Blues 2010: Still Got the Groove
Music Was Everywhere
As a kid growing up in the sixties music captured my imagination… Back then I was still way too young to express myself. But I did know I was hooked and really didn’t stand a chance. I had an overwhelming desire to be involved somehow, but not necessarily as a musician. I remember my brother playing guitar along to the sounds of John Mayall and The Blues Breakers featuring Eric Clapton in the room we shared. And I also recall the blazing guitar riffs of Jeff Beck with The Yardbirds playing down the hall in my sister’s room. This set the tone and the learning blocks for my love of the blues…
Welcome New Visitors
For some of you, this will be the first visit to The Blues Blogger site. You may have been doing a search on “the blues” or happen to just stumble upon this blog. Perhaps you arrived through Twitter and other social media sites?
However, there are a select few that have been specifically invited here as my guest this time around. Some of us are just getting acquainted and others have known me for many years. They are now seeing what I’ve been up to, not only for the past 28 months, but in some cases the last 4o or more years. Now that I’ve broke open the dam a little, I’d like to officially welcome you to The Blues Blogger’s home on the internet. Please relax, browse around and make yourself comfortable…
As you check out the pages it’s important for you to know that without my dedicated online readers/friends who regularly stop in and say hello, this music site would not nearly be as much fun. Their sincere and warm comments really help enhance the posts I write. Please know that your input is always welcome and very much appreciated.
Often I’ll receive some pretty cool emails and while it’s difficult to get to them all, I do try my best. One of my favorite’s are the ones that will say, “I think (you guys) did a really good job this week.” Although I’m very flattered, for the record The Blues Blogger is entirely a one man show. I work on these posts in my spare time in the evenings and weekends and publish a weekly article on either Sunday or Monday nights. I never claim to know it all. The purpose of this blog was always just a therapeutic way to express myself while either remembering some music from my past or some new material I’ve come across, or which may have been brought to my attention.
Would I like to do two three or more articles a week? You better believe it! It boggles my mind when I see that my current internet statistics continue to rank above some record labels and artists that I admire. (There are many reasons for this that go beyond content which involves SEO, WordPress and the power of its blogging platform.) At the same time I do get a little frustrated because my creative side believes much more can be done. I receive many requests to write reviews, post press releases and upcoming information on artist’s performances in clubs and festivals etc… Unfortunately with a weekly post its hard to keep up with everything…
I have some really good ideas of what I’d do given the opportunity, and at the same time give back to those that have enriched my life so very much. But for me (as it is for many of us) family comes first and realistically my day gig is what helps turn on the lights. For those who’d like to see more posts, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, until a realistic opportunity presents itself where I’m able to afford more time and take The Blues Blogger up a notch, I’ll keep on doing what I’ve always done, and present to you (as often as possible) music that keeps me rockin’. And hopefully we’ll continue to hit some mutual chords along the way…
For All My New and Recently Invited Guests
here are some links to some of the articles I’ve written here as The Blues Blogger. These represent only a few of the many musical posts I’ve done from the Fall of 2007 to the present… I hope you enjoy them as much as I loved putting them together:
Blues Legends
Albert Collins: Master of The Telecaster
Buddy Guy: A Man & the blues (1968)
Elvin Bishop: The Blues Rolls On
Freddie King: Is a Blues Master
Johnny Winter: Self Titled Album (1969)
Junior Wells: The Hoodoo Man
Magic Sam: Sliding Back to the Past
Muddy Waters: Fathers and Sons (1969)
Otis Rush: I Can’t Quit You Baby
Remembering Little Walter
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: East West (1966)
Willie Dixon I Am The Blues
Inspiring Newer Artists
Joe Bonamassa: Live From The Royal Albert Hall DVD Review
Mike Zito: Inspiring New Release Pearl River
Murali Coryell: Sweet New Release Sugar Lips
Sensational Women in Music
Ana Popovic: New Release Blind For Love
Beverly “guitar” Watkins: Playing It Like a Man
Etta Baker: Queen of the Piedmont Blues
Janiva Magness: Blues With a Soulful Expression
Joanne Shaw Taylor: Time Has Come With Debut Release White Sugar
Memphis Minnie: Blues Pioneer
Nina Simone: My Baby Just Cares For Me
Susan Tedeschi: Going Back to the River With Her Latest Release
Tal Wilkenfeld: Bass Guitar Prodigy
Shemekia Copeland: Upcoming Release is Called Never Going Back
Great Blues Rock and Soul
The Allman Brothers Band: The Road Continues
Blind Faith: Flash Back Summer (1969)
Boz Scaggs: (1969) Loan Me a Dime
George Thorogood & The Destroyers: The Dirty Dozen
Joe Louis Walker: Electrifying New Album Between A Rock And The Blues
The Robert Cray Band: New Album “This Time” Keeps You Rockin
Jazz Selections
Gene Krupa: Remembering 100 Years
Jaco Pastorius: The Great Innovator
Legendary Reunion: Return to Forever 2008
Steve Khan: The Blue Man
Music History Reflections
Beale Street: The True Home of the Blues
The Jewish Influence in Blues and Jazz
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis: Play The Music of Ray Charles
I Love Music
These were the first three words back in the fall of 2007 that I wrote for this blog. As I’ve said many times before, music has intense healing powers and for me is the greatest medicine I know of. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix describes it best when he said, “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.”
Yes, this is a reflective blog, but I also personally believe that 2010 will be a tremendous year in music. And as we adapt to this new age of sharing information, seasoned musicians and upcoming blues/jazz artists will be recognized more than ever for their contributions and commitment. It’s their heartfelt efforts that continue to motivate people like myself in a way that would not be possible without them…
Now it’s your turn… Are any of your favorite musicians on the list above or playing in these videos? Any musical moments that you recall while growing up? Your comments as usual are always welcome…
All the Best in 2010,
The Blues Blogger
