Robin Rogers

 

 

Guitarist, singer, and harmonica ace Robin Rogers' life was full of hard knocks and sad turns, along with a few delightful coincidences, and she earned the right to sing the blues the tough, old-fashioned way, but sadly, she lived for only a short time after gaining her widest recognition as a solo artist. As a runaway teen in the late '60s she scratched out an existence however she could, sometimes sleeping in parks and abandoned cars as she bummed around the country to places like Richmond, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Coconut Grove, Florida. Eventually she was picked up by the authorities and placed in reform school. When she was released at the age of 15, she went back to her nomadic ways, and soon had developed serious addictions to drugs and alcohol. She also started singing, taught herself guitar, and began performing at house parties, on street corners, and in coffeehouses. In 1979 Rogers relocated to South Florida and recorded for the Sal Soul imprint, settling in Ft. Lauderdale for ten years and eventually kicking her addictions in 1989. A year later in 1990 she moved to North Carolina, where she met her husband, guitarist Tony Rogers. The two began performing as an acoustic blues duo with Rogers turning more and more attention to her harp playing. Producer and drummer Jim Brock heard the duo and recorded a debut album, 2001's Time for Myself, with them. Now working with a full band, which included her husband on guitar, Rogers signed with the 95 North label and released 2004's Crazy Cryin' Blues, which was again produced by Brock. She signed with Blind Pig Records in 2008. Her first album for the label, Treat Me Right, appeared later that year. Back in the Fire followed in 2010, debuting at number three on the Billboard blues album charts, but Rogers learned she had inoperable liver cancer just before the album was released. She died from the cancer on December 17, 2010 at the age of 55.

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation

 

In the year 1967 appeared in the United Kingdom, led by drummer Aynsley Dunbar, the group The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, a blues rock band completed by…

Guitarist and vocalist John Morshead
Bassist Keith Tillman
Keyboardist and singer Victor Brox.

Dunbar (born in Liverpool on January 10, 1946) was by this time a seasoned drummer, having worked his way through John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and played with major blues names such as Champion Jack Dupree.

With his new project, from which Tillman dropped out shortly to be replaced by Alex Dmochowski, he debuted on Liberty Records with the LP “The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation” (1969).

The same year 1969 appeared "Doctor Dunbar's Prescription" (1969).

After this last work came the addition of keyboardist Tommy Eyre (born July 5, 1949), who had already played on "Retaliation aka To Mum From Aynsley and The Boys" (1969), his peak album and the most popular of his discography.

After this album, Aynsley left his bandmates, as did Eyre, and created Aynsley Dunbar's Blue Whale in the 1970s, recording a self-titled progressive rock, blues, and jazz rock album at Warners.

The remaining components wanted to continue with the band and recorded “Remains To Be Heard” (1970), a worthy LP that went unnoticed through record stores, which caused the definitive breakup of the group.

Dunbar later played in Journey and Jefferson Starship, also collaborating on recordings by Frank Zappa, Whitesnake, Yoko Ono, Flo & Eddie, Ian Hunter and David Bowie.

Tommy Eyre passed away in the Californian city of Los Angeles on May 23, 2001. He was 51 years old.

http://www.aynsleydunbar.com/

Reverend Raven

 

You know I hate these cookie cutter bios. I know they are necessary but you are only as good as last night's gig. I really haven't done anything special except open and meet B.B. King, play and sometimes headline at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago for 20 years and have the honor of backing up Madison Slim for 10yrs.  Playing with great guys like R.J. Mischo, Cadillac Pete Rahn, Benny Rickun, PT Pedersen SC, Bobby Lee Sellers Jr, Big Al Groth, Bryan Lee, Billy Flynn, Pat Hayes and all the guys in my band present and past. Guys like Rick Holmes, Chico Johnson, Devil Roberts, Diesel, Evil Evans, Craig Panosh, Kern, Barefoot Jimmy, Frankie Panosh, Chuck Might, Mickey Larson, Benny Rickun many more. I get to go to festivals and see my heros, friends like Perry Weber, Jim Liban, Billy Flynn and get paid for it. That is cool. I've been blessed with great love, good friends and family and the ability to earn a living playing guitar and standing on chairs and tables. If I can put a smile on your face and get you to shake your rear end I've done a good job.

Now here is the standard one:

Born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago.  After 16 year hitch in the Navy, Chief Raven moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz, Rod Piazza, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healy, Trampled Underfoot, Mike Zito, Nick Moss, Tommy Castro and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy’s Legends where he has been on rotation as a headliner for 20 years.

 https://reverendraven.com

Mike Dugan

 

 

Mike Dugan has been lighting up stages and studios for over four decades. He is known up and down the East Coast as a master guitarist, bandleader, composer, and instructor. Mike has shared the stage with such legends as BB King; Robert Cray; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; and his personal hero, Les Paul.  His albums have received worldwide critical acclaim, and his guitar mastery has won him a loyal international following. Once an audience hears Mike Dugan play, they never forget him!

 http://mikedugan.com/

New releases on JAM 66 Radio

 From this week, JES MARIE, MARTIN MAYER, MIHO WADA, ROB ALEXANDER and many others on JAM 66 Radio. Many new groups and artists every day on the radio. Listen on this site or through your favorite players on the right column.

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones

 

The band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones is in one of the moments of highest recognition of its long career. After completing 4 decades of their way of understanding Blues in 2017, for Sugar Ray & The Bluetones 2018 is a year of full enjoyment. Already in 2016 they were nominated by the Blues Foundation of Memphis as the Blues Band of the Year, and Mike Welch, Anthony Geraci and “Mudcat” Ward received a new nomination on their respective instruments, bringing a total of 26 to the Music Awards obtained by the Bluetones, as well as seven Grammy nominations awarded to its members. Few bands can hold awards size. Among other accomplishments, the band recorded two albums with Chicago harmonica giant Big Walter Horton and toured as a backing band for blues legends Otis Rush, Big Joe Turner, J.B. Hutto, Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Roosevelt Sykes, Junior Wells, and many more.

In 2012 Sugar Ray & The Bluetones were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Sugar Ray Norcia has been the driving force of the Bluetones since their inception and is considered one of the most powerful and influential blues vocalists, harmonica players, and songwriters of this generation. A three-time Grammy nominee, SRN has received 22 Music Blues Award nominations, winning two of them in 2014. He has also appeared on more than 60 CDs with musicians and bands such as Roomful of Blues (where he was a vocalist), Otis Grand or Pinetop Perkins. In 2016, he and his band released a CD on Severn Records called “Seeing Is Believing,” for which he was nominated for an unprecedented seven 2017 Music Blues Awards, including Traditional Blues Male Artist and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

Little Charlie's bio is no less impressive and can only be succinctly summed up. In 1976, together with Rick Estrin, he formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats and supported huge artists such as Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Floyd Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Gatemouth Brown, Pee Wee Crayton, in addition to presenting their own shows in festivals across the United States. Charlie's versatility and elegance is recognized by all, which has led him to record 10 albums with Alligator, 3 albums with John Hammond in Point Blank (all 3 nominated for Grammys), and to be a guest on albums by Joe Louis Walker, Kid Ramos, Mark Hummel and others. In 2008 Baty decided to leave The Nightcats and concentrate on many other projects, such as the recording of the CD Remember Little Walter, nominated for a Grammy and which won two Blues Music Awards, for Best Blues Record of the Year and Best Traditional Record of the Year. In addition to following his interests in gypsy jazz by leading the Little Charlie Caravan, Baty continues to develop and define his style of guitar playing and his many influences have resulted in a truly unique voice in the world of music.

Bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward recorded and backed bluesmen like J. Geils, Jimmy Rogers, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and Rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef. His recording with Hubert Sumlin also included Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Levon Helm, and is part of the more than fifty recordings in which he participated. Drummer Neil Gouvin has been with Sugar Ray since they were in Jr. High School together, and has been on every Bluetones recording. He has also participated in a CD with John Hammond Jr. called Found True Love (Virgin) which was nominated for a Grammy, and has made multiple recordings with Otis Grand, Joe Houston, and other great artists.

Sugar Ray & The Bluetones are:

Sugar Ray Norcia: Harmonica and vocals

Little Charlie Baty: guitar

Michael “Mudcat” Ward – double bass

Neil Gouvin – drums

http://www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com

Homemade Jamz Blues Band

 

 

Homemade Jamz Blues Band’s (HJBB) unique sound and style is a product and compilation of the trio’s hunger and thirst for the music (blues) that they so love. Their passion and dedication has proven to be electrifying and energetic to witness. HJBB’s astounding sound blends Mississippi, Chicago, and Contemporary juke joint blues that will surely get you on your toe tapping, knee bending, and foot stomping stance, copping the gritty slickness of the former and the dirty soul of the latter—never betraying its authors’ age. The trio exudes nothing but confidence and attitude as they sing of betrayal, love, hard times and other bad things gone down as if they've lived a life rich in strife. They are sure, a veritable blues explosion poised to continue making the big sound.

HJBB started in Baumholder, Germany.  Young Ryan found a Stratocaster copy among dad’s, (Renaud Perry’s) bags and wanted it. A week later, Ryan had composed a short instrumental tune, (which he’d play at his school talent show) and was playing along to commercials. When the family relocated to Tupelo, MS, the passion stayed with him. Returning home, Ryan, dove head first into the blues.  “I heard and emulated B.B. King, Albert King, Jimmie Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he recalls.  Having found his passion and direction, Ryan progressed like tenfold.

Ryan Perry, now 23, the oldest of the trio, has vocals that are mind blowing and beyond his years.  It’s almost as if he was an old soul, reincarnated into a new generation of the blues.  Some of his early music influences are Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, BB King, and Junior Kimbrough, while modern blues influences includes the likes of the late Michael Burks, Bernard Allison, and Gary Clark, Jr.  Ryan has managed to captivate and mesmerize the minds and hearts of his followers with his raspy and gritty vocals.  His electrifying and soulful guitar picking is sure to entice and seduce your most inner soul.

Two years later, Ryan was joined by little brother Kyle, then nine years old, wanted in on the action.  Kyle, now 20, first took up piano and guitar before he found his calling playing the bass, teaching himself the nuances of the instrument, and its role in the blues. Before long, he was performing with his brother Ryan in small venues and local restaurants, as confident as any wizened old pro and digging his role. “[I] keep the timing and lock down the beat along with the drummer, which allows the lead guitar player to do his own thing while everyone is juking to the beat.”

Little sister Taya, then seven years old, was not going to be left out.  Her determination to give the drums a shot came after Ryan and Kyle reluctantly allowed her to play along during practice.  Taya, now 16, already possessing a rhythmic sense from playing tambourine, settled onto the stool, and in no time was providing the beat behind Ryan and Kyle.  Learning by ear, she taught herself the beat and rhythm that binds the complete sound of the trio.  “I love being a drummer, especially being a girl drummer. I feel energetic when I’m playing the drums,” she says.

It’s likewise energizing and invigorating to watch Homemade Jamz perform; the exhilarating trio was a hot ticket, and well on their way to becoming one of the youngest blues bands actively traveling the blues music trail. Ryan’s raspy, gruff vocals along with visceral, stinging, guitar licks, Kyle’s solid rumble and Taya’s cool stomp have electrified festival goers across the country, Canada, Europe, Legendary Blues Cruise, and music festivals all over. 

The trio saturated their local media, appearing numerous times in several local papers and national blues magazines, and on local and national TV—including feature segments on CBS Sunday Morning Show, The Today’s Show, The Monique Show, and The Tavis Smiley Show.  As well, HJBB won the 3rd Annual MS Delta Blues Society of Indianola’s Blues Challenge (2006), were the youngest band ever to compete in the 23rd International Blues Challenge (2007), taking 2nd in a field of 93 seasoned bands, youngest blues band to sign with a major blues label (NorthernBlues Music) (2008), and the youngest Blues Music Award Nominees for Best New Artist (2009).  

 http://www.allsaintmalohotels.com/hmjamzbluesbandcom/