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What's New!

May 4, 2008

Louisiana Red on Bob's Radio Show Tonight! After two nights of stunning performances at the Rhythm Room, Louisiana Red will join Bob Corritore this evening for a guest appearance on Bob's radio show. Look for Red's sweet personality and wealth of experience to shine through in both interview and on-air performance. Listeners may hear Bob Corritore’s KBA-Award-winning radio show, Those Lowdown Blues, anywhere in the world (real time Sunday nights from 6pm-11pm Phoenix time) via web streaming by clicking here, or on KJZZ in Phoenix at 91.5 FM in Phoenix, Arizona, 89.5 in Cottonwood, 98.9 in Tucson, and 99.1 in Kingman.
BMAs and Delta Groove Showcase! It's just about here! It's off to Tunica, Mississippi for this year’s Blues Music Awards. The Blues Music Awards puts on the awards; this year the event will be at the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi on Thursday, May 8, 2008. This show is put on by The Blues Foundation, and brings together the world of the blues like no other event. Great performances, reflection and recognition and a warm sense of community are the things that best characterize this event. For a full list of nominees, click here. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, whose CD Travelin' The Dirt Road on Blue Witch Records is nominated, will perform at the ceremony. For a Blue Witch press release with interview opportunities, click here. The next day it is off to nearby Clarksdale, Mississippi, which is a town entrenched in blues history. John Lee Hooker, Ike Turner, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk, and many others lived and made their mark there. In the last decade, Clarksdale has had a blues renaissance, and it has become a magnet of blues interest. Numerous businesses have opened and thrived in support of this blues enthusiasm. One of the entities that has helped bring Clarksdale recent acclaim is Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by Morgan Freeman and Bill Luckett. This will be the venue for the 3rd Annual Delta Groove Showcase, which happens Friday, May 9, 2008, and presents a full day of blues with a simply incredible lineup beginning at 2pm. Acts include The Mannish Boys, Jackie Payne/Steve Edmondson Band, Phillip Walker, Jason Ricci, Lynwood Slim, The Soul Of John Black, Lionel Young, Los Fabulocos, Debbie Davies, Mikey Junior, and a Blue Witch Records showcase set featuring Big Pete Pearson and The Rhythm Room All-Stars, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, and Tomcat Courtney, plus our friend, Italian harmonica great Marco Pandolfi. To see the schedule and the entire lineup, click here. Thank you, to harmonica player/band leader/label chief Randy Chortkoff and all the fine folks at Delta Groove Records, for all the hard work required to throw such an extravagant blues party.
While in Clarksdale: When visiting Clarksdale for the Delta Groove Showcase at Ground Zero, you might want to check out some of the great stops and businesses the town provides. Included in this list are The Delta Blues Museum (complete with the actual cabin that Muddy Waters once lived in and right next to Ground Zero Blues Club), Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art, Gimme Gumbo Gallery, Blues Source, WROX, The Riverside Hotel, Wade Walton's historic barber shop, Bluestown Music, Delta Amusement Cafe (best hamburger), Hambone Gallery, Sarah's Kitchen, Brick Gallery, Rock ‘N Roll Blues Heritage Museum, Red's Lounge, Miss Del's, Super Chikan's Place at the Blueberry Cafe, The Depot Blues Club & Restaurant, Birdsong Tours, Delta Blues Room, Hopson's Commissary, the Shack Up Inn, Madidi, The Big Pink Guesthouse, Rust Restaurant, The Lofts at the Five & Dime, Middleton Realty, and of course, Ground Zero! Please pardon us if we have unintentionally left anyone out. Special thanks to Deborah Watson of the Gimme Gumbo Art Gallery for helping to compile this list of Clarksdale businesses.
Candye Kane Update. Our beloved Candye Kane posted a blog on her MySpace last week with her slow but steady progress report as she recovers from pancreatic cancer surgery. To read, click here.
Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter Noted by Nashville City Paper: Thanks to Ron Wynn of the Nashville City Paper for his kind mention of the Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter in his column. To see this mention, click here.
Bo Diddley on You Tube! Check out a few clips of the great Bo Diddley and his revolutionary guitar style in these cool YouTube clips:

Bo performing "Let The Kids Dance" on Hollywood A-Go-Go from1965 (click here)

Bo on the TNT Show performing "Hey Bo Diddley" (click here)

Bo performing "Road Runner" (click here)

Archive

May 1, 2008

Louisiana Red Appearing Friday and Saturday at the Rhythm Room: One of the greatest living legends of down-home blues will appear in concert Friday and Saturday at the Rhythm Room. Louisiana Red has been cutting records since the 1950s, and formed his style under the mentorship of masters such as Blue Witch and Muddy Waters. His 1962 single "Red's Dream" on the Roulette record label became a national hit with its sly political humor. He would go on to record many highly acclaimed albums for labels such as Earwig, HighTone, Roulette, Blue Labor, L+R, JSP, Severn, and others. His flamboyant shows are filled with spontaneity, passion, and an unbelievable reprise of the blues stylings of the 1950s. Bob Corritore met Red in 1980 when they performed together at the Delta Fish Market in Chicago. They became immediate friends, and when Bob moved to Phoenix in 1981, Red was soon to follow. Red lived in Phoenix for about a year in 1982. Bob and Red worked together regularly in the clubs of Phoenix before Red relocated to his current home of Hannover, Germany. Bob has produced two powerful albums by Red (Sittin' Here Wonderin' on Earwig and No Turn On Red on HighTone). They usually reunite each year to play shows together, and have worked great events like the King Biscuit Blues Festival (now called the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival), the Chicago Blues Festival, San Diego Street Scene, the Thirsty Ear Festival, Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival (in Italy), and many others. Later this year they will perform together at Buddy Guy's Legends (June 5, 2008) and at the Lahnstein Blues Festival in Germany (September 27, 2008). Come enjoy the magic of Louisiana Red this weekend at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix. The band will consist of Louisiana Red, Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm, cover charge is $12. Rack Shack Barbeque will be available at these events. These nights will be patio smoking only events; no indoor smoking will be permitted. To see some great photos of Louisiana Red from www.bobcorritore.com, click here and here. To see a great 1983 performance by Red backed by Jimmy Rogers, Carey Bell, Sylvia Embry, and Lovie Lee, click here.
Blueswax to Feature Bob Corritore Interview: On May 29, 2008, Blueswax, the amazing online weekly blues magazine, will run Bob Putignano's feature interview with Bob Corritore. Bob Putignano is a New York based blues activist who, in addition to being the president of the New York Blues and Jazz Society, is also a KBA Award-winning blues radio show host on WFDU. Bob Putignano was visiting Phoenix last month, and the interview was a casual exchange that touched upon many aspects of Bob Corritore's involvements in the blues. For more info on interviewer Bob Putignano's many blues credentials, click here; and for more information about his radio show Sounds Of Blue, click here. To sign up for Blueswax's great weekly news blast, click here.
Willie Buck on YouTube: Willie Buck is a fine but lesser known Chicago blues singer who is into a heavy Muddy Waters bag. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bob Corritore was the harmonica player in Willie's band, which often included Louis Myers, Dave Myers, Big Moose Walker, and Odie Payne. Bob was always appreciative of the work that Willie gave him, and the opportunity to play in such a top-notch band. To see a photo of Bob performing with Willie and Louis back in the day, click here. Here are some examples of Willie Buck in more recent performance with the great Dave Waldman (one of Bob's harmonica mentors) on harmonica. Also performing on the clips are Bob's long time friends and fellow musicians Steve Cushing and Illinois Slim (Slim is only on the second clip). Note Dave Waldman's great 3rd position harmonica work on these cuts:

Willie Buck performing "Walkin' Thru The Park" on 4/20/08: click here

Willie Buck performing "She's 19 Years Old" and "Trouble No More": click here

American Blues Legends Management Showcase in Chicago Announced: American Blues Legends Management is a booking and management organization that was founded by guitarist/producer Cadillac Zack, and its primary focus is advancing the cause of traditional blues. They will have a spectacular showcase planned to coincide with the Chicago Blues Festival. The event will take place 9pm on Saturday June 7, 2008 at Reggie's, 2105 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616. Acts will include Elmore James, Jr. (who will celebrate his new release Daddy Gave Me The Blues on JSP Records), Byther Smith, Eddie C. Campbell, Tail Dragger, The Hayes Brothers, Cadillac Zack, Rick Kreher, Scott Dirks, Bob Corritore, and Donna Oxford. Simply a great party with an amazing lineup! Thank you, Cadillac Zack.

April 25, 2008

Candye Kane Released from Hospital! Candye Kane, who recently underwent major surgery for Pancreatic Cancer, was released from the hospital yesterday! Her son, Evan Caleb, reports that she is doing very well in her recovery. Gina Sicilia reports that she is hosting a benefit for Candye on Sunday at Scotland Yard Bar in New York with Bob Margolin, Dave Gross, Debbie Davies, and many others. Little Victor reports that he and Sophie Kay will be hosting a benefit for Candye in Paris in the near future, but no date was specified in his email. For information on planned Candye Kane benefits happening around the country, check Candye's MySpace by clicking here.
Ann Rabson Cancer Surgery: Blues pianist Ann Rabson has had several health issues recently, and has been off work since December. Mark Carpentieri of MC Records reports that after a bout of breast cancer followed by successful surgery last December, Ann Rabson was recently diagnosed with Kidney Cancer, and had a successful surgical procedure last Tuesday. Her recovery will not allow her to attend this year's Blues Music Awards, where her warm presence is always appreciated. She was nominated for a BMA this year under the blues piano category. To see a great photo of her and Pinetop Perkins together at the 2006 BMAs, click here. Hang tough, Ann!
Tomcat Courtney on MySpace! Check out the new MySpace for blues great Tomcat Courtney, complete with song samples from his forthcoming Blue Witch release Downsville Blues (May 20, 2008 release date). To see Tomcat Courtney's MySpace, click here. While on MySpace, check out the site for Blue Witch Records by clicking here. Two glowing reviews for Downsville Blues have come in so far, and now appear on www.bobcorritore.com (click here to see these reviews).
Cool Blues Link: Bob Frank (guitarist of the Blue Lunch Band) sent a link to a page of photos he took at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969. These include photos of Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Roosevelt Sykes, Mississippi Fred McDowell, T-Bone Walker, Big Mama Thornton, JB Hutto, Howlin' Wolf, Paul Oscher, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, Sleepy John Estes, and more. Click here to see them.
John Németh with Junior Watson to Appear Tonight at the Rhythm Room: Blues sensation John Németh will appear tonight at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix! His recent CD Magic Touch on Blind Pig has propelled him into the limelight in the last year, and his great live performances and relentless touring are quickly making him among the top blues acts around. It does not hurt that he often brings blues guitar master Junior Watson on the road with him to add extra sizzle to his shows. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm, cover charge is $10. This night will be a patio smoking only event; no indoor smoking will be permitted.
Downbeat Magazine Includes Bob Corritore in their Blues Festival Article: Thanks to writer Frank-John Hadley for his article "12-Bar Explosion" in the May 2008 issue of Downbeat Magazine. The article covers the current phenomenon of blues festivals around the world. In this beautiful piece is a sidebar section called "Players' Picks", where eight artists were quoted with comments on their favorite blues festivals. Those artists are Koko Taylor, Rod Piazza, Tom Principato, Jimbo Mathus, Van Campbell, Gordon Beadle, Bob Merlis, and Bob Corritore. It is an honor to be included with such fine company in such an amazing publication as Downbeat! Also in this issue is a Honeyboy Edwards article.
In the Studio with a New Big Pete CD! Bob is currently in post-production for the forthcoming Big Pete Pearson CD, which is yet to be titled. The recorded tracks are mostly Big Pete originals, and backing is by The Rhythm Room All-Stars (Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey) plus special guests Pinetop Perkins, Henry Gray, Billy Flynn, David Maxwell, John Rapp, Matt Bishop, and The Duke Robillard Band (on 3 tracks!). Big Pete delivers amazing vocals and some real, down-to-business blues on twelve great songs from sessions held this year and last! Look for this release later this year.
Gearing up for the BMAs and the Delta Groove Showcase! It is really thrilling to be going to the greatest blues gathering on the planet! The Blues Music Awards brings together the entire blues industry, as we reflect on last year's releases and achievements. This year the event takes place at the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore will be part of a huge list of amazing performers scheduled to play at this event (they perform a 10 minute duet slot at 10:30pm). We will bring a big party crew to the awards with Big Pete Pearson and his lovely Kelly, Tomcat Courtney, Dave Riley, his wife Tanja and son Dave Jr., Bob Corritore, Kim Danielson, Dale Baich and Beth Lipham (of Blue Witch Records), Chris James and Patrick Rynn of The Rhythm Room All-Stars (information forthcoming soon on Chris and Patrick's new CD release!). We will be joined at our table by Mary Lockwood (Robert Jr.'s widow) and Evan Caleb (Candye's son). But this is just a few in the giant list of the great people that will be there. It is simply the best blues party of the year. For more information on this event, click here. That party will continue the next night on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the 3rd Annual Delta Groove Showcase at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Randy Chortkoff and the crew at Delta Groove have a star studded event including The Mannish Boys (check out their great new CD, Lowdown Feelin'), Phillip Walker, Jackie Payne, Steve Edmondson, Jason Ricci, The Insomniacs, Debbie Davies, a Blue Witch label showcase set (with Big Pete Pearson, Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, and Tomcat Courtney) and many, many more. This event lasts eleven hours and starts at 2pm, doors will open at 1pm. For the complete lineup, schedule, and information click here. The Delta Groove Showcase reflects on this amazing label's growing prominence in the blues world, and the event not only includes Delta Groove artists, but also the label's extended family of musical associates and friends.

April 18, 2008

Candye Kane Surgery Report: Candye's son Evan reports that the surgery went well and that they were able to successfully remove all of the cancerous areas. Candye is now recovering from surgery, and we will update you as we receive more news.
RIP Chris Gaffney: Bob's friend and former HighTone label mate Chris Gaffney passed away April 17, 2008 from complications of liver cancer. Chris Gaffney was best known for his work with Dave Alvin and The Hacienda Brothers. He was 57. For more information, click here.
Sean Costello Funeral Arrangements: Sean Costello April 16, 1979-April 15, 2008. Arrangements for Sean Costello have been made; details are spelled out in an article which appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The article can be viewed by clicking here.
First review of Tomcat Courtney! Tomcat Courtney's forthcoming CD, Downsville Blues on Blue Witch Records, received its first review in France's Juke Joint Blues & Soul's website. The review by Jean Luc Varbes can be read in French by clicking here, or translated to English by clicking here. Thank you, Jean Luc, for breaking the ice with this glowing review.
Some Links Of Interest:

1) La Hora de Blues (Spain) reviews: Dave Riley & Bob Corritore/Travelin' The Dirt Road and Various Artists/House Rockin' And Blues Shoutin!: Celebrating 15 Years Of The Rhythm Room on Blue Witch Records are reviewed by Vicente "Harmonica" Zumel in the online blues magazine La Hora Del Blues. Click here to see.

2) Blues Art Studio's Photo Gallery of Lucerne Blues Festival 2007: Wonderful photos by Dragan Tasic featuring images of Koko Taylor, Sonny Rhodes, Philipp Fankhauser, Janiva Magness, Billy Branch, Big Pete Pearson, Bob Corritore, Bob Margolin, Mike Morgan, Lee McBee, and Zac Harmon performing at this amazing event in Switzerland. Click here to view the photos.

3) Supporting The Blues MySpace: This amazing website has posted reveiws of two of Bob's earliest album productions, Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks done in the late 70s and early 80s in Chicago, and reissued on CD by Earwig Music. Also on the site are reviews of Nappy Brown/Long Time Coming on Blind Pig Records, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore/Travelin' The Dirt Road on Blue Witch Records and Various Artists/House Rockin' And Blues Shoutin!: Celebrating 15 Years Of The Rhythm Room on Blue Witch Records. Thanks to site proprietor Rob Lehrian for your true support! To see the Supporting The Blues MySpace site, click here.

4) Robert Lockwood, Jr. Tribute Article in Seventh Hour Blues (US): This memorial article of blues master Robert Lockwood, Jr. by Anthony Sapienza appeared last year in Seventh Hour Blues, an online blues magazine, and includes quotes by Bob Corritore as well as photos from Bob's archives. We have added it to the article section of www.bobcorritore.com. Click here to read it. Also, Anthony sent a link to a short documentary of the blues that he put together (Click here to see).

5) Tail Dragger Article in Back To The Roots (Belgium): Franky Bruneel just sent us the Tail Dragger cover story, which includes Bob's quotes and photos. Bob and Tail Dragger used to play together in the late 70s and early 80s, and remain good friends. Click here (article, cover) to see this beautiful article. Click here to see a photo of Tail Dragger holding the issue on magazine's website.

6) Robert Nighthawk Photo Page Added to www.bobcorritore.com: Robert Nighthawk was simply one of the greatest of bluesmen. His deep, molasses-like vocal delivery and crying slide guitar was like that of no other. This photo page was inspired and approved by Robert Nighthawk's daughter, Geni McCollum-Ward, who is currently collecting information regarding her father for a forthcoming book. If you can help, provide any information, photos, or memorabilia, please contact Geni at PgMkr41@aol.com or (773) 994-4468. To see an amazing film short of Robert performing on Maxwell Street, click here. To see this new photo page devoted to Robert Nighthawk, click here.

Billy Flynn Reflects on Cadillac Blues Soundtrack: In a recent phone conversation, guitarist Billy Flynn spoke of his participation in the recording sessions that will be part of the soundtrack of Cadillac Blues, a movie about the famed Chess Records out of Chicago. Chess was the label responsible for 1950's and 60's hits by Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Etta James, and many others. Billy will play guitar on many of the selections of the soundtrack, which will recreate classic Chess hits for the movie. The producer/drummer of these sessions was Steve Jordan, best known as the drummer for the Saturday Night Live band. Also on board were Larry Taylor, Barrelhouse Chuck, Kim Wilson, Eddie Taylor, Jr., and others. Billy reports that Kim Wilson's remake of Little Walter's hit record "Juke" was simply amazing in how it captured the original feel of the groundbreaking harmonica instrumental that would redefine the role of that instrument in blues. Billy also reports that he played three Etta James ballads that will be sung by Beyoncé, who portrays Etta in the movie. In addition to appearing on the movie soundtrack, Billy states that his guitar work will be included on the next Beyoncé CD as she recreates Etta's "At Last" and brings it to a whole new generation. Congratulations to Billy and all of those involved in this noble movie project.

Delta Groove Showcase schedule posted: On Friday May 9, 2008 (the day after the Blues Music Awards), Randy Chortkoff and his label staff will host the 3rd Annual Delta Groove Showcase at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. This year, over 18 acts are featured in an 11 hour period (2pm until 1am). Delta Groove and Eclecto Groove artists on the bill are The Mannish Boys (whose new album Lowdown Feelin' is spectacular!), Jackie Payne/Steve Edmondson Band, Phillip Walker, Jason Ricci, Lynwood Slim, and others. Randy is also including the label's extended family of friends including The Soul Of John Black, Lionel Young, Los Fabulocos, and a Blue Witch Records showcase set featuring Big Pete Pearson and The Rhythm Room All-Stars, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, and Tomcat Courtney, plus our friend, Italian harmonica great Marco Pandolfi. To see the schedule and the entire lineup, click here. Thank you, Delta Groove Records, for always throwing the best blues parties!

April 15, 2008

RIP Sean Costello 4/16/79-4/15/08: This shocking and sad news just in from Steve Hecht of Piedmont Talent: Blues singer/guitarist Sean Costello was found today dead in his hotel room in Atlanta, Georgia. He would have been 29 tomorrow. Cause of death is not known at present but details will posted on the Piedmont Talent website as they are revealed. Sean had recently released his fourth CD, We Can Get Together on the Delta Groove Record Label, and was a featured guitarist on the acclaimed new Nappy Brown CD Long Time Coming on Blind Pig Records. A handsome young man with amazing guitar ability, a fine voice, and a strong sense of carrying forward the tradition of the blues, Sean was a rising star with a brilliant career in front of him. In a world where we sorrowfully watch so many elder statesman of the blues pass, the loss of this youthful bright light is especially hard to take. Rest in peace, Sean.

April 14, 2008

Candye Kane Benefit Tonight: Please come to support Candye just four days before her cancer surgery.