Blues America

The ‘church house’ tenor has been featured on large festivals and shared the stage with names like the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bobby Rush, and Johnny Rawls. The Alabama native currently resides in Northern Cali and has released three records; two critically acclaimed solo releases and one with a trio called the Hound Kings. His new record was produced at the famed Greaseland studios and features Kid Anderson, Aki Kumar and Jim Pugh. He’s also a featured artist on the upcoming Delta Groove release by Bob Corritore and Big Jon Atkinson. In 2011, he was a Blues Award nominee for Traditional Male Artist of the Year by the Blues Foundation.

Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater is a Chicago blues legend who plays electric guitar left-handed. A cousin of legendary harmonica master, Carey Bell, Eddy was raised by his Cherokee grandmother in Mississippi before moving to Alabama and performing in gospel groups, including the 5 Blind Boys of Alabama. By 1981, he had recorded his biggest record, The Chief on the Rooster label with the Bells (Carey and Lurrie) and his career took-off from there. The Grammy Award nominated blues artist has recorded 16 albums and won 2 W.C. Handy Awards.

Kid Ramos is a famous West Coast electric blues guitarist who cut his teeth with the James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Roomful of Blues before recording three critically acclaimed solo albums for Evidence Records. He’s also been a featured member of the blues revue, The Mannish Boys. Kid survived a rare form of cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma after three years of life threatening treatment. In 2015, he was selected as the Grand Marshall for the world famous Anaheim Halloween Parade, a title also held by Babe Ruth and Jodie Foster.

Johnny Ace was considered one of the first African-American pop stars with a string of eight consecutive hits on the R&B Charts and becoming the most radio programmed artist of his day. At the height of his career, on Christmas evening, Johnny mysteriously died backstage from a single gunshot wound to the head. The cause of death was reported as Russian roulette and one police detective stated he succumbed to “pistolitis.” Authors Steve Bergsman and R. Gary Patterson discuss the mysterious death of Johnny Ace on this Halloween special.

Rockin' Johnny grew to fame performing nightly in Chicago’s ghetto blues clubs with Eddie Jewtown Burkes and the infamous blues singer, The Tail Dragger before recording his own material on Delmark Records. The Rockin’ Johnny Band would later be recognized as Chicago’s leading house band for gigs and session work contributing to dozens of CD’s. Johnny has released six CD’s and toured nationally with the great Sam Lay and the late Pinetop Perkins.

Jerry Lawson, documents his early days in New York and discusses songs from the Persuasions first album, Acappella (1970, Reprise/Straight Records). This is the Jerry Lawson Legacy Project, Episode 2, an exclusive Blues America feature. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Joe Louis Walker has been referred to as the greatest bluesmen of his generation and holds an international reputation as one of the blues’ most prolific and talented stars. He earned international fame for trailblazing the progressive contemporary blues movement. A former roommate of Michael Bloomfield; J.W.L. has released 24 albums, been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (2013), performed multiple engagements at the White House, appeared on Grammy-Winning records by B.B. King and James Cotton and won numerous prestigious awards. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Bob Corritore is an internationally renowned Chicago blues harmonica master, critically acclaimed producer and owner of the world famous blues hotspot - the Rhythm Room concert club. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Sugaray Rayford is regarded as one of the last great blues shouters. He has released 3 solo albums and is a standing member of The Mannish Boys. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

BB King, Joe Louis Walker, Jerry Lawson, Big Pete Pearson and Hans Olson are special guests. This program celebrates the week of BB King’s 90th birthday featuring BB King himself from interviews conducted by Drew Verbis before Mr. King’s death. Highly recommended program!! BB King took the blues from the cotton fields to the outhouse, to the Cotton Club to the White House. There are clubs, restaurants, museums, highway markers, streets and children bearing his name. He is so famous, even his beloved guitar, Lucille, is more famous than the average Hollywood actor. He is the King of Blues, period. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Author Steve Bergsman talks about the life of Motown superstar, Mary Wells with revelations from his new book, the Seduction of Mary Wells and his deathbed confessional recordings of Mary which became her last interview. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Cedric Burnside is a critically acclaimed blues drummer, guitarist, singer-songwriter from North Mississippi who is the son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and grandson of blues legend RL Burnside. Cedric has won 4 Blues Music Awards for best drummer. Blues America is a unique talk radio program broadcasting weekly on Arizona radio and syndicated around the world. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Ray Charles special tribute featuring interviews with BB King, Ruth Brown, Marian McPartland, Jerry Lawson, Big Pete Pearson, Bob Koester and Johnny D. Blues America is a unique talk radio experience broadcasting weekly on Arizona radio and syndicated around the world. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Promotional teaser. Blues America is a unique talk radio experience broadcasting weekly on Arizona radio and syndicated around the world. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.

Big Pete Pearson, special guest. Internationally recognized blues recording artist who is in the Blues Hall of Fame. Blues America is a unique talk radio experience broadcasting weekly on Arizona radio and syndicated around the world. All third-party content is licensed and used by the artist and label by permission.