). There were
cars stopped in the right lane.
There were a couple vehicles that
had slid off into the center to our
left. We were still going about 50
mph when Damon tried to stop. It
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
FEATURED ARTIST - BRYAN LEE
BBS
BLUES
EVENT UPCOMING
was like a nightmare. I had no
seatbelt on, and there was no
time. I crouched behind the
driver's seat as he said, “Hold on;
we're gonna hit! We're gonna hit!
HOLD ON!”
We hit hard. My head smashed
into the back of the seat. I spit
out blood and pieces of my teeth.
My head hurt. The air smelt
awful! It was smoky from the
airbags. I was afraid we might get
Bryan Lee
hit again from behind. I wanted to
get out of the van. Everyone was
asking each other, “Are you all
right? Is anybody hurt? Is everyone
ok?”
Thankfully yes; no one was
seriously hurting. I mean it
sucked, but no broken bones. No
bleeding. Everyone was conscious.
Damon (the driver) was stuck in
his seat. The front end had been
forced back, and the steering
Bryan Lee and Brent Johnson
wheel had him pinned. I get out
Bryan Lee & the Blues Power
and felt hot and faint and lay
Band
down in the snow. The guys came
Wisconsin to New Orleans to
around and got me up.
Matairie, LA
The fire trucks and
Born March 16, 1945 and now
ambulances came 20 minutes
63,
Bryan Lee came from Two
later. The fireman were great.
Rivers WI, a blues collar factory
They got Damon out of his seat in
town in northeast Wisconsin. He
minutes, and he was standing and
left after attending the Janesville
moving his legs; he was fine. We
School for the Blind, and he
all took the ride to the hospital
played in Detroit, Ann Arbor,
and got checked out. Everyone
Grand Rapids and southern
made it.
Wisconsin. Coming from the
Then, the next night, we were
Midwest, Lee became friends with
in Michigan playing to a packed
Luther Allison who also grew up in
theatre.”
Wisconsin. “He was one of my
favorite guys that I would run into
SOCIETY PHOTOS
on a regular basis,” says Bryan.
Go to
Attending a Ray Charles
www.bluesblowtorch.com/society
concert
in 1962 was the blues
and click on the camera icon. By
beginning
for Bryan. After he
the way, you can visit Ralph's own
heard
site to see more of his pix at
Charles on the sax then pound the
www.prettygoodphotos.com
keys mercilessly for an upbeat
number, then cool it down for a
gospel tune, Lee was ready to
devote his life to music. “The
thing that kept me in was a time
in Milwaukee, 1981 I opened up
for Muddy Waters at Summerfest,
and at the end of his show I
went to his dressing room. I said
“Muddy, you and your band sound
so good and it's just so
nice to see and old man like you
with a beautiful lady” And he
said” Bryan my friend, I don't see
any old people here, what are you
talking about?” And I said “Well, it
is so nice to be in the presence of
a living legend.” And he got up
and came over and hugged me,
and said” Bryan, stay with this.
One day you're going to be a living
legend. “So, that was the
clincher. After that it was 'OK give
me the brick wall, I'll go through
it.'”
Bryan traveled to Chicago but
couldn't get work there because
of color. “I couldn't get a break up
there. There was a time in
Chicago where I was beaten
down. And it hurt me. I wasn't
trying to be black. I was just
trying to be me. Hell I can't even
see color- I am blind. So I made
my way down to New Orleans 25
years ago and it was the best
thing I ever did.”
The rest is history. Bryan
played at the Old Absinthe Bar,
(on Bourbon Street in Nawlins') for
15 years during the 80s and 90's.
This was a gig that went a long
way to establish New Orleans as a
Blues town as well as the
granddaddy of Jazz. Guitarist and
leader of the Jump Street Five
Band at the time, Bryan Lee was
faithful to his loyal fans and the
music. Today Bryan Lee is still
going strong, touring across the
US, Canada, and Europe playing
the blues with the Blues Power
Band featuring Brent Johnson in
second guitar and slide guitar.
REGIONAL
BBS
BLUES BLUES
EVENTROUNDUP
UPCOMING
Illinois Central Blues Club Blue
Mondays at the Alamo
www.icbluesclub.org
April 14 - Pleasure Chest with
Robert Sampson
April 21 - Bryan Lee & the Blues
Power Band from New Orleans
April 28 - Kilborn Alley Blues band
May 5 - Chris Cain from California
May 19 - Dan Sanchez and the
Kings of Pleasure
EDUCATION SPOT
Our mission statement: “The
Blues Blowtorch Society was
formed as a non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization to enhance the
culture of blues music in the
Central Illinois area through the
promotion of local artists, as well
as regional and national talents,
and to educate the public to
foster an appreciation of the
American Heritage known as The
Blues.”
NEW MEMBERS AND CHANGES
Todd Wolfe
KANKAKEE
The Blues Blowtorch Society
and the Kankakee area Friends of
the Blues joined in booking a
touring artist to get him two
shows on his way through. Todd
Wolfe performed in Normal
Thursday night February 21, and
then in Bradley IL on February 22.
BBS members were admitted free
with the cover charge being paid
by your BBS since it was a thirdThursday meeting night.
There is potential here for the
future. If Springfield and Peoria
groups cooperate in joint booking,
fans and artists alike could really
benefit.
Dear BBS,
Last night a tremendous guitar
player graced our town. Todd
Wolfe's talent was amazing. It's
been quite a while since I've
heard such a sweet slide guitar
player. For those of you that
attended, Thank You for your
support. For those of you that did
not attend, you missed a great
show.
Your support at these events
are vital to the success of our
Blues Society.
Sincerely,
Deborah Mehlberg
Entertainment Director
Treasurer
SPRINGFIELD
Note: Our membership peaked
at 310 on December 21, 2007.
Approximately half of all BBS
memberships will be up for
renewal by June 30, 2008. The
other half will be due by
December 31, 2008.
Thank you for new members
since last issue. Our apologies, to
any one misspelled or missed
entirely. E-mail all corrections to
the editor:
[email protected]
OR phone 815-432-5656.
Renewals:
Gary Goodwin
Tim & Coleen Kerestes
Dave Long
New Members:
“Welcome” to our newest
members!:
Sallie Able & Leonard Beach
Jeff McCollum & Wendy Watkins
Pam & Ed Moore
Rick Tull, Press Relations person
for Entertainment Committee
CHANGED ADDRESS ?
Dear Members of the Blues
Blowtorch Society,
Please let us know when you
change your phone number and email address so we can get the
news out to you. Access Delta
Frank: [email protected] OR
BBS, PO Box 1092, BLOOMINGTON
IL 61702-1092
Thank you, Frank Black
BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS PEORIA
Noted roots vocalist and guitarist,
historian, entertainer, and
teacher Michael “Hawkeye”
Herman, Keeping the Blues Alive
Award recipient, presented BITS
programs to the Glen Oak Primary
School on Tuesday, February 26,
2008. Steve “The Harp” joined
him for the morning instruction,
for which Hawkeye expressed
thanks.
A CHALLENGE ISSUED?
Patrick Sweany of Ohio gave what
amounts to a challenge to all
Blues Societies in a recent issue of
Blues Revue. In Issue 110,
Feb/Mar 2008, Bob Margolin, in
his column “
Steady Rollin,'” featured the
bluesman and instructor from
Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace
Ranch.
Margolin interviewed, “...have
you been gigging as much as you
want in today's difficult scene?”
Here was Sweany's response, “I
work a lot. I always have. I...live
a lifestyle that facilitates a lowerincome career choice, because I
love my job and work hard at it.
Sweany continued, “We've
definitely stepped outside the
blues scene. And that's a
conscious decision on my part Our
booking agent agrees with this,
and our label agress with this. The
blues labels, agencies, and
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
societies do not do enough to
interest new fans, and Blues is the
Schools alone is not going to do
it.”
Food for thought: How will the
past and future of BBS be judged
about “interesting new fans”?
REVIEWS
Eric Lindell in Aurora '07
Eric Lindell
Low On Cash, Rich In Love
Alligator Records
Written by James “Skyy Dobro”
Walker for Illinoisblues.com and
BBS
12 songs; 46:18 minutes;
Suggested
Genres: Contemporary Blues,
Blues-Rock, Funk
The top surprise of 2006 was
the biggest Blues record label,
Alligator, signing and promoting a
non-Blues artist, Eric Lindell. In
founder and president Bruce
Iglauer's own words, Lindell is
“more roots rock than blues, with
plenty of the musical flavors of
his adopted hometown of New
Orleans.” Iglauer began, “I've
been pleasantly surprised by the
way the blues community has
embraced Eric Lindell.”
On a side note, indicative of
“Blues'” niche in mainstream
music, even though Alligator is
the biggest label, it is still called
an “indie” (independent) label
among the legion of
unincorporated indies.
Many bands have sent promo
CDs to Iglauer hoping to get his
label's support machine behind
them. As the New Orleans TimesPicayune pointed out, “Lindell has
witnessed the impact a motivated
record company can have on a
musician's career. After years of
... little or no promotion, his
songs are getting airplay on
Triple-A and community radio
stations and the Sirius and XM
satellite networks. Airplay
translates to paying customers at
gigs.”
Richly talented, Lindell
created a slightly Bluesier album
for his second Alligator release,
and songwriting continues as a
forte as he originates simple but
catchy love and lost-love songs.
Lindell plays guitar and even plays
Junior Wells inspired harp on a
couple of songs. Eric's voice is
rough hewn, but it is an instantly
pleasing mid-register voice
reminiscent of Van Morrison or a
young Delbert McClinton. His laid
back vocals have the slight lazy
slur of an unintentional hipster.
Recorded at Piety Street
Studio in New Orleans, the CD is
all originals save one cover, a
totally reworked version of Gil
Scott-Heron's “Lady Day And John
Coltrane.” Saxophones have been
added to the hook-laden
melodies, grooves build on top of
each other, and there's full and
thoughtful professional studio
production.
Bottom line: Iglauer has
scored another success this time
through Blues' roots rock side
door.
Jim Suhler in Springfield '08
Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat
Tijuana Bible
Continental Blue Heaven #
CBHCD2012
By James “Skyy Dobro” Walker
for Illinoisblues.com and BBS
16 songs; 71:21 minutes; Library
Quality Genres: Electric Texas
Blues; Blues-Rock
Tired of this long and cold
Midwest winter? Then let's head to
Texas and heat things up
musically, at least. “Texas Blues”
is composed of a number of style
variations and first occurred in
the mid 1920s, featuring acoustic
guitar work that mimicked the
vocals rather than merely
accompanying them. Lyrics relied
less on love, unfaithfulness, and
heartbreak than other blues
forms. After World War II, a fully
electric style featured singlestring soloing over predominantly
horn-driven backing “Electric”
Texas Blues. T-Bone Walker's
Electric Texas Blues represented
an uptown sound, but its jukejoint, roadhouse roots became
most prominent by the 1970s and
80s, with even more emphasis
placed on the lead guitar work
and with artists intensely rocking
the joint in duos and power trios.
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
The style stays current with
performers primarily working in a
small combo context sans a horn
section.
Texas native Jim Suhler is best
known as the lead guitarist for
George Thorogood and The
Destroyers since 1999. Because of
Suhler's masterful endlessfireworks-approach to slide, lead,
and rhythm guitar, he has often
been included in “
Top Ten Guitarists” lists of various
publications. When he is not
playing with Thorogood, he tours
and records with his own band,
Monkey Beat.
Tijuana Bible is the fifth and
newest CD by the Dallas guitar
hero and his fiery veteran band.
Produced by Jim Suhler and Tom
Hambridge, the album guests
include Jimmy Hall, Elvin Bishop,
and Joe Bonamassa.
Tijuana Bible features 16
songs, thirteen Suhler or
Suhler/Hambridge originals and
covers of “Drunken Hearted Boy,”
“I Could've Had Religion,” and
“Up To My Neck In You.”
Title wise (and with an
example shown on the front and
back CD cover), “The Tijuana
Bible” is a name for an old-time
pornographic comic book,
typically starring famous
politicians, film stars, or sports
heroes.
The first number is the title
track with the opening guitar
instantly defining the Electric
Texas Blues sound. From a
devoted study of Texas
mythology, Suhler evidently
realized the metaphorical value
of a lyrical ode to such an art
form. It's the sort of attitude and
approach that defines Suhler's
work: witty, literate, and
cerebral lyrics presented in
groove-basted Texas rocking blues
with incendiary slide guitar.
Every track is a snow-melting
standout, and there is plenty of
value with over 70 minutes of
music and only one song longer
than six minutes. While
purchasing this CD, add one more,
Live at Blue Cat Blues, recorded
with Alan Haynes and featuring
Suhler's live signature cover songs:
Louisiana Red's “Too Poor To Die”
plus Hendrix's “Are You
Experienced.”
Deak Harp at NBTBFest '07
Deak Harp
Gateway To The Blues
Deak Harp Records # DH0002
www.deakharpblues.com
By James “Skyy Dobro” Walker
for Illinoisblues.com and BBS
17 songs; 68:34 minutes; Library
Quality
Genres: Acoustic and Electric
Harmonica, Harmonica
instruction, Chicago Blues, Delta
Blues
Thankfully, here is an actual
Blues album. So many of the
“Blues” CDs that we get are not
really Blues albums. Instead, they
are Rock albums marketed
towards an aging population of
white middle-class Baby Boomers
who miss the sounds of the
Sixties, but can't find anything in
the wasteland of commercial
radio that bears resemblance in
tone, texture, soul, or feel.
As expected with a name like
“Deak Harp,” you get a blues
album featuring lead harmonica
with 17 studio-recorded songs that
cover three main areas. First,
some songs could easily be used
for harmonica instruction.
Secondly, harp fans will
thoroughly enjoy Deak's inspired
playing. Finally, there are some
great Chicago Blues numbers
when joined by the band: Tom
Holland guitar, Eddie Clark
drums, and T Bone Tom on Bass.
From Oakland in Central
Illinois, Deak started playing
harmonica at age 12. Deak finally
met James Cotton in person, and
it started a long-lasting friendship
to this day. Deak learned directly
from Cotton who helped him with
his tone on the harp.
Today, Deak does guest gigs some of which with the legendary
John Primer (like last summer at
the Nothin' But The Blues
Festival), performs solo, and
appears with the Deak Harp Blues
Band all the while promoting this
CD. All songs were either written
or arranged by Deak Harp, and
Deak uses only Hohner Marine
Band Harmonicas including a Big C
364 and a Super 64 Chromatic.
Recorded at Twist Turners
House of Sound Chicago IL, and
produced by Twist Turner and
Deak Harp, this CD contains solo
acoustic and electric harmonica.
It travels through time up to the
present Chicago Blues sound
starting with the train "hollers" of
the 1930s. For example, tracks
one and two, “Riding The Rails”
and “John Henry” are solo
numbers heavy with a train
rhythm and train sounds.
Starting with the seventh
track instrumental, “Old Soul,”
the band gets more involved in
the mix with some 12 bar blues
that is just wonderful. The fullband Chicago Blues shuffles
continue through track 17. Most
of the tracks are instrumentals
including the unique patterns in
the title track.
Track 10, “Yeah My Baby,”
gives us the first listen to Deak's
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
sharp register vocals and roadlesson lyrics. Tom Holland plays a
tasty lead slide guitar solo half
way through on top of his double
tracked steady rhythm guitar.
More well-crafted slide is found
mid way through “Brocton
Straight.”
Other standouts include the
break neck tempo on “Moving
Soon,” a burn-the-house-down
slow blues, “Midnight Blues” with
magnificent interplay between
Deak's chromatic harp and
Holland's electric guitar, and
“Cone-A-Phone-A-Boogie” which
uses a Gi Joe Communicator
Helmet with a cheerleader
megaphone duct-taped to it.
So, if you, too, are looking for
some real blues content, and you
just happen to love harmonica,
look no further. Let this CD show
you the “Gateway To The Blues.”
INTERNATIONAL BLUES
CHALLENGE RESULTS
BARB HAMILTON PERFORMING
AT IBC by Eric Steiner
Hi BBS and Chairperson Deborah
Mehlberg,
Again, please relay my
appreciation and "Thank You" to
the Blues Blowtorch Society for
the $750 to help us go to
Memphis! We are ready to go and
ready to represent the society in
Memphis! Thank you so much.
Barb Hamilton
Tony Juodis
IBC
It was the World's Largest
Gathering of Blues Bands, January
31-February 2, 2008 in Memphis,
Tennessee. The 24th edition
featured a record 159 acts from
36 states and 10 countries and 6
continents, with 99 competing in
the Band division and 60 in the
Solo/Duo contest. Representing
the BBS were Barb Hamilton and
Kim Massie.
Barb Hamilton performed
well, but did not reach the
Solo/Duo finals. Robert Sampson
of Springfield did but was not in
the top two winners.
Sadly, Kim Massie was sick
with a cold and could not sing the
National Anthem at the FedEx
Forum where the NBA Memphis
Grizzlies play. Her performances
on Beale Street were accordingly
not up to her capabilities. We
love you anyway, Kim!
Band Competition:
1st place: Trampled Under Foot Kansas City Blues Society
2nd place: Shakura S'Aida Toronto Blues Society
3rd place: 'Lil' Ray Neal Blues
Band - Baton Rouge Blues Society
Best Guitarist Award: Nick
Schnebelen of Trampled Under
Foot
Solo/Duo Contest:
1st place: Lionel Young Colorado Blues Society
2nd place: Ben Prestage - Blues
Alliance of the Treasure Coast
Best Self-Produced CD Award
went to Sophisticated Ladies by
Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing
Orchestra, sponsored by Blues
Lovers United of San Diego.
CONCERTS
www.bluesblowtorch.com/societ
y...Forum...Concerts
Band Schedules and concerts: Our
Forum is a great source of
information for the latest. Delta
Frank posts the concert listings he
receives, especially ones for
Central Illinois. Many listings are
also now available at
www.illinoisblues.com
SIMPLY THE BLUES FESTIVAL
“KEEPIN' IT ALIVE"
MAY 9th & 10th, 2008
C.E. RICHARDS RODEO ARENA SHELTER HOUSE
FORT MADISON, IOWA
This is the 5th annual
presentation of “Simply The
Blues,”
and because of the great support
that this festival has received
from the Blues Foundation, we
are dedicating this years festival
to them. Our theme is “Keepin' it
Alive”.
Friday May 9
Magic Slim and the Teardrops,
Eddie Turner, Leon Redbone,
Louisiana Red,
The Second Skinny Blues
Steve McLain & Jefferson County
Green Band.
Saturday May 10
NOTE: These acts are all past
International Blues Challenge
participants, which are also some
of the best national acts in the
country:
Sean Costello
Diunna Greenleaf
Zach Harmon
Shawn Kellerman
Trampled Under Foot
Alvin Jett and Phat noiz
Rich Berry
Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts
Information on all these great
National acts can be found on
www.simplemanenterprises.com .
TICKET PRICES
Adult tickets in advance thru web
site & area outlets are $25 for the
weekend.
Advanced Adult Tickets are $15
per day
Students ages 13 - 18 are $10
Watseka (IL) Theatre Blues &
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page
BBQ Festival
May 31
Chicago Blues Festival
June 5 8
Aurora Blues on the Fox Festival
June 13 & 14
Washington Street Jazz & Blues
Festival
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Washington Street between 5th &
6th Streets
across from the Old State Capitol,
Springfield IL
Spend a great evening of jazz
and blues at the 22nd Annual
Washington Street Jazz and Blues
Festival. The event runs from 6
p.m. to 12 midnight. The event
showcases six great bands
performing on two stages.
Admission is $10 and the event will
be held rain or shine.
Band: The Delta Highway. Other
bands TBA. Visit:
www.springfieldartsco.org
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
Davenport IA
Thur Sat, July 3 - 5
13
Corporate Sponsors
Please remember to patronize our
CORPORATE SPONSORS. They have taken
the time to sponsor our Blues Society…and
put out the money to help our Society promote and bring blues entertainment and
education into McLean County…let’s all
show our thanks to them by patronizing
and “promoting” them!
NV Ultra Lounge
107 E. Beaufort St., Normal, IL 61761
VFW Post 454
®
Friday Night Dinners $6.00 5:30 - 7:00
Broasted Chicken 1st and 3rd Fridays
Home of $2.00 Saturday Lunches - Noon
Non-Smoking Dining Room
and Document Services
Store: 309 663-8545
Fax: 309-663-8546
Mobile: 309-275-7307
100 N University Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
1006 East Lincoln Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61704
Jerry Siadek
Owner
Russell Miller
Sally Weisenburg Trio
&
Don Berbaum/Sally Weisenburg
RR 4 Box 69 • Rushville, IL 62681
309-829-0482
ds
n
u
ho o
i
& ir stud
x
o
f
a
200 W. Monroe St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
h
www.fox-n-hounds.com
1717 RT Dunn Drive, Unit E
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
309820-9880 or
888-662-4131
309-820-9882 fax
SAMUEL
turn itMUSIC
up!
Effingham • Champaign • Springfield • Peoria • Bloomington
14
RONDA D. TAYLOR GLENN
AT T O R N E Y AT L AW
115 W. JEFFERSON • SUITE 303A
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61701
BLOOMINGTON (309) 827-3535 FAX (309) 828-2574
PONTIAC (815) 842-1111
News Blues & Jazz!
• Newly Renovated • Plenty of “Free” On-Site Parking
• Elevators • Full Loading Dock
• Offices • Retail • Loft Apartments • Storage
TIM TILTON
Developer/Owner
Jay Goldberg Events
309-829-0482
200 W. Monroe • Bloomington, IL
Dennis P. Fox, D.D.S.
2103 E. Washington St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-9481
P.O. Box 1092
Bloomington, Illinois 61702-1092
15
P.O. Box 1092
Bloomington, Illinois 61702-1092
Read All About It!
Attend the
General Membership
Meeting
The third Thursday
of each month!
www.bluesblowtorch.com/society
www.myspace.com/blues_blowtorch_society
The Blues Blowtorch Society
Membership Application
OFFICERS & CHAIRS
President
Randy Hoffman 309-531-2533
[email protected]
Name _____________________________________ Start Date ___________
Vice President
Larry du Chanois 309-838-1858
[email protected]
Address _______________________________________________________
Secretary
--Vacant
City ___________________________________State_______Zip __________
Treasurer
Deborah Mehlberg 309-662-0996
[email protected]
or [email protected]
Phone # ___________________E-mail Address ________________________
Would you like to volunteer? o YES, Interest _________________________
Individual
Family
Student
Corporate
Preferred Corp
MEMBERSHIP TYPES:
$20/yr. _____
$25/yr. _____
$10/yr. _____
$100/yr. ____
$TBD/Event
Parliamentarian
Steve “The Harp” Mehlberg 309-662-0996
[email protected]
Entertainment
Deborah Mehlberg 309-662-0996
[email protected]
or [email protected]
Membership Director
“Delta Frank” Black 217-935-8603
[email protected]
Education
Steve “The Harp” Mehlberg 309-662-0996
[email protected]
Marketing
Larry du Chanois
[email protected]
Make checks payable to:
The Blues Blowtorch Society
Mail to: (Our Treasurer)
Frank Black
#1 Tarter Court
Clinton, Illinois 61727
Photographer/Archivist/Webmaster
Ralph Weisheit 309-452-6444
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
James “Skyy Dobro” Walker 815-432-5656
[email protected]