Category: Blues

So back in 2011 I first heard the swampy blues music of Damon Fowler. It was around the time  of the release of his second album on Blind Pig Records Devil Got His Way. I think that the first week I saw his name on one of the charts Devil Got His Way had not been released yet, so I ended up listening to his début album Sugar Shack,  The following week though, the title  of my post read – Damon Fowler – Devil Got His Way – Added to the Mix! So today as I searched around at lunch time for some…

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Born on this day in 1943, was Steve  Miller aka .”The Gangster of Love”. I became a Steve Miller fan with his second album Sailor and followed his career on vinyl until the album six Rock Love which was released in 1971. I think I had The Joker on 8-track! After that, I followed his career on the radio, until his 2010 and 2011 releases Bingo and Let Your Hair Down, which are both really fine albums! From Steve’s Press Release Biography Born October 5, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Steve Miller grew up in a musical family. His mother, Bertha, was…

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I tried to get this post written before I went for my run, but that didn’t happen! So I will try to finish it while I’m cooling down, if I can keep the sweat out of my eyes long enough and my fingers can hit the right keys! (writer pauses to wipe sweat out of his eyes} Last night, as I was researching the Supercrawl in Hamilton, I saw that one of the performers was Blues guitarist Steve Strongman and I thought I remember him I listened to him about a year ago and one of his albums is on…

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When I saw that, Joe “Guitar” Hughes was born on this day in 1937 in Houston, Texas. I thought ok any artist that puts “Guitar” in their name is usually pretty damn good and since I had never heard of Mr. Hughes I thought I’d see what I could find out… at Wikipedia I read: Joe “Guitar” Hughes (September 29, 1937 – May 20, 2003[1]) was an American blues musician, from Houston, Texas, United States. Hughes was an inventive and versatile performer who was equally adept at playing a slow blues or Texas shuffle as well as R&B hits. Hughes…

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So aside from his name, I don’t know much about the man, who many label “The Father of Texas Blues” Blind Lemon Jefferson. Since today is his birthday, I figure it’s a good day to find out a little about the man! From Wikipedia Blind” Lemon Jefferson (Lemon Henry Jefferson; September 24, 1893 – December 19, 1929) was an American blues singer and guitarist from Texas. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s, and has been titled “Father of the Texas Blues”.[2]   Jefferson’s singing and self-accompaniment were distinctive as a result of his high-pitched…

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Mike Zito and the Wheel’s latest album  Gone to Texas was released on Ruf Records back in June of this year, and has occupied a spot at the top of the Roots Music Report’s Blues Chart for most of the summer. For the last two weeks it has held steady at No. 7! From Mike’s biography at his website: Mike Zito couldn’t help but be great. It was either that, probably, or end up on a wanted poster in the post office. There is something deep down in Zito’s soul that will not stop screaming, pushing him to take life to…

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So this afternoon I listened to some blues from Phil Gates and his band. I had put their new album Live at the Hermosa Saloon on the iPhone the other day and never had a chance to listen to it! Boy did I like what I heard! I’m off to work at Target tonight, and will listen on the way there and back, and can tell you more about the album tomorrow!! Here’s some background from Phil’s website: Phil Gates was born in Chicago Ill., into a family of musicians that helped form his music style, and ability. Phil began…

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