BoozeBrothers Blues MusicLiving the Blues

Just a reminder that PBS/ American Masters will be airing Les Paul: CHASING SOUND on Wed. July 11 at 9:00 ET In case some of you don't know he's the musician/ inventor/ legend who invented mult-track recording & the famous solid body electric 'Les Paul' guitar. He was also an incredible guitarist & entertainer in his own right working […]

Big Joe Turner, not to be confused with the great piano player by the same name, could bring a house down with his earth-shaking power vocals. His voice spanned generations — he was an important figure singing Boogie Woogie and Jump-Blues, later rocking audiences with classic early rock 'n' roll classics like "Shake, Rattle and Roll." - Jessy Terry

Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop dropped out of his second year at the University of Chicago to dive head first in the local blues scene. Fascinated by what he was hearing around him, he met up with Paul Butterfield and joined the Butterfield Blues band. He split from the outfit in 1968 to experience the crazy musical melting pot that once was San Francisco, where the sonic diversity crept into his sound in the form of a gospel, country, and blues hybrid. On the famous Fillmore stage, Bishop often sat in with the likes of B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and even the late, great Jimi Hendrix. He soon formed the Elvin Bishop Group and recorded the notorious "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." Bishop currently resides in San Francisco where he enjoys gardening and the occasional gig. - Eric Shea

The Blues have made one change to their starting 15 for the Super 14 rugby match against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday night with All Blacks utility Isaia Toeava dropping back to the reserve bench. Benson Stanley returns at inside centre in

For over fifty years the foot-stomping King of the tone-drone, infinite boogie has delivered a multitude of musical styles within the realm of blues music. He has also hopped around more record labels (under pseudonyms) than Woody Guthrie did boxcars. Born in Mississippi, "the Hook" began to play in the club scene on Hastings Street post-WWII when he relocated to the Motor City. In 1948, he recorded "Sally Mae" and "Boogie Chillen," the primeval-sounding hit B-side that best showcased his rustic, deep, and dark, guttural vox. In 1962, the contagious "Boom Boom" leaked from its peak on the R&B charts and trickled down onto the airwaves of mainstream pop. It wasn't until his 1989 album The Healer that Hooker began recording his celebrated albums with guest musicians. From that pivotal album to 1999's Best of Friends collection, the Hook has played with a diverse gathering of musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Van Morrison and Robert Cray, to name a few. - Eric Shea

Forget those dolled-up, pentagram-sportin', tattooed rock 'n' rollers that comprise his audience of late — the bona fide bad-ass is up onstage. You wanna talk hard livin'– nothing beats the real life rigmarole of old bluesmen like R.L. Burnside. Coming out of the deep South in the 1930s, Burnside was one of the artists featured in Richard Grant's article on the wild lives of elder bluesmen on Fat Possum Records in the March 27, 1999, edition of British daily The Daily Telegraph. It said that Burnside went to prison in the 1940s for murder. He allegedly shot a man in the back of the head, but only served three months thanks to a plantation owner who needed Burnside to work the next planting season. A grimly practical Burnside told his label, "I didn't mean to kill nobody. I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord." As rugged and rowdy as his reputation, Burnside's overdriven Delta Blues slide guitar playing is fierce and blistering. His singing is heartfelt, though often mumbled and slurred. Live shows chug along like a steam engine overheating. His massive cult following comes in all shapes and sizes. - Dennise Lite

Robert Cray
Finding a modern audience has earned Cray some criticism he wouldn't get if he was a struggling club performer. He has a clean, singing guitar, strong songwriting abilities, and a soul voice more Sam Cooke than Muddy Waters. His unique mix of blues, rock, and soul has taken another turn of late: Cray's latest album celebrates that glorious Stax Records sound of the '60s. While their styles are different, Cray could arguably be compared to Ray Charles, another performer who ably crossed blues, soul and pop barriers. - Eric Shea

Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was one of the few key players of the postwar Chicago Blues scene who actually influenced the music that influenced him. His swollen, grandiloquent vocals were an instrument unto themselves and his beefy electric slide playing breathed new life into music heavily influenced by the Delta Blues. Waters, who grew up on the Mississippi Delta in Clarksdale listening to the music of Son House, moved to Chicago in 1943. In 1948, he recorded "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "I Feel like Going Home." The former became his first national R&B chart topper, and influenced the Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," and his 1950 song "Rollin' Stone" inspired the band's name. Waters assembled one of the meanest bands in blues history, the Headhunters, comprised of Little Walter, Baby Face Leroy Foste, and Jimmy Rogers. In 1951, Waters cranked out four hits, "Louisiana Blues," "Long Distance Call," "Honey Bee," and "Still a Fool" which rapidly climbed the charts and prompted Leonard Chess (founder of Chess Records) to play on the 1952 hit, "She Moves Me." Waters' renditions of "You Shook Me" and "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" turned on a sea of blues-obsessed British musicians who made him their new God. The Stones couldn't believe their eyes when they went to visit the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis only to find their God painting the ceiling. They put together an intimate gig and jammed with Waters on "I Just Wanna Make Love to You." By his death in 1983, Waters was already a legend in music. He had influenced the sound of Chicago Blues, as well as anyone who ever picked up on the music to which he lent his King Midas touch. - Eric Shea

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Didier Drogba said he was never in any doubt that Chelsea's season would end in Moscow. The Ivory Coast striker struck twice on Wednesday to earn the Blues a 3-2 victory over Liverpool and set up a Champions League final Read More

There have been gun battles fought in the Carolinas between partisans of mustard-based barbecue sauce and those who prefer their pork doused with vinegar. Certain barbecue cooks in beef-loving Texas would just as soon throw your mother-in-law on the Read More

A sampling of green tech news, from California to Malyasia. The House That Twitters Its Energy Use Earth2Tech - Where a house twitters what its meter reads. A great use of Twitter. Technology Review: A Price Drop for Solar Panels - Check in on the Read More

Roomful of Blues, according to Down Beat magazine, ?is in a class by themselves.? With their masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it?s no wonder why the great Count Basie called them ?the hottest blues band I?ve

Mohegan Sun offering diners a new view - Enterprise
There are certain things expected of casino expansions more slot machines, more table games and more places to eat, drink, spend and stay. But the Casino of the Wind, now under construction as part of a $925 million expansion at Mohegan Sun, will

Spectacular feat - Edmonton Sun
I come to praise George Lucas, not bury him in petty grievances. While the famed filmmaker has generated storms of controversy — by digital diddling of his original Star Wars trilogy, for example — Lucas has done a magnificent thing with The

Schoolboy's charity piano concert - East Anglian Daily Times
A PIANIST from Copleston High School in Ipswich will be performing a concert combining classical, jazz and blues music tomorrow night. Jacob Baker, 18, from Rushmere St Andrew, is a student at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music, travelling to

Things to do in the Midlands - The State
LUNCH AND LISTEN MUSIC SERIES: Classical guitarist Marina Alexandra, 12:30 p.m. May 15; Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St. (803) 929-3450; www.myrcpl.com STACY MORGAN ART SHOW: Through May 5, Kershaw County Fine Arts Center Bassett

Julian Fauth updates the blues - Jam! Showbiz
In the eyes (and ears) of our Errol Nazareth, Toronto bluesman Julian Fauth truly exemplifies what the Electro-Fi label has been all about for the past 10 years — plenty of straight, natural blues. "No teenage guitar heroes, no fawning tribute CDs

Schoolhouse Boogie - Ottawa Citizen
"If you're happy and you know it say amen," wail the assembled students at Bayshore Catholic. "If you're happy and you know it. " "Gimme some soul," bellows Sharon Riley, without skipping a beat. "Gimme some soul." She's not talking about the

253 more music events today >> - San Francisco Weekly
Beer, Blood & Cornmeal Book Release Party Annie's Social Club Sat., April 26, 9:00pm Potrero Hill Rock/Indie/Etc. Ernestine Anderson Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum Sat., April 26, 8:00pm South of Market All Ages Jazz/Blues "Annual Robin

John Henry

Some great versions of songs about the legendary steel driving man.

Buddy Guy
Eric Clapton calls Buddy Guy his favorite blues guitarist. Put his amazing guitar playing together with a singing voice that is its equal and you have pure blues heaven. Guy went to Chicago in 1957 and hung out with legends such as B.B. King. He put out a series of impressive records on the Cobra label but it is his 60s work that still knocks your socks off to this day. His guitar jams and tortured vocals are so dynamic it makes one wonder why anybody ever bothered with Blues Rock. Guy's career went through a hard stretch in the 70s and 80s, but it came back with a vengeance in the 90s. Buddy Guy's music is as strong as ever and his wild, onstage energy has earned him capacity crowds at venues all over the world. - Eric Shea

Forget those dolled-up, pentagram-sportin', tattooed rock 'n' rollers that comprise his audience of late — the bona fide bad-ass is up onstage. You wanna talk hard livin'– nothing beats the real life rigmarole of old bluesmen like R.L. Burnside. Coming out of the deep South in the 1930s, Burnside was one of the artists featured in Richard Grant's article on the wild lives of elder bluesmen on Fat Possum Records in the March 27, 1999, edition of British daily The Daily Telegraph. It said that Burnside went to prison in the 1940s for murder. He allegedly shot a man in the back of the head, but only served three months thanks to a plantation owner who needed Burnside to work the next planting season. A grimly practical Burnside told his label, "I didn't mean to kill nobody. I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and the Lord." As rugged and rowdy as his reputation, Burnside's overdriven Delta Blues slide guitar playing is fierce and blistering. His singing is heartfelt, though often mumbled and slurred. Live shows chug along like a steam engine overheating. His massive cult following comes in all shapes and sizes. - Dennise Lite

Music recorded at the Fort Valley College Folk Festival between 1941 and 1943.

Etta James
From the mid-1950s to the present, Etta James' powerful, soul-charged voice has become deeper and rougher, with a rich texture and heartfelt inflections. It goes without saying that the woman known as "Mama" is aging like California wine, and she can still open wounds in her songs and come out standing strong. When she was five years old, Jamesetta Hawkins amazed the congregation of her church choir. When she belted out Gospel songs with absolute spiritual fervor, it was clear that the child was a musical prodigy. Her career as a singer began when she recorded "The Wallflower" with Johnny Otis in 1954 for Modern Records. A year later, the song topped the charts. In 1960, she moved to Chess Records and soon began cranking out hits such as the driving, jiving, southern soul smash "Tell Mama," which Janis Joplin covered later that decade. Since then, she has recorded for Island and Elektra, experimenting with rock and jazz, but always returning to her Gospel-soaked roots and southern soul. - Eric Shea

Buddy Guy
Eric Clapton calls Buddy Guy his favorite blues guitarist. Put his amazing guitar playing together with a singing voice that is its equal and you have pure blues heaven. Guy went to Chicago in 1957 and hung out with legends such as B.B. King. He put out a series of impressive records on the Cobra label but it is his 60s work that still knocks your socks off to this day. His guitar jams and tortured vocals are so dynamic it makes one wonder why anybody ever bothered with Blues Rock. Guy's career went through a hard stretch in the 70s and 80s, but it came back with a vengeance in the 90s. Buddy Guy's music is as strong as ever and his wild, onstage energy has earned him capacity crowds at venues all over the world. - Eric Shea