Tribute to the ‘American Folk Blues Festival’ Tours – Pt. 1 of 3 July 8, 2009

Tonight on ‘Blues Unlimited,’ part one of a special three-part series devoted to the music and performers who were part of the legendary American Folk Blues Festival tours. Tonight, in particular, is devoted to the early years, 1962-1966. Organized by two German men, Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau, the Festivals (or just AFBF for short) brought together an amazing array of blues talent that was soaked up by an eager, young, European audience just when they were ready to hear it. In England, particularly, future members of the Rolling Stones (among others) rented a truck to drive to the 1962 show to catch a glimpse of some of their blues-hero legends in person. In the spring of 1963, Blues Unlimited magazine was born, and the blues revival of the 1960s was well underway.

Perhaps you’ve seen the DVDs of the AFBF performances, or heard of them. Relive some of the heady magic of yesteryear, tonight, July 8, 2009, from 2-4am, MST, only on www.kxci.org

Oh, and future programs will be devoted to the AFBF 1967-1972 years, and a third installment on the early 1980s tours. Enjoy!

Live in the 1960s June 16, 2009

On the next edition of Blues Unlimited, a look back to some of the greatest moments of live blues performance. From B.B. King’s classic ‘Live at the Regal,’ to Muddy Waters’ ground-breaking performance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, to Robert Nighthawk’s low-down (and jaw-dropping!) gutbucket blues recorded live at Chicago’s legendary Maxwell Street Market in 1964, to Magic Sam’s incredible performance at Ann Arbor in 1969, we’ll have two hours of not just great blues, but some of the greatest blues ever recorded, period. Don’t miss this extra special edition of Blues Unlimited, only on Tucson’s Community Radio Station, KXCI, 91.3 FM, this Wednesday from 2-4am. Or listen online at www.kxci.org.

Originators of the Memphis Blues June 9, 2009

On this week’s installment of ‘Blues Unlimited,’ a very special program dedicated to the originators of the Memphis Blues. From Furry Lewis to Gus Cannon to Frank Stokes, Will Batts, Noah Lewis, and more. And of course, the best of the best from those great Memphis Jug Bands. Only on www.kxci.org (91.3 FM if you live in Southern Arizona), from 2-4am MST, this Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

This Week on “Blues Unlimited” (27 May 09) May 26, 2009

This week on “Blues Unlimited,” don’t miss a special two-hour tribute to some of the greatest Post-War Chicago Blues Guitarists. From Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Muddy Waters, & Jimmy Rogers to Elmore James, J.B. Lenoir, & Jimmy Reed, we’ll take a chronological look, starting with Crudup’s seminal waxing of “That’s All Right Mama” and Muddy’s very first 78 (in 1946) to Elmore James’ 1952 arrival in Chicago with his patented super-amplified electric-Delta-Chicago blues. Only on www.kxci.org, this Wednesday, 5/27/09, from 2-4am MST (Or catch us over the air on 91.3 FM if you happen to live in Southern Arizona).

On KXCI this Saturday 5/16/09 May 16, 2009

I’ll be filling in for Marty Kool this Saturday, from 5-9pm MST, on 91.3 FM (if you live in Southern Arizona) or you can stream it live over www.kxci.org — Yeah, it might sound redundant, but we’ve got four great hours of blues planned — don’t miss it.

On the next “Blues Unlimited” (5/13/2009) May 13, 2009

This week on “Blues Unlimited,” it’s more of our favorite post-war down home Rhythm Rockin’ Blues. Everyone from Junior Brooks to K.C Douglas and a little bit of everything else in between. Don’t miss it, only on www.kxci.org, this Wednesday morning, May 13, 2009, from 2-4am MST

Leadbitter receives posthumous award; New book, “Record Makers and Breakers” April 20, 2009

Thanks to a heads up from another early contributor to Blues Unlimited, John Broven, that Mike Leadbitter will be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame next month in Memphis in conjunction with the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards. Here’s a press release about it from the Blues Foundation’s website. Scroll down the page to read a paragraph-length bio about Leadbitter.

And speaking of John Broven, his new book, “Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneers (Music in American Life)” already is garnering positive reviews, such as this comment from an Amazon.com reader:

Broven combines fascinating excerpts from years of interviews with these record giants with an equally compelling historical background. The vintage photos are alone worth the modest price of this extremely well-researched book…they document an important era in American popular culture and one which has largely disappeared. Any one with more than just a passing interest in the history and origins or rock ‘n roll and certainly every avid record collector should buy this book.

Quite frankly, can’t wait to get my hands on this one. More comments here from the great mail-order/review website Roots and Rhythm. And while you’re at it, be sure to check out Broven’s other books on Louisiana Music here and here.

BTW, there’s a nice tribute to Mike Leadbitter, also written by Broven (who was his childhood friend and schoolmate), which you can read here (excerpted from the pages of the December 1974/January 1975 issue of  Blues Unlimited magazine).

The Ash Grove profiled in Crawdaddy! April 18, 2009

Nice article on the Crawdaddy! website about influential Los Angeles-based Folk-Blues-Roots music club the Ash Grove, which operated from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Blues Musicians like Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, among others, graced the stage of the legendary club. Check it out. Nice to know there’s a documentary in the works too. Can’t wait to see it.

Also, check out the Crawdaddy! archives for some cool vintage stuff as well, like a review of Slim Harpo’s latest 45 in issue number 2 (page 9), and an interview with Howlin’ Wolf from issue number 5 (page 11; be sure not to miss the great cover photo of Wolf sportin’ some groovy shades!). I’m sure there’s lots more treasures there to explore….

Vintage Otis Spann on You Tube April 16, 2009

This sure was a treat. Vintage Otis Spann, with Willie Dixon on bass and S.P. Leary on drums, from 1966, filmed in Toronto

Tribute to Joe Bihari’s Flair Records April 15, 2009

Stay tuned for next week’s show– April 22, 2009. It will be a tribute to the Flair Record label, which was owned and operated by legendary record man Joe Bihari. That’s this Wednesday, 2-4am MST, on www.kxci.org