Tuesday, October 12, 2010

BLUES NEWS in the Carolinas

LIVE BLUES - giving thanks
Thanks to everyone involved in any way with the past two weeks of Blues concerts/festivals in South Carolina... the vast array of opportunities were staggering and we are mindful to thank those who planned, produced, supported, worked at, performed at, and attended these events. I was blown away by the talent and the open, accessible venues.

To name some key people: Geoff Graves and Word of Mouth Productions staff; and Gary Erwin, Danny Riddick and all the Kershaw County Fine Arts people. Of course, this could not happen without the quality of performances from the Blues artists themselves.

Wow.

Gone but not forgotten
Regarding tonight's Blues Moon Radio Show, our hearts go out to family and friends of Solomon Burke, who passed away 10/10/10 in Amsterdam. We'll start tonight's show in tribute to him.

Blues Moon Radio has long been a fan and friend of the late, great Nappy Brown, so we pay tribute to him tonight for several reasons... the beginning of Fall marks the anniversary of his death, his birth and the last performance I saw him make; we sat quietly at a table in Camden prior to his show, as old friends sometimes do... and I miss him still. So we will end with a tribute to Nappy.

James Cotton's new CD - just out - called GIANT, has a tribute to his dear friend and colleague, Koko Taylor. While I was not close with Koko, we did bond one night over an impromptu chat about men and relationships and had stayed in touch intermittently. I cannot imagine how heavy a heart James Cotton must have about the loss of his friend, who was such a powerhouse singer and such an icon for females. She showed us we can make it in a difficult business.

Robin Rogers' fundraiser update
As a reminder about how we can help Blues artists while they are still with us, another powerhouse Blueswoman, Robin Rogers, is struggling with untreatable cancer in Charlotte, N.C. There will be a fund-raiser for her (see the Facebook page: Robin Rogers Benefit Central at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156948347666993#!/group.php?gid=132068270172379) later this month in Charlotte, as well as other events across the nation. Her band is unable to play and that leaves both her and her husband Tony, who is in the band, out of work. In addition to having no income, they - like many Blues artists - could not afford health insurance, so the bills are staggering. She is in hospice now with no treatment possibilities. Please help as you can.

I've painted a poster to contribute to the fundraiser, and I hope that after the original is auctioned off in Charlotte, I'll be able to offer prints of it for donors. I urge you to participate fully.

UPDATE FROM THE SITE: AT THIS POINT BASIC LIVING EXPENSES ARE THE MOST PRESSING NEED. ROBIN AND TONY WILL BE OUT OF WORK FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY TO ROBIN AT:
Robin Rogers
c/o Piedmont Talent
PO Box 680006
Charlotte NC 28216

WUSC fundraiser updates and requests: keep Blues on the air!
WUSC is preparing for its fundraiser again this semester (my part will be Chicago Blues on Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 6-9) and I'll be accepting donations to keep the station rolling out the best in Blues to you each Tuesday. I'll be singing for my dj supper, so to speak, and my goal is to raise $1000.00 this semester. I thank our generous donors from past years and hope you'll pledge in advance (if you do, please suggest a Chicago Blues artist or tune you'd like to hear). 
Prizes will be announced closer to the event, but among items the station is giving as a thank you to our supporters, I will be giving Blues CDs, and for our top donors I'll provide framed prints of a limited edition run of an original art piece by me (Clair DeLune).

If you work for an organization that matches charitable donations, we have all the certification for that so please let us know. If your group or organization has items suitable for giveaways, please contact me directly.

Questions, pledges or donations? Contact me:
You may contact me at bluesgoddess at gmail dot com - be sure to put WUSC fundraiser in the subject so my spam filter won't filter your message out.


Tonight's playlist:

Albert Castiglia - Closing Time
Solomon Burke - Cry to Me b/w Letter From My Darling
JJ Grey and Mofro - Lullaby

Robin Rogers - Promised Land
Willie Dixon - I Cry For You
Blind Boy Fuller - Weeping Willow

Big Joe Turner - How Long Blues
Billie Holiday - As Time Goes By

Mac Arnold and Plate Full o' Blues - Blues for You
Brownie McGhee - Million Lonesome Women
L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson - Ida Red
Mannish Boys - Mary Jane
The Paladins - Ruby Lee
Davis Coen - Anna Ann
J Edwards - Eatin' at Lulu's
Jesse Thomas - Bessie Lavon
Jon Shain - Louise, Louise
Louis Jordan - Caldonia

Nappy Brown - Keep On Pleasin' You b/w Night Time is the Right Time 
James Cotton - Sad Sad Day