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RICK ESTRIN & THE NIGHTCATS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, THE HITS KEEP COMING, ON MAY 10, 2024
3/11/2024

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Alligator Records will release The Hits Keep Coming, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, modern blues legends Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

RICK ESTRIN & THE NIGHTCATS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, THE HITS KEEP COMING, ON MAY 10, 2024


First Album In Almost Five Years From "The Best Band Anywhere" (DownBeat)

Lyric Video For New Song, The Circus Is Still In Town, Premieres Today 

       
                                                            

This band is the best in the land…superior songwriting infused with wit, humor, and streetwise insights, traditional and adventurous grooves, impeccable musicianship, creative arrangements, harmonica tutorials and savvy production…funky and original…always fresh and vital.”
—Blues Music Magazine 
 
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are a formidable force. They sound better than ever [playing] stellar rockabilly, jazz, blues and rock, often in the same song, creating a unique, time-tested sound rooted in the past, bolstered by harpist/vocalist Estrin’s time-warping original compositions.”
—No Depression 
 
“Estrin defines his own brand of hip. Original blues and vintage rock-style tunes also harbor his superb harmonica work. Estrin emotes with just the right mix of kitsch and sincerity. The current litter of ‘Cats, including guitarist Kid Andersen, reigns as the best band anywhere.”
—DownBeat
 
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are America’s greatest musical showmen…foot-stomping, wise-cracking contemporary songs, a combination of rockabilly, jazz, blues, rock, and big band swing. Estrin is a world class musician…the most colorful and entertaining showman around.”
—Forbes 

 

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Alligator Records will release The Hits Keep Coming, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, modern blues legends Rick Estrin & The NightcatsThe Hits Keep Coming, the band's sixth release, packs a powerful punch, with phenomenal musicianship and streetwise lyrics—both serious and humorous. Vocalist, harmonica master and songwriter Estrin, along with multi-instrumentalist/musical mastermind/producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, keyboardist/organ wizard/bassman Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin, have created what Estrin calls, "the best music we've ever made together. This band is killer. I’m enjoying this all more than ever,” says the man who’s been performing and recording professionally since the early 1970s. “It’s a blessing—there’s so much energy, so much collaboration. The band is just so good right now. And the live show is off the charts.”

The first song released from The Hits Keep Coming is an album highlight, The Circus Is Still In Town. The musically rambunctious, lyrically harrowing song premieres today on all major streaming services and also via a new video. According to Estrin, "This one's special to me. It's got a catchy hook, an infectious groove, and ironically, some grim subject matter." 

Produced by Andersen at his legendary Greaseland USA studio in San Jose, California, the album captures the band’s chemistry and magic in what is certainly among their strongest and most urgent releases so far. The Hits Keep Coming is modern blues at its most potent, intense and fun in all the right places, as Rick Estrin & The Nightcats deliver twelve groove-heavy, hard-hitting songs, including ten written or co-written by Estrin and two surprising covers (one obscurity from Muddy Waters, one from Leonard Cohen that Estrin would have liked to have written). From the foot-stomping opener Somewhere Else, to the stark reality of the title track (with backing vocals by The Sons Of The Soul Revivers), The Hits Keep Coming is a lyrical and musical tour-de-force.  

In addition to Estrin’s celebrated songwriting and peerless blues harmonica playing, he and the band are among the most entertaining and colorful showmen around. Estrin’s signature streetwise vocals and hipster-cool look, Andersen’s eye-popping, off-the-cuff guitar pyrotechnics, Farrell’s mighty organ, piano and bass work and D’Mar’s dynamic, acrobatic drumming make every one of their live performances a must-see event.

Over the years, Estrin has won a total of seven Blues Music Awards, including awards for Song Of The Year, Traditional Male Blues Artist, Instrumentalist—Harmonica, and twice, the prestigious Band Of The Year (for Rick Estrin & The Nightcats). The band has performed at festivals and concert stages from San Francisco to Chicago to New York, and everywhere in between. They've toured extensively in almost every country in Europe, as well as in Australia, Turkey, Russia and South America.

“People don’t go out to see people who look like themselves,” says Estrin. “They want to see something special. I was schooled in this business to be a showman, and that’s what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us.”

The Chicago Sun-Times declares, “These are serious musicians having a hotter than hot good time. It’s tough to stay in your seat when Estrin and his musical cohorts get cooking.” As No Depression says, “This is a band that always delivers the goods.” 

 

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BLUES AND SOUL ARTIST W.C. CLARK NOVEMBER 16, 1939 — MARCH 2, 2024
3/7/2024

W.C. Clark, the guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter known as “The Godfather Of Austin Blues,” died on March 2, 2024, of natural causes. He was 84. 

BLUES AND SOUL ARTIST W.C. CLARK NOVEMBER 16, 1939 — MARCH 2, 2024

W.C. Clark, the guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter known as “The Godfather Of Austin Blues,” died on March 2, 2024, of natural causes. He was 84. He released eight albums and performed countless live shows. But he was famous not only for his own music, but also for mentoring an entire generation of younger Austin blues artists, including Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton. He was a prolific songwriter, including co-authoring Stevie’s classic song Cold Shot. As The New York Post declared, Clark was “a legend of the blues world.”
 
Born Wesley Curley Clark, his career spanned more than seven decades, starting with his first performance at the age of 16. He became a stalwart in Austin clubs before leaving to tour with soul star Joe Tex in the mid-1960s.
 
Upon his return to Austin in the early 1970s, he found the city exploding with young blues talent. He formed the band Southern Feeling with vocalist Angela Strehli and guitarist Denny Freeman. He then formed The W.C. Clark Blues Revue, which shared stages with James Brown, B.B. King, Sam and Dave and Bobby “Blue” Bland. In 1977, Clark joined Stevie Ray Vaughan in the Triple Threat Revue, with Lou Ann Barton as the other featured vocalist.
 
Celebrating Clark’s 50th birthday in 1989, the critically acclaimed PBS television show Austin City Limits brought Clark together with his disciples Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli and Will Sexton, in front of a live audience. The broadcast, one of the series’ most popular, brought Clark to the attention of a national audience for the first time.
 
Clark made his recording debut with the album Something For Everyone on Drippin’ Records in 1987, followed by signing with New Orleans’ Black Top label. He recorded three albums for Black Top, Texas Soul, Heart Of Gold and Lover’s Plea. He then joined the roster of Chicago-based Alligator Records in 2002, releasing From Austin With Soul and 2004’s Deep In The Heart. He began doing extensive national touring and was hailed and celebrated by the blues press. Blues Revue magazine called his music “modern Texas blues at its best…soothing, sweet-as- molasses soul and flashy, jumped-up roadhouse blues. As a vocalist, he’s untouchable.” Living Blues magazine said, “W.C. Clark has it all…everything from good old rock ‘n ’roll and gritty R&B to strutting Memphis soul, second-line funk and contemporary blues.” 
 
Tiring of the road, Clark returned to performing primarily in Texas. He played as many as four nights every week as a solo performer and weekends with the W.C. Clark Blues Revue. He self-released two independent albums, 2011’s Were You There and 2018’s W.C. Clark. He was honored with induction into the Texas Songwriters Association’s Music Legends Hall of Fame in 2020. He also received a Special Citation of Achievement presented by BMI in recognition of the great national popularity as measured by over one million broadcast performances attained by Cold Shot.
 
W.C. Clark’s last show was a solo performance on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. He was hospitalized on Thursday, February 22 and moved to the Christopher House (Hospice Austin) on Monday, February 26.
 
W.C. is survived by his brothers Daniel Shelby, Charles Shelby, Joseph Shelby, and Willie Shelby, and his sisters Mary Ward and Lois Manor, his daughter Brittany Mays and six grandchildren. 
 
Funeral services will be March 14, 2024, at Grant Chapel AME Worship Center, 1701 Kramer, Austin, TX. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service beginning at 11 a.m. Clark will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

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JJ GREY & MOFRO’S NEW ALBUM OLUSTEE RELEASED TODAY ON ALLIGATOR RECORDS
2/23/2024

Today, JJ Grey & Mofro unveil their highly anticipated new album, Olustee, on Alligator Records. The album marks their first release in nearly a decade and first-ever release produced by Grey. With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with characters from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul.

JJ GREY & MOFRO’S NEW ALBUM OLUSTEE RELEASED TODAY ON ALLIGATOR RECORDS

 
First Album In Nearly A Decade And First-Ever Produced By Grey
 
Two-Month Headlining Tour Beginning March 6 Includes Performances At Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN), Riviera Theatre (Chicago), Capitol Theatre (Port Chester, NY) And More

 

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

"Abundantly talented singer, guitarist, harmonica man, gritty-voiced JJ Grey delivers tuneful originals, funky good times, sinuous ballads, gospel and Southern rock spiced with moments of pure jazz …a pleasure."
—MOJO
 

 

Today, JJ Grey & Mofro unveil their highly anticipated new album, Olustee, on Alligator Records. The album marks their first release in nearly a decade and first-ever release produced by Grey. With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with characters from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul.
 
JJ Grey spoke on the inspiration behind the title track saying, "My grandfather was from the area immediately to the south of Olustee. "Olustee" the song is a compilation of a couple different stories I’ve heard, plus my own experience getting caught in a wildfire."  Watch the lyric video for “Olustee” here.
 
JJ Grey & Mofro have also announced a massive, months-long tour headlining iconic venues across the US, including The Ryman in Nashville, The Riviera in Chicago, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, among many others. Concert dates are below. JJ Grey & Mofro are also set to return to The St. Augustine Amphitheatre for their annual performance at the Blackwater Sol Revue May 25 & 26. The shows will feature JJ Grey & Mofro, Lucero, American Aquarium, Satsang, Smokestack, The Allman Betts Band, G Love & Special Sauce, Anders Osborne (duo), and Kendall Street Company. Tickets to all shows are available here: www.jjgrey.com/tour. As part of the Olustee World Tour, the band will perform in the UK and the Netherlands before joining Blues Traveler for a selected number of Western U.S. dates.
 
Songs released early from Olustee include “Wonderland”, "The Sea" and Rooster.” The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single,” Wonderland,” to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, “Deeper Than Belief.” Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time. 
 
JJ Grey has also just launched Rolling Rooster, his own bourbon brand, in partnership with St. Augustine Distillery, that combines elements of his new album with his love for bourbon.  More info available here: https://www.jjgrey.com/rollingrooster



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JJ GREY & MOFRO ANNOUNCE UK AND NETHERLANDS DATES AS PART OF THE "OLUSTEE WORLD TOUR"
2/20/2024

On Tuesday, February 20, renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey, leader of JJ Grey & Mofro, announced UK and Netherlands dates on the band's "Olustee World Tour."

JJ GREY & MOFRO ANNOUNCE UK AND NETHERLANDS DATES AS PART OF THE "OLUSTEE WORLD TOUR"


New Album Olustee – Grey’s First In Nine Years And First Self-Produced Album – To Be Released February 23rd On Alligator Records 
                                                

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

"Abundantly talented singer, guitarist, harmonica man, gritty-voiced JJ Grey delivers tuneful originals, funky good times, sinuous ballads, gospel and Southern rock spiced with moments of pure jazz …a pleasure."
—MOJO
 

 

On Tuesday, February 20, renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey, leader of JJ Grey & Mofro, announced UK and Netherlands dates on the band's "Olustee World Tour." JJ Grey & Mofro will perform June 12, 13 and 14 in the Netherlands, and June 15, 17 and 18 in the United Kingdom.

Grey couldn't be more excited about these dates "It’s been almost a decade since we've played there y’all! We can’t wait to finally get back to the land of a million accents and the only place on earth to have a real cuppa and a proper fry-up! UK massive!"

The new album, Olustee (with cover art by Grey), is set for February 23rd release on Alligator Records. This is Grey's first album in nine years, and the first he has self-produced. Popular UK national broadcaster Jazz FM has declared Olustee their "Album Of The Week" starting February 19. 

On Olustee, the North Florida-born and bred artist sings his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with lifelong friends, often mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless originals, spun from his own life and experiences in the swampland, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.

Grey has released three singles from the album"The Sea," “Rooster," and most recently, "Wonderland". AllMusic says JJ Grey’s music is “as authentic as the ground under your feet, because that’s where it comes from -- just before it moves, simply and directly, through the body of the listener, into the human heart.”

 
TRACK LIST
1. The Sea
2. Top Of The World
3. On A Breeze
4. Olustee
5. Seminole Wind
6. Wonderland
7. Starry Night
8. Free High
9. Waiting
10. Rooster
11. Deeper Than Belief

With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single, "Wonderland," to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, "Deeper Than Belief." Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time. 

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MAVIS STAPLES' HAVE A LITTLE FAITH TO RECEIVE DELUXE 20TH ANNIVERSARY RECORD STORE DAY REISSUE
2/15/2024

On April 20, 2024, Record Store Day, Alligator Records will release the deluxe 20th Anniversary 2-LP vinyl reissue of soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples' landmark 2004 release, Have A Little Faith.

MAVIS STAPLES' HAVE A LITTLE FAITH TO RECEIVE DELUXE 20TH ANNIVERSARY RECORD STORE DAY REISSUE


"Have A Little Faith was the beginning of my solo career. That’s why I’m here today...
Every song on Have A Little Faith comes straight from my heart." –Mavis Staples

Originally Released In 2004 On CD Only -- Have A Little Faith 
Ignited Mavis' Solo Career 
 
Now Available For The First Time As A Remastered 2-LP Set Pressed On Silver Vinyl In Deluxe Gatefold Jacket With Expanded Artwork

Featuring A Newly Written Remembrance By Mavis Staples  

       
                                                            

"One of the finest albums of Mavis' career...blues-tinged gospel about making the most of troubled times, a message Staples has been delivering her entire life."
–The Chicago Tribune

"A glorious album...filled with the kind of gutsy, emotional performances that have defined Mavis Staples' stellar career."
–Billboard

On April 20, 2024, Record Store Day, Alligator Records will release the deluxe 20th Anniversary 2-LP vinyl reissue of soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples' landmark 2004 release, Have A Little Faith. The album, when first released, sparked Mavis' solo career and launched her into the musical mainstream.

Have A Little Faith is an exhilarating collection of timeless, uplifting songs deeply seated in Mavis’ faith and spirituality. It has now been remastered and will come in a deluxe gatefold jacket with expanded artwork. The set also features a spirited remembrance of how the record came to be by Mavis herself. The two 12-inch records, pressed on silver vinyl, will spin at 45 rpm, and will deliver the best possible sound.

Mavis possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family gospel group, The Staple Singers, to her storied solo recordings, Mavis Staples is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music.

So it was surprising, upon the passing of Mavis' father -- family patriarch and Staple Singers leader Pops Staples -- in 2000, that Mavis' future was uncertain. She self-financed and recorded her own solo album, and after being turned down by major labels unable to see the commercial appeal of this legend’s fresh, genre-busting approach to spiritual music, it was embraced by Alligator Records. The label's unbridled enthusiasm in working the album to press, radio and the public helped Mavis fulfill her dream and ignite her solo career.

Upon release, Have A Little Faith brought Mavis' powerful music and message songs into the 21st century. From the positive and uplifting title track to the spiritual fervor of God Is Not Sleeping to the reinterpretations of Staple Singers classics Will The Circle Be Unbroken and A Dying Man's Plea (with Mavis singing lead on these two songs for the first time), the album re-introduced the world to Mavis Staples.

"I was a Staple Singer," Mavis remembers in the album's new liner notes. "I wasn’t no Mavis Staples, the solo artist. But, all of a sudden, I was so busy with interviews and television shows and radio stations and concerts. That was a shock to me, because I started asking myself, 'Now how long can this last?' Because they were playing that record everywhere, and the record sounded pretty good!"

Ever since the release of Have A Little Faith, Mavis has been embraced by new generations of fans through her collaborations with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Run The Jewels, Neko Case, Ry Cooder, Justin Vernon and many others. On April 18 in Los Angeles, an all-star 85th Birthday Party concert celebration will take place at the YouTube Theatre, featuring some of today's biggest musical stars, including Chris Stapleton, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Norah Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Michael McDonald, Keb’ Mo’, Nathaniel Rateliff, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal and others. This is a testament to the far-reaching, ongoing influence of Mavis Staples, and the lasting impact and beauty of Have A Little Faith

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TINSLEY ELLIS' NEW ALBUM, NAKED TRUTH, RELEASED TOMORROW, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
2/8/2024

Today, Thursday, February 8, Relix magazine premieres the new video for the song Death Letter Blues. Originally recorded by blues icon Son House, Tinsley's take on the blues classic was produced by fellow Atlanta blues guitar slinger, Eddie 9V.

TINSLEY ELLIS' NEW ALBUM, NAKED TRUTH, RELEASED TOMORROW, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9


Relix Magazine Premieres New Video For "Death Letter Blues" Today,
Thursday, February 8  

       
                                                            

An exciting, emotional guitarist and a strong, evocative songwriter…One of modern blues’ greatest performers.
—Vintage Guitar

A legend of American blues music…An American music treasure…Ellis delivers a sermon on the power and glory of the blues.
—Premier Guitar

Powerful, spine-tingling guitar and gritty, soulful vocals.
 —Relix

 

On Friday, February 9, Atlanta-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis' new album, Naked Truth, will be released on Alligator Records. On Naked Truth (his 21st album), Ellis swaps his blistering, guitar-fueled full band performances for equally passionate, soul-searching acoustic folk blues. His famed guitar chops and musical creativity are on full display throughout the album’s 12 songs, including nine newly written originals.

Today, Thursday, February 8, Relix magazine premieres the new video for the song Death Letter Blues. Originally recorded by blues icon Son House, Tinsley's take on the blues classic was produced by fellow Atlanta blues guitar slinger, Eddie 9V.

Of the song, Ellis says, "Son House’s Death Letter Blues is one of the greatest Delta blues songs of all time. It has been the centerpiece of my acoustic performances for a long time. Eddie 9V’s gritty, low-fi production gave it the perfect hard edge. On this song I’m playing my 1937 National O series steel resonator guitar with a brass slide."

Naked Truth is steeped in the folk blues traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke. To the casual fan, this might seem to be a new direction, but for Ellis, it’s an extension of his music, as he taps into the raw essence of the blues. “This is a record I’ve always wanted to make, and one that my longtime fans have been asking for,” he says, noting he’s included an acoustic mini-set in his concert performances for years. In the last 12 months, Ellis has already performed over 100 solo shows, many as co-bills with his Alligator label-mate Marcia Ball. “I’m having so much fun playing these shows,” he says.

According to Relix, "Naked Truth jockeys between impassioned in-the-moment spontaneity and a studied craftman's sense of nuance."

Ellis' massive, months-long solo-acoustic Naked Truth tour kicks off in Decatur, Georgia on Friday, February 9. "Two guitars and a car,” he says of the simplicity of his North American touring situation. “When folks come to see me, I’ll have the guitars I used on the record with me, so what fans hear on the album is what they’ll get live."

Naked Truth was produced by Ellis, with the foot-stomping cover of Son House’s Death Letter Blues produced by Atlanta roots musician Eddie 9V. The album was recorded live in the studio using Ellis’ beloved 1969 Martin D-35 (a gift from his father) and his 1937 National Steel O Series guitars. Whether intricately fingerpicking the Martin or playing hair-raising slide on the National Steel, Ellis delivers each song with unvarnished intimacy.

According to Ellis, “In this format  there’s a new depth to the emotion of my music. When it’s just you, your voice and your guitar, you have to deliver raw, honest emotion to your audience. You can’t just give them volume, energy and exciting playing. The audience has to feel what you’re putting into the song and has to believe you. When I play and sing in the solo acoustic format, there is truly nowhere to hide. I can’t hide behind a loud, distorted guitar. I can’t hide behind a drum beat or a bass line. It’s just me and my instrument, stripped bare of the other players and their various instruments. In a way, it’s a form of confession. It’s the artist’s most honest musical statement of his or her songs.”  

Naked Truth is a revelation. Stripped of the electric fervor that defined his previous works, Ellis' acoustic music carries a rawness that speaks directly from his soul. The songs unveil another side of Tinsley Ellis, but one that is totally recognizable to his fans. His gruff, full-throated vocals intertwine seamlessly with the bare, acoustic arrangements, creating an album that is both timeless and immediate. No Depression says, “Ellis shines. When the tempo slows, the intensity doesn’t waver.” Blues Music Magazine states, “Tinsley Ellis is a powerful and commanding presence. His music is impossible not to enjoy.” Rolling Stone declared, "His eloquence dazzles.”

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JJ GREY RELEASES NEW SINGLE "WONDERLAND"
1/26/2024

Today, (January 26th) renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey unveils a new song, "Wonderland," from his upcoming album Olustee, which is set to release on February 23rd on Alligator Records. 

JJ GREY RELEASES NEW SINGLE "WONDERLAND"


Forthcoming Album Olustee—JJ’s First in Nearly a Decade and First Self-Produced Record—Out February 23rd on Alligator Records
 
JJ Grey & Mofro Set to Embark on Headlining Album Tour Across US 
                                                

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

The swami of swamp rock…JJ Grey is a North Florida sage and purveyor of the funkiest swamp rock the world has ever heard…Chicken-scratch guitar and bone-deep songs.
—Oxford American

Today, (January 26th) renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey unveils a new song, "Wonderland," from his upcoming album Olustee, which is set to release on February 23rd on Alligator Records.JJ Grey & Mofro have also announced a massive, months-long tour headlining iconic venues across the US, including The Ryman in Nashville, The Riviera in Chicago, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, among many others. Additionally today, Grey unveiled a new, animated video for "Wonderland."
 
"Wonderland" has already had great reception with radio with 13 adds at Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative), and 14 adds on Americana making it the #2 most added single at Americana and #1 highest debut on Americana singles chart.
 
On Olustee, Grey's first self-produced album, the North Florida-born and bred artist sings his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with lifelong friends, often mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless originals, spun from his own life and experiences in the Northern Florida swampland, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.
 
JJ Grey spoke about "Wonderland" saying, "When I was younger it was so hard for me to write a song about simple happiness. This song is almost like a post-it note for me, there to remind me that every day is the first day of my life." Last month, Grey released the first two singles from the album, "The Sea" and Rooster. AllMusic says JJ Grey’s music is “as authentic as the ground under your feet, because that’s where it comes from -- just before it moves, simply and directly, through the body of the listener, into the human heart.” 

 
TRACK LIST
1. The Sea
2. Top Of The World
3. On A Breeze
4. Olustee
5. Seminole Wind
6. Wonderland
7. Starry Night
8. Free High
9. Waiting
10. Rooster
11. Deeper Than Belief

MORE ON OLUSTEE: With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single, "Wonderland," to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, "Deeper Than Belief." Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time. 

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ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 27 BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINATIONS
1/25/2024

On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Alligator Records artists received an astounding 27 nominations.

ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 27 BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling Leads All Artists With Seven Nominations, Followed By Christone "Kingfish" Ingram With Five

Selwyn Birchwood Receives Four Nominations

The Cash Box Kings And Billy Branch Each Receive Two Nominations

Shemekia Copeland, Coco Montoya, Lil' Ed Williams, Carolyn Wonderland, Chris Cain, and Christoffer "Kid" Andersen and Derrick D'Mar Martin (both of Rick Estrin And The Nightcats) Each Receive One Nomination

On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Alligator Records artists received an astounding 27 nominations.

Leading all artists with seven nominations is Chicago's Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling. Nominations include the coveted awards for Band Of The Year, Album Of The Year (for Get Your Back Into It!) and Song Of The Year (for The Bait In The Snare). Harmonica player Dennis Gruenling and band bassist Rodrigo Mantovani each received an individual nomination as well.

GRAMMY Award-winning artist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram followed with five nominations, including Album Of The Year, Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for the GRAMMY-nominated Live In London) and Song Of The Year (for Midnight Heat). Additionally, he's up for Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar.

Visionary bluesman Selwyn Birchwood received four nominations, including Band Of The Year, Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for Exorcist), Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year (for Horns Below Her Halo).

Blues legend Billy Branch received nominations for Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Best Instrumentalist -- Harmonica. The Cash Box Kings received one for Album Of The Year (for Oscar's Motel) and one for Best Instrumentalist - Drums for Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith.

Chicago blues icon Lil' Ed Williams (of Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials) received a nomination for the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award.

Internationally beloved guitar master Chris Cain, blues rocker and vocalist Coco Montoya and Texas guitarist Carolyn Wonderland received one nomination each. Guitarist Kid Andersen and drummer Derrick "D'Mar" Martin (both of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats) also received one nomination each.

The 45th Annual Blues Music Awards will be held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 9 at The Renasant Convention Center.

Alligator artists and their nominations follow  

Band Of The Year
Album Of The Year (Get Your Back Into It!)
Traditional Blues Album Of The Year (Get Your Back Into It!)
Song Of The Year (The Bait In The Snare)
Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year (Nick Moss)
Best Instrumentalist -- Harmonica (Dennis Gruenling)
Best Instrumentalist -- Bass (Rodrigo Mantovani) 




Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Song Of The Year (Midnight Heat)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar 







Band Of The Year
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (Exorcist)
Song Of The Year (Horns Beneath Her Halo)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year 

 

 





Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Best Instrumentalist -- Harmonica  

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Blues Album Of The Year (Oscar's Motel)
Best Instrumentalist -- Drums (Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith) 

 

 

 

 



Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar (Christoffer "Kid" Andersen)
Best Instrumentalist -- Drums (Derrick "D'Mar" Martin) 

 

 







Best Instrumentalist -- Vocals  

 

 

 





B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year -- (Lil Ed Williams) 







 

 

Blues Rock Album Of The Year (Writing On The Wall

 

 

 

 

 


Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year 

 

 

 






Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year 

 






 

 

 

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GRAMMY-WINNER CHRISTONE "KINGFISH" INGRAM ANNOUNCES FIRST SET OF DATES FOR 2024 "MOR FISH" TOUR
1/23/2024

GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram announced plans for the initial leg of his 2024 "Mor Fish" Tour. Kicking off on February 16, the announced headlining and festival dates run through April 6, with more dates to be added.

GRAMMY-WINNER CHRISTONE "KINGFISH" INGRAM ANNOUNCES FIRST SET OF DATES FOR 2024 "MOR FISH" TOUR


Guitarist, Vocalist And Songwriter Also Drops New Radio Single, Not Gonna Lie, From Grammy-Nominated Album, Live In London 

   

 

Kingfish is a new blues superstar… a guitar phenom who has been updating the blues for this century...he draws frequent comparisons to Hendrix, Clapton, and B.B. King...a thoroughly modern bluesman updating the music in sound as well as subject matter.—60 Minutes 

Kingfish is one of the most exciting young guitarists in years, with a sound that encompasses B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.
—Rolling StoneIngram plays guitar with dramatic, searing tone and sure-handed authority. And that’s just in the studio; he’s even scarier live.—NPR Music
GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram announced plans for the initial leg of his 2024 "Mor Fish" Tour. Kicking off on February 16, the announced headlining and festival dates run through April 6, with more dates to be added.

“I'm excited to get back out on the road with my “Mor Fish” tour. I think we have some really great stuff teed up musically for the audience, so this tour will definitely bring even more to the stage,” said Ingram. “I’m also looking forward to a few good friends joining me to open up these dates. All will be fun!”

Joining Kingfish on select tour dates will be three stellar, Blues Foundation-honored musicians: Houston, TX-based Mathias Lattin (2023 International Blues Challenge Band Winner and winner of the “Albert King Award" for Best Guitarist), Brazilian-born, Los Angeles, CA-based Artur Menezes (2018 International Blues Challenge winner of the “Albert King Award" for Best Guitarist), and St. Louis, MO-bred Dylan Triplett (2023 Blues Music Awards Best Emerging Artist Album winner).

Kingfish's latest album, Live In London, is currently nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the Contemporary Blues category. All three of Kingfish's albums – 2019's Kingfish, 2021's GRAMMY-winning 662, and now Live In London – have received GRAMMY nominations.

Not Gonna Lie, one of the most blistering musical and vocal performances on Live In London, was delivered to radio this week as the next single. The song first appeared on Kingfish's GRAMMY-winning album 662, and was reworked for his Live In London album performance. Not Gonna Lie is the follow up single to Midnight Heat, which reached chart success at the adult rock Triple-A format, roots-leaning Americana radio and college radio.

 

Rolling Stone, in naming Kingfish one of the 250 Best Guitarists In The World, said, "Kingfish’s playing evinces not just a startling fluency, seamlessly integrating an entire century’s worth of licks, but also a freshness that can make it feel like you’re hearing a searing blues solo for the first time. He’s a rare 21st-century guitar hero, and the undisputed future of the blues.

In addition to his GRAMMY nomination, Kingfish recently appeared on CBS Television's flagship news program 60 Minutes in an in-depth 10-minute segment. He also performed on the UK tastemaker television show Later...With Jools Holland. Further, he appeared in a nationally broadcast Jack Daniel's commercial.

Live In London is available at all streaming and download services, and can be experienced in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal and Qobuz. Exclusive bundles of the LP and CD sets with official merchandise from the concert are available on the Kingfish website, along with his signature Fender Kingfish guitar.

Kingfish has released two videos from Live In London, Midnight Heat and Hard Times




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TINSLEY ELLIS ANNOUNCES MASSIVE 2024 NAKED TRUTH SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR
12/12/2023

On Tuesday, December 12, Atlanta-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis announced the first set of dates for his massive, months-long 2024 Naked Truth solo acoustic tour.

TINSLEY ELLIS ANNOUNCES MASSIVE 2024 NAKED TRUTH SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR


Ellis' First Solo Acoustic Album, Naked Truth, Set For February 9 Release 

       
                                                            

An exciting, emotional guitarist and a strong, evocative songwriter…One of modern blues’ greatest performers.
—Vintage Guitar

A legend of American blues music…An American music treasure…Ellis delivers a sermon on the power and glory of the blues.
—Premier Guitar

Powerful, spine-tingling guitar and gritty, soulful vocals.
 —Relix

 

On Tuesday, December 12, Atlanta-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis announced the first set of dates for his massive, months-long 2024 Naked Truth solo acoustic tour. On Friday, February 9, Alligator Records will release Naked Truth, Ellis' first-ever solo acoustic album. That same night, he'll kick off the tour in the nearby Decatur, Georgia club, Eddie's Attic, before hitting the road. "Two guitars and a car,” he says of the simplicity of his North American touring situation. “When folks come to see me, I’ll have the guitars I used on the record with me, so what fans hear on the album is what they’ll get live." 



Naked Truth is steeped in the folk blues traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke. To the casual fan, this might seem to be a new direction, but for Ellis, it’s an extension of his music, as he taps into the raw essence of the blues. “This is a record I’ve always wanted to make, and one that my longtime fans have been asking for,” he says, noting he’s included an acoustic mini-set in his concert performances for years. In the last 12 months, Ellis has already performed over 100 solo shows, many as co-bills with his Alligator label-mate Marcia Ball. “I’m having so much fun playing these shows,” he says.

On Naked Truth (his 21st album), Ellis swaps his blistering, guitar-fueled full band workouts for equally passionate, soul-searching acoustic folk blues. His famed guitar chops and musical creativity are on full display throughout the album’s 12 songs, including nine newly written originals. Naked Truth was produced by Ellis, with the foot-stomping cover of Son House’s Death Letter Blues produced by Atlanta roots musician Eddie 9V. The album was recorded live in the studio using Ellis’ beloved 1969 Martin D-35 (a gift from his father) and his 1937 National Steel O Series guitars. Whether intricately fingerpicking the Martin or playing hair-raising slide on the National Steel, Ellis delivers each song with unvarnished intimacy.

According to Ellis, “In this format  there’s a new depth to the emotion of my music. When it’s just you, your voice and your guitar, you have to deliver raw, honest emotion to your audience. You can’t just give them volume, energy and exciting playing. The audience has to feel what you’re putting into the song and has to believe you. When I play and sing in the solo acoustic format, there is truly nowhere to hide. I can’t hide behind a loud, distorted guitar. I can’t hide behind a drum beat or a bass line. It’s just me and my instrument, stripped bare of the other players and their various instruments. In a way, it’s a form of confession. It’s the artist’s most honest musical statement of his or her songs.”  

Naked Truth is a revelation. Stripped of the electric fervor that defined his previous works, Ellis' acoustic music carries a rawness that speaks directly from his soul. The songs unveil another side of Tinsley Ellis, but one that is totally recognizable to his fans. His gruff, full-throated vocals intertwine seamlessly with the bare, acoustic arrangements, creating an album that is both timeless and immediate. No Depression says, “Ellis shines. When the tempo slows, the intensity doesn’t waver.” Blues Music Magazine states, “Tinsley Ellis is a powerful and commanding presence. His music is impossible not to enjoy.” Rolling Stone declared, "His eloquence dazzles.” 

 

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JJ GREY RELEASES "ROOSTER" FROM NEW ALBUM OLUSTEE
12/1/2023

On Friday, December 1, renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey will premiere his intoxicating new song, "Rooster," the second track released from his upcoming album, Olustee.

JJ GREY RELEASES "ROOSTER" FROM NEW ALBUM OLUSTEE


"Rooster" Is The Second Track Released From Olustee

First Album From JJ Grey & Mofro In Nine Years
And The First Album Grey Has Self-Produced — Set For February 23, 2024 Release

Massive Tour To Follow 

       
                                                            

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

The swami of swamp rock…JJ Grey is a North Florida sage and purveyor of the funkiest swamp rock the world has ever heard…Chicken-scratch guitar and bone-deep songs.
—Oxford American

 

On Friday, December 1, renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey will premiere his intoxicating new song, "Rooster," the second track released from his upcoming album, OlusteeOlustee will be released on Alligator Records on February 23, 2024 on CD, LP and at all digital services. JJ Grey & Mofro have also announced a massive, months-long tour to follow. Grey previously released five groundbreaking albums on Alligator between 2007 and 2013.

On Olustee, Grey's first self-produced album, the North Florida-born and bred Grey sings his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with lifelong friends, oftentimes mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless originals, spun from his own life and experiences in the Northern Florida swampland, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.

Talking about "Rooster," Grey says, "I grew up with chickens all of my life. We had a rooster once named Jim-Jim who was a natural born badass. He was an absolute gentleman with the hens. He always called them to food, made sure the young ones got back in the coop before dark (our chickens roamed free), and never roughed the hens or other young roosters up. When the time came he ran at the danger instead of running away and paid the ultimate price (which was no price to him at all) to save his family. Reminds me of the men I grew up with." 

Last month, Grey unveiled the album's lead track, "The Sea." Nationally syndicated radio program Acoustic Cafe aired the song across over 120 stations around the country. Additionally, The Sea was the #1 Most Added song across the Americana radio format.

With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single, Wonderland, to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, Deeper Than Belief. Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time.

AllMusic says JJ Grey’s music is “as authentic as the ground under your feet, because that’s where it comes from -- just before it moves, simply and directly, through the body of the listener, into the human heart.”

Now, with Olustee, JJ Grey & Mofro will bring their music directly to fans as they also announce the first set of dates of the 2024 Olustee Tour, along with ticket purchase information. 

Tickets to the public are on sale now. Information on access to the "Olustee VIP Tour Experience" can be found here.   



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CHICAGO BLUES STAR TORONZO CANNON HOSTS “A BLUES CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION” AT NAVY PIER!
11/28/2023

Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon will perform in concert as part of A Blues Christmas at Navy Pier's Aon Grand Ballroom on Friday, December 15 with special guests, Alligator Records stars Shemekia CopelandBilly Branch and Lil’ Ed Williams as well as blueswoman Ivy Ford

CHICAGO BLUES STAR TORONZO CANNON HOSTS “A BLUES CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION” AT NAVY PIER!


Alligator Artists Shemekia Copeland, Lil’ Ed Williams And Billy Branch Also On The Bill, As Is Blueswoman Ivy Ford 

Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon will perform in concert as part of A Blues Christmas at Navy Pier's Aon Grand Ballroom on Friday, December 15 with special guests, Alligator Records stars Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch and Lil’ Ed Williams as well as blueswoman Ivy FordA Blues Christmas is a unique collaboration between Alligator Records and Navy Pier to celebrate the holiday season and the blues at this free one-night-only concert. The performance will include selections from Alligator’s famed holiday albums, Genuine Houserockin' Christmas and The Alligator Christmas Collection, along with other seasonal favorites reinterpreted through the lens of Chicago’s one-of-a-kind stylin’ of the blues. This concert marks the 20th anniversary celebration of the acclaimed Genuine Houserockin' Christmas album, originally released by Alligator Records in 2003. Additionally, on October 6, Alligator released the timeless blues holiday classic, The Alligator Records Christmas Collection on LP (red opaque vinyl) for the first time ever. It was originally released on CD only in 1992.


        
                                                            

Concert information is below:Remember -- Always Contact The Venue To Confirm Dates and Show TimesDate: Friday, December 15, 2023Venue: Navy Pier - Aon Grand BallroomAddress: 840 E. Grand Ave.City: Chicago, ILPhone: 800-595-7437Showtime: 7:00pmTicket price: Free admissionWebsite: www.navypier.org*See website for complete performance information

 

TORONZO CANNON

With the release of his Alligator Records debut, The Chicago Way in 2016, Toronzo Cannon burst onto the international stage as one of the most electrifying bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades. The Chicago Reader said, “Bluesman Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago’s finest string-bending storytellers.” He has played major cities all over the world, delighting and surprising audiences with one unforgettable gig after another. UK tastemaker music magazine MOJO named his latest album, 2019’s The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, the #2 Best Blues Album Of 2019. Blues Music Magazine says, “Cannon has all the fire and spontaneity of the Chicago legends. His songwriting is a timely and original look at the world, and his assertive voice is the perfect vehicle to deliver the message.”

 

 

 


SHEMEKIA COPELAND

Shemekia Copeland is the female blues artist of her generation, blessed with a cathartic voice and larger-than-life presence. Shemekia joined the Alligator family when she was only 18. Since then, she’s made nine sensational albums, been nominated for three Grammys, won over a dozen Blues Music Awards, appeared at the White House, opened for the Rolling Stones, and toured worldwide. Over the last decade, she’s been expanding her blues, bringing in strains of Americana and delivering songs with up-to-the-minute, socially conscious lyrics. The Chicago Tribune says, “Shemekia Copeland is the greatest female blues singer working today.” No Depression declares, “Copeland pierces your soul. This is how you do it, and nobody does it better than Shemekia Copeland.”







BILLY BRANCH

Since his 1978 debut on Alligator's Living Chicago Blues series, Billy Branch has earned a place among the world’s best blues harp players. He was mentored by Chicago’s harp royalty—James Cotton, Junior Wells and Carey Bell. They all considered him their successor as the Windy City’s next harmonica king. His all-star band, The Sons Of Blues, is among the premier blues bands anywhere. With hundreds of studio sessions and 15 albums of his own, including Alligator's Roots And Branches--The Songs Of Little Walter, Billy Branch is one of the most-recorded blues artists in the world. Living Blues says, "Billy Branch has cemented his place among the kings. Chugging, incessant blues and R&B...greasy, funky, howlin’ harp attack that really burns...wonderful, bold and surprising."

 





LIL' ED WILLIAMS

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, more than any other band now on the label, personify Alligator's original raw and raucous “Genuine Houserockin’ Music” spirit. Ed and his half-brother, bassist James “Pookie” Young, grew up on Chicago’s tough West Side. They learned the old school sound and style from their beloved uncle, famed Chicago slide guitarist J.B. Hutto, who had started recording in the 1950s. Michael Garrett and Kelly Littleton, blues pilgrims from Detroit, joined Ed and Pookie almost 35 years ago. They’ve been together ever since, delivering joyful boogies and serious slide-driven Chicago blues. The Chicago Tribune says, “Electrifying, raucous, pure Chicago blues….Lil’ Ed is a guitarist extraordinaire…slashing slide and flamboyant stage persona."

 







 

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