Blues America

Sugar Brown is a multi-talented instrumentalist who cut his teeth on Chicago’s Westside and the Delta Fish Market backing the Tail Dragger and Rockin’ Johnny Burgin. He earned his PhD from New York University and is a professor at the University of Toronto where he has resided for the past 18 years. He celebrates his third studio effort, “It’s a Blues World” which showcases his understanding for deep blues in the vein of greats like Frankie Lee Sims, Little Mack Simmons and Big Bill Broonzy while adding hints of outside roots influences such as, Tom Waits.

Shemekia Copeland is the Grammy-nominated reigning Queen of Chicago Blues who released her 8th studio effort on Alligator records, ‘America’s Child.’ The album was produced by Will Kimbrough and features all-stars like John Prine, Emmy Lou Harris and Steve Cropper. Shemekia carries on the legacy of her family name in the blues made famous by her legendary father, Johnny Copeland. She’s won numerous Blues music awards.

Dom Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist and native of Arizona who emerged onto the roots scene as the co-founder of the Grammy-Award winning folk band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. After leaving the group to pursue a solo career he quickly lived up to his moniker as the American Songster performing in front of music coinsures around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. Recently he teamed with the Smithsonian Folkways label to produce his latest studio effort titled, Black Cowboy. A roots experience that highlights the forgotten culture and history of African American Cowboys.

Walter “Wolfman” Washington cut his teeth backing the legendary R&B legend, Lee Dorsey (Ya Ya) who took the young teen on the road and legendary venues like the Apollo theatre. Later, Wolfman learned details about singing and the music biz while backing Johnny Adams for many years. He released critically acclaimed records during the 80’s and 90’s for some of the top labels of the day, like Rounder and Point Blank. The New Orleans native is rooted in deep blues but cut many funk grooves and naturally commands deep soul ballads with tremendous feeling. His debut studio effort for Anti-Records is a stripped down bluesy contemporary-Jazz project called “My Future is My Past.”

"Long-Tall" Marcia Ball earned world-wide fame as a two-fisted barrelhouse piano player who delivers a fiery twist of Louisiana swamp blues and Texas stomp-rock. The award winning Southern piano player has been cutting critically acclaimed studio records since the mid-80’s. Her latest effort is called, Shine Bright, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and available everywhere from Chicago’s renowned, Alligator records. In 2018, she was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

Shawn Holt is an international blues star who carries on the tradition and family legacy of his father, the legendary Magic Slim. He picked up the guitar and performed with dad at only 17, before becoming the leader of his dads famous band, the Teardrops that featured Shawn's famous uncle, Nick Holt and the great John Primer. Shawn performs out sold-out venues around the world and released his debut studio effort for Blind Pig records, 'Daddy Told Me" that won a blues music award.

He led a remarkable life filled with struggles and tales of bad luck but also stories of worldly adventures and meetings with seminal blues figures such as Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Champion Jack Dupree. Along the way he recorded extensively, first as Rocky Fuller for Chess, later contributing to some of the best lowdown blues the genre has ever produced; like ‘Red’s Dream’, ‘Sweet Blood Call’, and ‘I’m Too Poor to Die.’ In total, he recorded almost 50 albums during a career spanning 65 years and received multiple awards internationally.

Remembering the legendary Eddy Clearwater (1935 – 2018). Born in Mississippi, raised in Alabama and entered the blues scene in the early 1950’s Chicago behind Magic Sam before cutting sides for his uncle, Houston Harrington on the small Atomic-H label. During the early 80’s, Eddy would forever be known as the Chief, from the popular title of his Rooster Records Label debut which featured the exciting showman in a Native American headdress and riding a horse. He would continue to impress fans worldwide, releasing 17 albums, being nominated for a Grammy Award and winning a handful of blues music awards.

Johnny Tucker started playing in the local clubs of Fresno during the early 60’s with his family band. Later, he cut his teeth as a drummer for Phillip Walker. This put Johnny on the road and he would later work with Floyd Dixon, Robert Cray, Johnny Otis, Lowell Folson, Johnny Copeland and many more. In the late 90’s he cut a studio album with James Thomas before launching a solo career with the release of “Why You Lookin’ at Me” some years later. Today he celebrates a long career in Big Jon Atkinson’s vintage 1-track studio to cut the downhome blues project, Seven Day blues released on the High John label.

Mud Morganfield is the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters. He has never lived in the country; he was born and raised in the inner city of Chicago during the Motown era making his path into the blues much different from his famous father. When he commands the stage the similarities of his powerful vocals with that of his father is uncanny; giving blues fans a sense that the spirit of Muddy Waters is alive. In 2015, Mud earned a Blues Music Award for his album, ‘For Pops.’ Mud celebrates the release of his fourth studio effort, ‘They Call Me Mud’ on Severn records.

With a career spanning forty years, award-winning soul, blues and R&B star, Curtis Salgado is a one-of-a-kind talent whose music is as compelling as his story. From co-fronting The Robert Cray Band to leading his own band (and recording nine solo albums) to helping transform John Belushi into "Joliet" Jake Blues to touring the country with Steve Miller and Santana, he is a true musical giant. In 2013 he won the coveted BMA for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year—the highest honor the blues world has to offer. His latest studio effort for Alligator records is a stripped-down traditional blues project cut with his long-time friend and guitarist, Alan Hager.

Blues guitar ace, Bernard Allison marks his return to Ruf records with “Let It Go”, another solid studio album to his already distinguished recording career. Bernard is the son of legendary blues icon, Luther Allison. Like his father, he molded his passion for blues and skills as a band leader in France. Today he is one of the top talents on the scene and leading the contemporary blues charge for the next generation of players while bearing the traditional blues torch passed down by his father.

Nick Moss is a formidable Chicago blues guitarist who cut his teeth with Jimmy Dawkins, Jimmy Rogers and Willie Big Eyes Smith before cutting solo records for his own critically acclaimed Blue Bella Records. He started on bass with Barrelhouse Chuck before switching instruments. Recently, he found a natural home with Chicago’s powerhouse record label, Alligator. Releasing premiere album for the label, The High Cost of Low Living with longtime bandmate, Dennis Grueling. Dennis is a harmonica ace from New Jersey who brings commanding vocals and raw harp to the Nick Moss band.

Quique Gómez is an international blues star from Spain. He migrated to Chicago in search of his blues hero’s and found regular work with legends like the Tail Dragger, Willie Buck, Eddie C Campbell, Bob Stroger and today’s second special guest, Rockin Johnny Burgin. As a harmonica ace and crooner, Quique has cut over 12 records in the traditional post-war Chicago blues style.

George Bowman is a famed singer in his home state of Arizona where he is a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and connected to his cities long legacy of blues and soul going back to the days of Dyke & the Blazers. After moving to Arizona from Mississippi, George befriended famed funk icon Dyke Christian and became hooked on the groove. Shortly after he formed a band, Memphis Soul and began to cut singles and opening for Charles Brown and Taj Mahal. George has recorded several full-length studio albums including ‘Badd Boy’ which featured renowned guitarist Lucius Parr. Recently George collaborated with Bob Corritore on a single for the upcoming Delta Groove Records release, ‘Don’t Let the Devil Ride.’