Some of our favorite new releases

Janiva Magness - Do I Move You

In 2005, Magness received her third nomination from the Blues Music Awards (previously known as the WC Handy Awards) for “Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year”. “Do I Move You?” builds upon the huge success of Janiva’s last CD, “Bury Him at the Crossroads”. This time around, Janiva has taken a more electric approach, with Rick Holmstrom as a guest on several tracks. The Los Angeles-based, Michigan-raised Magness is the recipient of the B.B. King Award for Musical Excellence, the Jim Croce Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rhythm & Blues, and Arizona’s New Times awarded her with the Critic’s Choice honor for Blues Band of the Year. Magness also starred in the Tony-nominated Broadway production “It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues” at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles. Click for info or to purchase

John Long - Lost & Found
	In a world where everyone adopts a gimmick, an angle, a pose in order to get over, John Long is an anachronism. He is a 100% pure bluesman for life. Born, raised and bred on the blues. It’s not a ‘career choice’ for Long, not just a type of music he plays, or happened to be influenced by. He’s not a blues player, he’s a Bluesman, with a capital B. Click for info or to purchase

ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT TO ENTER

WHY DO YOU LOVE BLUES?

Tell us....tell the world. Win great prizes!

Before March 15th email to

e-guideBluesFestivalGuide.com

in 75 words or less "I love Blues because...."

The world's biggest blues labels have contributed some terrific prizes for the 5 winners. Each winner will receive "35X35" Alligator Records 35th anniversary double CD, plus Bernard Allison's "Energized" double CD from Ruf Records and from Blind Pig Records, Magic Slim and the Teardrops "Anything Can Happen" on DVD.  All  5 winners will have their essays published in the annual Blues Festival Guide Magazine, due out April 24th.

35 X 35-35 Songs, 35 Years Years of Genuine Houserockin' Music  Alligator Records celebrates their 35th anniversary with a double CD collection highlighting some of their most popular recordings over the years as well as some hidden gems. 

Bernard Allison  2-CD-set from Ruf Records. Recorded live at the MUSA in Göttingen/Germany, 20th October 2005. Fans everywhere have been begging him to put out a new live project. ENERGIZED was certainly worth the wait. Bernard Allison keeps the famous family name alive and delivers an outstanding live show.

JUDGING - Our judges will be looking for point-of-view. There's a million reasons to Love the Blues, so be a little unique, and speak from your heart. (Almost like writing a blues song, but you don't need to find the rhyme).  Put a little time into your answer.  The prizes are worth it.

Celebrity Judges from the world's top Blues Record Labels will pick 5 winners.

From Alligator Records, Mr. Bruce Iglauer    

from Ruf Records, Mr. Thomas Ruf 

and from Blind Pig Records,

their judge is "to be announced"

Blues Foundation reveals 2006 Blues Music Awards Poster The 2006 Blues Music Awards show will largely follow the format of the sold-out and critically acclaimed 2004 and 2005 shows which featured performances by more than 30 nominees in a dinner table setting in the Convention Center's new ballroom.

The event brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Each year, the Foundation present The Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. As always, a pre-party will immediately precede the Awards and feature the 2006 IBC winners.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the May 11, 2006 event visit www.blues.org or contact Jay Sieleman, Executive Director at (901) 527-2583 or jayblues.org.
 

Music Dispatch has one of the world's largest selections of blues publications and related products including music books, DVDs, reference and biography books, and more - you can check out the entire roster at www.musicdispatch.com, or by calling toll-free at (800) 637-2852

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show On Saturday, March 18, 2006 Bay Area Blues Society and the City of Oakland will hold The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show. This annual event, honors blues, jazz and gospel artists for their contributions to the art form called Blues and to celebrate Black History Month.

The 2006 West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Award Winners are:

Best Dress Female Artist of the Year ..............................Zakiya Hooker
Best Dress Male Artist of the Year...................................Lil Junior Crudup
Blues Band Leader of the Year........................................Guitar Mac
Blues Band of the Year....................................................J. C. Smith
Blues Bass Player of the Year.........................................Anthony Davis
Blues Comback Artist of the Year...................................Joe Louis Walker
Blues Corporate Sponsor of the Year ............................Yamaha Corp of America
Blues CD of the Year.......................................................Henry Odin self titled Globe Records
Blues DJ of the Year........................................................Mick Martin
Blues Drummer of the Year.............................................Willy Jordan
Blues Electronic Media of the Year.................................KPOO Radio
Blues Female Vocalist of the Year ..................................Roach of Café R&B
Blues Guitar Player of the Year.......................................Chris Cain
Blues Harmonica Player of the Year ...............................Lil Jimmy Reed
Blues Journalist of the Year.............................................Dorothy Hill
Blues Keyboard Player of the Year .................................Dan Daniels
Blues Male Vocalist of the Year.......................................Frankie Lee
Blues Management of the Year ......................................Boogie with the Hook
Blues New Artist of the Year............................................Lil Gabe
Blues Nightclub of the Year ............................................JJ's Blues Club
Blues Non Profit Organizaton of the Year........................Reno-Tahoe Blues Festival
Blues Photographer of the Year.......................................A. V. Ervin
Blues Print Media of the Year .........................................Listen & Be Heard
Blues Publication of the Year .................................Blues Festival Guide
Blues Record Company of the Year ................................Fantasy Records
Blues Record Shop of the Year........................................Rasputin Records
Blues Saxophone Player of the Year ...............................Sahar Miller
Blues Social Organizaton of the Year..............................Velma Landers, Sunday Blues & Jazz Club
Blues Songwriter of the Year...........................................Bobby Rush
Blues Song of the Year ....................................................My Feet is Achin' by Billy Dunn
Blues Trumpet Player of the Year ...................................Mike Rose
Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award .....................Jesse "Chuy" Varela
Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award ......................Emmit Powell
Gospel Group of the Year................................................Oakland Silvertones
PJazz Group of the Year ..................................................Paul Smith Jazz Group
R & B Female Vocalist of the Year...................................Linda Tillery
R & B Male Vocalist of the Year ......................................Johnny Rawls

Willie Kent Passes  The blues community's beloved friend WILLIE KENT lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 70 at his home in Chicago on Thursday, March 2nd. Delmark Records spokesperson said “Willie received several Handy Awards for his bass playing, but I think people overlooked how great a singer, songwriter, and band leader he was. He was a dominating presence on the Chicago blues scene and much loved by fans world-wide.” Willie’s incredibly moving and deeply soulful blues will live on his many recordings, including a track featuring his passionate and distinctive vocals on Delmark’s next blues release this spring. Chicago and the Blues World will miss “Sugar Bear” dearly and will not be the same without him.

"I was born in the Delta,
a hundred miles south
of the Tennessee line

I was born in the Delta,
a hundred miles south
of the Tennessee line

I was chopping and picking cotton
'way before the age of nine"

— Willie Kent, from "Born in the Delta"
(Comin' Alive, Blue Chicago Records)

WDIA - 1940s Memphis Radio 

Back in the 1940's, radio station WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee made history when it became the first mainstream commercial station to broadcast to an African-American audience. WDIA helped make stars of people like Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon, and BB King. Now, a new CD pays tribute to the legendary WDIA.  Join Elwood Blues for a tribute to Memphis Soul Station WDIA. 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 07th of March 2006 06:26:55 PM TW LW Artist: CD Title: Label: Weeks On: Location: 1 1 DELBERT MCCLINTON COST OF LIVING NEW WEST 23 TX 2 2 SUSAN TEDESCHI HOPE & DESIRE VERVE 21 IL 3 3 BONNIE RAITT SOULS ALIKE CAPITOL 22 TX 4 5 PATTY LOVELESS DREAMIN' MY DREAMS EPIC 6 KY 5 10 THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND SONGLINES COLUMBIA 2   6 4 MARKUS JAMES CALABASH BLUES FIRENZE 10 VA 7 7 CARLOS GUITARLOS HELL CAN WAIT NOMAD 2 CA 8 11 ERIC CLAPTON BACK HOME REPRISE 2 UK 9 16 THE PORKBELLY FUTURES WAY PAST MIDNIGHT WILDFLOWER RECORDS 16 CANADA 10 17 ANGELA STREHLI BLUE HIGHWAY M.C. RECORDS 22 TX 11 NEW DUKE ROBILLARD GROOVE-A-RAMA STONY PLAIN 1   12 22 MARCIA BALL LIVE! DOWN THE ROAD ALLIGATOR 2   13 NEW ERIC BURDON SOUL OF A MAN SPV 1   14 18 BIG AL DOWNING BIG AL DOWNING'S GREATEST HITS THE ORCHARD 3   15 NEW SAVOY BROWN LOOKING IN DERAM 1   16 NEW ZZ TOP FANDANGO (REMASTER) RHINO/WB 1   17 NEW ZZ TOP TRES HOMBRES ( REMASTER) RHINO/WB 1   18 NEW LYDIA WARREN BAND LIVE (UNSIGNED) 1   19 NEW LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS GENIUS OF BLUES ST. CLAIR 1   20 NEW MARCIA BALL GATORHYTHMS ROUNDER 1

Click here to see the full Top 50