Some of our favorite new releases

Watermelon Slim - Watermelon Slim and The Workers

2005 W.C. Handy Nominee for Best New Artist Debut! The record's 14 tracks combine the band’s southern roots, Slim’s autobiographical storytelling, and his reverence and respect to the tradition of blues and American roots music. Musically, the new record is very different from 2004’s solo/acoustic Up Close and Personal which impressed fans and media with his versatile skills at slide dobro, harmonica, kalimba, songwriting and the sincere and singular vocal style. The new record represents the band’s live impression which has made Slim & The Workers a constant and favorite on the North American club and festival scene. At this point in his storied career Slim now plays the energetic frontman in a tight electric blues quartet. Click for info or to purchase

David Gogo - Skelton Key
With "Skeleton Key" Gogo displays his creative talents, while exploring new ground and building on his previous sucess. He blends blues, soul and rock in an electric performance. Fresh original works combined with unexpected gems that illustrate David Gogo’s knack for turning chart-topping hits into contemporary blues/rock anthems. Click for info or to purchase

Ernie Hawkins - Rags & Bones
	Hawkins has achieved a high point in his career with this CD. After three terrific CDs of his own, plus five DVDs teaching the style of Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie McTell, Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins, Ernie Hawkins has topped himself. Click for info or to purchase

Do You Love the Blues?

If you love the blues, you'll want to enter the next contest.

Contest, and prizes will be announced on February 21st.

HART Funds For Blues Musicians
In 2001, the The Blues Foundation established the HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust) Fund to provide an earmarked fund through which The Blues Foundation provides assistance to Blues artists in need. The Foundation has set up this fund to provide relief to blues musicians and their families in financial need due to medical problems. Funds provided from the HART Fund must be dedicated 100% to artist relief efforts. Disbursements began in 2003. Over the years, major support for the HART Fund has come from The Rosebud Agency. Thanks to The Rosebud Agency, a portion of the proceeds from tours by their nominated artists have been donated to The HART Fund. Other contributions have come from members and other donors, as well as specific benefit events.

Requests for funding should be made in the form of a request letter (or e-mail), supported by documentation, demonstrating the financial and medical need of the proposed recipient. Donations to or applications for funding should be addressed to:


The Blues Foundation

49 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
 

Celebrating our 11th consecutive year, 2006 USA Songwriting Competition is now accepting entries! Winning songs will receive radio airplay in United States and Canada along with great prizes such as a Top Prize of over $50,000.

Also, there's FREE 11th ANNIVERSARY early entry bonus: first 1,000 entries postmarked by March 31 or earlier will each receive a FREE Keyboard magazine subscription (1 full year!). That's great value of getting music magazine subscription just by entering! Please obtain the entry form at: http://www.songwriting.net/entryform.html

Night Music 

Some get the blues in the morning, some get the blues in the afternoon. Some get the blues on the weekends, some get the blues on their lunch breaks. But just maybe -- the blues are best, at night. Join Elwood for a little Night Music from Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, Wilson Pickett and more, this week on the House of Blues Radio Hour.

[Click here for playlist and for stations and times]
 

Blues Play Charts

Courtesy of Roots Music Report "where only the music matters". This chart reflects the radio airplay spins of some of the most prominent people in the genre, worldwide. Reporters to the chart include over 100 radio stations who are playing blues; record stores and distributors selling the blues; clubs booking blues artists; and key music correspondents throughout the world. 

For further information about the Roots Music Report, visit www.rootsmusicreport.com 

Generated on: Tuesday 14th of February 2006 06:47:42 PM TW LW Artist: CD Title: Label: Weeks On: Location: 1 2 SUSAN TEDESCHI HOPE & DESIRE VERVE 19 IL 2 1 DELBERT MCCLINTON COST OF LIVING NEW WEST 21 TX 3 3 BONNIE RAITT SOULS ALIKE CAPITOL 20 TX 4 5 PATTY LOVELESS DREAMIN' MY DREAMS EPIC 4 KY 5 4 MARKUS JAMES CALABASH BLUES FIRENZE 8 VA 6 7 BETTYE LAVETTE I'VE GOT MY OWN HELL TO RAISE ANTI 5 MI 7 9 MARK LEMHOUSE GREAT AMERICAN YARD SALE YELLOW DOG 20 TN 8 13 WATERMELON SLIM THE WORKERS NORTHERN BLUES 4   9 16 THE PORKBELLY FUTURES WAY PAST MIDNIGHT WILDFLOWER RECORDS 14 CANADA 10 12 DION BRONX IN BLUE DIMENSIONAL MUSIC RECORDING 4 NY 11 17 ERNIE HAWKINS RAGS AND BONES SAY MO 4   12 6 OTIS RUSH ALL YOUR LOVE I MISS LOVING DELMARK 3   13 8 BUDDY GUY BRING 'EM IN SILVERTONE 20 IL 14 34 JOHN LONG LOST & FOUND DELTA GROOVE PRODUCTIONS 3   15 NEW ROOT DOCTOR BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BIG O 1 MI 16 NEW VARIOUS FRIED GLASS ONIONS - MEMPHIS MEETS THE BEATLES, VOL. 2 INSIDE SOUNDS 1   17 NEW SANDY CARROLL DELTA TECHNO RINGO RECORDS 1   18 15 JOHNNY ADAMS THE GREAT JOHNNY ADAMS BLUES ALBUM ROUNDER 13 LA 19 NEW DAVIS COEN CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE 219 RECORDS 1   20 NEW BIG AL DOWNING BIG AL DOWNING'S GREATEST HITS THE ORCHARD 1

Click here to see the full Top 50