blues news - Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast

Blues News
___________________________________________________________________
Volume 24
April 2010 - May 2010
“To Support and Promote the American
Art of the Blues on the Treasure Coast”
The Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast , Inc. is a non-profit or-
Officers
Bob “Cougar” Whitt-President
Elaine Romano-Vice President
Patti Gamble-Secretary
Board of Directors
Pete Sandoval
Tom Brown
John Souza
Advisory Committee
Elaine Romano-Chair
Gerry Mullaney
Vern Melvin
Steve “Hawk“ Levy
John Souza
ganization comprised of musicians, vocalists, song writers, bands and
folks that just love music, especially the BLUES, here on the Treasure
Coast of Florida. The Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast supports all
types of music, however, the basis of the organization is the BLUES. The
Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast has many fine community programs:
Phone Committee
Elaine Romano
Newsletter Editor
Patti Gamble
Ocean Grafix
Website builder and designer
Wes Neal
Webmaster
Bill Thomas
Benefit Program– for local musicians.
Member affiliate of:
Blues Newsletter–Interesting articles, mailed every other month to
members and distributed throughout the Treasure Coast.
Monthly membership meetings- Come and socialize with the other
Blues Alliance members and discuss the local area blues scene.
Member– The National Blues Foundation.
Listed– The Blues Festival Guide, the “BIBLE OF THE BLUES”
Participant– The IBC, International Blues Challenge.
Scholarships- Provides two worthy children with music scholarships to
IRSC each year.
Let Us Play Program- Recycle program providing instruments free of
cost to children unable to buy or rent their own.
Blues website- Packed with blues information, music, lessons,
scheduled events, happenings, links and more.
www.bluesalliance.org
www.myspace.com/bluesalliancetc
Next Blues Alliance Membership Meetings
Tuesday
April 13. 2010
Crawdaddy’s
Restaurant
Tuesday
May 11, 2010
Archie’s
1949 NE Jensen Beach Blvd.,
Jensen Beach, FL 34957
Call for Directions:
401 S Ocean Dr.,
Fort Pierce, Fl 34949
For Directions:
772-225-3444
772-461-3352
Meeting: 7 PM. Jam: 8 PM
Meeting: 7 PM. Jam at 8PM
Volume 24
Support our member bands by going out to see them.
Here are links to find their next gig.
Category 5:
www.category5blues.com
Darrell Raines:
www.darrellraines.com or www.myspace.com/
darrellrainesband
The Mojo Band:
www.myspace.com/greggjacksonthemojoband
The Nouveaux Honkies:
www.tnhband.com or www.myspace.com/
thenouveauhonkies
Soul Rebel:
www.soulrebelband.com
Stoney and the House Rockers:
www.myspace.com/stoneyandthehouserockers
Player Band
www.PlayerBand.com
Good Tymes Band
www.goodtymesbandmusic.com
Ben Prestage
Www.myspace.com/bprestage
Steve “ Hawk” Levy
www.hawksblues.com
Art Harris and the Z-Tones
www.theztones.com
www.lowdown13blues.com
http://calendar.yahoo.com/frank.cramblitt
Page 2
Just a Note
by Patti Gamble
Just a Note by Patti Gamble
The Blues Alliance wishes to welcome new members:
David Kaplan, PSL Downtown Lion’s Club, Joe Neal, Crawdaddy’s, Steven N. Gladwin/American Legion Post 40 and Lowdown 13. Welcome back: Owen
Sallee, Dan Wigley and Miles B. Reese.
Rest In Peace.
Richard Mac
3-21-2010
The Treasure Coast Blues Alliance
sends their Condolence to his family.
2ND ANNUAL “LET US PLAY” RECITAL/JAM
by Elaine Romano
We held our 2nd recital/jam on February 24, 2010. The
musical evening was enjoyed by all. We even inspired people to
get up and dance!
The program was structurally the same as our 1st event:
student recital with 24 participants this year Core Band tunes, and
“the jam” by students and Core Band wrap up the evening with a
few “wiggle butt” dancers (you know who you are).
Our students represented: “Future Generations of St.
Lucie County Music Enhancement Program” directed by Joseph
Richardson, Jr., “Helping People Succeed” of Martin County, and
“Patti’s girls”.
Lots of thank yous to go around….where shall I begin?
There were no grants available for 2010, but the Port St. Lucie
Downtown Lions Club came to the rescue with funds via Jack
Kelly. The Fort Pierce American Legion Post #40 provided the
event location for the 2nd year. Oceean Grafix Printing donated
free programs and student certificates. The Core band consisting
of Gerry Mullaney, Frank Cramblitt, Patti Gamble, Brian Szafranski
and Jim Tucci set up the sound equipment and inspired everyone
with theier music. I wish to commend Joseph Richardson, Jr. for
all he does with his enhancement program, and thank Sharlene
Peak and Pete Lauro for their speaking segments during the program. Thanks also to Patti Gamble, John Souza, Ann Marie Colonnese, Tom Brown, Bob “Cougar” Whitt, Pete Sandoval, Elsa
Millard and Frank Purcell for their part in organizing and/or helping the night of the recital. Most important, though….all the students who participated in the recital/jam….. We are The “Blues
Alliance”, but you guys “ROCK”!
To further the mission of the “Let Us Play” Program, if
you or someone you know would care to donate used/new musical instruments, provide storage for the instruments, or donate
you time as a committee member, please contact The “Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast” via: (772) 467-1851.
www.bluesalliance.org
American Legion
Stuart, Florida
Post 62
2464 SE Veterans Ave
Stuart FL 34994
(772) 220-0144
[email protected]
Volume 24
Page 3
Tommy Lee Cook
"Cemetery Road" & "Buckingham Peace Of Mind"
Buckingham Blues
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2010
When faced with the dilemma of receiving two CDs from Tommy Lee Cook, that were released at the same time, with a request
from Tommy for me to review whichever disc I wanted to, it should already be quite obvious that the decision was just too tough
to make. Therefore, I'm going to have a little fun and do my first ever "rereview" (yeah, yeah, I know that's not a word).
Except for one guitar player, the differences between the performers on the two discs are basically nil. Each disc contains eleven
tracks of which five are originals. Joining Tommy Lee Cook, on lead vocals and rhythm, dobro & acoustic guitars are: Ted Scott and
Bill Canty on drums, Harry Cassano and Pat Hayes on keyboards, Rex Bongo, Duke Danger and Danny Shepard on lead guitar,
Justin Richey and Rastus Kane on slide guitar, August Zona on bass, Scott "Big Daddy" Johnson and Pat Hayes on harp, Terry Gable
on horn and The Skin'er Back Quartet of Harry, Pat, Daddy and Tommy on background vocals and claps.
The "Cemetery Road" disc opens with an impressive version of my favorite tribute song - "Six Strings Down". As with the original, the
guitar work is fabulous. Also highlighting this track are the outstanding lead and harmony vocals.
"Cemetery Road", the title track, is a heavyhearted ballad that, in spite of very nice slide and rhythm work, is all Tommy. On this
original track, his mournful and soul filled vocals are chilling. This is the kind country blues song that if performed by someone with
the popularity of Trace Adkins would become a number one country hit.
Like all men, Tommy gets so easily led when that "Little Head" does the thinkin'. The rhythm guys take the spotlight on this one.
Ted, August and Harry get the drums, bass and piano locked into one of those foot tappin', head bobbin' grooves and never let it
go.
Everyone gets in some highlights on "Porta Rican Woman" (sic) - the discs hottest blues track. The guitars, the keyboards and the
harp at one time or another - and often simultaneously - are smoking, and the vocals and rhythm are outstanding throughout.
The "Buckingham Peace Of Mind" disc opens with a very funky and well done version of Dylan's "Serve Somebody". As a matter of
fact, this could very well be the best version I've ever heard. Ted, August and Terry got that funky feeling down pat on rhythm, Big
Daddy's blowin' heat out of the harp, Justin's beside himself on slide, and Tommy - sounding like a Gospel singer - is awesome on
vocals. Replays took me nearly thirty minutes to listen to this six minute track.
"Consequences" is another slow, blues filled ballad on which Tommy sings his heart out. That, and some serious guitar licks split
between Rex and Duke, clearly make this one of this discs best.
"Buckingham Peace Of Mind", the title track, is another excellent country blues track. This one features some of the discs best drum
work from Billy and lots of good guitar playin' - some of which comes from Tommy, on acoustic guitar.
Everyone's showin' off their stuff on "Too Much Stuff". This one's an all out kick ass jam. Who ever's on it, and whatever they're
playin' is being played fast and hot. I'm winded just listening. What a perfect song to close on.
Other tracks on "Cemetery Road" include: "Big Boss Man", "Bending Like A Willow Tree", "Late Night Drive", "Nothing Lasts Forever",
"Blues As Blues Can Get", "Too Drunk To Boogie", and "Little Sister".
Other tracks on "Buckingham Peace Of Mind" include: "Monkey Around", "Down Home Girl", "Cross To Bear", "Country Song", "Lie No
Better", "Get Right", and "Late Last Night".
You can check Tommy Lee Cook out at several places. The first one is his web site which is www.tommyleecook.com. That's
where you'll b able to pick up both of these discs.
The second is at his blues club. If you happen to live in the area of Southwest Florida, stop in and see him at the Buckingham Blues
Bar. Once you're there, tell Tommy the Blewzzman told you all about him.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW OF THE BLUES
The Missed Blues
As we celebrate the New Year we remember our fallen hero's and the ones who made music through both the good and bad
times. On these days we lost our friends, but their music stays alive. This list was compiled in June 2001.
Johnny Adams September 15th, 1998
The ''tan canary'' had a sweet soulful voice that was extremely expressive. He performed mostly in a big band setting and was the
toast of New Orleans: ''Body and Fender Man'', ''Room With A View'' ,''The Real Me'', ''Even Now''
Luther Allison August 12, 1997
Luther was the complete blues performer: ''Red Cherry Wine'', "Soul Fixin' Man", "Back Down South"
Charles Brown January 21st, 1999
Sophisticated piano blues, smoke filled lounges and Clifford Solomon's sax: "Drifting Blues", "These Blues", "May I Never Love
Again"
"Two-Fisted Mama", "Stood Up Again", "Red Negligee"
Junior Wells January 15th, 1998
Half of the original blues brothers, a great singer and harp player, He helped set the standard for blues based partnerships. "Little
By Little", "Messin' With The Kid", "Bad, Bad Whiskey"
continued page 4
Volume 24
Page 4
continued from page 3
Johnny Copeland July 3rd, 1997
A great bluesman who gave us great music and Shemekia: "Late Hours", "Down On Bending Knees", "Just One More Time"
Jerry Garcia August 9, 1995
He left us much too soon but we certainly did get to know and love him: "Morning Dew", "Dupree's Diamond Blues",
"Cumberland Blues"
John Lee Hooker June 21st, 2001
He was a living legend and will be greatly missed: "Boom Boom", "Boogie Chillen'", "Dimples"
Doug Sahm November 18, 1999
The first hippie in Texas
"Mendocino", "She's About A Mover", "Sheila Tequila"
Johnnie Taylor May 31st, 2000
A real soul man: "Disco Lady", "Who's Makin' Love", "Gotta Get The Grove Back"
Katie Webster September 5th, 1999
Paved the way for performers like Marcia Ball
"Two-Fisted Mama", "Stood Up Again", "Red Negligee"
Junior Wells January 15th, 1998
Half of the original blues brothers, a great singer and harp player, He helped set the standard for blues based partnerships. "Little
By Little", "Messin' With The Kid", "Bad, Bad Whiskey"
Tell us about your favorite vinyl albums. Richard Ludmerer, VP NY Blues Soc Proud Member of The Blues Alliance and The SFBS
The Cultural Explosion on the Treasure Coast , THE INTERVIEWS # 5
The Ari Mendes Radio Show and Orc
By Ari Mendes
This time, I bring you The Ari Mendes Radio show, with yours truly here as the host…How did it happen? Long story, here‟s
the skinny:
About one year ago, I was appointed head of King Street Records, a part of the NCN. My job is pretty simple, finding talent,
developing
it and recording it. Did I say simple? Not!
NCN owns a 26.000 sq. feet state of the art recording studio in Cocoa. That‟s where I go when I‟m not working at Amenstudio,
my studio
here in PSL. We record live orchestra, choirs, and naturally rock bands. The Cocoa facility is also home to NCN TV, where we
produce the
videos of our recording artists, and SCSMT, The Space Coast School of Music and Technology, an awesome school where we
teach music, arts and computer recording as a whole.
The National Christian Network also owns several FM’s and AM’s in Florida, including
WCNO 89.9 Fm, where my show takes place. Palm City…The idea is simple, live music, minimal talk,
improvisation and support to good causes. Always looking for new talent!
“The Ari Mendes Radio Show” Every Sunday in the evenings, from 9 pm to 11 pm.
Live (yes, LIVE) music. News, jazz, live interviews, improvisation, etc. Family oriented,
of course…
On the Internet, streaming live at www.WCNO.com. WCNO 89.9 FM is a leading South Florida,
100.000 watts radio station.
My goal is to promote good music, good vibes and trend setting cultural events. I’ll always
have a guitar in my hands, so I won’t talk too much… Call us, talk to us, LIVE MUSIC!
1 888 221-8990, we’ll answer.
“The Ari Mendes Radio Show”
Every Sunday in the evenings, from 9 pm to 11 pm. LIVE MUSIC! Or
email me at [email protected]
Best regards, Ari Mendes
Ari Mendes is a guitar player, and has been practicing a lot to be able keep up
with all this talent here in the Treasure Coast…[email protected]
www.myspace.com/amenstudio PS: Richard Mac, you‟re the best, all my love and respect!
Volume 24
Let’s Us Play Recital Jam
Page 5
Patti’s Replacements
By Kathleen Smith and Debbie Smith
Nicolette and Alexandra Smith ages 15 and 13 have been students of Patti
Gamble for several years. They started taking organ lessons with her and
they progressed to a very unique instrument called the Vibraphone. The girls
were so intrigued by this fascinating instrument that Miss Patti instructed
them not only in the mechanics of the vibraphone but also a complete history of it and details on how to assemble and disassemble the instrument for
travel. The vibraphone is a unique instrument played with two to four mallets.
Recently, both Nicolette and Alexandra had the opportunity to put
their knowledge to use by gathering the vibraphone, loaned by Hawk Levy,
and playing it at the American Legion Post 40 in Fort Pierce at The Blues
Alliance 2nd Annual Let Us Play Recital/Jam.
The girls jammed with experienced musicians
and fascinated the audience with their talents.
The girls practice the vibes daily and enjoy
the sounds and melodies that it produces and
both girls have the pedal work down like experts.
They would highly recommend the vibraphone
and Miss Patti to anyone who is interested
in playing an instrument.
Who knows what could be in the future, a music scholarship or maybe
Julliard? God is good!
Ad Prices Newsletter BATC
Business Card-$25.00-----2 X 3 ½ ¼ Page-$50.00--------------4 ½ X 5 1/2
½ Page-$75.00-------------5 X 8 Full Page-$150.00---------8 X 1 10% off multiple ads.
Blues Alliance of the Treasure coast membership application
Membership types and dues:
Name___________________________________________
Address_________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Phone___________________________________________
E-Mail _________________________________________ _
Instrument (s) played _______________________________
Student: $10 (full time student)
Individual: $20
Household: $30 (2 members same address/2 votes)
Mojo member: $40 (1 vote - free T-shirt or Hat)
Band Member: $50 (1 vote)
Corporate Member $100 (1 vote, website and newsletter recognition)
Payable, Mail To:
Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast P.O. Box 7192 Port Saint
Lucie, Fl. 34985-7192
Hot Line: (772) 467-1851
Volume 24
Page 6
Blues: Random Thoughts
By Vern Melvin
Sam Carr, legendary Delta blues drummer, passed away last September after a long illness. Sam was a kind and gentle soul. I first met him in
2004 during my Blues Pilgrimage. Sam was playing at the opening of the Main Street Blues exhibit at the Delta Cultural Center in downtown Helena, Arkansas. Sam was featured prominently in a display at the exhibit, as was his father, legendary blues guitarist Robert Nighthawk. My wife
and I had attended the annual Blues Music Awards the previous Thursday night and Sam was a nominee in the Blues Drummer category. He lost
out to Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. When I asked Sam who he thought was the best blues drummer, him or Willie, he smiled and said, “Well, I guess
I have to give it to Willie „cause he‟s beat me out every year.” Every time I was in the Delta visiting after that I would make it a point to try and
catch Sam playing. The last time I saw Sam was June of last year at a small festival in Helena. Sam was in a nursing home but, with the help of
some friends, came to the festival and played a couple of songs to much cheering from his fans. That would be Sam‟s last gig as he died about 10
weeks later at 84 years old. Sam was one of the last of the legendary Jelly Roll Kings and is missed greatly, as much for his good natured spirit as
for his music skill……By the time you read this article John Lee Hooker, Jr. will have already played the Sunrise Black Box. I saw Hooker a few
months ago at a small club in Vero Beach, Filthy McNasty’s (yes, you heard me right). It‟s actually a good venue for live music although blues is
not usually on the menu. Hooker is quite an entertainer, covering everything from blues to R&B to rock to standards. By the way, a good anecdote
on Filthy McNasty‟s, I was told by a reliable source that a defendant appeared before a local Indian River County judge recently and the defendant
mentioned that he had been to Filthy McNasty‟s and the judge responded by saying that anyone who had been in a place called Fithy McNasty‟s
must be guilty of something!......Sunshine Sonny Payne, host of KFFA‟s King Biscuit Time, the oldest running blues program in the world, is
slated to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in the non-musician category in May. More on that next time…… Zac Harmon played the Sunrise Black Box recently and literally “shook the joint!” Zac‟s level of musicianship and performance intensity is becoming legendary. Zac can take
you to the jook joint and to church all in the same song, as he did with Got My Mojo Working/I Have a Friend, Do You Know Jesus. Opening
for Zac was a young up and comer from Orlando, Selwyn Birchwood. Birchwood is equally effective on guitar and vocals…….
By Leo Gale
In October, 2008, Murphy played his first Blues Festival in years at the Blues Birthday Bash in Fellsmere, Florida. Since
then he has performed at several South Florida venues, and this summer will be performing at major festivals and theatres throughout North America for the first time since his stroke over eight years ago. Mr. Murphy‟s comeback tour will be highlighted with his
appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival, where he will reunite with his old band mate from the 70‟s, James Cotton. On February 3,
2010, I sat down with Matt for an interview at his house in South Miami. The following is an excerpt from that interview:
LG- Where and when were you born?
MGM- They tell me I was born in Sunflower, MS on December 28, 1929.
LG- Your father moved the family to Memphis when you were very young.
What was the reason for that move?
MGM- My father decided to move us so we could better ourselves.
was ambitious; I‟ll never forget he told me that. All my dad and everyone else
do in Mississippi was pick cotton and corn. My mom died young, I think when
I was about 7 or 8 years old. One of my sisters died when I was very young, also.
LG- What did your father do for a living?
MGM- Dad was a cook at a hospital in Memphis, TN. Also he worked at the Peabody Hotel; he washed windows and did odd jobs
& maintenance.
LG-When did you first start playing guitar and how did that come about?
MGM- We stayed with my Aunt Ethyl off and on in Lamar, Mississippi where I used to listen to guys like Blind Lemon Jefferson,
Lonnie Johnson, & T-Bone Walker on the radio. I fell in love with T-Bone‟s playing. Most of them played just on the top of the fret
board but he was playing all over the guitar. I was at someone‟s house, I don‟t remember who, and I saw a guitar on a bed. I asked if
I could pick it up and I started messin‟ with it. Then there was this guy Fred, I think his last name was Richards, and he started to
teach me how to play. He taught me to tune, he used to put it out of tune and made me tune it back by ear.
LG- What was your first gig?
MGM- My dad had a friend named Frank Sims. I was playin‟ and he looked at me and said “Man, you can play that guitar” and I
said “yes sir”. He said, “I know where you can make yourself some money and I‟m gonna take you there”. So what he did was he
took me someplace to West Memphis, Arkansas and he took me out there and he got a little bucket and I started playing. People
started putting money in there, pennies, nickels, sometimes dollars and when the night was through, I had something like 17 or 18
dollars. It was at what they called a Juke House.
LG- That was impressive for you?
MGM- (Laughing) Are you kidding me? That‟s when I started making money, my first money gigs. I took that money home and
showed my dad. He always used to tell me put that guitar down and get yourself some religion. Now, I didn‟t say it to him cuz he
would knock my block off, but inside to myself I was saying uh uh, I‟m playing this guitar. So after that night he said give me that
guitar, and he picked it up and he played it left handed. I didn‟t even know he played guitar. After he found out I started making
money playing guitar, and that I could play, he was ok cuz he was satisfied that I would become successful.
LG- You played with Howlin‟ Wolf as early as 1948, before he went to Chicago. What was that experience like?
MGM- I played with Howlin‟ Wolf and his half brother named JD. I found out that Wolf didn‟t know timing very well, so I used to
just cut right through and he had to follow me. He had a helluva voice, sounded like it was comin‟ through a brass tube, what a
voice he had. I played with Wolf and after that Hubert Sumlin played with him in West Memphis. And Junior Parker was right there
too. I would play with Wolf, and then we would have a set with Junior Parker. Sometimes Wolf would play first and sometimes
Junior Parker would play first. Little Walter came up at that time too.
From Fellsmere to Chicago, the Comeback of Blues Legend Matt “Guitar” Murphy
Volume 23
Page 7
Support our Sponsors, They Support the Blues!
Take a moment to discover our corporate members and think of them when you are doing business. They
contribute much needed funds to the organization and some even offer members discounts too. They share
your love of the music and they showed their support for it where it counts, so let’s do the same for them.
Corporate Sponsors, we will be featuring your businesses in our
newsletter. You will remain here
in the selected area of the
DRUM SHOP
newsletter for your business....plus,
DRUMS * PERCUSSION * INSTRUCTION
we will feature some members
REPAIR * SELL * RENT * REPAIR
each month. Another perk coming
Stix Nickson
back atcha!
1532 SE VILLEGE GREEN DRIVE
Thanks for your support, we
appreciate all of you
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL 34952
Email:[email protected]
BE A SPONSOR
5101 SE Federal Highway
Stuart,FL 34997
(772) 283-8300
[email protected]
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
ww.toyotofstuart.com
Port St. Lucie
Downtown Lion’s Club
Meeting place Bristo on the Green
2nd Tuesday of every month at
11:45AM P. O. Box 9301
Port St. Lucie, FL 34985-9301
psldowntownus.lionswap.org
THE FRIENDLY POST OF THE
TREASURE COAST
AMERICAN LEGION POST #40
772-461-1480
810 S. U S 1
Fort Pierce, Fl 34950
pcChain: Port St. Lucie
772-335-7720
pcChain: Fort Pierce
772-828-2190
772-225-3444
1949 N E Jensen Beach Blvd
First Book
Of The Treasure Coast
First Book’s mission is to provide children from
low-Income families with their first new books.
[email protected]
www.firstbook.org/treasurecoast
American Legion
Stuart, Florida
Post 62
2464 SE Veterans Ave
Stuart FL 34994
(772) 220-0144
[email protected]
www.bluesalliance.org / www.myspace.com/bluesalliancetc