First of all, see if you recognize the following names.
1. Little Richard
2. James Brown
3. Sam Cooke
4. Elvis Presley
I didn't know the last one either. How about these:
1. Michael Jackson
2. Luther Vandross
3. Whitney Houston
4. R. Kelly
5. Boyz II Men
Well, if you're under 8 years old, you should be in school. But I have some names for you too:
1. Alicia Keys
2. Beyonce
3. Usher
4. Ne-Yo
5. Chris Brown
The lists above are all names of artists that have elements of R&B in their music. You may be wondering, "What is this thing called 'R&B?'" R&B stands for "rhythm and blues," meaning there is blues integrated with rhythm. In fact, many blues artists were the first to play R&B music, around the 1940s. Since the 1950s, however, R&B has taken on a different meaning. Now, R&B can mean blues music, but it is most often referred to gospel, funk, and soul sounds. That's why R&B artists like Usher, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, etc. are commonly called "contemporary R&B" artists. To me, they are not really blues musicians, although I'd say Alicia Keys would probably be the closest because she frequently plays the piano and just has a bluesier sound than the rest (remember 2001's "Fallin'"? Kind of like blues...).
Could be worse.
I really haven't talked a lot about female blues artists. While the majority of blues singers and musicians are male, there are many that are female. In fact, there was a subgroup of blues music called "classic female blues." The music form was very popular in the 1920s, thanks to singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. They were instrumental in spreading the word of the blues and making the genre become popular among music listeners. By 1929, however, the classic female blues genre slowly declined. I've got some songs from my grandparents' good 'ol days. Here they are:
Ma Rainey (1886-1939)
Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
Ethel Waters (1900-1977)
Victoria Spivey (1906-1976)
Have to add Aretha Franklin too.
In other news, I was watching Family Guy last night and there was a clip of Muddy Waters that I thought was hilarious. I have all the respect in the world for Mr. Waters, but this is too good to not post.
Nope, they don't. My newest favorite relatively unknown blues artist is Dan Patlansky (www.myspace.com/danpatlansky). I've posted one of his songs on my Twitter page to your right. I'll wait to continue while you check it out.
Dan Patlansky
(Taken from musicalmover.com)
He's a cross between Josh Groban, Kenny G, and Weird Al Yankovic, but in only when talking about hair. Musically, he has a similar sound to Stevie Ray Vaughan without the 80's vibe. Here's a video (of the same song on Twitter - "Namaste/Love City"), taped at the 2011 Up The Creek Festival, held in Swellendam, NY.
Patlansky is from South Africa, which is located in the southern part of Africa. He plays the six-string Fender Stratocaster, similar to Eric Clapton. His first album, the independently released Standing At the Station (2001), was met with critical acclaim. On the album, he plays various songs, including George Harrison of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." In 2004, he released another album, True Blues, this time while signed to a record label. In 2005, he traveled to the United States (New Orleans, to be exact), but his time there was cut short when Hurricane Katrina struck. He returned to South Africa and later became endorsed by Fender guitars (1 of only 6 South Africans to do so). Another album, Real, was released recently and Dan continues to play festivals and shows, both in South Africa and abroad.
With his talent, Patlansky could easily be on top of the music world. But one thing that makes blues music great is that the entire genre usually goes unnoticed. That sounds like a bad way to put it, but blues music probably wouldn't be real blues music if all of the artists were playing in huge stadiums for every show. Part of blues music is returning to the broken down, rawest form of (usually) guitar/vocal torment. I may be wrong, but I believe any artist of any genre that has a love and respect for their music wouldn't mind playing anywhere at all. Sure, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and B.B. King perform in front of thousands of people. I think it's great that artists get recognition on big, small, and in-between levels, but I also believe certain musicians prefer to have their shows in a smaller venue with a hundred or so people in attendance.
Smaller types of shows are common in North Dakota, too. See, we have these areas called Native American reservations. On these reservations, there are big, extravagant gambling houses called casinos. And at these casinos, in addition to the rows of slot machines and a few blackjack tables, some musicians will come and sing for a cheaper price. The musicians are usually cover bands and/or washed-up, but that leads me to my next story. This past weekend, my mom went to see a country musician, Charley Pride, at Prairie Knights Casino and Resort. Pride is 73 years old and his last album to get a place on the U.S. country chart was in 1989 (Moody Woman). Needless to say, Pride is probably no longer in his prime as a country artist, but that doesn't mean his love for singing has gone away. And my mom got to meet him, so it wasn't really pointless for her to go.
Artist of the Week: Kenny Wayne Shepherd
(taken from upi.com)
He's like another Jonny Lang, except a few years older. Born in 1977 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Shepherd developed a passion for blues guitar playing after meeting the Stevie Ray Vaughan when he was 7 years old. Shepherd got his first big break after playing at Shreveport's Red River Revel Arts Festival. He was signed to Giant Records and released his debut album, Ledbetter Heights, in 1995. His next album, Trouble Is... was released in 1997 and holds the record for the longest-running album on the Billboard Blues chart. Other albums include Live On (1999), The Place You're In (2004), 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads (2007), and Live! in Chicago (2010). Shepherd continues to play music and lives with his wife, Hannah Gibson (daughter of Mel Gibson) and their three children.
New Album of the Week: Shiver by Too Slim and the Taildraggers
Released 04.12.11
(taken from amazon.com)
Yeah, the album cover kind of freaked me out too. But the sound makes up for someone's obviously strange taste in visual art. Too Slim and the Taildraggers is a blues band that goes largely unnoticed. I had not heard of them until I listened to their previous album, 2009's Free Your Mind, which I highly recommend. Turns out the band's first album was released in 1988. Shiver is the band's 10th studio album and 2011 marks their 25th year of touring, so they've had their foot in the door for a long time and deserve respect. Their new release is filled with good tracks that every rock fan should enjoy. Too Slim and the Taildraggers do a wonderful job at incorporating traditional rock and Americana music into blues. So, if you like John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Eric Clapton all mixed into one, Too Slim and the Taildraggers is sure to make your eardrums happy.
32nd Annual BLUES MUSIC AWARDS - MAY 5, 2011
Cook Convention Center
Memphis, TN
Broadcasted live on XM Sirius satellite radio (B.B. King's Bluesville channel)
Acoustic Album of the Year
Bet on the Blues, Paul Oscher
Booker's Guitar, Eric Bibb
Home Sweet Home, South Memphis String Band
Last Train to Bluesville, The Nighthawks
You Can Always Turn Around, Lucky Peterson
Acoustic Artist of the Year
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Guy Davis
John Hammond
Paul Oscher
Album of the Year
Ain't Got No Troubles, Eden Brent
Living Proof, Buddy Guy
Shake for Me, The Mannish Boys
The Devil is an Angel Too, Janiva Magness
The Well, Charlie Musselwhite
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Buddy Guy
Janiva Magness
Joe Louis Walker
Kenny Neal
Super Chikan
Band of the Year
Magic Slim & the Teardrops
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
The Derek Trucks Band
The Holmes Brothers
The Kilborn Alley Blues Band
The Mannish Boys
Best New Artist Debut
Chris O'Leary Band, Mr. Used to Be
Claudette King, We're Onto Something
Matt Hill, On the Floor
Peter Parcek , The Mathematics of Love
The Vincent Hayes Project, Reclamation
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Have Blues Will Travel, Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King
Living Proof, Buddy Guy
Name The Day!, John Nemeth
Still The Rain, Karen Lovely
The Devil is an Angel Too, Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
Candye Kane
Janiva Magness
Karen Lovely
Robin Rogers
Shemekia Copeland
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
Buddy Guy
Joe Louis Walker
John Nemeth
Kenny Neal
Nick Moss
DVD
Black Hen, The Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Concert, Various Artists
Delmark, Live at Rooster's Place, Tail Dragger
NorthernBlues Music, Live at Ground Zero Blues Club, Watermelon Slim & the Workers
Ruf, Songs From The Road, Luther Allison
Woodward Studio, Nothing to Prove, Mac Arnold
Historical Album of the Year
Black Derby, Chicago Blues Buddies, Little Smokey Smothers & Elvin Bishop
Delmark, Jimmy Dawkins Presents the Leric Story, Various Artists
Delmark, Live in Boston 1966, Junior Wells & the Aces
For a moment, try to think of some superheroes. There is Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Daredevil, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, X-Men, Iron Man, The Incredibles, Spongebob, etc. Notice how there is no superhero representing blues music. But never fear - I'm about to create one. He shall be called Blues Man - defender of and friend to the blues music world.
I couldn't help but picture the newborn Blues Man looking something like the mascot of the NHL hockey team, the St. Louis Blues:
Louie
(Taken from secondcityhockey.com)
As nice and non-threatening as Louie the Polar Bear looks, I don't think his image would fit in with the other superheroes. Plus, there are certain qualities that a superhero needs to posess in order to be considered a genuine superhero. Unfortunately, Louie doesn't really have superhero traits. He may seem pretty great, but in reality he helps cheer on a losing team that never makes the playoffs. I mean, Batman does drive the Batmobile, which is pretty awesome. On the other side, Louie maybe gets to hitch a ride on the zamboni, if he's lucky.
Here are some of the characteristics of superheroes:
1. Strong
2. Brave
3. Intelligent
4. Wears a costume
5. Athletic
6. Role model
7. Has a weakness
8. Has an arch enemy
9. Secret identity (alter ego)
10. Love interest
11. Has a goal
12. Special powers
13. Earns respect
14. Has a sidekick
15. Unique
16. Uses gadgets
17. Has a lair or hideout
18. Interesting past
19. Vehicle
20. Determined
Blues Man has to be strong, brave, intelligent, athletic, a good role model, respected, unique, have a unique past, and determined. As for a costume, he could wear whatever the average blues musician wears, as long as he has a cape (so he can fly). His weakness would, of course, be hearing any type of music except blues music. With that said, his arch enemy would be Justin Bieber. His secret identity or alter ego would be easy to pull off. A blues musician is a person, so they can easily blend in with the rest of the human population. His love interest could be anyone really, as long as they're into blues. His number one goal would be to rid the world of terrible music (although not all non-blues music is terrible). I'm talking about Rebecca Black's "Friday," music like that. His special powers could include: flying, bluesy-soul singing, guitar playing, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, invisibility, and x-ray vision. His sidekick could be "Jazz Boy." The Utah Jazz, a NBA team, has a mascot that actually looks like a superhero, or at least a Chewbecca type of creature. Here he is:
Bear
(Taken from kenthorner.com)
Well, one out of two is better than nothing. It's better than the Minnesota Twins (1-2 as of right now). Anyway, Blues Man's gadgets would include the traditional grappling hook, nunchucks, and bazooka (joking on the last one..I think). Also, Blues Man could carry a guitar that shoots out bolts of lightning, hot lava, or both. His lair/hideout could be in one of the House of Blues, or in North Dakota because it's slightly isolated. And his vehicle could be the bluesmobile (as seen in The Blues Brothers). There you have it - a blues superhero called Blues Man.
CAUTION: RELIGION
The more I thought about superheroes and their characteristics, I began to realize that the greatest blues superhero guy of all time is Jesus. He's strong, brave, intelligent, unique, and determined. Sure, he didn't really wear a costume (unless you count a robe and sandals a costume) and he didn't have a love interest. However, he did perform miracles (water to wine, healing of the sick, etc.), walked on water, and rose from the dead. He didn't have a weakness, but he is Jesus (basically God in human form, so no weaknesses there). I'm not sure if Jesus was athletic, but he was and still is a good role model. He does have an arch enemy, who will not be mentioned in this blog because he doesn't deserve that respect. Speaking of respect, Jesus gets a lot of that too. To my knowledge, he didn't really have a secret identity, unless you count "nicknames" (Messiah, Jehovah, Savior, etc.). His goal is salvation through him dying, resulting in eternal life (accomplished). Jesus really didn't use gadgets because he generally believed in peace. He spent a lot of his time around Israel (he was born in Bethlehem, but grew up in Nazareth) and the Sea of Galilee region. He actually had 12 sidekicks called disciples. He didn't drive a vehicle, but he did ride a donkey into Jerusalem and elsewhere.
When you think about it, Jesus could be the ultimate blues superhero. Blues music wasn't around in Bible times, but it seems as though Jesus was always facing bad situations that would have fit well with blues music. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey (or colt, depending on which Gospel you read), everyone liked him. He was basically the Lady Gaga of the day, when comparing the amount of superstardom present in the individual. But his likeability didn't last long. One of his disciples, Judas, betrayed him for thirty coins. Another disciple, Peter, denied his friendship with Jesus not once, but thrice. He was arrested, mocked, and sentenced to death. The people who had praised him before were now the ones saying he should die. He was humiliated, spit on, nailed to a cross (that he carried with some help from Simon from Cyrene), and crucified. Even when he was hanging on the cross, some people still made fun of him and stole his clothes.
Eventually, Jesus was under so much torment that he cried out to God ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Matthew 27:46). You'd think by now people would've had some mercy. It's really dark and gloomy outside, Jesus is half-dead; why not just close the show? Nope. Instead, they grabbed a sponge, soaked it with wine vinegar, stuck it on a stick, and raised it to Jesus to drink. Vinegar and wounds really don't go together so well.
After that, Jesus died. He was buried in a tomb (bought by a friend/follower, Joseph), and after three days he rose again. Then he went to heaven. So, it all ends well. But, there was some bad, blues-filled drama in there, too.
Since Easter is approaching, I think Jesus' story is appropriate. If you want to have a good visual of what Easter is all about, check out The Passion of the Christ (2004). Be aware that the film is rated R and contains gruesome graphics. Also, please be aware that Mel Gibson directed and he's about one outburst away from reaching the Charlie Sheen status on the anger management scale.
Artist of the Week: Eric Clapton (Taken from guitarbites.tv)
It's purely coincidence that Eric Clapton's nickname is "god" and he's the Artist of the Week (refer to the paragraphs above). Eric Clapton is an innovator of blues-rock. If you've never heard an Eric Clapton song, I am asking you to remove the rock from above your dwelling place. This guy is a genius in terms of guitar-playing, songwriting, and singing. Clapton is originally from Britain, and at first he played in bands like Cream and the Yardbirds. Later on, he ventured into performing solo and it's been that way ever since. Some of his greatest songs include: "Sunshine of Your Love" (w/ Cream), "Crossroads" (w/ Cream), "Layla" (w/ Derek and the Dominos), "Wonderful Tonight," and "Tears in Heaven." If you've never heard Eric Clapton, I encourage you to check out his musical masterpieces. Here's one:
New Album of the Week: Icon by B.B. King Released 04.05.11 (taken from walmart.com)
Speaking of great guitarists, B.B. King has a new album, Icon, to be released tomorrow. It's another "greatest hits" type of compilation, but that doesn't mean it loses its value in my eyes. Icon has got some of the best blues songs all in one disc. My recommendations are: "How Blue Can You Get?", "The Thrill Is Gone," "Ain't Nobody Home," and "I'll Survive." If you enjoy great guitar playing and blues music in general, you'll love B.B. King's new album.
