Music
Daniel De Vise, King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King (Atlantic Monthly Press)
With three previous full-length B.B. King biographies still circulating, a handful of well researched box sets and any number of comprehensive B.B. King CD compilations, plus extensive stories about the […]
In Memoriam: Gary Edwards (1941–2021)
Gary Edwards, a prominent businessman in the New Orleans music industry whose Sound of New Orleans label recorded many regional bands and musicians, died on September 22 after a lengthy […]
Various Artists, Southern Bred: Louisiana and New Orleans R&B Rockers (I Hate To See You Go, Volume 15) (KoKo Mojo)
This series of Southern Bred CDs reminds one of listening to vintage “Records From the Crypt” shows hosted by Billy Delle on WWOZ. Koko Mojo’s ideology is “killer and no […]
Book Review | Macon Fry, They Called Us River Rats (University of Mississippi Press)
Be it the vastness of New Orleans East or the tiny sliver of the Mississippi River batture, very little has been written about the history of either community. Thankfully, Macon […]
Emperor of the Universe: Remembering the funeral and wake of Ernie K-Doe
July 13 marks the 20th anniversary of the funeral and wake of Ernie K-Doe, the larger-than-life, self-proclaimed “Charity Hospital baby” and R&B phenomenon best known for his 1961 hit song […]
In Memoriam: Lloyd Price (1933–2021)
Lloyd Price, an extremely successful entrepreneur and the recorder of such R&B classics as “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Stagger Lee,” “Personality” and “Where Were You On Our Wedding Day,” died May […]
Book Review | Rob Bowman, The Last Soul Company: The Malaco Records Story (Malaco Press)
Malaco Records’ unlikely saga of success is quite an epic tale. Really, how in the world could three Ole Miss frat boys build a corporation in Jackson, Mississippi, that would […]
Alabama Slim, The Parlor (Cornelius Chapel Records/Music Maker Relief Foundation)
When I saw this CD’s primitive package and reading Alabama Slim’s bio, I thought someone was perpetrating hoax, creating the Sidd Finch [fictional baseball player] of the blues community. Come […]
Bobby Mitchell, Try Rock and Roll (Jasmine)
An early proponent of the South Louisiana B-flat ballad, the tracks found on Bobby Mitchell’s Try Rock and Roll have been around the block several times on several formats. Consisting of […]
Kim Wilson, Take Me Back! The Big Tone Sessions (M.C. Records)
It’s ironic that two ex-bandmates from Austin’s Fabulous Thunderbirds would have overlapping new CDs. Of course, here, Wilson headed up his band on harp and vocals and ex-T-bird six-string Jimmie […]
