2004 Handy Awards Announced

 The 25th W.C. Handy Blues Awards were announced in Memphis, TN on Thursday, April 29, 2004. The winners are:

Blues Entertainer of the Year: B.B. King
Blues Band of the Year: Roomful of Blues
Blues Album of the Year: Blues Singer - Buddy Guy
Best New Artist Debut: Doctor Velvet - Nick Curran and the Nitelifes
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year: Marcia Ball
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Solomon Burke
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Etta James
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: Pinetop Perkins
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year: Koko Taylor
Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year: John Hammond
Blues Instrumentalist Guitar: Duke Robillard
Blues Instrumentalist Keyboards: Dr. John
Blues Instrumentalist Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite
Blues Instrumentalist Bass: Willie Kent
Blues Instrumentalist Drums: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Blues Instrumentalist Horns: Roomful of Blues Horns
Blues Instrumentalist Other Fiddle: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Soul Blues Album of the Year: Let’s Roll - Etta James
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year: Blues Singer - Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: So Many Rivers - Marcia Ball
Comeback Blues Album of the Year: A Woman Like Me - Bettye LaVette
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: Which Way Is Texas? - Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets
Historical Blues Album of the Year: Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live - Muddy Waters
Blues Song of the Year: Lookin' For Trouble! - Kim Wilson/Amanda Taylor

Mississippi Birthplace Seeks To Honor B.B. King

 Officials in the Mississippi Delta town of Indianola, birthplace of B.B. King, want to erect a statue in the bluesman's honor.The town of 12,000 where the singer of such hits as "The Thrill is Gone" spent his formative years is selling engraved $25 bricks and $300 business slates to finance the statue.The statue will be located at the entrance to B.B. King park, said Carolyn O'Neal, an official with the city's public works department.The city wants the statue ready for the opening of the B.B. King
Museum, which is set for 2005. O'Neal said three artists have been asked to submit proposals - one with King sitting, another with King standing and a third with King playing the guitar.

Claude Williams Dies

 Jazz violinist Claude "Fiddler" Williams, who was part of Kansas City's thriving music scene during the swing era of the 1930s and enjoyed new-found popularity in his later years, is dead at 96. Williams, who played the guitar, mandolin and bass as well as the violin, first came to Kansas City in 1928, joining the Twelve Clouds of Joy band led first by Terrence Holder and then Andy Kirk. He also played later with a band led by Alphonso Trent, which Williams said was "the first black big band allowed to play at white clubs in Oklahoma." After hearing him play in Chicago, Count Basie hired Williams to play both guitar and violin with his band. But when Basie moved his band to New York, Freddie Green replaced Williams as the guitarist. Williams played with various Kansas City bands until moving in 1940 to Michigan with George Lee, another well-known Kansas City musician. Williams worked as a welder by day and musician at night, coming back to Kansas City in 1952. In 1988 he was featured in the Broadway revue "Black and Blue," focusing new attention on his skills, and in the early 1990s he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. He became a popular attraction at nightclubs and music festivals around the country and overseas, where he always had a strong following. Williams was among the performers at events during President Clinton's second inauguration in 1997. That same year he performed at the grand opening of Kansas City's American Jazz Museum, a show that was later televised nationally.

Porky Cohen Dies

 Porky Cohen played with W.C. Handy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Roomful of Blues
and many others. His work stretches over most of the past century. He died April 15th at age 79. From 1942 to 1950, he hit the road with the big bands of Charlie Barnet, Lucky Millinder, Benny Goodman and more. In 1979, he got the call to join Rhode Island's rhythm-and-blues stalwarts, Roomful of Blues. After leaving Roomful, Cohen played around Rhode Island for the rest of his life, on a freelance basis and in the band Swingtime with John Worsley.

Ella Johnson Dies

 Ella Johnson, a jazz singer who performed with her brother Buddy Johnson in
his dance bands in the 1940's and 50's, died in New York on Feb. 16.A smooth singer with a seductive delivery, Ms. Johnson was often compared to Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. But as a part of her brother's rollicking bands, she also helped forge a link to R&B and early rock 'n' roll. Ms. Johnson was born in Darlington, S.C., and moved to New York to join Buddy, her older brother, while still in her teens. Though only two years older than Ella, Buddy had become an established musician in New York and was leading groups at the Savoy Ballroom and elsewhere. Her first hit with Buddy was "Please, Mr. Johnson" in 1940, and she continued to record and perform with him into the 1960's. Among her best-known songs was "Since I Fell for You" (1945), a ballad written by Buddy.She also sang "When My Man Comes Home," "Hittin' on Me," "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" and "I Don't Want Nobody."

Flash Terry Dies

 Legendary guitarist Verbie "Flash" Terry died March 18th in a Tulsa hospital after suffering a stroke earlier this week. He was 69. Terry, known as the "Backdoor Blues Man", was an Oklahoma favorite. Born in Inola, Terry moved to Tulsa in the 1950s to begin his music career.He got his start with 'Cry Cry Hawkins' & Teardrops. In the 50s and 60s, Flash toured with such names as Floyd Dixon, Little Johnny Taylor and The Impressions. Terry took a seven year hiatus from touring, but returned in 1972 to play on Bobby Blue Bland's national tour. His recording career began in the late 50s at Perspective Sound Studios in Tulsa. He recorded the hits "Big Betty" and "Her Name Is Lou" at Perspective Sound. In 1988, "Flash" Terry and the Uptown Blues Band received a "State of Excellence" award from then-Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon. The band also received a "Citation of Appreciation" as Oklahoma's Favorite Blues Band. In 1994, Terry was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. And, just last year, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Flash's earlier recordings are now on permanent display at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa.

Gene Allison Dies

 Gene Allison, whose groundbreaking 1957 rhythm-and-blues hit, "You Can Make It if You Try," was a precursor of 1960's soul music and was recorded by the Rolling Stones on their debut album in 1964, died here on March 6. He was 69. You Can Make It if You Try," a Top 5 single on Billboard's R&B chart and a Top 40 pop hit. The later inspirational singles "Have Faith" and "Everything Will Be All Right" were Top 20 R&B hits in the 1950's for Mr. Allison, whose commercial success ended by the early 60's. He had recently spoken of trying to make a comeback. Versie Eugene Allison was born on Aug. 29, 1934, in Pegram, Tenn., and moved here at 7 with his family. He sang in church choirs as he grew up, which helped him get jobs with professional gospel quartets like the Fairfield Four and the Skylarks. While in high school he often filled in for the Fairfield Four's lead vocalist, Sam McCrary.

Hank Marr Dies

 Columbus musical legend Hank Marr was recognized as one of the world's masters of the Hammond B-3 organ passed away Tuesday, March 16. In 1945, he graduated from East High School, and, in 1947, joined the Army. Hank was transferred to special services where he played in the Army Combo Band. After he got out of the service, he joined the band, Charlie Brantley and the Honeydippers (which played on the fact that some people may have confused them with another band, Joe Liggins and the Honey Drippers.) In the early 1950's, Hank joined Rusty Bryant's band (with then-unknown Nancy Wilson on vocals). They played in Atlantic City during the heavy tourist season, where Hank first heard jazz organist Jimmy Smith. Inspired by Smith, Hank began playing the Hammond B-3 organ in 1957. Hank joined King Records in about 1961 and recorded seven albums for them. He formed his own group and toured the United States, Canada, and Germany until 1969. From 1969 until 1978, he was musical director for the impressionist George Kirby, performing at Caesar's Palace, The Johnny Carson Show, The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show. In 1981, Hank joined the CJO, and in that same year, he accepted a teaching position at his alma mater, OSU. He retired from OSU in 2000, but returned to teaching. In the 90's he cut three records for the Double-Time label cutting his final album for the Jamey label in 2000. For more information visit: www.hankmarr.com

2004 Blues Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced

 The Blues Hall of Fame by The Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame committee, chaired by Jim O'Neal, founding editor of Living Blues has announced their 2004 inductees. The induction ceremony will be conducted in association with the Foundation's Charter Members Dinner, Wednesday, April 28, in Memphis Tennessee, the night before the 25th W.C. Handy Blues Awards. The inductees are:

Performer: Bo Diddley
Performer: Blind Boy Fuller
Non-Performer: J. Mayo Williams
Classics of Blues Literature: Juke Blues magazine
Classics of Blues Recordings - Singles or Album Tracks: Jimmy Reed, "Baby What You Want Me To Do"
Classics of Blues Recordings - Albums: Slim Harpo, Raining In My Heart

Jimmy Coe Dies

 Jimmy Coe, an Indianapolis bandleader and jazz saxophonist, died Thursday, February 26th at Methodist Hospital after a long illness. He specialized in alto and tenor saxophones. As an altoist, he replaced Charlie "Bird" Parker in Jay McShann's band in 1942. Upon returning to his adopted hometown after Army service in World War II, Coe led small and big bands here. He recorded rhythm and blues successfully for small labels in the 1950s. In his later years, Coe was known as an adept arranger for the big band he led under his own name. "He spent his life making people happy with his music," said Delores, his wife of 46 years. "He was something else." To support himself and his family, Coe held jobs with the city of Indianapolis, the Marion County juvenile court and the U.S. Postal Service. After retiring in the 1980s, he devoted himself to music. Despite health problems in recent years, he could be seen occasionally playing from his wheelchair at special events.

Estelle Axton Dies

 Estelle Axton, co-founder of the famed Stax Records Co., which generated hits from acts including Sam and Dave, Otis Redding Jr. and The Staple Singers, has died Feb. 24th of natural causes at the hospice at Saint Francis Hospital. She was 85. "Were it not for her, there's no way Stax could have become what it became,"
said David Porter. Porter and Isaac Hayes co-wrote numerous Stax hits, including Sam and Dave's "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming." Between 1960 and 1975, Stax's roster also included Booker T. and the MGs, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor, The Mar-Keys and the Bar-Kays. Stax began as Satellite Records in 1957 but was forced to change the name because a California company already was using it. The siblings combined their last names -- the "St" from Stewart and the "Ax" from Axton -- to come up with Stax, which became a rival to Detroit's giant Motown sound in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

A.C. Reed Dies

 Famed Chicago-based blues saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader
A.C. Reed died Wednesday, February 25, from complications due to cancer. He was 77. During the course of his career, Reed played his fat-toned, elegantly simple tenor sax with artists like Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Son Seals both on stage and on record, as well as leading his own band, the Spark Plugs. Born Aaron Corthen in Wardell, Missouri in 1926, and raised in downstate Illinois he moved to Chicago in early 1942 and found work at a steel mill. While working at the mill during the day, Reed began gigging on weekends with a variety of blues combos, eventually coming under the tutelage of J.T. Brown, Elmore James' tenor sax player. By the end of the 1940s, Reed was gigging regularly with Willie Mabon and Earl Hooker. During the 1950s he toured across the Midwest and Southwest with Hooker and Dennis “Long Man” Binder. Returning to Chicago in the early 1960s, Reed became an in-demand session player for the Chief and Age labels, and recorded his first single for Age, “This Little Voice,” in 1961. He recorded more singles for Age, USA, Nike and a few other small Chicago labels during the rest of the decade, while playing regularly in the city's blues clubs. Reed joined with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells' band in 1967, toured Africa with Guy and Wells, and even joined the Rolling Stones tour (still as a member of Guy's band) in 1970. He left Guy's band in 1977 and joined first Son Seals and then Albert Collins, with whom he spent over a decade as a member of Collins' band, The Icebreakers. Reed recorded with Seals and Collins on their seminal Alligator Records albums, including Collins' groundbreaking releases "Ice Pickin'", "Frostbite", "Don't Lose Your Cool", and "Live In Japan", and Seals' "Live And Burnin'." Reed's exposure with Collins led to a reinvigorated solo career. He recorded four songs for Alligator's "Living Chicago Blues" anthology series in 1980 and an album for his own Ice Cube label, "Take These Blues And Shove 'Em," in 1982. Reed's 1987 Alligator album "I'm In The Wrong Business" featured cameos from Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Besides his Alligator and Ice Cube releases, he recorded for the Austrian Wolf label and appeared on albums by Lousie Miranda and Larry Davis & Byther Smith in the early 1990s. His two final solo albums – the 1998 "Junk Food" on Delmark and the 2002 "I Got Money" on the French Black And Blue label – both received positive critical acclaim and maintained Reed's status as a seminal Chicago blues figure.

J.J. Malone Dies

 JJ Malone passed away on Friday February 20, in Hawaii after a long fight with cancer. He was born in 1935 and raised in Decatur, Alabama. While serving in the air force in Spokane, Washington, he formed a rhythm and blues band called the Rhythm Rockers in 1957. Relocating in Fresno, the group was joined by singer-guitarist Troyce Key. Years later, the Rhythm Rockers became the houseband at Eli's Mile High Club, and internationally known Oakland establishment owned by Key. In the early '80s, J.J. recorded two albums with Key for the Red Lightnin label in England and toured Europe with him as part of a San Francisco blues Festival package. J.J.'s recording career first took off in 1971 with the release of his original composition, "It's a Shame" on the Fantasy-distributed Galaxy label. The single shot to No. 1 on Bay Area R&B charts and led to appearing in concerts with the likes of Al Green, Joe Simon, Etta James and Harvey Mandel. Producer Ray Shanklin, owner of the Galaxy label was impressed by Malone's talents as a composer and an arranger, gave him responsibilities in the expanding record company Galaxy/Fantasy. He advised Little Johnny Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, and Sonny Rhodes. He wrote -- without signing them -- a good many Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes. In recent years he cut two records for the Fedora label including 1997's "Highway 99" and 1999's "See Me Early in the Mornin'", cutting his final record "And the Band Played On" for the Blues Express label in 2001.

Blues Grammy Winners Announced

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Blues Singer - Buddy Guy [Silvertone Records]

Best Contemporary Blues Album:
Let's Roll - Etta James [Private Music]

Best Historical Album:
Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - A Musical Journey Steve Berkowitz, Alex Gibney, Andy McKaie & Jerry Rappaport, compilation producers; Gavin Lurssen & Joseph M. Palmaccio, mastering engineers (Various Artists) [Hip-O Records]

Best Album Notes:
Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - The Blues: A Musical Journey Tom Piazza, album notes writer (Various Artists) [Hip-O Records]

Best Long Form Music Video:
Legend (Sam Cooke) - Mick Gochanour, Robin Klein & Mary Wharton, video producers [Abkco Music & Records]

Bob Greenlee Dies

 Bob Greenlee, the founder of independent blues label King Snake Records, died at
home February 12th at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Singers Rufus Thomas, Lucky Peterson, Kenny Neal, harmonica master Raful Neal and saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts were among those who recorded at King Snake in its most fruitful period, in the late 1980s.

E. Rodney Jones Dies

 Legendary radio personality E. Rodney Jones past away Jan. 2nd at his home in Baton Rouge. E.Rodney was a member of the Black Radio Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. His half century of broadcast excellence' included two decades at Chicago's WVON, a station owned by the famous blues and rock 'n' roll record label, Chess, plus many years at Baton Rouge's WXOK-AM.