Final tribute (RIP) to Uncle Gram 11/10/18



Uncle Gram of WUSC's Red Bank Bar and Grill

It was bittersweet to bid adieu to Uncle Gram during his former radio slot this past weekend.

Losing a friend who has been such a musical institution was hard, but the fact that we had so many DJs, friends and family in the studio to celebrate his life and his love and dedication to music made it sweet.

Thank you to all who participated and contributed... and to the listeners and musicians who were a part of his long and storied career.

If the musicians made up the fabric of The Red Bank Bar and Grill show, it was Uncle Gram who sewed their work thematically into a beautiful quilt each weekend and embellished it with his beautiful voice and intelligent invocations.

We were fortunate to have such a warm, wonderful creation to wrap around us each Saturday - and I for one am forever thankful.

He is gone but will never be forgotten.

The show was done live, for the most part, so we don't have a list of everything various djs played, but here is a list of the tributes we played.

Tribute to two music pioneers: James Cotton and Chuck Berry on Blues Moon Radio 3/21/2017

Tonight we will break into our Women's History Month programming to pay tribute to two music pioneers who passed away this week: James Cotton and Chuck Berry on this edition of Blues Moon Radio, with your host, Clair DeLune on WUSC-FM.
 6-8 p.m. ET/USA (usually -5 GMT) on 3/21/2017

James Cotton, Superharp:
Chicago Tribune's memorial column by the award winning writer Howard Reich began, "Admirers called him 'Superharp,' which was a bit of an understatement. The sheer lung power and technical virtuosity that Cotton brought to bear sometimes made you wonder if his tiny, hand-held instrument could withstand such force."



James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite
& John Hammond; Durham NC 10/2014
Clair DeLune, photographer
 

Musicians and music fans alike mourn this powerful icon of the Blues who fought throat cancer and won, only to fall decades later at the age of 81. Cotton played long and hard, and rode with the greats, having traded places with Little Walter by leaving his own band, the Aces to play harp for Muddy Waters when the relationship between Walter and Waters got rocky.

He was warm and sweet offstage and as interested in knowing about you as you were about him. He shared hugs and kisses and CDs with me every time I saw him and even though he was unable to stand for long, he arose to greet me with a kiss the last time I saw him in 2015, during a memorable appearance in Durham NC with Charlie Musselwhite and John Hammond.

From Hawkeye Herman: musician, author, folklorist, educator and recipient of the Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive award:

"I first saw James Cotton perform in the 1970s when he was with Muddy Waters. I saw him perform with his own band numerous times over the years after he formed his own band. I was honored to have presented James Cotton with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society's RiverRoad Lifetime Achievement Award at their Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, Iowa in July of 2006. At that blues festival ceremony The Mayor of the City of Davenport also presented James Cotton with the Key to the City of Davenport. James Cotton was most appreciative in receiving these honors, and he expressed his deep gratitude to the Mayor and the thousands of fans gathered for the blues festival ... and to the joy of the crowd, he then proceeded to perform a superb set of his signature 'high compression' blues ...  in spite of the 100+ degree weather. I'll never forget the great James Cotton."

 

He touched so many lives. He will be dearly missed. Thank you, James Cotton for the indelible mark you left on Blues and in our blue, blue hearts.

 

Chuck Berry 1958
By Pickwick -
Billboard, page 59,
25 November 1972
Public Domain

Shortly afterwards, a Blues and Rock icon, Chuck Berry, left us [NBC News video obituary]. Berry laid one of the cornerstones of Rock 'n' Roll, along with musical architects like Little Richard. Chuck wrapped R&B around some country licks, sped it up and a particular style of music was born. Musicians who have played around the country with him are legion because Chuck knew how to make a dollar work. Instead of hiring and paying for travel for a touring band, he would often call in advance of a gig and ask for local musicians to learn his songs and back him. His music was familiar to most aspiring young musicians and he had little trouble filling the bandstand. He was the attraction and few, if any, were able to discern that the band was not his professional backing band, but a pickup group from their own home towns.

Berry was savvy in a number of ways and thankful for the "gift God gave" him to make music, starting out at a whopping $50 a night, which was more than a month's rent. He worked with myriads of well-known musicians and is remembered for his musicianship, his characteristic riffs and his trademark "duck walk," which he laughingly admitted he got by recovering from a fall onstage.

Last October, shortly after his 90th birthday, he said he was ready to release his first album in more than 35 years, simply entitled "Chuck." It is due later this year.

Hawkeye Herman also shared his impressions of Chuck Berry with us today:
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry, age 90 - b. 10/18/26, St. Louis, MO - d. 3/18/17, St. Charles, MO - A true pioneer & "founding father" of rock and roll. His music & memory will live on forever ... including eternally on tour extraterrestrially; as his song “Johnny B. Goode” is the only rock and roll song selected amongst the music that was placed on a golden record aboard the Voyager I spacecraft/space probe, launched in 1977, and forever awaiting discovery by 'civilizations' in deep space ... who it is surmised, upon hearing the music on that golden record, will contact Earth from deep space with the singular message; "Send more Chuck Berry!"

 

Personally, I give thanks for these music pioneers and am happy to have owned their records, seen them play and in the case of James Cotton, had the honor of being kissed on the cheek on numerous occasions by him.

We send each of these wonders to Blues Heaven with our love and thanks... let our musical tribute begin:

 

 

 

We'll finish out the show with our previously planned tribute to women in music.

Be well out there - sending love and comfort to everyone who knew these men - they are missed. We also - from another personal standpoint - dedicate the chicken songs to the charming and delightful Miss Pauline, who is ever in our hearts, on this anniversary week of her passing.

 

 

Clair DeLune and RockyDawg, Blues Defender,

reporting on a sad week in music history.



 

Blues Moon Radio Playlist for Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014

Blues Moon Radio Playlist 
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 

Sad and glad news in BluesWorld this week:

We lost Finis Tasby after a long illness. Finis, of The Mannish Boys and Ruff Kutt Blues Band, passed away a short time after going into hospice care following a long illness after suffering a stroke two years ago. 

We'll pay tribute to his work with six of his songs recorded through the years. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, fans and band mates who miss him so.

We at Blues Moon were fortunate to record an interview with Ruff Kutt Blues Band, and despite that Finis was unable to participate, some of his colleagues, including the legendary Anson Funderburgh, shared stories about him that would warm anyone's heart. Perhaps we will post those interviews once hearts have had a little chance to heal.

In much happier news, the long-awaited biography about Drink Small, the Blues Doctor, by Gail Wilson-Giarratano has hit the bookstores this week! For more information, visit: www.DrinkSmallBook.com.

Our playlist this week is about the amazing power of the right to vote. I hope everyone has, or will before 7 p.m. wherever you might be in America. The theme is: Free Country, and all the songs in the early part of the show will have Free or Country in the title. I leaned very heavily on some of our South Carolina legends... Drink Small, Mac Arnold and the sultry and sweet LGB.

Next week, we'll pay tribute to the proud men and women who put their lives on the line to preserve our treasured freedoms in this country: our Veterans. We salute those who have served and are now serving, and give our thanks as well to their families for their support!

Song listings for this week's show follow (click on the pic for full view):

Tribute to Finis Tasby:

Stay brave and please VOTE! 

Clair DeLune, and Rocky-Dawg Blues Defender, who just wishes he were old enough to vote. Paws UP!

Jeff Norwood, SC Bluesman, has died BLUES NEWS April 23, 2012

Blues Moon Radio learned the sad news yesterday afternoon that South Carolina native Bluesman, Jeff Norwood, has passed away.

Jeff Norwood's Web page

Jeff was a long-time friend of the Blues Moon with Clair DeLune radio show and has appeared live in the WUSC studio many times. Everyone was looking forward to his next visit, but we knew we had to compete with the lure of the Delta for the talented musician's time.

His family roots were Deep Delta. I heard the sad news just before five p.m. from his cousin, the talented artist Norwood Creech, from Lepanto, Alabama, who had learned of it from Jennifer Mathus, who is married to Jimbo Mathus, who collaborated on Jeff's last CD, Push Pilin'.

Jeff called me about 18 months ago, when he was ready to name the CD and asked my thoughts on his suggested names. I thought Push Pilin' was a great name, and feel honored he eventually chose the one I thought was the best - although they were all good choices - some were less suitable for airplay. Something tells me some of the more audacious ones he tossed out for my consideration were designed solely to elicit a reaction. Jeff was always controversial and pushed people to think hard, pay attention and get their voices heard on issues that were important to society.

Jeff was proud of his work and his collaboration with Jimbo Mathus on the Push Pilin' CD, which he recorded down in the Hill Country of Mississippi. He debuted it live on Blues Moon Radio prior to its release. There was no hint that would be his last visit to the studio to sing, laugh and rant a bit about the vagaries of life and politicians.

Jeff was volatile, talented, opinionated, vibrant, deeply touched by life and, in return, always left a big imprint on whomever he came into contact with. He lived life "large" as they say... and he truly left this world too soon.

He is missed, personally and professionally. Our hearts go out to his family, which includes a wife and beautiful young daughter, and a grown son from a former marriage as well as many cousins and other family members who are as shocked as I am to learn of his passing at such a young age. Jeff Norwood leaves a big hole in the Carolina music world, and in the world of Blues.

So long, my friend...
Clair DeLune

Blues Moon Radio playlist for Sept. 20, 2011 - RIP Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

 We welcome Blues music fans to tune in from 6-8 p.m. Eastern Time (USA; -5GMT elsewhere) at http://wusc.sc.edu (best to catch the stream and get set up just prior to show time - although we have increased our streams, they are still limited). 

Clair DeLune has hosted the Blues Moon Radio show since 1990. She is a writer, editor and public relations professional who is also a professor of music history and has taught courses in Blues History, History of Rock and Roll; Jump, Swing and Boogie-Woogie; and Women in Popular Music of the 20th Century at the University of South Carolina. Her articles on music, public relations and the media, health and lifestyle issues have appeared in books and magazines. 

Blues Moon Radio playlist

Sept. 20, 2011

RIP Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

Note: there will be a tribute to the Muddy Waters' Band in tonight's show in honor of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith who passed away this week of a stroke.

Our hearts go out to his family, friends and many devoted fans. We are awed by his contribution to music and for being in the most influential Chicago Blues Band of all time.

Starting out tonight's show is some new music:

Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo - Boom Boom

Whiteboy James and the Blues Express - Night Train Wine

And now for some songs that tie in to the Chicago Blues sound, specifically the seminal sound that Muddy Waters originated.  Coming up next are some numbers by others that influenced, or pay direct homage or owe a debt to McKinley Morganfield and his band.

Willie Dixon - Jungle Swing

Maxwell Street Jimmy - Someday Baby

Big Bill Broonzy - Baby Please Don't Go

Paul "Wine" Jones - Goin' Back Home

Electric Mud Band - Mannish Boy

Carey Bell and Lurrie Bell - Rollin' and Tumblin'

Muddy Waters' Tribute Band with Jerry Portnoy - Muddy's Shuffle

And now for the man and his band, with an ear tuned to heaven because he's just had another long-time member join him up yonder:

Muddy Waters - Trouble No More

Muddy Waters - You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

Muddy Waters - Hard Day Blues

The rest of the show is a mix of material that just sounded good to me in the early part of this week, so I thought I'd share these songs with you all.

Jimmy Johnson Blues Band - Ain't That Just Like a Woman

Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets - Backstroke

Time for some Boogie-Woogie instruction, all you Blues-chirren!

Sir Charles Thompson - Mister Boogie

Clarence Moore and Curley Weaver - Baby Boogie Woogie

Billy Branch and James Cotton - T.D.'s Boogie Woogie

And now the women-folk are going to make pretty music for you...

I had the oldies tuned in on a trip this weekend and heard Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe," which - as sappy as I am - still makes me tear up a bit, so we are featuring a Blues song about the famous Tallahatchie River - where the preacher saw a girl who "looks a lot like you and Billie Joe McAllister were throwing something off the Tallahatchie Bridge."

Ruthie Foster - Woke Up This Mornin'

Rory Block - Fixin' To Die

Mattie Delaney - Tallahatchie River Blues

Next week we will feature Jon Shain in an interview -

To keep with the river theme, we might have time for the following song from his new CD to get you in the frame of mind for that interview:

Jon Shain Trio - Yadkin River Blues - The Kress Sessions

Finally, if we have time, we will feature songs that I'd hoped to have time for in earlier shows - there just never seems to be enough time to fit it all in!

Thank you all for tuning in... you can reach me at:

FACEBOOK - Blues Moon Radio (page) and Clair DeLune (personal)

Twitter - @BluesMoonRadio

Blog - bluesmoonradio@blogspot.com

WUSC - http://wusc.sc.edu

E-mail - bluesgoddess AT gmail dot com

End of an era ... Blues Moon Radio for Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tuesday's show contained old and new music and was tinged with a great deal of sadness because of the death of every Blues fan's friend: the last living original Delta Bluesman, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, who went to his maker as he rested peacefully early Monday morning in Chicago.

As difficult as it is to learn of the passing of someone whom one has met and admired, there is additional grief at the end of an era. We paid tribute to Honeyboy by playing some of his songs and stories on Blues Moon Radio.

I've had the rare pleasure of seeing Honeyboy play live a number of times and the absolute thrill of meeting him and interviewing him once, as well. I was scheduled to see him again late last winter. I awoke sick that morning, but still made the four-hour drive to North Carolina to see him in Chapel Hill. By showtime, I was in misery - made worse by the fact that Honeyboy had canceled the show because of health issues, but the venue had not notified ticket holders of the cancellation. They refunded our money and I remarked to my companion that I hoped this did not bode ill for Honeyboy's ability to continue to appear and play. I never regretted my decision to "bottle up and go," as it were, to the town near where that song originated, but I paid dearly for my decision to muddle through - I was seriously ill and mostly bedridden for two months afterwards and coughed constantly for two more.

Sadly, the cancellation did bode ill for Honeyboy. He canceled shows for health reasons all through the spring. His retirement from touring was announced a scant couple of weeks before his death. That was the second feeling of dread I experienced. I fervently hoped he had regained his health and was going to spend his time as he wished, with none of the road-weary travel that is so much the part of the life of a Bluesman.

Alas, he never played live again and didn't live much longer... but let's think... how many of us love what we do so much that it would bring us joy to work until the very last of our lives? And how wonderful to live to the age of 96 with such good health that we could work until the few months before passing?

That is a success story - and for a person who was raised in a time when money was so hard to come by; and in a profession that is closest to farming in terms of being "feast or famine" income-wise... he was a "rock-star" of Blues. Honeyboy never seemed to seek the spotlight, but oh-so-many knew of him and about him. I have never heard an unkind word about the man. He was unassuming and small in stature, but HUGE in heart. He filled a room with his smile and his music.

So - how is it we can be so sad at the end of such a wonderful life? Because when we love, we want more. We never want that person to go away; and we love the Blues as well as the original Bluesmen. Honeyboy was among the last of this musical treasure trove who brought us this wonderful, uniquely American music that has become an ambassador for the USA in a time where our country's honor could use a little shining up.

When the tears fall, they fall for us... not for Honeyboy ... who LIVED a LIFE as big as a mountain - he learned guitar from Tommy Johnson (who influenced Charley Patton, who influenced Robert Johnson) and was close with Robert Johnson, and told me that he was surely one of the last to see him alive - the day before he passed away. He was one of the lone icons left of what was and can never be again.

Music moves on; genres change, ebb and flow and sometimes go quiet. We cannot recreate what was... only be inspired by it to make the music that must come next. It might be good, but it will never be the same.

Bless you, Honeyboy - and thanks. Rest well, good man. Rest well.

Clair Delune
Blues Moon Radio
Columbia SC USA

9/1/2011

Alright, Blues lovers, tonight is the show we have waited all year for - the Clair DeLune Blues Moon Radio Christmas and Holiday special. Christmas Blues is one of my favorite niche categories and tonight I will be extending the normal showtime by an hour to fit in an amazing mix of Blues, Swing and Jazzy tunes to make your holiday bright.


WUSC-FM is an educational station sponsored by the University of South Carolina, where I taught music history and have done a Blues radio show for twenty years. Tune in from 6-9 p.m. (U.S./ET; which is -5 GMT for you Cool Yule International cats and kittens).

We Webstream at http://wusc.sc.edu/, so click that link, then follow the listening links. It's a good idea to test the signal in advance just in case you might have to download some software to listen because you don't want to miss a minute of the music - only one song has been played before on the show - the rest are new to me (and possibly to you!). Yes, kids, "Christmas in Jail," by the Youngsters, is the perennial fave that MUST be a part of every holiday show. I wouldn't dream of depriving you of the quintessential Blues Christmas song - the most requested song each year.


Blues Concert Calendar
I enjoyed the Jam Room's Christmas Party at Hunter Gatherer last night (love the Capitol City Playboys and Drink Small) and got to see so many friends I had not seen in ages - especially Portland's newest Cola-Town expatriates, Amy and Carl Singmaster, who are sorely missed here.

I also recommend that those of you who are in S.C. head out to see some great acts:
Friday - Toni Spearman doing a rare stateside concert to raise money for homeless children - Greenwood, SC
Friday - Flat Out Strangers and Hick'ry Hawkins pairing up to dazzle at the White Mule (Main St. Columbia)
Saturday - The amazing Drink Small - a S.C. legend - appears at Utopia, which is catty-corner behind the Rite Aid on Rosewood Drive in Columbia.

e-mail me at bluesgoddess@gmail.com if I'm missing something!

Sad Blues News
Sending special prayers of love and strength to our dear friend, Nicole Hart, who lost her beloved husband, Lance Ong, a week ago. There is a memorial to raise money to offset their huge medical bills tonight in New Jersey. Please go if you can, but you can donate regardless if you wish: Lance Ong Benefit http://www.prlog.org/10430770-lance-ong-benefit-december-15th-2009-at-mexicali-blues-1409-queen-anne-road-teaneck-nj.html.

Her CD, Treasure, is a treasure, so if you'd like to help her and get a great CD, I highly recommend it (I'm not affiliated in any way - totally independent recommendation).

I was unable to do my show, or provide any warning about its cancellation last week, because of the sudden death of my Aunt Patsy, who was as beautiful a soul as any I have known, much like my own Mother. I apologize to those who tried to tune in or check for updates. I was "off the Wi-Fi grid" during my trip with no access to modern contrivances.

I'll be hoping you are tuned in tonight. That's my Christmas wish... that and for you and yours to have a safe, happy and prosperous holiday and 2010!

Clair DeLune, Blues Moon Radio and RockyDawg, Blues Defender!

"Izzit snowin', Mama?"

Follow me on Twitter (BluesMoonRadio)

Friend me on Facebook - Clair DeLune (the one with the picture of me and the DAWG).

Blues Moon Radio Playlist and info Nov. 3, 2009

Tribute to Norton Buffalo

Norton Buffalo - Is It Love
Roy Rogers/Norton Buffalo - Ain't No Bread in the Bread Box
Roy Rogers - Black Cat Bone

Pinetop Perkins - Ida B.
Robben Ford - Lovin' Cup

Paul Butterfield Band - Born in Chicago
Elvin Bishop - remarks on the Butterfield Band
Elvin Bishop - Shady Lane b/w So Glad You're Mine
Elvin Bishop - remembers the Fillmore

James Cotton - Lightnin' b/w Superharp
George Thorogood & the (Delaware) Destroyers - Madison Blues b/w One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Maria Muldaur - It's a Blessing
Chris Cain - Movin' Back to Memphis b/w Pick Up the Tab

Sonny Terry - I'm a Stranger Here
Taj Mahal - Senor Blues
Duke Robillard - My Plea

Again, my sympathies to the family and dear friends of Norton Buffalo, and to his fans. He will be missed.

New music segment of Blues Moon follows...

Bobby Jones - Mystery Train
Coco Montoya - Sending Me Angels
Nicole Hart - Heart Trouble

Thank you all for tuning in... such a sad event, but perhaps we can focus on the great joy our musical heroes provide for us all ... always in our hearts and minds.

Take care of yourselves, and each other... See you on Facebook and Twitter and the Blog - until next week on the air!
Clair DeLune

Artist of the Week - Norton Buffalo, RIP

Absolutely saddened at the news of the death of Norton Buffalo, harmonica player extraordinaire, who died this week at an early age from cancer.

My heart goes out to his wife, Lisa Flores, who is a beautiful lady and musician. It is clear from his Web posts to fans that Norton loved her very dearly; and one look at her photos will provide the evidence why - she emanates such a beautiful vibe, and so did he.

Condolences to his entire family and friends as well. His career spanned five decades and he has played with so many great Bluesmen and women it is a terrible loss to the music world - and not just Blues... Norton played with rock greats such as Steve Miller and the Doobie Brothers - and even had a role as a private in Heaven's Gate.

As Norton enters Heaven's Gate now, with the burgeoning rock and Blues bands welcoming him with open arms (and some open tuning, too, I imagine!) we on earth will miss him and pay tribute in our small way.

The Blues Moon with Clair DeLune was proud to call Norton a friend, and will dedicate Tuesday's show as a tribute to Norton Buffalo, and the artists he played with through the years.

We'll start with two from Norton, then play some from his longtime partner, Roy Rogers, then go on to many of the artists he is pictured with on his Web site, such as Pinetop Perkins, robben Ford, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Elvin Bishop (with some remarks about the PB Band and days at the Fillmore with Bill Graham), James Cotton, Goeroge Thorogood, Maria Muldaur, Chris Cain, Sonny Terry, Taj Mahal, and Duke Robillard.

I'd be pleased if you would join us. Tune in Tuesday from 6-8 ET/USA at http://wusc.sc.edu for the Blues Moon Radio Show.

The Blues Moon Radio Show Tuesday, July 7, 2009

This edition of the Blues Moon with Clair DeLune is dedicated, with love, to my niece - Flair DeLune (better known to her family and friends as Annie) - who passed away July 5 after a brave fight against cancer.

I hope you hear the show, Annie... you are loved and missed, angel.

Tonight's show opens with a surprise guest, the Reverend Marv Ward. His new CD has debuted, Love Like You Never Been Burned, and is available on www.cdbaby.com. He'll be appearing this Friday at the Greenwood Blues Cruise (in Greenwood, S.C. USA). It's a weekend of Blues, BBQ and fun! Hope you can go. Here is what Shrimp City Slim has to say about it:

"9th annual GREENWOOD BLUES CRUISE
Thurs-Sat, July 9-11 Greenwood, SC
Part of the South Carolina Festival of Discovery
http://www.greenwoodbluescruise.com
Info: 864-942-8448
Blues club crawl, featuring great national and regional talent:
JOHNNY RAWLS, RANDY MCALLISTER, THE NOUVEAUX HONKIES, DRINK SMALL, LIGHTNIN' WELLS, ELLIOTT & THE UNTOUCHABLES, HITMAN, TAD WALTERS, WANDA JOHNSON & SHRIMP CITY SLIM, REV. MARV WARD, DAVIS COEN.
Also: BBQ cook-off, folk arts & crafts, kids' zone, and nearby attractions (Revolutionary War battlefields, hiking, fishing, historic district).
MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT! Real-deal blues & boogie in a small-town Southern atmosphere. Greenwood is approx one hour from Columbia, SC, two hours from Charlotte, two hours from Atlanta, three hours from Charleston."

Tonight's playlist is organic, so keep clicking your refresh button to see the updated song listings appear.

And, hey, if you love someone - let them know.
clair delune

Marv Ward Interview; then played Old Mule & Railroad Call (from new CD)

Eddie Turner - Cost of Freedom
Janiva Magness - Freedom is Just Beyond the Door
Mildred Anderson - I'm Free
Electric Flag - Killing Floor
Tommy Johnson - Canned Heat Blues
Billie Holiday - Summertime

Blind Lemon Jefferson - Dry Summertime Blues
Roosevelt Sykes - Third Degree Blues
Charles Brown - Let the Sunshine in my Life

J.D. Short - Slidin' Delta
Johnson's Jazzers - Down in the Delta
New Legacy Duo - Delta

Steve Freund - Jumping at Shadows
James Harman Band - Jump My Baby
Mumbles - Jumpin' Blues

Hound Dog Taylor - Sitting Here Alone
Howlin' Wolf - Sittin' On Top of the World
Matt Walsh - Sit and Wonder

Delbert McClinton - Standing on Shaky Ground
Little Joe Blue - Standing on the Threshold
Bessie Smith - Standin' in the Rain

Drink Small - I Stand Accused
Tinsley Ellis - Can't You Lie
Elvin Bishop - Can't Lie to Me
Nappy Brown - Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleepin'
Johnny Rawls - Can't Sleep at Night
Lonnie Johnson - I Can't Sleep Anymore
Lowell Fulson - Sleeper
The Paladins - Who's Been Sleepin'

Guitar Reed - Don't Say a Mumblin' Word
Ella Johnson - If You Would Only Say You're Sorry
Angela Strehli - Say It's Not So
Lightnin' Hopkins - What Did I Say

Thanks for listening to the Blues Moon with Clair DeLune, dedicated this week to little Flair DeLune. Annie, although I'll always remember you as a 12-year-old girl doing a fine job of announcing on the Blues Moon as Flair, you get on up to heaven and start talking me up... it might take a while to persuade the gatekeeps to let me slide on through, angel, and I'm looking forward to dj'ing with you again - sorry we missed our beach trip.

Lots of love,
Aunt Clair

Playlist for tribute to Koko Taylor

Playlist for tribute to Koko Taylor

Keep It Tuned_Koko Taylor

Koko Taylor_Wang Dang Doodle_Great Tomato Blues Package Disc 2
Koko Taylor_Honkey Tonkey_I Got What It Takes
Koko Taylor_Big Boss Man_Evidence Blues Sampler
Koko Taylor_Don’t Mess With the Messer_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_Insane Asylum_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_Bring Me Some Water_The Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection Disc 1
Koko Taylor_Fire_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_If the Price Is Right_Double Crossing Blues
Koko Taylor_Twenty-Nine Ways (to my Baby’s Door)_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean_I Got What It Takes
Koko Taylor_What Kind of Man Is That?_Chess Blues Disc 4
Koko Taylor_Love You Like a Woman_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_I’m a Woman_Blues Masters, Vol. 9- Postmodern Blues
Koko Taylor_Trying To Make A Living_I Got What It Takes
Koko Taylor_He Always Knocks Me Out [-]_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_I’m a Little Mixed Up_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_I Got What It Takes_Alligator Records 35X35 Disc 1
Koko Taylor_Love Sick Tears [-]_Koko Taylor [Bonus Tracks]
Koko Taylor_That’s Why I’m Crying_I Got What It Takes
Koko Taylor_Wang Dang Doodle_Atlantic Blues- Chicago

Blues Moon Radio playlist - It's Mardi Gras!

Welcome to the Mardi Gras edition of the Blues Moon radio show... and laissez bon temps roulez!

We'll start the show with some Louisiana music, then some authentic Mardi Gras music - and we'll be paying tribute to Blind Snooks (Fird) Eaglin, who passed away this week. He'll be missed.

Illinois Jacquet - Bottoms Up
Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
Lightnin' Slim - I'm Tired of Waitin' Baby
Charles Sheffield - It's Your Voodoo Working
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's keep that voodoo spell spun.... here's
Tabby Thomas - Hoodoo Party
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - I don't know why (but I do)
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Little Suzy
Lazy Lester - I hear you knockin'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guitar Gable - This Should Go On Forever
Guitar Gable - Congo Mambo (for Mickey the Dawg)
Slim Harpo - Rainin' in my Heart (also for Mickey, the Harmonica-Harmonizin' Dawg)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul Gayten - Nervous Boogie
Jimmy Anderson - Naggin'
Silas Hogan - Trouble at Home Blues
Joe Hudson and his Rockin' Dukes - Baby Give Me a Chance
Baby Boy Warren - Not Welcome Any More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eddie Bo - Oh Oh
Jay Nelson - Don't You Want a Man Like Me
Sugar Boy Crawford - Jock-A-Mo
The Hawketts - Mardi Gras Mambo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beausoleil - Bon Temps Rouler
Mardi Gras Indians - Showdown...
Beau Jocque - Alle Parti Pour Voi Beau Jocque
The Meters - Look-Ka Py Py
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good night and have a great Ash Wednesday...

Tune in again next Tuesday - 6-8 p.m. on http://wusc.sc.edu or 90.5 FM and HD1 Columbia...
clair

Best laid plans...

Well, I apologize.

I went to all that prep and stayed up notifying my entire e-mail list all around the globe about the Tribute to Dad... and WHAT? I arrive at the station to find the Web stream is down.

Down? Why, it's never down. (ummm... almost never).

If I didn't know better, I'd think Dad was razzin' me from above. He never did like my kind of music, so he's probably ditching my show and hoping I'll sub out a tribute to him in the old Swing music. Maybe I will, soon...

... if he'll stop messin' with the Web stream...

I'm jes sayin'...

Again, my apologies for the big tease for a no show (literally).

Next week I'll try again, but our show times for the Fall have yet to be announced. I'll post the time here as soon as I know and I'm saving the show for next time.

Until then, maybe God will ask Benny Goodman to play for my Dad and Mom... that dreamy music they loved.

Thanks to everyone who has written to send condolences and love. My heart is full. Good friends, all.

... don't just feel love... express it...

Special Edition of the Blues Moon for Daddy

I try to make every edition of the Blues Moon personal because the Blues is personal music and there is always someone I'm thinking of, or some event, when I plan my show each week.

But this edition of the Blues Moon is very personal - and sad - because it is the tribute to my father that I tried to make last week, right after he died, but just couldn't. And this week I have jammed enough songs in to last the entire show, except for required station IDs, because I don't think I'll be able to announce the songs.

So, instead of waiting until after the show to post the songs, as I usually do, I'll post them a day ahead and you all can follow along as the songs are played.

This week the songs will be from top to bottom (usually they list from the bottom to the top). Since I'm not grabbing them from the Internet log, they'll read in order from the top to the bottom. Confused yet? Welcome to my neighborhood.

My Dad was amazing. Brave, stalwart, honest, brilliant and accomplished. Not always the sweetest person, but he had a real soft spot for a lot of things (his granddaughter, dogs and sometimes -- when I didn't drive him crazy -- even me!) and the last couple of decades we spent getting real close; ending with a period of time where I took care of him a great deal of the time and that brought us even closer.

I thank God that my brother and I were able to be there on his last day on this earth. I miss him so much and will live my life in tribute to him and my beloved Mother, who was so sweet and dear.

Dad did so much that I'll never expect to measure up to his accomplishments, but I'll work hard to try to as a tribute to him. I promised him I would not be sad always.

Thanks for listening. Tell the ones you love how you feel. You will never regret it.

Dad's Tribute Show, Part 1


















Dad's Tribute Show, Part 2



















Dad's Tribute Show, Part 3

Sean Costello, RIP

Another blow to the Blues community Tuesday when firebrand guitarist and gritty singer Sean Costello passed away April 15, 2008 -- just one day before his 29th birthday.


His record label, Delta Groove, issued the following statement:
"Sean was not only a member of the Delta Groove musical family, he was also a friend, and words cannot express the sorrow we feel at having to say goodbye so soon. As blues music fans, we unfortunately grow somewhat accustomed to the sadness of the inevitable passing of musical elders after long and fruitful careers.

"Losing someone as young, vibrant, and talented as Sean, who had accomplished so much in just a few short years and still had so much potential, is a terribly difficult blow, not only to those who knew him personally, but for the music community as a whole.

"He had been unanimously praised as one of the main torch-bearers of the blues flame for the coming generations, and now that potential will go sadly unfulfilled."

Our hearts go out to his loved ones.