May - Walla Walla Blues Society

2015 WBS Winners - Ted Todd – Sunbanks Blues Festival
FREE!
Walla Walla Blues Society’s
Volume 22
Issue 5
MAY 2015
The Walla Walla Blues
Society Blues News
8237 Mill Creek Rd.
Walla Walla WA 99362
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Walla Walla Blues Society meetings are held on the
first Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is
June 2nd at 5:30p.m. at Jacobi’s café with open
mic to follow from 6:30 to 8:30. Come on down and
have some great food and beverages.
Youth are encouraged to jam with us.
The Blues News is the official publication of
the Walla Walla Blues Society. Any articles,
advertising, etc. must be submitted to the
Editor no later than the 15th of each month.
All submissions become the property of the
Walla Walla Blues Society. Views and
opinions expressed by individuals represented
in the Blues News are not necessarily those of
the WWBS. Permission to reprint any
material herein should be obtained from the
Editor. The Walla Walla Blues Society is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all
donations are therefore tax deductible.
WWBS Officers
President:
Mike Hammond
Vice Prez:
Irving Rosenberg
Treasurer:
Verna Reesman
Secretary:
Kim Ruchert
IFK Coord:
Mike Hammond
BITS Coord:
Torch Davis
Webmaster:
Rich Smith
Blues News Editor: Rand, Margaret and
Mike
Memebership Cord. Donna Copeland
Board of Directors
George Copeland
Rich Smith
Torch Davis
Donna Copeland
Laura Hall
Advertising
The Blues News wants to advertise your
business, event or promotion.
Email [email protected]
Rates :
Full Page : 8 1/2 x 11
$80.00
Half Page : 5 1/2 x 8 ½ $65.00
1/4 Page : 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 $55.00
Bus. Card : 2 x 3 1/2
$45.00
(10% discount on ads that run 6 months or more)
Membership
Blues Society Members will receive a cool
membership card, the Blues News newsletter,
various perks and discounts from time to time
(including the Blues Lottery), and the
satisfaction of knowing you have helped to
promote this unique American art form known
as The Blues in Walla Walla and the
surrounding area.
Annual dues :
Single Membership :
$ 20.00
Family Membership :
$ 30.00
Supporting Membership :
$ 50.00
Corporate Sponsor :
$100.00
The Walla Walla Blues Society
8237 Mill Creek Rd.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
wwbs@ bmi.net
2012 Walla Walla Blues Society
CHECK OUR NEW WEB SITE OUT AT
WWBS.ORG
CHECK US OUT ON
The Washington Blues Society proudly announces the list of the winners of the
2015 Best of the Blues Awards. The awards were presented April 12th at the Kirkland Performance Center.
Mark DuFresne Male Vocalist - KEVIN SUTTON
Female Vocalist - POLLY O'KEARY
Electric Blues Guitar - ROD COOK
Slide Blues Guitar - NICK VIGARINO
Blues Bass - FARKO DOSUMOV
Chris Leighton Blues Drummer – RICK BOWEN
Paul Green Blues Harmonica - JIM McLAUGHLIN
Blues Horn - JAMES KING
Blues Piano/Keyboard - CHRIS KLEIMAN
Acoustic Blues Guitar – ROD COOK
Instrumentalist - Other - DAN TYACK
Blues Act – HOT WIRED RHYTHM BAND
Solo/Duo Blues Act - NICK VIGARINO'S BACK PORCH STOMP
New Blues Band - RAFAEL TRANQUILINO
Blues Performer - CD WOODBURY
Blues Songwriter - POLLY O'KEARY
Washington Blues Recording “COMPASS” by POLLY O'KEARY
Blues Writer RICK BOWEN
Blues Club - HIGHWAY 99 BLUES CLUB
Blues DJ - JANICE CLEVEN GAGE
Blues Graphic Artist - DENNIS HACKER
Keeping the Blues Alive - TOM HUNNEWELL
Lifetime Achievement – RAVEN HUMPHRIES
Non-Festival Blues Event - RAVEN'S JAMS FOR CANS
Blues Hall of Fame - KEVIN SUTTON
Community Blues Festival - EBEY ISLAND FREEDOM FEST
Open Blues Jam - RAGING RIVER BLUES JAM
Regional Blues Festival - WINTHROP RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL
Little Bill and the Blue Notes Traditional Blues Act - BRIAN LEE and the ORBITERS
Blues Image – TOM HUNNEWELL BLUESLETTER COVER by JEF JAISUN
Congratulations to all the Winners
The Washington Blues Society,
Rick J Bowen
visit us at www.wablues.org
Walla Walla Blues Society’s
Blues Bash 2015
Originally from Houston, Texas, Teresa is based in Los
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps
Angeles where she has assembled a group of some of
the top LA based touring and session musicians in her
band, The Rhythm Tramps.
They have been working in the LA area and at blues
festivals and clubs throughout the US and Europe for
many years. For the last 12 years, the band has also
been a favorite on Delbert McClinton's Sandy Beaches
Blues Cruise. Of her 8 CD’s released, her most recent
“COME ON HOME” was released in August, 2012 and has been getting regular airplay on stations around the
world and charting for weeks at a time on the Roots Radio Charts (topping off at the #3 spot). It has been
listed on many “best of” lists for 2012 and has been receiving raves reviews from writers and DJs everywhere.
Teresa’s 2008 release “THE BOTTOM LINE” garnered her a nomination by the Blues Foundation for
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year and her 2010 CD “YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT” was a finalist for an
Independent Music Award (IMA). She has performed live with such legendary artists as Levon Helm, Delbert
McClinton, Eric Burdon, Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro, Big Al Anderson, Kirk Whalum, and many others.
Her voice is featured on album recordings by Randy Newman, Eric Burdon, Tommy Castro, Bill Medley, and
Walter Trout, among others. Teresa also sang for television and movie soundtracks, she and her band were
featured in the Disney movie and soundtrack for "HOLES".
Teresa's band is an eclectic mix of Los Angeles based musicians who have worked with a wide range of artists
including: Jimmy Reed, Eric Burdon, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Warnes, Was Not Was,
Johnny Nash and many, many others.
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps will be performing at the 2015 Walla Walla Blues Society’s Blues Bash
Saturday May 16th at Main Street Studio in Walla Walla. 6 p.m. Showtime.
…Blues Bash 2015
Polly O'Keary, award-winning and world-touring bass player, vocalist and songwriter, is back in the northwest
with a brand new band, Polly O'Keary & The Rhythm Method. With her top-shelf trio, featuring
Tommy Cook on drums and Seattle Slim on guitar, Polly performs a mix of
soul, funk, blues and rock that has won her top honors as a songwriter,
singer and performer from blues societies around the Pacific Northwest.
She is well known for her explosive stage performances, her powerful and
expressive voice, and her powerful bass grooves. She has had a long career
in blues, and brings 25 years of experience to the stage.
Polly began playing music in bars in Mexico at 16 and after an early rock
career that included a record deal, she fell in love with blues at age 28. She
put together a band that quickly caught the attention of Pacific Northwest
blues fans. Playing top venues and festivals and winning many awards, she
was first named Washington Blues Society Female Vocalist of the Year in
2004, and has won it twice more since then as well as many other awards
and nominations. Her first and second albums were well-reviewed. The
second was named Album of the Year by the WBS, and Polly was named
Songwriter of the Year.
Polly and her drummer and partner Tommy Cook got a
chance to take rhythm section duties for northwest
legend Too Slim and the Taildraggers, the two toured
internationally.
After four years Polly O'Keary has once again formed her
own trio and is back bringing catchy songwriting,
scorching vocals and riotous bass to stages in the United
States and Canada. The powerful album “Compass”
(2013), is the newest release from Polly O'Keary & the
Rhythm Method.
Iguana Hat is a Walla Walla Blues Band that played
many Festivals and Clubs and released two CD’s of originals “Leapin Lizards” and “Not Your Usual Lounge
Lizards”. In 2004 they went on hold while Dave Joseph attended college only to play at a few special events.
Dave Joseph, Mike Cook, Jim “JJ” Johnson and Mike Hammond are now playing again and their “come back”
gig will be the Blues Bash, Saturday May 16th at Main Street Studios. Showtime 6pm.
Buy Tickets to the Blues Bash Right Now !
Ted Todd
At the request of Anita
Royce of the Inland
Empire Blues Society
(Spokane, WA) I am
sharing with you a tragic
loss of one of our own.
Ted Todd, longtime host
of several Blues showsmost recently Blowtorch
Blues, died in his sleep
last night while visiting
his brother in law, Mick
Kolassa, in Memphis.
Many of you have met
Ted or are good friends
with him. For those of
you who don’t know, Ted
was THE BLUES in Spokane. The IEBS wouldn’t exist, at least at the level it does, without all the work that Ted
put in. He held probably every office in the organization at one time or another. He was the main man behind
their annual awards as well as their Blues Cats For Kids fundraiser. He travelled to many festivals on behalf of
the organization and, when he wasn’t emceeing, he was handling the merchandise (or both). He won so many
awards that he once said that he didn’t want to win any more “Give someone else chance”. He was in the IEBS
Hall of Fame in several categories. His value to the Blues community was recognized nationally when he won
the Keeping The Blues Alive Award at the 2012 Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards. He also served as
judge several times at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. If you know Ted you know he never got
in a big hurry, he could be gruff but had a huge heart and low voice. Ted, as his son has said, walked slow and
talked low. I have many stories and I will share these on my show in the coming weeks. I hope that you can
spare a moment on your show to honor this fallen champion of the music we love so much. As Anita told me
Ted Todd will always be in the Blues Hall of Fame in our hearts.
Thank you,
Respectfully
BiggDaddy Ray Hansen
Blues Therapy Radio Show
Walla Walla WA.
Too slim and the tail draggers:
We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated to hear about the passing of our dear friend Ted Todd. Our
hearts go out to Kay and all of Ted's family. Ted was the heart and soul of the Spokane and Inland Empire
blues community. He was the greatest guy and was a straight shooter and told it just like it was. Nancy and I
loved this man and bow are heads in remembrance of the legacy he left in the NW music scene. You will be so
missed.. God rest your soul Bromigo and thank you for all that you have done and the support you have given
to so many people through the years. We loved you my friend and I know so many others did as well. R.I.P.
Ted Todd
Sunbanks Blues Festival May 14-17 2015
Sunbanks Festival Schedule
May 14 - 17, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Cantina Schedule:
8:00 SB Slim
9:00 Kim Archer
10:00 Heather & Donny Jones
11:00 Rubberneck
The semi-annual Sunbanks Resort Rhythm & Blues
Festival takes place during the fall and the spring.
Every year hundreds of people make their way to
Sunbanks Resort in order to take part in the
Rhythm & Blues Festival every May and
September.
Friday, May 15, 2015
4:30 Courtney Marie Andrews
6:00 Billy Stoops
7:30 Big Monti
9:00 Jason Ricci
10:30 Terry Hanck
Saturday, May 16, 2015
1:00 Trevalyan Triangle
2:30 The Charlatones
4:00 Red House
5:30 Brian Lee & the Orbiters
7:00 Andy T & Nick Nixon Band
9:00 John Nemeth
11:00 Roseland Hunters
Sunday, May 17, 2015
1:00 Larry Murante
2:30 The Fabulous Roofshakers
4:00 Steve Bailey & the Blue Flames
5:30 Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
7:30 Bump Kitchen
The four-day festival brings rhythm and blues
bands from around the state and the country. This
year the festival will celebrate its 15th anniversary.
The Sunbanks Resort Rhythm & Blues Festival has
been awarded Best Blues Festival in the Northwest
two years in a row.

Copier Services Inc.
“If It Feeds Paper, We Fix It !”
Copier Service, Inc. has been serving the community for over 38 years. We are a
locally owned and operated business that prides itself on the quality of work, low
prices, and customer service. The business is run by owner Henry Savelesky and his
staff of Ron Savelesky, Tara Crain and Cassidy Kerby. From the smallest copy job, to
the large production runs, each customer is treated as if our business depends
solely on their project. Personal one- on- one Consultations, discussion of options
and details, along with pricing and quick turnaround, have kept us a thriving
business even in a tough economy. People are important, and customer service is
first and foremost in our business. Building our clients one job at a time is a daily
occurrence at Copier Service, Inc. you can reach us at our email for a free quote or
to send a job [email protected] or give us a call at 509-529-5962
Walla Walla Blues Society Membership Application
Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________
Address: _______________________________________ Email: _________________________________
City: ___________________________ State: ________________________Zip:______________________
Where did you pick up this copy of the Blues News? ___________________________________________
 New Member
MEMBERSHIPS
 Renewing Member
 $20 Single
 $30 Family

I would like to become a WWBS Volunteer
 $50 Supporting
 $100 Corporate Sponsor
Please make checks payable to The Walla Walla Blues Society and mail to :
Walla Walla Blues Society
8237 Mill Creek Rd. Walla Walla, WA 99362