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Memphis Blues
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- Memphis Blues
In the 1890s Beale Street became the center of fashionable nightlife among blacks in Memphis. Vaudeville theaters such as the Lincoln opened on and behind Beale Street, drawing crowds to the attractions. During the 1920s, these theaters hosted the renowned "classic blues" singers, women who sang the blues backed by orchestras, sometimes made up of classically trained locals. Because of Memphis's large, relatively affluent black population, the great classic blues singers - including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and local legend Alberta Hunter - frequently played Beale Street. These visiting stars introduced the songs of Tin Pan Alley to the Deep South and in turn learned regional favorites.
Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:22:15 -0400 - Elmore James
Elmore Brooks was born January 27, 1918 in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi, the illegitimate son of Leora Brooks. By the age of 10 he was playing a self made guitar and singing blues. Elmos playing became more frequent and within the next 10 years he would grace the stage, sidewalk, fish fry and jook with the likes of Robert Johnson & Sonny Boy Williamson II. His recording career began in 1951 for Lillian McMurrys Trumpet Records. Over the next 12 years Elmore would record more than 100 songs for Modern, Chess, Chief, Fire, Fury, and Enjoy Records. Considered by many to be the King of the Slide Guitar, Elmore James helped shape the rural sounds of the Mississippi Delta Blues into a wrenching raw music that eventually bleed its course to Rock n Roll.
Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:59:04 -0400 - Don McMinn Benefit @ Neil's
Recent heart surgery has kept our very own Papa Don McMinn from doing what he does best play the Blues. Please join us as fans and fellow musicians come together for a benefit to show our support to his recovery. There will be live music, a stage auction as well as a silent auction. If you would like to donate anything to the auctions please contact kpnbeatproductions@yahoo.com.
Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:55:02 -0400 - Aug 30 Blues Charts
This week's blues charts are posted -- thanks to everybody for a strong Memphis showing ... It's always good to see Memphis on the charts Have a safe holliday weekend!
Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:04:32 -0400 - Little Milton
Little Milton was a poor American farm boy from the Mississippi Delta (near Inverness), who made it big in the music business. It all began back on September 17, 1934, when Little Milton ( Milton Campbell, Jr.) was born. He was named after his father, Big Milton, who was a blues musician but only on a local basis. Little Milton was born and raised on a farm in the Delta. His father tried hard to provide for his family by farming the land and playing the blues around town. ( Chicago Tribune )
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:40:01 -0400 - Son House
Born near Lyon, Mississippi, March 21, 1902, Son House chopped cotton as a teenager while developing a passion for the Baptist church. He delivered his first sermon at the age of fifteen and within five years was the pastor of a small country church south of Lyon. His fall from the church was a result of an affair with a woman ten years his senior, whom he followed home to Louisiana. By 1926, House had returned to the Lyon area and began playing guitar under the tutelage of an obscure local musician named James McCoy. He developed quickly as a guitarist; within a year he had fallen in with Delta musician Rube Lacy and began emulating his slide guitar style. House shot and killed a man during a house party near Lyon in 1928. He was sentenced to work on Parchman Farm, but was released within two years after a judge in Clarksdale re-examined the case. Having been advised by the judge to leave the Clarksdale vicinity, House relocated to Lula and there met bluesman Charley Patton while playing at the Lula railroad depot for tips.
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:36:23 -0400 - Furry Lewis
Born March 6, 1899, in Greenwood, Mississippi, Lewis acquired the nickname "Furry" from childhood playmates. At the age of seven he and his family moved to Memphis, where young Lewis took up the guitar under the tutelage of a man whose name he recalled as "Blind Joe." Blind Joe apparently was versed in nineteenth century song and taught his protégé "Casey Jones" and "John Henry," songs based around the exploits of heroic figures. Lewis would later record these two songs for the Victor and Vocalion labels respectively. By 1908, he was playing solo for parties, in taverns, and on the street. He also was invited to play several dates with W.C. Handy's Orchestra.
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:35:01 -0400 - Blues Charts :: August 23
Congratulations! Memphis music again has a strong showing on the Blues charts with Tinsley Ellis, Charlie Wood, and many other Memphis artists...
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:13:32 -0400 - Willie Dixon
As one of the greatest American songwriters of all times, Willie James Dixon was a bright, self-confident, determined, intelligent, and gifted man who helped the blues evolve from the 1940s through the 1980s (Songwriters 11). Born the seventh of fourteen children on July 1, 1915, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Dixon was greatly influenced by his mother, Daisy, who turned everything she said into rhymes, and Willie learned to do the same. However, his first real musical influence came at the age of seven when he often left school to follow a truck pulling a band behind it starring pianist Little Brother Montgomery. (Snowden 1). As a youth, Dixon sang with the Union Jubilee singers, a gospel quartet with its own radio program.
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:49:04 -0400 - Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis was a towering figure in at least two realms. As a finger-style guitarist he developed a complex yet swinging approach to picking that has influenced generations of players, including Jerry Garcia, Ry Cooder, Dave Van Ronk, Jorma Kaukonen and Stefan Grossman. And as a composer of religious and secular music he created a substantial body of work that has been recorded by, among others, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Peter Paul & Mary and the Grateful Dead, not to mention Davis's own releases.
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:46:27 -0400 - Mississippi John Hurt
Biographical Information Born July 3, 1893, Teoc (Carroll County) MS Died November 2, 1966, Grenada, MS John's father was Isom Hurt and his mother was Mary Jan McCain. John was one of 3 children. He and his wife, Jessie, had 14 children. (Source: Blues Who's Who- A Biographical Dictionary of the Blues Singers by Sheldon Harris, published by Da Capo Paperbacks)
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:44:54 -0400 - Blues Jam
Well, last night was a stellar success. Many cool cats braved the heat and showed for the blues jam. We had special appearances from the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz (thank you, Billy, it was a true pleasure)and Billy Gibson. Victor Wainwright made the piano smoke as well. Eric Hughes led off the night with an acoustic tribute to Robert Johnson,Leo Goff kept the bass moving and we had many great musicians. Thanks to James, Daniel Horton and Phillip Dale Durham for some amazing performances! We had a stellar turnout with many new faces. I would like to thank everybody for showing up and participating. We also had a guest group from the Memphis Swing Dance Club who were dancing their tails off on the floor, thanks guys!
Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:42:30 -0400 - 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis
The 2008 International Blues Challenge semifinals will be Thursday January 31 and Friday February 1 and the finals will be Saturday February 2. Beginning October 1, look for host hotel information, as well as tickets, merchandise and the first peak at the schedule of events.
Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:25:45 -0400 - Blues Charts for Aug 16, 2007
Congrats to Charlie Wood and Tinsley Ellis (His bass player jams with us on thursday nights! Congrats Evil One!)- There are many Memphis favorites represented this week!!!
Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:05:17 -0400 - Promote your Memphis Blues Gig
If you are a member of the Memphis Blues Society, we allow you to promote your gigs here and elsewhere on the site... That right there is worth the $20 / Year - You can now join via paypal as well - click here to join the Memphis Blues Society. You can support the memphis blues society from anywhere in the world. Please also take a moment to subscribe to our newsletter (free) and to join our site (also free)- This will help you stay on top of goings on in the blues world. We are also looking for members willing to review cd's, performances, and blues festivals.
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:07:13 -0400
