At last! Long-awaited first history of South Carolina Blues is published!

Announcing the release of "South Carolina Blues," by Clair DeLune from Arcadia Publishing.

https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9781467114721/South-Carolina-Blues

The history of South Carolina blues is a long, deep—and sometimes painful—story. However, it is a narrative with aspects as compelling as the music itself. Geographical differences in America led to variations in the styles of music that developed from African rhythms. The wet, marshy landscape and hot, muggy weather of the Carolina Lowcountry combined to cultivate not only rice, but a Gullah-based style of South Carolina blues. In drier climates, toward the Midlands and the Upstate, the combination of European influences led to the emergence of Piedmont blues, which in turn spawned country music as well as bluegrass. Those same Gullah roots resulted in four major dance crazes, starting with the Charleston.

In this book, music history professor and blues radio host Clair DeLune dusts off neglected nuggets of history, drawing on archival photographs and rarely seen memorabilia from a generation of musicians’ personal collections. Readers will learn not only new information about some famous players who left their musical mark on history, but even more about the not-so-famous ones, as well as modern masters who carry on the rhythms of their predecessors and are truly keeping South Carolina blues alive.

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

Thanksgiving and food is the theme for Tuesday's Blues Moon Radio Show

I'm excited about Thanksgiving!

As far as I'm concerned, this is a holiday that has special merit. I believe we can all benefit from taking a moment (each day, if possible) to status check our lives and focus on the things (large or small) that get ignored so that we can focus on whatever vexation happens to be topping our personal charts.

As humans, we are hard-wired to find discontent (don't kick yourself too much if you do that - just try not to do it TOO well) so that we can survive in the evolutionary spectrum that is "life on Earth." A positive way to look at that human trait is to say, "We're programmed to see what is wrong and 'make it better!'"

In so doing, let us not forget to be aware of all the good we have, for which we can and should be appreciative I'll let you figure out the best ways for you to do that for yourselves and your loved ones. My friend, Amy, taught me to write down something good I've done each day in a special book. It helps me turn problems into appreciation for what I have.

Thanksgiving is all of that with the amp turned to "11!" (thank you Spinal Tap), but it also comes with lots of delicious FOOD and an unmitigated abandon of all that is diet! Oh yeah! Sign me up, baby!

In that vein, the Blues Moon radio show will be on the air Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. on WUSC FM and streaming Internet, so I hope you will tune in to whet your appetite. We'll start with Mama's Recipe (from the lovely and delightful Wanda Johnson) and then seque into alternate types of menus from the standard turkey and all the fixin's - such as gumbo, fish and stew. Of course, we'll have to hit the All-American faves: chicken, turkey, ham and other meats (my apologies to our vegetarian and vegan listeners); then side dishes such as "sallet," potatoes and peas -- whirled peas, I suspect; and finish out with something for the sweet tooth, such as Cherry Red by our dear friend, Nappy Brown, who served me up some feasts at his house on many an occasion - and I'm giving a special nod to Cora's culinary masterpieces!

But, lest we forget, there are always those less fortunate and ways we can provide for them. I saw on TV today that the demand on food banks has risen 100 percent in the past year with the economic downturn. Not surprising. What is surprising is that they can do more with your dollar than you can... so while it is fine to give pantry staples that you might not use, it is best not to go shop in order to donate new goods. Give the money and it will not only go further, it provides for a more efficient and effective means of organizing and distribution to those who are in need.

Sadly, we will end the Thanksgiving Blues Feast with a deeply disturbing note: Starvation.

Let's all do our best to make sure everyone has something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday as well as something in their tummies.

I'm thankful for my family, friends and all you kind listeners out there.

My wish for you is a wonderful, safe and happy holiday season.

Clair DeLune

The Blues Moon with Clair DeLune

WUSC-FM

http://bluesmoonradio.blogspot.com

Twitter: BluesMoonRadio

Facebook: Clair DeLune

Blues News

Lickin' my lips for the Columbia Blues Festival this Saturday... check it out at http://www.wordofmouthproductions.org - see you there!

Want to also take notice that tonight would have been Nappy Brown's birthday... he was a dear friend and an amazing musician. My heart goes out to those who knew and loved him and his music.

UPDATED: There will be a tribute to Nappy in Charlotte on Sunday -

DETAILS:

Nappy Brown Memorial Fundraiser

Sunday, Oct 18 6:00p

at Double Door Inn, Charlotte, NC

Age Suitability: None Specified

Tags: There are no tags.

Please join the Charlotte music community and the Charlotte Blues Society in celebrating the great man's life with a concert to help raise money for a headstone. Musicians and friends from the early days of Nappy's Charlotte-based career to younger artists that appreciated and loved him are coming together for a special night. Maurice Williams, Robin Rogers, Mookie Brill, Scott Cable, Bob Margolin, Sandra Hall, Audrey Madison Turner, Mack Arnold, Betty Pride, Sandra Hall, Michael Wolfe and the Voodoo Brothers are scheduled to appear, with more to be added!

We also lost Freddie Robinson on Oct. 10. Sad, sad, sad.

Please tune in (via streaming Internet at http://wusc.sc.edu) tomorrow for the Blues Moon radio show 6 p.m. ET/USA. I'm still adjusting from Nashville time.

Nashville was wonderful - hilly, chilly and very Nash-villy!

Bues Moon update on Cora and Nappy's music room

Last week's absence in order to trek up to Newberry County to present to the zoning commission was worthwhile even though I missed doing the show.

I was impressed with the number of people who came to support Cora's attempt to keep a music room open on her property, the same way she and Nappy Brown always had. Once our favorite pastor explained the heart behind the effort, the commissioner of the zoning board provided some thoughtful and insightful ways to rethink the issue and still remain in compliance. All seemed to win.

When Michael Bedenbaugh, the commissioner, asked who might be speaking against the plea, the pastor said "we have lots of supporters who want to speak for her variance," to which the commissioner responded wryly, "Don't I know that"... and said it probably wouldn't be necessary. It all got worked out without us having to say a word. Just the threat of having to hear me speak got the entire thing pushed through - I'll have to tuck that little tidbit away for future needs.

"Don't make me use my voice! I'll speak, I swear I will!" ha!

Seriously, I told sweet Miss Cora that I've never been so pleased not to be needed in my life. :)

I know Nappy must be lighting heaven up with his big smile about Cora keeping his legacy alive for the next generation and is pleased about how many people love and care for her - but you get back what you give out in this world, and Cora gives a lot of love to a lot of people who need it. What a warm-hearted person - we could use more like her.

Kudos to the Zoning Commission of Newberry County SC - nice little town with some broad-minded people. Not THAT kind of broad. People, please. Keep it clean. This ain't no blues show!!! Oh, wait. It kind of is.

Thanks also to Tut, Ruthe & Rip and Harry for coming and to Aida, Henri and Sam for good advice.

Cora, you are the best and we love you...

Keep a good thought... clair delune