The Blues Blogger

“This album wasn’t what it was intended to be at all. It’s actually better than it was meant to be because, in a way, I just let it happen. It’s an eclectic collection of songs that weren’t really on the map… If it’s a surprise to the fans, that’s only because it’s a surprise to me, as well.” ~Eric Clapton

Worldwide CD Giveaway – THIS CD GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED –

(Congratulations to Ron Grande & Tim Null who’ve both won a copy of the disc. Your new Clapton CD is now on the way to you… You’re gonna love it!!!)

Next month it’s The Blues Blogger’s 3rd Anniversary. However, to coincide with Eric Clapton’s upcoming 19th solo album “Clapton” later this month, I thought it might be fun to give away 2 copies of the CD and announce the winners on the day of the release… Your opportunity to win could not be simpler. In fact many of you reading this are already entered. I will explain shortly…

First

I Have a Question for You

If somebody asked you, “what song in your past acts likes a soundtrack to your youth?” Would you know right away? If you had to think about it, what song would play in your mind? I know what song that would be for me. And I’ve mentioned it many times from my very first post Electric Blues Masters, to Joe Bonamassa Live at The Royal Albert Hall and of course Freddie King I Am a Blues Master. That song is John Mayall & The Blues Breakers featuring Eric Clapton’s version of Freddie King’s Hideaway. It’s the first audible groove I vividly recall my brother playing along to on his guitar on the bunk bed below in the room we shared while growing up.

For Eric Clapton

some of the tunes that make him reminisce about his childhood, he got the opportunity to record on his upcoming album. These selections are gems which were passed down to Eric from his grandparents. It’s an assortment of songs by such noted composers as Irving Berlin, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. Clapton covers everything from old brass bands to obscure country blues, in addition to brand-new originals. The result is tranquil, reflective, and quite different from anything he’s done in the past.

Working with guitarist and producer Doyle Bramhall II, Clapton brings together an impressive range of talent to back him on this self-titled release. Musicians and guests include drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Willie Weeks, and keyboardist Walt Richmond. Also featured on this eclectic offering is JJ Cale, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Steve Winwood, Allen Toussaint and Derek Trucks.

You can preview four complete songs, including the new single “Diamonds Made From Rain” from the Clapton album here on the widget below:

Clapton has also announced several live dates in 2011 including 4 nights at The Royal Albert Hall. And has assembled a remarkable band for the 2011 tour which will consist of long-time touring partners: Steve Gadd (drums), Willie Weeks (bass), Chris Stainton (keyboards) along with Michelle John and Sharon White as backing vocalists…

For more details you can go to Eric Clapton’s site by clicking here

While many of my long time readers are familiar with my posts, what many of you may not know was how Clapton inadvertently influenced the idea for me to create this blog three years ago.

Time has passed quickly since I succeeded in freaking my entire family out with the news of my heart attack 36 months ago. It forced me into a situation where I had a lot of time to think. When my brother heard the news and realized I would be alright, he told my wife TBBW on the phone to get me Clapton’s recently released autobiography. A hard cover copy of the book would be at my bedside when I opened my eyes one morning in the hospital. While reading that book and recovering at home, I got the idea of creating a music blog where I could combine my appreciation for music and my long time desire to write.

That desire to write started when I first heard Hideaway when I was a kid, but I never really concentrated too much on it until after I read Eric’s biography three years ago. The book made me reminisce about my own life and the music that surrounded me when I was young. The blog then became a therapeutic canvas for me. It would also be a place where lovers of blues, jazz, and fans of some good old rock n roll could come together and share their thoughts; past and present.

For these past three years The Blues Blogger site has grown in an extremely profound way, and as a result so have I. I’m truly very humbled by all your kind words and overwhelming support…

And Now…

Do You Want To Win a Copy of Eric Clapton’s Upcoming CD?

The Rules Are Simple – THIS CD GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED -

All email subscribers of The Blues Blogger anywhere in the world will get the opportunity to win 2 possible copies of Eric’s 19th solo album “Clapton” in a random draw giveaway.

(All current Blues Blogger subscribers are automatically entered.)

You will need to subscribe to my e-mail list at the top of the page where it says “Receive Updates by Email.” Enter your email address and press click here. When you submit the form, you will receive a verification message in your e-mail in-box. Once you respond to this message you are subscribed. That’s it! I promise no spam and you can always unsubscribe at anytime…

This random prize giveaway will end September 26th, 2010 at 11:00 pm eastern time in the U.S. When the winners are notified, they’ll have 12 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn.

But now if I could, I’d like to get back to my original question - Do you have a favorite tune that plays in your mind from the past? Are there any songs or performances from Eric Clapton from your youth that you’d like to share?

As an extra added bonus, if you comment on this post as well as being an active subscriber, I will put an additional ballot in the draw to increase your chances of winning. You have absolutely nothing to lose, and a terrific memorable record to gain.

I’d love to hear from you.

Good luck,

The Blues Blogger

Tags: blues, Blues News, Blues Reflections, Classic Rock, Jazz, New Releases, Prize Giveaway, Reflections, Reviews, Rock, TBBW, The Sixties by The Blues Blogger
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“I feel the respect and affection for him that a father feels for his son. He is one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today. He makes me proud.” ~ B. B. King

Early Morning

The clanking of blinds could be heard as the approaching autumn breeze sailed throughout the open north windows. Getting out of bed I couldn’t help think how time seems to move faster with every year that passes… Oh well, I refuse to spend unproductive time whining about the things I can’t control. So whenever I get up in the morning with a sigh, I raise the blinds and let the light shine in and continue to play those blues.

Yes, I suppose I was feeling a bit moody on this day, but I knew as soon as I heard the latest release “Spread The Love” from Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters things were on the right track… So I brewed some coffee, got my thoughts in gear, and let the music capture my imagination….

 

 Ethans Song [5:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you’re a regular reader of The Blues Blogger, you’ll often find me writing about the healing power of music. I believe there is no greater natural healer that exists like music. It’s obvious Ronnie Earl believes this too as many of the titles like “Miracle” and “Happy” on his latest Spread the Love suggest. While his influence may be deeply rooted in blues and jazz, the work on his latest release is an instrumentally thought provocative collection of songs that solicits the urge to daydream. And I have no complaints about that whatsoever.

Ronnie Earl

was born Ronald Horvath in Queens, New York, on March 10th, 1953. He started out playing the piano at 10 years old, but abandoned the instrument because he disliked the discipline of practicing at the time. Graduating from Forest Hills High School in New York in 1971, Ronnie attended C.W. Post College on Long Island for a year and a half studying American History. It was during this time frame at 20 years old that he started playing the guitar. Earl discovered his love for the blues after attending a Muddy Waters concert at the Jazz Workshop, a small club in Boston. By his third year in college he seriously pursued the guitar and made a quick impression.

Earl gained inspiration from Otis Rush, and also harmonica player Big Walter Horton. On several occasions he took bus trips to Chicago, spending time with the late Koko Taylor, who introduced him to the Chicago blues scene. In the late seventies while playing with Muddy Waters (who had trouble remembering the young guitarist’s last name) he decided to change his last name to Earl as a tribute to Earl Hooker.

He joined Roomful of Blues in 1979 and spent the next eight years touring and recorded a number of albums that were extremely demanding. The rigorous schedule unfortunately resulted in some heavy alcohol and drug use.

Leaving the band in 1988, Earl formed his own group called The Broadcasters named after the first Fender telecaster guitar distributed in 1950. The band released their first album, Soul Searchin, followed by Peace of Mind in 1990. The album Still River in 1993, recognized The Broadcasters as the first completely all instrumental blues group. They would then go on to release many critically acclaimed projects during the nineties.

Signed to his current label Stony Plain Records in 2003, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters have released a series of successful blues albums, including 2007’s Hope Radio and Living in the Light in 2009; representing Earl’s excellent health and a life which is now firmly grounded in love.

Ronnie Earl is a two-time W.C. Handy Blues Award winner (currently known as Blues Music Awards) as Guitar Player of the Year. He also has served as an Associate Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music. Over the course of his career he has played alongside music greats like Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Rush, Carlos Santana, Junior Wells, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers Band, just to name a few.

Spread The Love

The energy throughout Ronnie Earl’s 14 track new release is wonderful. For me this album isn’t so much of a high energy offering, but an entertaining creative and soulful record that puts your mind at ease. From the opening cut “Backstroke,” and the expressive slow blues tribute for his wife “Blues for Donna,” to the jazzy blues rendition of “Chitlin’s Con Carne,” and the slow boogie Spann’s Groove,” there’s plenty of emotion and solid musical interplay. Through it all, Earl and his Broadcaster’s experience and passion make this release a very pleasurable listen indeed!

Later in the Morning

While I sat by the computer and finished writing this post, I noticed my wife TBBW walked by playing air guitar and grooving to the song “Blues For Slim.” Well, it just goes to show you, it never hurts to Spread the Love.

Are you fan of Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters? Do you have any favorite songs of Earl’s that make you want to drift off? Your comments are most welcome.

The Blues Blogger

Tags: blues, Blues News, Blues Reflections, Jazz, New Releases by The Blues Blogger
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One of my first audible memories is of my brother practicing his guitar to the song “Hideaway” from John Mayall and the Blues Breaker’s famous “Beano” record with Eric Clapton. It’s a melody that would be embedded into my early psyche and was my first introduction to blues at 6 years old. Way too young to be aware of the song’s history. ~TBB

The first time I heard Freddie King (known also as “The Texas Cannonball”) was when my brother brought home his record Freddie King Is a Blues Master back in 1969. Hearing King’s funky revision of his song “Hideaway” on that album caught me by surprise. It was the first time I heard anybody else play it…

As I got a bit older, I developed a keen interest in learning more about music and the history of the artists who created these wonderful treasures. I usually got my answers from reading album liner notes and asking my brother and his musician friends lots of questions. I would eventually learn that the song rooted in my head was credited to Freddie King and was originally recorded in 1960. And a year later would reach number 5 on the Billboard R&B charts and 29 on their Hot 100. The song was named after Mel’s Hide Away Lounge, a Chicago blues club frequented by many blues musicians of the era and adapted from a Hound Dog Taylor instrumental… Knowing that information, even back then helped my creative thought processes and heightened my appreciation for the music.

In Our Basement Back in 1969

My brother and his friends were rehearsing some songs from that particular album. The staging area in our house was crammed as they now added two sax players for a total of seven guys… It changed everything. The band was funkier, more soulful and the sound was bigger and bluesier than ever. They choose songs like “It’s Too Late, She’s Gone”, “Play It Cool” and of course “Hideaway.” If I didn’t know it already, I certainly knew it then; music was going to be a part of my life. But being so young, I still had plenty of time to figure things out.

That was the atmosphere I was raised in for the first nine years of my life; a youthful observer just taking in all the creative energy of the time. I still find it challenging to put those feelings into words. One thing for certain, they will always remain great memories indeed! So how much did Freddie King play an influence on us? Well there’s only one word for that question… HUGE!

Freddie King

was born in Gilmer Texas on September 3rd 1934. Freddie’s mother recognized her son’s early interest in music. At 6 years old Freddie began to learn rural country blues and his interests developed from there. His early music heroes were artists like Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins and Louis Jordan. King would play Jordan’s records continuously until he got the horn parts down note for note. In no time at all Freddie was finding his groove.

After finishing high school the family moved to Chicago. Freddie was ecstatic! He was now living on the Southside of Chicago, the musical turf for Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson and so many blues greats.

On dares from friends, a teenage Freddie sneaked into the clubs to catch these guys perform. He even won a bet with his friends one night that he would sit in with the band. As the story goes, one of the club owners found out Freddie’s age, and as the bouncers were about to escort him out, Howlin Wolf intervened. So impressed with the way Freddie played, he told the owner that he was with him. Afterward Wolf replied, “Young man you pick that guitar like an old soul… The lord sure enough put you here to play the blues.”

Howlin Wolf took King under his wing and taught him street smarts. Along with Muddy Waters and his side men Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood Jr. and Little Walter, Freddie was accepted into their inner circle…

King would audition unsuccessfully for Chess Records. However it was a blessing as it forced King to continue finding his own unique style… Syd Nathan signed him to Federal in 1960 and his first session resulted in three hits “Have You Ever Loved a Woman,” “See See Baby” and the instrumental “Hide Away.” As I mentioned before, King’s career really took off in the early sixties, and in the process inspired several British blues artists that would later show their respect by having him open for many of their shows, or cover his songs on their records. Artists such as Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck are just a few examples. Shortly after Freddie King was sharing the spotlight in a serious way.

The album Freddie King Is a Blues Master didn’t exactly sell great numbers, but it was a memorable album and a starting point for future discovery for me. Whenever I reflect on my personal relationship with the blues, I realize that King was responsible for that initial impression… He continued to tour even through health concerns and played at The New York Ballroom in Dallas just three days before passing away of heart failure on December 28th 1976. He was only 42 years old.

Freddie King was a serious influence on many musicians of our time, including my older brother and his friends who would practice their craft inspired by his genius.

(It’s interesting to note that the 1961 version of “Hideaway” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999… And in 2003 Freddie King was placed 25th in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time)

It’s impossible to write one post covering King’s amazing and influential career. Perhaps that’s where you can help… Are you a Freddie King fan? Did any of his music inspire you? Were you aware that King would have turned 76 this September 3rd, 2010? Please add your comments below. Together we can discuss his wonderful legacy and perhaps share in some cool moments.

The Blues Blogger

Tags: 1969, blues, Blues Reflections, Classic Rock, Reflections, The Sixties by The Blues Blogger
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