CBS April 2015 - Charlotte Blues Society

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Celebrating
22 Years
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of
Keepin’ the Blues Alive!
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APRIL 2015
Vol. 22.04
Open Mic Blues Jam
starts at 10:00
Charlotte Blues Society
www.CharlotteBluesSociety.org
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PO Box 32752
Charlotte, NC 28232-2752
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Blues News
Drawing for the KWS Fender guitar to be held April
at our 22nd Anniversary Party
12
Hey Folks!
Rick Ballew
You don’t want to miss this party.
This is one of the last
opportunities to buy a raffle ticket
for our autographed guitar by
Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Noah
Hunt. We are giving the guitar
away this Sunday at our
Anniversary Party. So, bring your
friends so that they can get a
chance at the guitar. We’ll also
have raffle packages worth $40
with great new Blues albums
included.
Only $1 each, with all proceeds
to benefit the Charlotte Blues
Society! Drawing will be at
10pm, you do NOT need to be
present to win.
We still have many tickets left,
so YOUR ODDS are REALLY
GOOD!!!
NEW S H I R T S IN STOCK !
New colors and styles!
Ladies V-neck ($20)
Ladies scoop neck tees ($20)
Men's short-sleeve T-shirts ($20)
Men’s long-sleeve Tees ($25)
We will soon be taking orders for
embroidered denim shirts and polo shirts
for $40.00 each.
Be among the first to purchase these limited edition
shirts and support us in "KEEPIN' THE BLUES
ALIVE”!
—Sonny J.
APRIL 2015
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Charlotte Blues Society
Newsletter
Editor
Needed
If you are “into” Blues and want to share
news items, upcoming events, CD reviews,
concert reviews, etc. with your fellow
Blues fans, let us know!
M-m-m good! Can’t wait to sample
all the great snacks and munchies
at our Anniversary Party!
And CAKE … oooh, the cake!!
Talk with any Board Member
to let them know you’re interested.
Or call Rita at 704-496-9243
for an overview of the current
newsletter process.
Everyone’s invited to whip up
a favorite party recipe
to add to the table!
If interested, you’ll meet with Board Members
to finalize the transition and to share how
you would like to make it “your own.”
­
C’mon! We know there are
creative members out there!
Like the song says, “Step it up and go!”
(Plus - we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,
so it will look good on your resumé!)
Charlotte's own Nappy Brown has been named as a
NC Music Hall of Fame 2015 inductee!!!
Ceremony in October
Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp, better known by his stage name Nappy Brown, was
an American R&B singer. His hits include the 1955 Billboard chart #2, "Don't Be Angry"
and "Night Time Is the Right Time".
Born in October 1929, Brown was raised in Charlotte, NC. He began his career singing
gospel music before switching to R&B. In 1954 he won a recording contract with Savoy
Records, which yielded a series of hits. Brown was among the biggest stars in R&B,
frequently touring with the revues of Alan Freed.
In the early 1980s, a renewed interest in R&B led to some of Brown's early songs being released on European albums. Brown was urged by
fellow musicians to return to the music industry.
Nappy Brown's final album, Long Time Coming, was released by Blind Pig Records in September 2007. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive,
and the album and Brown were each nominated for a Blues Music Award. The album, produced by Scott Cable, featured the guitarists Sean
Costello, Bob Margolin, Junior Watson, and other special guests including baritone saxophonist Joe Sunseri performing Brown's hits and several
new songs. At the ceremony for the Blues Music Awards in May 2008, Brown gave one last electrifying performance, capping an incredible
comeback year.
On June 1, 2008 following a performance at the Crawfish Festival in Augusta, New Jersey, Brown fell ill due to series of ailments and was
hospitalized. He died in his sleep on September 20, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte.
Brown was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on August 24, 2002.
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Blues News
Michael Wolf & D.B.A
I am very pleased with this version of Michael Wolf & D.B.A. We
have a lot of history together. For many clubs, we have expanded
our repertoire to include what we call Americana Rock Blues
Fusion. Lately we have added material by artists as diverse as
Ed Sheeran to Lowell George era Little Feat.
For our April 12th performance we will be returning to our roots
of Blues, Southern Soul, and New Orleans Funk with some
surprises and some special guests. Always a pleasure playing at
The Double Door Inn and to play at the Anniversary Party
for the Charlotte Blues Society.
—Michael Wolf
About the Band ...
Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals:
Michael Wolf Ingmire was recognized as the Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter of the
Charlotte-based New Orleans Funk/Blues Band Michael Wolf and the Voodoo Brothers, Winners of the 2011
Charlotte Music Awards for Best Blues Band. Michael Wolf & D.B.A is a return to the Blues roots that
informed and nurtured Michael’s music. Michael also occasionally plays with Gumbo Motion, a four piece band that
pays tribute to New Orleans Funk, & through his 45+ years as a performer, Michael has shared stages with such
American Legends as Mac Arnold, Bob Margolin, Willie ‘Big Eye’ Smith, John Lee Hooker, Albert King,
Kenny Neal, Johnny Copeland, Wilson Pickett, Allen Ginsburg, Tinsley Ellis, and many others.
Drums:
Rick Kausch met the blues in a juke joint in Tallahassee, Florida at the age of 12. The boogie disease
would not let him rest until he applied a pair of sticks to a set of drums. After playing in several Rock-Blues cover
bands, he played drums with Michael Wolf and A Side of Blues. Rick was encouraged greatly by the late
drummer Willie ‘Big Eye’ Smith, and that influence is felt in his solid meter and swinging drumming style.
Bass: Ray McClelland Jr. was born and raised in Concord, NC. His bass playing was influenced by The Isley
Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, The Brothers Johnson, Parliment-Funkadelic.
When not playing with D.B.A., Ray plays with the Golden Eagle Blues Band and The Unique Ones. His funky
style of bass playing solidly anchors D.B.A.
Keyboards: “Crazy Al” Lee has been in the music business for more than 20 years. His first band, The Epsilons,
was a five-piece band that became a local favorite all across Pennsylvania, his home state. They opened for some
great bands back then like The Kingsmen (“Louie, Louie”), The Newbeats (“Bread and Butter”), and others. He
was also in a four-piece show band, Visions, that toured the northeast coast, and another called The Northbrook
Gang that toured all over the Midwest. Along with several other very successful groups, he also made his mark in
music by becoming one of the top DJs in Charlotte, NC, at a local hotspot known as The Cellar. This is where he got
his nickname “Crazy Al”. The owner called him this, saying, “I never know what you are going to say or do
next!” He plays both Roland and Hammond keyboards. His influences are Allman Brothers, Grand Funk
Railroad, Rare Earth, Van Morrison, and Gov’t Mule, just to name a few. Favorite keyboardists: Booker T,
Jimmy Smith, Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, Billy Preston, Joe Zawinul … again, just to name a few! Originally
from Philadelphia, PA, he currently resides outside of Rock Hill, SC.
BB King Hospitalized
Blues icon B.B. King says he’s feeling “much better” after being treated for dehydration
linked to his diabetes. King was rushed to a hospital in Las Vegas on April 7.
In a post on his FaceBook page (April 9), the guitar hero stated, “I’m feeling much better
and am leaving the hospital today.”
King was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than 20 years ago. Last year, he was taken
ill during a show in Chicago and had to cancel the remainder of the US tour after being
struck down by dehydration and exhaustion.
King has been recording music and performing live since the late 1940s. He was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
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Wednesday, April 22
8:00pm
Sharrie Williams
Three-time Blues Music Award nominee
Detroit Music Awards nominee for Best Blues Album
2012 Blues Album of the Year award winner from L'Academie du Jazz
Like so many great blues and soul singers, Sharrie Williams began singing
in the church choir. In 1996, she began singing with The Wiseguys, the
house band at a club in her hometown of Saginaw, Michigan. They quickly evolved into Sharrie
Williams & The Wiseguys, and appeared regularly at renowned Chicago Blues clubs, The Kingston
Mines and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
From 1998 through 2003, the band toured extensively throughout Europe. Sharrie released her first CD
in 2001, then followed with four more in 2004, 2007, and 2011.
Sharrie has given great and unforgettable performances at blues festivals and clubs throughout the
world and has collaborated and appeared with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, Mavis Staples,
Van Morrison, Dizzy Gillespie, Larry McCray, Sugar Blue, Bobby Bland, Walter Trout, Johnny Taylor,
and Joanna Connor, just to name a few. Her influences include Koko Taylor, Etta James, Tina Turner,
Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin, and the legendary Billie Holiday — each of whom have helped shape her
unique style.
On Wednesday, April 22,
Sharrie Williams Crawford
will be performing at The
Double Door Inn and paying
Tribute To Robin Rogers.
Sharrie was a very special
friend of Robin’s (she took
Robin to Paris and included
her in her live DVD). I will be
joining her on stage for a few
songs as well.
Sharrie is a powerhouse and
has a message. Not to be
missed! You can get your
tickets early. Thanks.
— Tony Rogers
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Blues News
The CBS ‘Jam Song’ for April: “Baby, What You Want Me To Do”
All of you guys can either learn to play the song for the acoustic jam — or you can sing along — or even
play it on kazoo. Got a uke?!? Bring it!! Audience Participation!! The more, the merrier!!
Below are the words, and you can hear Jimmy Reed singing it on YouTube.
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an
American blues musician and songwriter,
notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues
to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major
player in the field of electric blues, as opposed
to the more acoustic-based sound of many of
his contemporaries. His music had a significant
impact on many rock and roll artists who
followed.
Reed was born in Dunleith, Mississippi, in 1925,
learning the harmonica and guitar from Eddie
Taylor, a close friend. After spending several
years “busking” (i.e., street performing) and
performing in area clubs, Reed moved to
Chicago in 1943 before being drafted into the US Navy during World War
II. In 1945, Reed was discharged and moved back to Mississippi for a
brief period, marrying his girlfriend, Mary "Mama" Reed, before moving to
Gary, Indiana to work at a meat packing plant. Mama Reed appears as an
uncredited background singer on many of his songs, notably the major
hits "Baby What You Want Me to Do", "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights,
Big City".
By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician. Reed
failed to gain a recording contract with Chess Records, but signed with
Vee-Jay Records through drummer, Albert King. At Vee-Jay, Reed began
playing again with Eddie Taylor and soon released "You Don't Have to
Go", his first hit record. This was followed by a long string of hits.
Reed maintained his reputation despite his rampant alcoholism and
undiagnosed epilepsy; but in spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal
problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other
popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than
many others – he placed 11 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts
and a total of 14 on the charts, a figure that even a much more
sophisticated artist like B.B. King couldn't top.
Reed's slow descent into the ravages of alcoholism and epilepsy roughly
paralleled the decline of Vee-Jay Records, which went out of business at
approximately the same time that his final 45 was released, "Don't Think
I'm Through." His manager quickly arranged a contract with the newly
formed ABC-Bluesway label and a handful of albums were released into
the '70s, all of them lacking the old charm, sounding as if they were cut
on a musical assembly line. Jimmy did one last album, a horrible attempt
to update his sound with funk beats and wah-wah pedals, before
becoming a virtual recluse in his final years. He finally received proper
medical attention for his epilepsy and quit drinking, but it was too late
and he died of respiratory failure trying to make a comeback on the blues
festival circuit on August 29, 1976, eight days short of his 51 st birthday.
In 1991 Reed was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame.
Source: Biography by Cub Koda, All Music Guide to the Blues
BABY, WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO
By Jimmy Reed
You've got me runnin'
You've got me hidin'
You've got me run, hide, hide, run
Anyway you wanna let it roll
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You've got me doin' what you want me
A-baby why you wanna let go
I'm goin' up
I'm goin' down
I'm goin' up, down, down, up
Anyway ya wanna let it roll
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You've got me doin' what you want me
A-baby why'd you wanna let go
(Instrumental)
You've got me peepin'
You've got me hidin'
You've got me peep, hide, hide, peep
Anyway you wanna let it roll
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You've got me doin' what you want me
So baby why ya wanna let go.
"Baby What You Want Me to Do" reached No. 10
in the Billboard R&B chart and No. 37 in the
Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. In 2004, Reed's song was
inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in
the "Classic of Blues Recordings" category.
According to Cub Koda, "Baby What You Want Me to
Do" "was already a barroom staple of blues, country,
and rock & roll bands by the early '60s" and has
spawned versions by a variety of blues, R&B, and
rock artists. The song continues to be performed
and recorded, making it perhaps the most covered
of Reed's songs. Some of these include The Everly
Bros., Etta James, Johnny Rivers, Little Richard,
Elvis Presley, Lonnie Mack, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hot
Tuna, and others.
Of note, nowhere in the song do the lyrics "baby what you want me to do" appear, although later cover versions
would often wrongly include the phrase in place of the original "baby why you wanna let go."
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The phrase “play through the pain” took on a whole new meaning when
Eric Gales performed at The Double Door Inn March 14. The Memphis
native, who now lives in Greensboro, injured his back before leaving home to
play the gig. After making the decision that “the show
must go on,” Eric put on a stellar performance. He
played through the pain he was in — and had he not
told the crowd what had happened, no one would have
been the wiser.
The audience could sense that Eric was playing from a
place deep inside.
His was solid throughout both
sets. It must be noted that the his band, including his
wife on backing vocals, was outstanding, a true
compliment to Eric’s guitar mastery. Those who were in
the house experienced an extraordinary evening.
— Jim Sellers
If YOU were not at The Double Door Inn Friday, March 20, 2015, for
Eric Sardinas
and Big Motor, YOU missed it!! TOO BAD, SO SAD!!
Eric played his sweet old tunes as well as introducing us to new ones from his latest CD,
BOOMERANG. I grabbed my copy as soon as I heard him play the first tune from the
album. Eric is totally energized into each song, playing hard and loud. Drummer, Bryan
Keeling, and, bassman, Levell Price helped fill the stage with full raw "tuneage"!
Not only did the band “deliver,” but also had the crowd dancing to the beat and
participating singing the tunes at Eric's warm requests. GET DOWN TO WHISKEY and
RUN DEVIL RUN for sure come to mind for singalongs. If you do not know these songs,
check ‘em out as soon as you can and CRANK ‘EM UP the way it should be!! Whiskey was
Eric's "after dinner" treat … I am still sippin' it down.
Eric was sincerely friendly with everyone at the DDI from the second he walked through
the door … talking and shaking hands with patrons, staff and often with the CBS Board at
our table in the back. Eric made pictures with us as he autographed one of our new CBS
KEEPIN’ THE BLUES ALIVE long-sleeved shirts for an upcoming raffle AND Eric
wanted one of our shirts for himself to shine in at his upcoming shows. Eric was
totally humble with not one touch of arrogance, which was pretty cool. He
stayed after the show signing everything put in front of him and taking pictures.
Eric talked with the audience between tunes, asking what were our first
concerts. He shared his first was seeing ELVIS, and Elvis has been with him
since. The band's rousing cover of a Big E tune, TROUBLE, oozed Elvis through
drops of sweat. Eric has also been known to do TREAT ME RIGHT, BURNING
LOVE, and more.
If you do not have Eric’s latest CD, pick one up as soon as you can. Tune after
tune is oh so sweet. I remember walking up close to the stage to watch Eric's
guitar moves and to sing along with him to a Sonny favorite, IF YOU DON'T
LOVE ME. I have it cranked as I am putting this review together! Well, we
totally love you, Eric, and hope it won't be five more years until you return.
CBS is working on your next show to make sure that does not happen. This
show will NOT be forgotten.
—KEEP ON BLUESIN' ~ Sonny J
Thanks to The Double Door Inn
for the CBS discounts at
March’s Blues gigs —
Mike Zito, Eric Sardinas,
Eric Gales, and The Nighthawks.
Always check your emails for
future special announcements
only for CBS Members!
 The Nighthawks
3/28/15
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Blues News
Join The Blues Foundation and
YOU can Vote for Your Favorites!
It’s happenin’ in western South Carolina …
The Blues Foundation has announced the
nominations for its 36th annual Blues Music
Awards, which will be presented in Memphis,
Tennessee, on Thursday, May 7, 2015.
All Blues Foundation members have the
privilege of deciding which nominees will
actually take home the Blues Music Award
in May.
Of course, anyone can join and
become a member of The Blues Foundation.
See details at www.blues.org
The Blues Music Awards (BMAs)
are universally recognized as the
highest accolade afforded blues
music performers. The annual
Blues Music Awards ceremony is
the premier event for blues
professionals, musicians, and fans
from all over the world.
PICCOLO SPOLETO CRUISES
on the "Carolina Queen"
This Charleston arts fest is next month,
and they’ve got some blues for you!
May 24: SHRIMP CITY SLIM
May 25: CHUCK THE CAT MORRIS
May 29: ANTHONY CHARLES & THE BLUES DOLPHINS
May 30: STEVE & THE STILETTOS
June 6: JUKE JOINT JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
Festival details at www.piccolospoleto.com
A PR I L 1 5 - 2 5
10 days of events in Clemson, SC
and adjoining communities
Wanda Johnson ~ The Voltage Brothers
Mac Arnold & Plateful o’ Blues ~ Ceasar
Tony Tidwell ~ The Swinging Medallions
Cheap Blond Blues Band ~ Sarah Mac Band
Bobby Lane Thomason ~ The Snopes Family Band
and much more!
See the complete schedule at
The 9th Annual
DRUMSTRONG 2015
Drum Circle
will be held at the
NC Brewers & Music Fest
at Historic Rural Hill Farm
on May 8-9.
The Gong to kick off DRUMSTRONG's
Non-Stop 12-hour drumming will sound at
noon Saturday, May 9, and will end at Midnight.
All festival attendees are invited to take part.
Come celebrate survivorship, honor those we've lost,
boost cancer education & research, and drum with us
on Saturday, May 9.
Camp out the night before and/or the night of.
Enjoy great music and camaraderie (+ Rhythm)!
We're drumming to BEAT cancer!
Mark your calendar for July 9-11
15th Annual Greenwood Blues Cruise
Greenwood, SC
Outdoor stage, BBQ cook-off, & club crawl.
All performances FREE
Artists from “all over” …
Detroit, Australia, Georgia, Chicago,
Missouri, Pennsylvania, Louisiana,
Florida, Sweden, Virginia, DC, Alabama,
and - of course - South Carolina
Check website for 2015 updates …
www.greenwoodbluescruise.com
http://www.ncbmf.com/Drumstrong.asp
www.drumstrong.com
The regularly scheduled North Carolina Brewers and
Music Festival Events and Music will grace the pastures as
they do each year and guarantee smiles.
Rural Hill Farm
4431 Neck Road
Huntersville, NC
704-875-3113
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Ticket info and artist bios at
www.doubledoorinn.com
www.maxxmusic.com
Every Monday ~ 10pm ($5)
Monday Night All Stars
UP CO MI NG BLUE S / RO O TS MUSI C
Every Tuesday ~ 9pm ($7)
Bill Hanna’s Jazz Jam
4/12
(Sun, 7:00)
CBS 22nd Anniversary Party
featuring Michael Wolf & D.B.A.
4/18
(Sat, 10PM)
Stewart Mauldin & Friends
4/19
(Sun, 8PM)
Jackie Venson
4/20
(Mon, 9:30PM) 20th Anniversary Celebration ~ Monday Night Allstars
4/22
(Wed, 9PM)
Sharrie Williams ~ Tribute to Robin Rogers
4/25
(Sat, 10PM)
Samantha Fish
4/26
(Sun, 3PM)
Benefit for Project HALO (Helping Animals Live On) Performances by The Lenny Federal Band,
From his clean, angelic, intricate Blues stylings to his searing, angry,
on-the-edge, harmonic squawks, Stewart creates a unique tone that is on the cutting edge of the
underground Blues scene.
Leaving the classical tradition to make a giant leap to raw and gritty blues,
Venson is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter with an out-of-this-world voice,
“Powerhouse of a singer,” states Tony Rogers.
Sharrie was a very special friend of Robin’s and included Robin in her live DVD from her Paris tour.
Blues-rock guitarist/singer and winner of 2012 Blues Music Award debut album,
Runaway, and a member of the Blues Caravan tour throughout Europe & the U.S.
Toleman Randall, Mike Strauss Band, Leadville Social Club, Dead Cat, and more.
Project HALO is a non-profit, NO-KILL animal rescue and sanctuary based in Charlotte.
COMING IN MAY …
The Double Door Inn
5/3
5/6
5/15
5/16
5/21
5/27
CBS Bash featuring Marta Christmas & Scaldcat
Chris O’Leary Band
Tom Principato
Bruce Katz Band (Traffic Jam opens)
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Bex Marshall
Knight Theater
5/26
(704-372-1000)
Dr. John & the Nite Trippers
w/ the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Neighborhood Theatre
5/29
Delbert McClinton
Bringing the best in live music
to the Charlotte area!
www.maxxmusic.com
Like us on Facebook
for pics, updates, and
ticket give-aways!
APRIL 20
MONDAY NIGHT ALLSTARS
CELEBRATE 20 YEARS!
You are all cordially invited to the
20th Anniversary of The Monday Night Allstars.
For 20 years, The Allstars have consistently
entertained each Monday night at The Double
Door and we would like to show our gratitude to
our fans on this momentous occasion.
Many special guests are scheduled to appear and
jam with us some of whom you’ll recognize from
earlier Monday night incarnations. It should prove
to be a most exciting evening. Feel free to invite
all your friends!
We will get started around 9:30 for this event so
come out early and get your groove on and
thanks for
20 years of gettin’ down!!
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Blues News
TOP 10 MODERN BLUES GUITARISTS
Daniel Eriksson, Gibson Guitar News, 2/3/15
When Stevie Ray Vaughan passed away in 1990, he left a void in the world of young blues musicians. Over the
past twenty years we have seen the emergence of many talented blues guitarists. Here are ten of the most
influential blues guitarists to come along over the past couple of decades. Do you agree with our choices?
1. Joe Bonamassa
Out of all the people on this
list, Joe Bonamassa is probably the most successful
modern blues guitarist in the past twenty years.
Bonamassa has been playing the blues since he was
a little kid, catching the attention of B.B. King when
he was only 12 years old. Joe and producer Kevin
Shirley have used the young guitarist's inspired blues
guitar playing as a springboard to incorporate other
genres as well, most notably heavy rock music, like
the 2009 hit “The Ballad of John Henry.” When Joe
performs live, his two most impressive blues
numbers include the Jeff Beck cover “Blues Deluxe”
as well as the acoustic “Woke Up Dreaming” which
tend to go on for up to ten minutes with just
Bonamassa and his guitar alone on stage.
2. John Mayer
Who would have thought that
John Mayer would turn out to be such a blues
aficionado when he first appeared on the music scene
in 2001 with his first album Room For Squares? Many
music fans dismissed Mayer as yet another singersongwriter catering to broken hearted teenagers. But
as Mayer's career progressed it became obvious that
he was actually a blues man at heart, especially from
his appearance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar
Festival in 2004 where he preceded his song “City
Love” with a very inspired four minute blues intro
built around Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” riff.
Speaking of Hendrix, Mayer approaches the blues in
the same way as the late guitarist did, fretting the
bottom note of barre chords with his thumb, and
embellishing the chords like Hendrix on “Little Wing.”
If you're not familiar with Mayer's blues antics, a
good place to start is the John Mayer Trio album Try!
from 2005, where Mayer play alongside bassist Pino
Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan.
3. Jack White
If there ever was a modern blues
purist, Jack White is it. White uses a minimum of
effects, and goes the vintage route most of the time.
His setup is little more than a guitar plugged straight
in to an amp, aside from an occasional fuzz pedal or
some pitch shifters that he would use a lot in his
work with The White Stripes. It might not be obvious
on the surface, but The White Stripes were
essentially a blues band. On their first album they
covered the Robert Johnson penned “Stop Breaking
Down” as well as the folksong “St. James Infirmary
Blues.” Once you catch on to their blues roots, it
becomes obvious that it defines everything The White
Stripes did, and all that Jack White has done since.
For example, listen to the excellent “Will There Be
Enough Water?” from Horehound, the first album by
The Dead Weather.
4. Eric Gales
Out of the guitarists on this list Eric
Gales is the one who first made a name for himself in the
early ‘90s. What is perhaps most interesting about Gales is
that he is a right-handed guitar player who plays guitar as
a lefty. Gales' brother is left handed, and so he simply
taught Eric to play the same way. Gales plays a righthanded guitar that he flips over so that the thick strings are
on the bottom and the high strings on top.
5. Dan Auerbach
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney
from The Black Keys have taken the blues to a new level.
The duo started out playing straight ahead blues on their
first three recordings, as well as the Chulahoma EP, but
have since progressed to incorporate the blues within a
more modern setting. Perhaps the biggest contribution of
The Black Keys is that they introduce their young fans to
the blues tradition that initially inspired The Black Keys
themselves.
6. Davy Knowles
At only 25 years old, blues guitarist
and singer Davy Knowles from the Isle of Man has already
released two albums. The latest of which, Coming up For
Air, was produced by Peter Frampton. Davy has toured all
over the States, originally as part of the trio Back Door
Slam. He gained many fans as the opening act for
Chickenfoot on their 2009 US tour. Davy plays the blues
with the sincerity of someone twice his age, just listen to
his cover of the Blind Joe Reynolds song "Outside Woman
Blues" from his first album Roll Away, and the song
"Riverbed" from Coming Up For Air.
7. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Shepherd released his
first album Ledbetter Heights in 1995 when he was only 18
years old. Aside from a foray in to heavy rock territory with
The Place You’re In in 2004, Shepherd has stayed true to
the blues. In 2007 he released a CD/DVD combo entitled 10
Days Out: Blues From the Backroads on which he traveled
the deep south seeking out old grandmasters of the blues
and recording with them. Recommended listening: Kenny
Wayne Shepherd covered Jimi Hendrix’s "Voodoo Child
(Slight Return)" and released it as an all instrumental Bside to "Blue on Black" in 1997. This hybrid between
Hendrix's version and Stevie Ray Vaughan's cover clearly
illustrate who Shepherd's two main influences are.
8. Derek Trucks
While not simply just a blues
guitarist, Derek Trucks still belong on this list since much of
his music is deeply rooted in the blues. Trucks cites blues
greats such as B.B. King and John Lee Hooker among his
influences. In 2007 Trucks was invited to perform on Eric
Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival where he played
alongside Johnny Winter, a great pairing since both are
great slide guitar players in their own right.
(cont’d, next page…)
APRIL 2015
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(Cont’d—Top 10 Guitarists)
KWSBAND & JONNY LANG
ANNOUNCE FIRST TOUR.
9. Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang rose to fame around the
same time as Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His 1997
sophomore album Lie To Me was a huge hit for Lang,
when he was only 16 years old. It gave him the
opportunity to tour with Aerosmith on their Nine Lives
tour. Aside from his very skilled vibrato-tinged guitar
playing, what was most notable about Lang at the time
was his mature voice that sounded more like a man in
his forties than that of a teenager. Lang carried on the
blues tradition on his third album Wander This World,
with the excellent opening track “Still Rainin',” but has
since drifted more towards soul and gospel music.
10. Ben Harper
Just like with Derek Trucks, Ben
Harper's style of music spans many different genres,
with blues being one of the underlying inspirations.
Although he's a multi-instrumentalist, Harper's signature
instrument is playing acoustic slide guitar. Just listen to
songs like “Homeless Child,” “Whipping Boy,” and
“I Want To Be Ready” for a taste of how Harper
incorporates the blues in his music.
The 30 Greatest
Blues Guitarists of All Time
MusicRadar Team, February 17, 2014 (musicradar.com)
Readers’ Votes:

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter

Jack White

Charley Patton

T-Bone Walker

Junior Kimbrough

Freddie King

Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown

Albert King

Lightnin' Hopkins

Gary Moore

Son House

Muddy Waters

John Lee Hooker

Buddy Guy

Duane Allman

Eric Clapton

Elmore James

Peter Green

Memphis Minnie

Rory Gallagher

Albert Collins

Jimi Hendrix

Hubert Sumlin

Robert Johnson

Johnny Winter

B.B. King

Joe Bonamassa

Stevie Ray Vaughan
For the first time ever - Kenny Wayne
and Jonny Lang will tour together! They
have been compared since they were
teenagers, and while they have always
maintained a personal friendship,
however, their schedules have somehow
never allowed them to tour together.
Both launched their careers while just
teenagers, both have enjoyed
mainstream success while maintaining
their roots, both are now critically
acclaimed, well respected artists with
loyal fan bases and now, they will finally
tour together! They will be hitting the
road on a co-headlining tour this June in
the United States.
The tour will begin June 11th in
Portland, ME and will head down the
east coast and into the midwest and
south, culminating with a show in
Louisville, KY on June 28th.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
MusicRadar's battle royal of the blues guitar was hard-fought, but in the end you handed the accolade of greatest
blues guitarist of all time to the precociously talented Texan with curious dress sense who could play a Stratocaster
like nobody before or since.
The late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan's style was informed by Hendrix, Otis Rush, Lonnie Mack, Buddy Guy, Albert
King and many more, but his technique and sound have become the holy grail for hundreds of thousands of
guitarists in the years since his passing.
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Great music in March with Stress Test and all the jammers.
And let’s not forget about “Shakey Legs and the Bobbleheads” !!
Blues News
APRIL 2015
A few of our Raffle winners. Items include
new Blues releases and our new T-shirts!
And then there was
more music!
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