Rocking through what is now album 10 in a 30 year career with the legendary Alligator Records, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials show no sign of slowing down. Though not as nimble as when he regularly performed back bends and toe walks, the energy and crunching houserockin' blues Lil' Ed Williams and his bandmates generate is as authentic as their late label mate Hound Dog Taylor. Reflecting on those three decades of recording and performing, Williams said he has lived his dream. “The funny

Danielle Nicole said flying solo after 15 years with her sibling band "Trampled Underfoot" had her a bit nervous. But when critical raves and a Blues Blast Music Award for her debut album "Wolf Den" rolled in, she said it was validating. "There was a lot of skepticism when "Trampled Underfoot" broke up and we went our separate ways. Our fans said we were so great together and wondered how we're going to do this apart. So it was pretty cool to be well received and to especially be nominated at

Pierre Lacocque is especially geeked about Mississippi Heat's just released album "Cab Driving Man." But to be fair, he was especially geeked about the band's last recording, 2014's "Warning Shot."

“Big Head Todd and the Monsters” built an audience for their rock/alt/pop/jam sound over 30+ years of touring, even landing a few songs and albums on Billboard magazine’s music charts. But blues music has always been near and dear to band leader Todd Mohr, even if straight-up blues songs haven’t been part of their recorded output. “I’m a lifetime blues lover. I fell in love with John Lee Hooker when I was 13 years old” said Mohr. “I just built my life around blues and rhythm and blues music … it

When Chess Records co-founder Phil Chess died October 18 at age 95, it was another opportunity to wax nostalgic about a fertile era of independent U.S. record companies. From the early 1950’s through the late 1960’s, the Chicago based blues label and its peer independents Atlantic, Sun, and Stax Records, produced and sold millions of recordings of some of America’s greatest roots music.

Beth Hart is teasing fans ahead of the release of her new album with the iTunes and Spotify release of the title track. "Fire On The Floor" is another smoldering blues ballad, a style that has become her calling card. "Fire On The Floor" might be even more intense than her 2012 Kennedy Center Awards performance of "I'd Rather Go Blind" with Jeff Beck. When asked for a preview of other songs on her upcoming album, Hart said she took a different approach to songwriting on "Fire On The Floor."

"Georgia Songbird" E.G. Kight talks with GLT's Jon Norton.

Dave Weld is one of the founding members of the Chicago Blues Band Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials . But his Chicago Blues history dates back to his time with Ed's uncle, the now legendary bluesman J.B. Hutto. On this edition of GLT's Talkin Blues, Weld talks to Jon Norton about meeting Hutto and other blues artists when he ventured from white clubs on Chicago's north side to the black clubs on the city's "grittier" west side.

As one of the top blues harmonica players in the world, Chicago area native Bob Corritore travels the world playing the music he learned to love as a teenager growing up in Wilmette. Now living in Phoenix, Corritore also owns "The Rhythm Room," a club specializing in blues and roots music. Corritore also has a regular blues show on a Phoenix radio station, and is an enthusiastic blues ambassador and historian. On this edition of GLT's Talkin' Blues, Corritore talks to Jon Norton about hearing

Shaun Murphy returns to central Illinois to perform at the 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards September 23 at the Fluid Events Center in Champaign. Murphy is nominated for Female Blues Artist, a category she won in 2012 when GLT Blues Radio broadcast the awards show live from Buddy Guys Legends in Chicago. In addition to fronting her own band, Murphy has a distinguished music background. She was co-lead vocalist of Little Feat for 16 years, as well as background singer for notable names including