Blues Archives - Page 11 of 25 - Renaissance Granddad's Explorations.....

Roots Music Safari Archive by category "Blues" (Page 11)

Blues with New Orleans Flavor from the Royal Southern Brotherhood – HeartSoulBlood

One of the albums that has been in my music rotation this week is the new album HeartSoulBlood from the Royal Southern Brotherhood. This is the second release from the Brotherhood following their 2012 self-titled debut album. The Royal Southern Brotherhood is composed of Devon Allman, Cyril Neville, Mike Zito, Charlie Wooten,and Yonrico Scott. Of the five both Devon Allman and Mike Zito’s solo work, appear in my music library.Both of these albums and their 2013 release a live album titled Songs from the Road have been released on Ruf Records with the legendary Jim Gaines serving as the producer. Read More

Evening Thoughts – Pinetop Perkins to Victor Wainwright and Southern Hospitality!

Today way back in the year of 1913 on this date James William Perkins was born in Belzoni, Mississippi. Ninety-seven (97) years later now know better by his stage named Pinetop Perkins, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for Joined at the Hip, an album he recorded with Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Perkins is the oldest-ever Grammy winner. In between he had a fantastic career that saw him play with many of the most influential blues and rock and roll performers in American history. Read More

Today in Music – July 1, 1915 – Blues Icon Willie Dixon was born!!

Today is the 99th anniversary of the birth of Willie Dixon(July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) and I bet somewhere on almost every night of the year someone is

playing one of the 500 songs that he wrote! It could be a jazz, blues or rock artist because Willie’s songs appeal to lovers of many genres. He was one of the two artists, the other Muddy Waters, that were the most influential in shaping the sound of Chicago blues in the post World War II years, as well as, rock and roll in the 50s and 60s. I think that my first introduction to the blues of Dixon was Cream’s cover of “Spoonful”, wait maybe it was The Doors “Back Door Man” or maybe Led Zeppelin “I Can’t Quit You” but it was probably Johnnie Rivers covering “Seventh Son” and I didn’t even know it!! Well, you get the picture. Here’s a link to a list songs of Willie Dixon, along with the artists who cover them!! From Wikipedia some of the songs….. Read More

Thursday June 26 – This Day in Music – Bill Broonzy was born – Celebrate with Dave and Phil Alvin’s New Album!

Last Thursday June 26 was either the 121st or the 110th anniversary of the birth of Big Bill Broonzy, depending on what you believe. Most researchers believe that Big Bill was born Lee Conley Bradley in 1903 or 1904, in Plum Bayou , Jefferson County Arkansas and is one of the children of Frank and Mittie Bradley. But Big Bill told people that he was born in Scott, Mississippi. He also told people he had a twin sister, Laney. I spent all day yesterday looking at census records and other records at Ancestry.com to substantiate either claim. According to the 1910 Census Lee Bradley is listed a 6 years old as the son of Frank and Mittie Bradley. Bill’s sister Lanie is also listed and is 3 years younger than Bill! Here are Lee’s siblings as listed in the 1900 Census. Read More

2014 Blues from Walter Trout – The Blues Came Callin’ – with Ex-Boss John Mayall!!

On Tuesday of this week the new album, The Blues Came Callin’ from Walter Trout was released, and it has been in my rotation since then, like all of Walter’s work it is amazing! The most amazing thing is that he recorded the album, while he was waiting for a liver transplant! He was doing exactly what the opening track of the album says he was “Wasting Away”, during the later part of his illness, Walter lost over 100 pounds! When I went to his website, and looked at his picture, my first response was that is not Walter!! But it obviously was! He received his new liver a week or so ago and according to updates there have been some very rough post-operative complications, that Walter seems to be riding out. I have not checked back today, I will tomorrow and write more about his condition tomorrow! Read More

John Mayall – A Special Life makes a good run made special!

Art Work by John Mayall

Reposted – Feb 17,2024 – ten years later….I was 62 ar the time of the run!

This week has been a topsy-turvy week. Monday it was in the 80s and then was cloudy all day. Yesterday (Tuesday) it looked like it was going to rain and the temperatures were in the 60s! Today (Thursday) it was supposed to be back into the 80s. So last night (Wednesday) I decided that I better run then or face another hot day running! So of course today turned out a lot like yesterday. However, I’m still glad that I ran last night!! I decided to run on of my oldest routes, a slightly up and down run going up and down the highest point in Riverside on Pancoast Avenue. Read More

Life’s Soundtrack – A Good run made Special by John Mayall’s latest – A Special Life

Art Work by John Mayall

This week has been a topsy-turvy week, Monday it was in the 80s and then was cloudy all day yesterday (Tuesday) it looked like it was going to rain and the temperatures were in the 60s! Today (Thursday) it was supposed to be back into the 80s. so last night (Wednesday) I decide that I better run then or face another hot day running! So of course today turned out a lot like yesterday, but I’m still glad that I ran last night!! I decided to run on of my oldest routes, a slightly up and down run going up and down the highest point in Riverside on Pancoast Avenue. On my last run I ran with on of the younger blues musicians, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who by the way is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday Kenny Wayne, so last night I decided to run with someone older than me, by almost two decades!! That would be “the godfather of the British Blues” John Mayall, who turned 80 last November, and his latest release A Special Life. Anyway the run was a good one, while I didn’t set any land speed records I did feel fairly strong throughout the run, well except when I was going up the steepest parts of Pancoast!! The only good thing is that I do get to go down hill for a good part of the last mile!! The splits weren’t too bad. First mile 10:20 – Second 10:28, Third 11:04 – the uphill battle, 4 – 10:42 Total Time – 42:34 and when compared to Monday’s 44:54 it even looks better!! Read More

No Pain, No Gain…..Gaining doesn’t make a run fun – Kenny Wayne Shepherd does though!!

If there's pain, there's gain then I gained a lot from today's run!! It has rained on a of all day today and when I set off on my run, I think the relative humidity was like 150% and the air was completely still and it certainly seemed that it had no desire to get into my lungs! Needless to say it was one of those runs when you just try to trick yourself, well if I only make 3 miles I'll be happy, oh 3 down I can make one more mile, 3.5 only one half mile to go, a snap!! Before you know it you're done, both the four miles and you!! First mile 10:22, acceptable, second mile 10:35 still ok, third mile 11:32 ouch! Fourth mile 12:25 and no I didn't walk any of it! Average pace 11:14 which is I guess ok! You know what they say "At least you did it!" and I'll live to run another day!! ....Now the soundtrack for the run that's a different story........

2014 Blues from Jarekus Singleton – Refuse to Lose….. watch out Blues World here he comes!!

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching the steady rise of Refuse to Lose the new album from Jarekus Singleton up the Roots Music Report's Blues chart, last week and again this week the album is Number 1! Since the Jarekus Singleton Band has only been around since 2009, when Jarekus formed the band, I really don't feel too badly that I haven't found them until now! The downside to that is that i could have been listening to a great band for the last five years!! The blues community has known Jarekus for a while now. According to his website Jarekus and the band have......

Category: Blues