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.
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
The wonderful world of ebay February 6, 2009
From an auction ending tomorrow:
In May of 2005 my aunt Mattie James Grandberry died as the victim of a horrific crime. She was brutally murdered by a woman… who she allowed to live with while she got back on her feet. After her death I had the responsibility of cleaning the house while the family decided what to do it. At that time family members told me that prior to her last Marriage to a Minister and Pastor W.A. Grandberry my aunt in her youth had been married a famous blues singer named Elmore James. At the time I had no knowledge of Elmore James so I decided just to find and gather what I could and would do some research later. Months after the funeral I began to do some internet research and discovered the extent of Elmore James music career and his influence on the blues and rock n roll era. After researching and reading Steve Franz’s book “The Amazing secret life of Elmore James” I found not only was my aunt the widow of a pioneering blues legend my family knew all about it but the rest of the world knew nothing. When I asked my family why, the answer was simple. Aunt Matt wanted to be known as the wife and widow of a preacher not a blues singer.
It then went on to say that the auction contained the following items:
• Elmore James “Genuine, Original” Naval Discharge!
• Elmore and Mattie James Marriage Certificate!
• The last picture taken of Elmore James in His casket at the gravesite immediately before he was buried!
• Veterans Administration correspondence between Mattie and the VA while she described her relationship with her husband while applying for benefits. (She received benefits from being his widow until 1977 when she remarried.) These forms mention Elmore’s first wife Minnie Mae Carter and his parents Joe Willie James and Leora Brooks Randoll.
• A certified copy of Elmore James’ death certificate dated 1973.
Looking at the marriage certificate, it was clearly issued in Humphreys County, Mississippi, and appears to be dated either June 12, 1945 (at the bottom), or upon closer inspection, possibly July 12 or 21, 1948 (middle of the document). Very hard to tell at this resolution.
But, it does call in to question how much more of this there might be out there, somewhere, waiting to be discovered.
As far as her aunt wishing to be remembered for being married to a preacher, not a blues singer, I can only say that Elmore preached the gospel truth of the blues….. but I’m not sayin’ anything that his devoted fans around the world don’t already know.
Tip of the hat to Mike Rowe for sending this on. Thanks Mike.
Joe Von Battle & Hastings Street January 7, 2009
Memphis had its Beale Street, Chicago had Maxwell Street…… and Detroit had it’s Hastings Street. Nice article written by the daughter of legendary record man Joe Von Battle, who operated a store front there for many years, recording blues in the back, and selling 45s and 78s in the front. On weekends, he also recorded sermons preached by the equally legendary Rev. C.L. Franklin (some of which were later re-released on the Chess label). Unfortunately, as we head off into the future of the 21st Century, producers and independent record men like Joe will, sadly and unfortunately, be forever a thing of the past…..
I really enjoyed this article. Hope the book comes out soon.
David Evans Guitar Stolen August 30, 2008
This was posted to one of my blues discussion groups by Patrice Champarou:
We were warned [this week] that David Evans’ guitar had been stolen in La
Chèze (France), and we are doing our best to warn everyone likely to hear
about it, musicians and everyone in touch with second-hand retailers. I
doubt the instrument will leave Europe, but I think it would be a mistake to
assume it will remain in France so I guess [no one] will
mind if I provide some details, in case it re-appeared some way or other -
this is all the more important that this Gibson has a considerable
sentimental value for David Evans, who inherited it from his father.
The best photo we could find until now is here :
http://tinyurl.com/69ofz6
Here are the details provided by David himself
serial # 821782
Gibson hollow-body electro acoustic guitar, dark brown body, white
border, red sunburst front red plastic pick guard
Cutaway neck coming to a point
One pickup (near end of neck), volume and tone buttons
moveable bridge
“retro” style string holder
(the bigsby handle seen in some photographs has been removed)
scratches on back ok neck behind the nut
Red-brown alvarez case
Boss electric tuner (white metal)
pre-amp (grey plastic)
Thanks for yor attention
Patrice
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
David Evans was my professor at the University of Memphis, and it’s a REAL effing nice guitar, so, we’ll all keep our fingers crossed for a safe return….
