Long Lost Paramount 78 Discovered

 A long lost Paramount 78 by King Solomon Hill has recenlty been discovered in Port Washington, Wisconsin the one time headquarters of the Paramount label. The record, "Times Done Got Hard", was one of the last records ever recorded at Paramount. The record was purchased by noted record collector John Tefteller. Click here for the complete story.

Dorothy Love Coates Dies

 Dorothy Love Coates died April 11th at age 74 in her hometown of Birmingham, a nearly forgotten superstar of gospel music's golden era. Mrs. Coates wrote and recorded more than 300 songs such as "Get Away Jordan" and "That's Enough," many later recorded by other stars such as Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson and the Blackwood Brothers. She joined the church at 10 and started her own group, the Royal Gospel Singers, in her early teens. In 1947, she joined the Original Gospel Harmonettes, another Birmingham group, and became their lead singer and songwriter. Until recent years, Mrs. Coates performed with her own group of backup singers, which she had done since the Harmonettes disbanded in 1977.

Big Bad Smitty Dies

 Bluesman Big Bad Smitty (John Henry Smith) died in Jackson, Mississippi, on
April 3. He was in the hospital for treatment of complications of diabetes. Big Bad Smitty was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on February 11, 1940. In his teens he often played in Greenville with Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, and in 1966 he moved to St. Louis for the first time, and came to be associated with that city's blues scene, playing with the city's leading musicians. He made his first recordings for Johnny Vincent in Jackson in the '70s, and in the late '70s JC & E records released the album "St. Louis On A High Hill". In 1991 the Dutch label Black Magic released his critically acclaimed "Mean Disposition," and in 1997 HMG released the CD "Cold Blood". Find out more about Big Bad Smitty at: www.bluesworld.com/Smitty.html

Frank Edwards Dies

 Atlanta's senior statesman of the blues, Frank Edwards, passed away March 22nd. He was 93. Edwards was in Greenville, SC working all day in a recording session when he suffered a heart attack. Edwards had just celebrated his 93rd birthday two days before. He was born in Washington, GA and had lived in Atlanta about 65 years. He made his first recordings in 1941 cutting four sides for Okeh and two sides for Regal in 1949. In 1972 he cut Done Some Travelin', his only full length record, for the Trix label. He drove himself to Atlanta clubs the Northside Tavern and Blind Willie's almost every day to listen to performances and hold court. He performed occasionally all the way up to the end. Find out more about Frank Edwards at: mrfrankedwards.com

Blues GRAMMY Awards Announced

 The 44th annual GRAMMY awards announced their winners on February 27th. The "Best Traditional Blues Album" was won by Jimmie Vaughn for "Do You Get The Blues?" on Artemis Records and "Best Contemporary Blues Album" was won by Delbert McClinton for "Nothing Personal" on New West Records.

Abie "Boogaloo" Ames Dies

 Blues and jazz pianist Abie "Boogaloo" Ames died February 4th in Greenville, Mississippi from a prolonged illness. He was 83. He began playing piano at the age of 5, and his style earned him the nickname "Boogaloo" in the 1940s. Ames moved to Detroit as a teenager and started a band, touring Europe with Louis Armstrong in 1936. He worked at Motown Studio and befriended musicians like Nat King Cole and Errol Garner. In 1980, Ames moved to Greenville where he became a regular performer at local clubs and festivals. His work will soon appear on another Mississippi musician's CD. Ames was named the 2001 winner of the Artist's Achievement Award of the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts in the state of Mississippi.

Nominations For 23rd Annual W.C. Handy Awards Announced

 The Blues Foundation today announced the nominees for the 23rd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards to be presented on Thursday, May 23, 2002 at the
Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee. The star-studded ceremony features Blues performances, and will be followed by two-days of Blues music on Beale Street, "the home of the Blues." For a list of the nominees click here.

John Jackson Dies

 John Jackson, who went from gravedigger to one of the pre-eminent blues musicians in the country, died Sunday, January 20th at his home in Fairfax County just outside Washington, D.C. He was 77. He drew inspiration from the family Victrola listening to the records of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jimmie Rodgers, Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Blake among others. For most of his life he played for friends and at house parties until he was discovered during the blues revival of the 60’s. Since then he has recorded several albums for Arhoolie, Rounder and most recently for Alligator in 1999.