BackAlleyBlues

Jack Falk Project

Technorati Profile

Robert Leroy Johnson was born on May 8, 1911 to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. Until his late adolescence, his name was Robert Spencer after his stepfather, who had to change his name from Dodds to Spencer when he ran from Mississippi after a personal vandetta with the Marchetti Brothers (Lavere 7). Johnson took the name of his natural father as a teenager, even though he had not met him. Music was a long-time interest for Johnson, and his first instruments were the Jew's harp and the harmonica. Before he became seriously involved with the guitar, he married Virginia Travis in February 1929, and the young couple soon became expectant parents. But tragedy struck when Virginia, only sixteen years old, died in childbirth in 1930.

Around June of 1930, blues musician Son House came to Mississippi. His music deeply affected Johnson, for it was the "rawest, most direct pure emotion Robert had ever heard, and he followed House and [Willie] Brown wherever they went" (Lavere 11). But Johnson did not appear to be gifted with a musician's talent for guitar, as Son House asserts, "Such another racket you never heard! It'd make people mad, you know. They'd come out and say, "Why don't y'all go in there and get that guitar from that boy!" (Cobb 289).

Traditional Old-Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown and Song- Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky.

ARTIST: Source: Dennis 'Little Hat' Jones 'Kentucky Blues' recorded in San Antonio, Texas, on 14 June 1930 and issued as Okeh 8815. Note: the first four stanzas are from the transcription in Paul Oliver 'Songsters & Saints' Cambridge Uni Press 1999 p 70. The last stanza (omitted by Oliver) is my transcription from the reissue on Various Artists 'My Rough and Rowdy Ways Vol I' Yazoo CD 2039.

CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes; DATE: Early 1900’s;

Here are the lyrics to “Kentucky Blues/Lost John” from "Little Hat" Jones:

Well whiles we here tryin' to have our fun

'Spose the law jumped up and said, 'Nobody run!'

Well, you know I'm long gone, from Kentucky

Long gone, an' got away lucky

'Cause I'm gonna leave so keen

I'll be just like a submarine

Well, my woman poked her head out the window of the bed

Said, 'Please don't let them kill Mister Little Hat dead'

I said, 'No use worryin', sweet mama, I ain't gonna be here long'

Tell her not to sing this worryin' song

'Cause I'm gonna leave so keen

I'm gonna be just like a submarine

Well an officer, you know the man, they call him Austin Jack

Stopped and put the bloodhounds right on my track

'Cause the hounds they couldn't catch my scent

You know, they couldn't tell where Little Hat went

'Cause I left so keen

People, I was just like a submarine

Well here comes the Santa Fe just puffin' and flyin'

Oughta seen me when I reached up and caught them blinds

They said, 'There's another long gone - from Kentucky

Long gone - an' he got away lucky

'Cause he's ever so keen

He's just like a submarine'

I want to sing this song, ain't gonna sing no more

'Cause I'm leavin' San Antonio, I don't plan on coming here no more

Well, I don't play the dozen and neither the ten

'Cause you keep on talkin', I leads you in

Well you keep on talkin' till it makes me mad

Well I'll tell you 'bout the money that your father had

'Cause I don't play the dozen, I declare man, and neither the ten

Kelowna, British Columbia's Rick Halisheff - a.k.a. Poppa Dawg - turns in a solid set of traditional Blues penned by the excellent guitarist and singer.

'Nobody Here Feels Sorry For You' bounces between Hokum and Jump; 'Croc Talkin', a greasy, minor-key funk instrumental features some of the snarkiest wah tone ever waxed; and 'This Man' is a towering deep soul number. 'I Ain't Leavin' shuffles with Stevie Ray Vaughan power, '1, 2, Gone' swings like Ronnie Earl's best work and 'Cool Little Number' is reminiscent of Little Charlie and Rick Estrin's hipper stuff.

Hailing originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Rick 'Poppa Dawg' Halisheff has played for 20 yrs in a variety of bands and has backed up such artists as Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne, Michael Pickett, Harpdog Brown, Sherman 'Tank' Doucette, and Juno Award winner Dave Nicol.

For 10 years, he has been the bandleader and frontman for the very successful Western Canadian Blues band Dogskin Suit. In that time, they recorded 2 CDs, received airplay in Canada, and around the World including CBC's Saturday Night Blues and won numerous awards including Best Local Band 2001 & 2002 and an Honour In The Arts award.

They have shared the stage as opening acts and fellow musicians with Sonny Rhodes, Michale Pickett, Tony Coleman(BB King), Fathead, Frankie Lee, Johnny V, Jeff Healey, Jim Byrnes, Donnie McDougall(The Guess Who), Danny McBride(Chris DeBurg), Shirley King, The Powder Blues, Terry Edmunds and many others.

Poppa Dawg

poppa dawg my space

George Higgs was born in 1930 in a farming community in Edgecombe County near Speed, North Carolina ("a slow town with a fast name" as he is fond of saying.) He learned to play the harmonica as a child from his father, Jesse Higgs, who enjoyed playing favorite spirituals and folk tunes at home during his spare time. George got to catch the medicine showman and harmonica player Peg Leg Sam playing locally in Rocky Mount during the tobacco market season and he made a lasting impression on the young harp player. He was later attracted to the guitar as a teenager and reluctantly sold a favorite squirrel dog to a neighbor to raise funds to purchase his first. As a result of their close proximity the dog spent more time at George's home than at his new owner's, so he got to have the guitar and keep the company of his dog.

Acoustic Piedmont blues by George Higgs, a North Carolinian, who was inspired to take up the harmonica as a child after hearing Deford Bailey on the radio and seeing Peg Leg Sam at medicine shows and then learned to play guitar as a teenager.

f you could wrap Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee into one package, it would probably look like George Higgs. Not only does Higgs play blues on the guitar, but he also is an artist on the harmonica. While his songs are in the Piedmont Blues tradition, they have the melancholy flavor of Mississippi Delta blues. Born in 1930 on a farm near Tarboro, he learned the skills of farming from his father and later learned carpentry. As a child, he would listen to his father play spirituals, and "Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord" on his father's harp led him to begin thinking of following his father's model.

George Higgs Rainy day blues

buy your cd at cdbaby for george higgs

Bob has shared the stage and played with some of todays great blues artists. Most recently His band backed Superharp james cotton

He has opened for a number of major acts over the years from Ronnie Earl And Eddie Kirkland to Bobby Parker and Hubert Sumlin.

He was guitarist for Floyd Phillips and The Mudflaps for 3 years having formed the band with Floyd in 1998.

The band consists of Bob On guitar and vocals, Steve Pozz or Ron Howden on drums, Sandy Joren on bass. Also any number of the areas great blues musicians can be seen from time to time perfoming with the band.

As far as the blues go, this is the real deal check the schedule and check out the band.

Bob"The Breadman" Lanza has been playing theNY/NJ/PA. blues circuit for the last 20 years. The Cancellation Blues Band, Cruisin for a Bluesn', Fat Chance, The Bluzemonsters The Homewreckers,Big Daddy and The Wildcats and Floyd Phillips and The Mudflaps were a few of the bands he was involved with. Now he has formed his own band,

THE BOB LANZA BLUES BAND.

The band puts the best blues talent in the area, in the spotlight. Bob's energetic, blue guitar playing is backed up by some of the best blues players around!!!! Weather it be Ron Howden on drums or L'il Leroy (AKA Steve Pozz). Sandy Joren on bass, or Charlie Hilbert, or Randy Lippincott . Dave Homan on sax, Johhny Tu Tone on harmonica. These guys are the cream of the crop as far as blues go.

Bob Lanza Blues Band

Francine Calo has been playing & singing the blues for 30 plus years ... working with husband/guitarist Paul and with their old friend, "The Shuffle King" John Hoik on drums...this trio has groove to spare...their live shows have been lighting up clubs in the New England area ..... a winner in the Battle of the Blues Bands in '98' ....they've appeared with artists Sarah Brown, Shemekia Copeland, J.Geils, Magic Dick & Bluestime, Mose Allison, Bruce Katz,Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and The Nighthawks....

Fronted by powerhouse singer/bassist Francine Calo, this well seasoned trio will take you on a real soul journey......

They seamlessly move from torchy ballads to traditional chicago styles to flat out butt rockin' texas roadhouse blues and more....

With husband Paul Calo, powerful singer in his own right, on lead guitar, and rock solid drumming by The very funky Harley Walker, this band will inspire and move you.

Hop on the blues train with the Francine Calo Band......and enjoy the ride !

http://www.garageband.com/artist/FrancineCalo

Tony Deziel never stops making music.

A guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, he is meticulous, whether it is perfecting a guitar riff or working on a lyric.But then again, its always been that way. Ever since he first saw The Beatles on television, Deziel has been involved in music, whether playing, writing or admiring. He grew to love vocal harmonies and layered guitars, and used them in his own compositions as well as those he has written with other artists. In 1991, Deziel met Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special through a meeting arranged by a friend. After that initial meeting, Carlisi became Deziel's mentor, and Deziel began sending him tapes of his own compositions to critique and judge. Carlisi would respond by phone or by mail with his compliments and comments. This is something that to this day Deziel claims to be an invaluable asset to his work. However, Deziel doesn't do everything solo. In 1993, Deziel founded the Connecticut band Sundance. As a guitarist/vocalist, he is one of the principal songwriters in the band. Sundance released its first full-length album, "Pearls of Wisdom" in November 1995. The band was a popular draw throughout the Northeast, and could be heard on many radio stations. With the group Deziel was also the subject of a television special called "Behind the Scenes With Sundance".

Tony also collaborated with longtime friend Jason Elledge on Blackfoot’s 1994 Rhino Records compliation “Rattlesnake Rock ‘n Roll, the Best of Blackfoot”, featuring one of Tony’s all-time favorite guitarists; Rickey Medlocke.

Currently Tony is working on a new studio album scheduled for Fall 2005 release, as well as 2 CD Singles to be released in the Summer of 2005, and has recently had the privilege to play with longtime friend and former .38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi, former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King, drummer Liberty DeVito of Billy Joel’s band, and vocalist/guitarist Derek St. Holmes, formerly of Ted Nugent.

http://www.myspace.com/tonydeziel

http://www.tonydeziel.com/bio.html

Click the link to buy the new cd

PAPA JOE GRAPPA’S MIDLIFE CRISIS BAND

Papa Joe Grappa – Guitars, Vocals

Gerald Johnson - Bass. Definitely one of the funkiest bass players around. Gerald’s recorded with Dave Mason, Steve Miller and Steven Stills.

Gary Mallaber – Drums. Gary’s the drummer on Van Morrison’s “Moondance.” He’s also recorded with Steve Miller and Bruce Springsteen.

Marty Grebb – Electric Piano, Organ, Baritone and Tenor Sax. The multi-talented Marty has recorded with Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh and The Band. He was also the keyboard player in the hit band The Buckinghams.

The Sweet Inspirations – Portia Griffin, Estelle Brown and Myrna Smith, Elvis Presley’s backup singers from 1968-1977

Other Friends

Michael Fell – Harmonica, Dave McKelvey – Harmonica, Tom Petersen – Tenor Sax, Lee Thornburg – Trumpet, James Intveld – Acoustic Bass

BB Chung King (Alan Mirikitani) – Producer, Recording Engineer, Guitar

Biography

Papa Joe Grappa (Joe Medeiros) is the head writer of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Having started playing guitar at the age of 13 when The Beatles came out, Joe continued playing professionally into his 20s. Then he got married, settled down and gave up music to begin a career as a writer in advertising. He took a correspondence course in joke writing and got good enough to get a job with Jay Leno in 1988. Moving to LA in 1992, Joe rediscovered music through the LA blues scene. He put his comedy writing skills plus his love of blues and rock to good use in making his debut CD "Too White to Sing the Blues," which features some of the best session players in LA.

PapaJoe