Blues America

Toronzo Cannon is recognized as one of Chicago’s most popular and exciting bluesmen. The singer, songwriter and guitarist is part of the new generation of Chicago players continuing the blues legacy of their great city. He could be considered a late bloomer, picking up the guitar during his mid-twenties and quickly unlocking his dormant dominant blues gene which has guided him all the way to the top of the blues charts. During the 90’s, Toronzo cut his teeth with Tommy McCracken, LV Banks and Wayne Baker Brooks before launching a solo career on Delmark. His debut album on Alligator is a masterpiece that provides a blueprint for the modern contemporary blues sound. It has already earned a top spot on the Billboard charts. Media outlets are calling Toronzo the next blues great.

Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin has performed on several Grammy-winning recordings, won numerous Blues Music Awards and a KBA for Journalism. He spent seven years under the wing of the legendary Muddy Waters as a member of his band from 1973 to 1980. His 10th new album “My Road” is nothing short of 5 stars and continues his role of expanding the boundaries of traditional blues with 12 personal tracks. On “My Road” his commanding vocal performance compliments his award winning big guitar sound. Throughout his career Bob has performed with the who’s who of blues legends and has established himself as a tremendously important part of the genre.

Benny Turner is the little brother of Blues and Rock N Roll Hall of Famer, the Texas Cannonball, Freddie King. While this in itself is a tremendous honor, Benny has become a major player in his own right. After spending many years as the bass player for his famous brother he helped to establish bass guitar as an important instrument in gospel music during his time with two groups, the Soul Stirrers and the Kindly Sheppard’s. Later Benny would continue his blues career with Chicago’s Mighty Joe Young Band before moving to New Orleans and teaming up with the Queen of New Orleans Blues, Marva Wright. Since her passing Benny has moved into the spotlight as a solo artist, releasing 4 albums including his critically acclaimed “Journey” and his new one, “When She’s Gone.”

In 1967 Paul Oscher became the first white musician to join a black blues group when he was invited to be an official member of the Muddy Waters Band. Paul is heard blowing harmonica on various Muddy Water Chess recordings from 1968 to 1976. Since 1993, Paul has released seven solo albums, received 11 Blues Music Award nominations and won 2 Blues Music Awards. In 2001 he married Suzan-Lori Parks, the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.

Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, singer and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Since winning the I.B.C. in 2004, he released his seventh album, on Blind Pig records, Right Man Right Now, a contemporary blues album which is considered by critics to be one of the top albums of 2015.

Jerry Lawson was the co-founder, arranger and producer of the famed Persuasions for 40 years before launching a solo career at the age of 71 and releasing his first critically acclaimed album, Just A Mortal Man on the Nashville based Red Beat Records. The Jerry Lawson Legacy Project is an exclusive series which documents the autobiographical story of Jerry Lawson’s career as told in his own words. During this episode Jerry shares candid stories of his early days as a Persuasion and talks about the last 5 songs on The Persuasions first album, Acappella. Acappella was released in 1970 on Frank Zappa’s Straight record label.

Bobby Rush, the living legend, is the 2015 BB King Entertainer of the year, a 3 time Grammy-nominated, ambassador of the blues, and the adopted son of Jackson, Mississippi. According to the Rolling Stone Magazine, he is the reigning “King of the Chitlin Circuit.” He took the Blues from the outhouse to the White House, to the Carolina’s to the Great Wall of China, from the rap game to the Blues Hall of Fame.

The Malaco recording artist, Castro Coleman, better known and more famous to the blues community under his stage name, Mr. Sipp was a successful gospel star before crossing over to the blues and electrifying crowds with his showmanship on the road to winning the 2014 international blues challenge while also taking home the Gibson Best Guitar Award. In the same year he was featured on the cover of the blues genres leading publication, the Living Blues Magazine. In 2015 he collected another trophy, the JMA male artist of the year and toured internationally to support his second album, the critically acclaimed Mississippi Blues Child. The young blues star is already endorsed by Epiphone guitar and was recently cast in the James Brown movie, Get on Up.

Guy Davis is the son of legendary actors and civil-rights activists Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Since the release of his first few critically acclaimed albums during the 90’s, Davis has been considered a major blues talent and champion of the traditional roots blues sound; often incorporating banjos, 12-string acoustic guitars and mandolins to his compositions. Guy has continued the important tradition of storytelling and is among a group of artists contributing to the much needed role of folk music in the blues genre that has been lacking since the days of masters like Leadbelly, Josh White and John Hurt. Kidd, he was featured on the cover of the Living Blues Magazine.

Alligator recording artist, Tommy Castro is the 2010 BB King Entertainer of the Year. He’s one of the most recognizable names in the blues world. Since starting his recording career with Warner Brother’s recording artist, the Dyntones, he’s released 14 solo albums; most of which for Alligator and Blind Pig Records and built a remarkable legacy which includes winning 6 Blues Music Awards, touring with B.B. King, recording John Lee Hookers last session and working as the house band for three seasons of NBC’s comedy showcase.

Performing live in the studio, Hans Olson. The internationally renowned bluesman is famous in his home state of Arizona where he’s inducted in the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, received a Newtimes Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, and named as one of the Top 25 most influential musicians in Arizona by the Phoenix Magazine. During his career he has released over 15 albums and performed with hundreds of top blues artist which included a tour with the legendary Brownie McGhee. He is endorsed by Lee Oscar Harmonica’s and his music has been featured on a dozen film soundtracks.

Missy has been nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Female Blues Singer in 2015 and 2016. In June 2015, she was nominated for two Blues Blast Awards for Best Female Artist and Best Soul Blues Album. She has been fronting bands since her early teens and after two critically acclaimed studio albums she is already recognized as a standout favorite. Her sophomore record, In the Moment was named one of the Top 50 Best Albums of 2014 by the Living Blues Magazine.

Shemekia Copeland is a three time Grammy-nominated blues singer on the Alligator Records label. Shemekia started singing professionally with her father the legendary Texas guitarist, Johnny Copeland, at the age of 16. Her seventh solo album, Outskirts of Love has topped all of the blues charts, nominated for a Grammy-Award for Best Blues Album and features Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Robert Randolph and Alvin Youngblood Hart. In 2012 she performed for the U.S. President Barrack Obama at the White House. Her band regularly tours alongside of the Robert Cray Band. At the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois officially declared her to be “The New Queen of the Blues” and presented her a crown by Koko Taylor’s daughter, Cookie Taylor.

In 2013, Selwyn Birchwood catapulted from Florida’s local hero to shooting star. After being mentored by his former neighbor, blues legend Sonny Rhodes, he went on to win the coveted and world-renowned International Blues Challenge, beating out 125 other bands from the U.S. and abroad. He also took home the Albert King Guitarist of The Year Award. Soon after, he was signed to Alligator Records and his debut album, Don’t Call No Ambulance won a Blues Award for Debut Album, Sean Costello Rising Star Award, Living Blues Magazine Best New Artist Award and a Blues Blast Award.

Dave Riley talks about the blues and performs live in the studio. He was born in Mississippi, learned guitar from Old Man Brooks and would occasionally run into family-friend Bobby Rush and Pops Staples. He honed his professional blues skills as a member of the Jelly Roll Kings with the late great Frank Frost. He toured extensively with Sam Carr whose is featured on Riley’s first solo record for the Fedora label. He’s a Vietnam vet and former prison guard. He’s released three critically acclaimed albums with Chicago Harmonica Master and renowned producer, Bob Corritore.