Beginning in late July, the Rock’n’Blues Fest will debut featuring five well-known players who were initially inspired to pick up their instruments due to their love for rock and blues: Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Leslie West and Kim Simmonds.
Sonny Landreth’s 11th album, bearing the fittingly evocative title Elemental Journey, is something very different from the Louisiana slide wizard.
Ever-evolving and improvisational New York guitarist, Wayne Krantz, announces the release of his tenth album, Howie 61, on April 17 through Abstract Logix Records.
In the three years since his last album, Seth Walker moved to Nashville from Austin, wrote songs with friends new and old, and played many, many shows.
In May 2001, I was deeply honored to interview the late, great, legendary Bo Diddley before he passed away. At the time, some 72 years young, he was still vibrant, regaling me with nostalgic creative stories and even scat singing to me. Bo was imbued with such a playful sense of humor, and a lifelong love for music and the guitar.
As one of the most prolific Blues-men of the 70’s and 80’s, Rory Gallagher has become a guitar legend and an Irish icon. There is no better evidence of this than filmmaker Tony Palmer’s Irish Tour 74. Originally released in 1974, the work provides a rare look into Gallagher’s music, technique and affable character. Though it was to be aired as a television special, and was created for no other reason than Palmer’s adulation of Rory’s music, fans across the globe are glad that the film has now made it to wide release by the good folks over at Eagle Rock Entertainment.
I wasn’t’ really expecting the first track of Elvin Bishop’s latest CD, Raisin’ Hell Revue to be particularly compelling. But, I’ve been wrong before and I was definitely deep into that well-plowed field on this one. It’s a swampy Cajun romp that shuffles along infectiously with its funky, hand-jive beat that’s more festive than his earlier hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
Louisiana-born Kenny Wayne Shepherd grew up on the blues. From the age of seven he had a guitar in his hands and kept at it until five years later he was on stage with Jump Street Five blues group guitarist Bryan Lee. At 17, Kenny produced his first album, Ledbetter Heights, that sat at the Number 1 spot on Billboard’s chart for five months earning a Gold Certification. The album tracks were both hot and soulful, reflecting a love of rock ‘n’ roll and his deep appreciation for Chicago,Texas and Delta blues.
Featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live, written up in Guitar World Magazine, been a featured guest with Buddy Guy multiple times at his Legends Blues club in Chicago, and just celebrated his 12th birthday. Yep you read that last part right. Most guitarists would be happy with having the chance to have one of those accomplishments on their resumes by the middle of their careers, yet East Coast Blues sensation Quinn Sullivan has been there and done that, and he still has four years to wait to get his driver’s license.
Craig Hopkins, author of The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan, has written a book to fill the appetites of all SRV fans. His book offers readers a comprehensive account of key milestones in SRV’s short, yet monumental music career. More importantly, Craig provides insights into Stevie’s humanity and generosity of spirit. I caught up with Craig just after he’d published his book to discuss how his interest in Stevie emerged and the path he took that resulted in his outstanding contribution to the SRV legacy.
