Well, we've been promising them for a while and now here they are: songs sent in by our readers. We have some good blues here, but we've also thrown our net out a little bit to catch some other interesting styles.
By the way, the picture at the top is called "Robert Johnson with a 1935 Hudson Terraplane" and was painted by Chris Osborne of New Milford, CT, who says that copies are for sale. If you are interested, contact Chris at 860-354-3233 or drop her a letter at 24 Lester Lane, New Milford CT, 06776.
Now the music. We'll start with David Coppa and his band Scrapple. If you want to know more about them, check out a post we did way back on August 7, 2010 called "The von Trapp Family of Lower Merion Township." Here they are with "Slow:"
Born in the United Kingdom, Guitarist Chris Dair said he was inspired to play at an early age by French Gitano Flamenco guitarist Manitas De Plata. He developed a passion for blues at age 14 and began gigging around London at venues with people like John Mayall, John McVie and George Melly. Over the years, he has jammed or played with R&B and rock legends such as Rory Gallagher, Jimmy Paige, Captain Beefheart, Mark Knopfler, Peter Green and Jeff Beck, among others. Here he brings us "Lost in Wasted Time."
At 16, Brian Brazil discovered recordings from blues harmonica greats Little Walter Jacobs, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield and Charlie Musselwhite. He later learned country styles by studying Norton Buffalo and Charlie McCoy. As a performer, he has shared the stage with Albert King, Albert Lee, Coco Montoya and Don Preston. He has opened for other performers, including Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. You can catch some of his songs on his website: http://brianbrazil.blogspot.com/music:
Here are the songs of the group LAF. Originally formed in 1986 and reunited at the beginning of 2009, the group features Phil Matthews on guitar, keyboards and percussion; Alastair Boden on vocals; Andy Dobson on bass guitar and Rachel McCullough on harmony vocals. You can catch some of their songs on the following website:
http://www.reverbnation.com/lafpopmusic
We heard from Laura Vall, who described herself as an independent artist based in Los Angeles. Her music is "indie pop" in the style of Fiona Apple, Radiohead, Sade, Zero 7 or Beck, she said. Some of it follows:
http://lauravall.bandcamp.com ">
These next ones are from Raza, who hails from Karachi, Pakistan. Here is some of Raza's background: "From the age of 14 I started poetry and music composing, during my studies somewhere in 1999, I hardly managed to make a video of my song. I spent all of my mother’s savings in song’s audio and video. It was a good start but after it I was unable to continue my music journey because my mother had a serious heart attack and I left music industry and gave my all attention to my studies and in care of my mother. During all this I keep writing and composing and in result now I have more than 700 lyrics and 200 compositions which is upbeat, melodic and suits to Film Industry with genre of Rock, Soft Rock, Ballad, Jazz, Pop and Techno. Since then I tried to contact different music companies time to time so they promote me and to launch my videos. Unfortunately, I found no one who takes stand..."
Here is one of Raza's songs:
Here is another:
Guitarist Bob Crawford's musical resume includes stints during the 1970's as house jazz guitarist for various establishments in New York City, among them the Jazzmania Society, the Terrace at the Village Gate and the "Jazz Jam" series at the Brook. In 1979 he worked as guitarist, stage manager, and Live Sound Mixer for Larry Harlow and the Fania All-Stars, an ensemble of musicians recording under the Fania label, which specialized in salsa. Crawford is also the author of "Symmetric Cycles," a book on improvisation.
Here's his music:
http://soundcloud.com">
And here's his website:
http://carosta.com/bob-crawford/">
We also heard from guitarist Mike Goudreau, who picked up his first guitar when he was 14 "and hasn't stopped playing since"and who lists a wide range of influences, among them the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Powder Blues and Downchild. That variety has impacted upon his work; in the 1990's he formed the Boppin Blues Band, which released a CD in 1994 that included everything from Chicago blues to jazz-influenced 40's and 50's swing/jump/shuffle to country to gospel. He currently writes songs for film/televison. You can catch his work on "Everyone Hates Chris," ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money," TBS's"The George Lopez Show," NBC's "Friday Night Lights," to name a few.
Here is one of Mike's songs, "Why'd I Drink So Much":
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9485402">
Here is Mike again with "Gossipin' Mama":
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=8133676">
And here's his website:
http://mikegoudreau.com">
By the way, We'd like to thank all of the people who sent in songs. We'd also like to thank all of the people who have decided to become followers of this blog. That really makes doing this worthwhile.
We're going to end this with some sad news from harmonica player Bob Corritore:
RIP Honeyboy Edwards - June 28, 1915 to August 29, 2011. The legendary Delta blues artist Honeyboy Edwards passed away peacefully at his Chicago home at 3am, August 29, 2011. He was 96. Honeyboy had formally retired earlier this year, due to a weakened state of health that did not allow him to tour. He is well known as a pioneer of Delta Blues, who made pre-WWII recordings. Honeyboy was a close associate of Robert Johnson, and the man who traveled from the south to bring Little Walter to Chicago for the first time. Born in Shaw, Mississippi in 1915, Honeyboy left home at age 14 to travel and perform with Big Joe Williams, which became the early model of his life's activities. Honeyboy's wonderful recording career started in 1942 when famed folklorist Alan Lomax recorded him in Clarksdale Mississippi for the Library of Congress. His prolific recording career boasts of releases for many labels over many years; ARC, Sun Records, Chess, Folkways, Trix, Testament, Evidence, Roots, Blue Suit, Blue Horizon, Genes, Blue Shoe, APO, Wolf, and of course the Earwig Record Label. He has received 2 Grammy Awards, 2 BMAs (Blues Music Awards), has been inducted in the Blues Hall Of Fame, received a fellowship from The National Endowment for the Arts, and won a KBA (Keeping The Blues Alive Award) in the literature category for his brilliant biography The World Don't Owe Me Nothing. His performances and recollections have provided us a window into the past. One must mention Honeyboy's long association with Earwig Music label chief Michael Frank. The two met in 1972 and Michael would grow into the role of Honeyboy's manager, harmonica player, and traveling companion. Michael has done so much to guide Honeyboy's career, and we pray for his strength during this time of grieving. Honeyboy's charm, wit and musical brilliance will leave a gap in the blues, never to be filled. The deep blues emotion that poured out of Honeyboy Edwards in each performance has left a lasting impression on the blues world. Thank you Honeyboy for the blessing of knowing you.
To hear Honeyboy Edwards 1942 Library of Congress recording of "Spread My Raincoat Down" click:
To see Honeyboy in the 2004 documentary film,Lightnin' In A Bottle, click here:
Bob also wanted people who will be in the Phoenix area this weekend to know about this:
Coming:
To all those who sent in songs, I know we didn't get to everyone today, but
your day is coming. As soon as I can transcribe the interview, we're also going to hear from a hot up-and-coming gospel singer from California who's now working with bassist Larry Martin Kimpel's (Remember? "The Groove Behind Frankie Beverly's Maze")GVR Records and Entertainment.
And there will be other surprises, for sure....
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