This week on Time Signatures, join host Jim Ervin as he welcomes ‘The Fallbrook Kid’, Anthony Cullins to the program. At the tender age of 10, Cullins did odd jobs around the house and neighborhood, saving up for a trip to Costco to purchase his first guitar. With the love and support of his parents, Anthony discovered he had a knack for the instrument, and he was gigging locally beginning at the age of 12.  In the years that followed, he has found a way to make a decent income playing, and he has met some amazing musicians who have encouraged and supported him, and he has opened for Walter Trout, Los Lobos, and George Clinton, and he has played with Chris Cain and Earl Thomas. Oh, and wait til you hear about his trip to Norway for Notodden, where he and Earl played with Deep Purple! Just a few more episodes remain before Season five comes to a close. Enjoy!

Website: https://fallbrookkid.com/home 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.cullins.14 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5WIJjBPoGRDI0owB3R7K2Q?si=pKYTgd58SbW6MQo6J_vBgg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@anthonycullins

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

What happens when you take the limitless dreams of a young man, add a guitar, and a chance meeting with a young Riley B. (B.B.) King? You see that young man seize the opportunity, and develop his craft, thus establishing himself as a Blues legend in his own right later in life.  That is precisely what happened to Anson Funderburgh, and you will hear all about his early musical experiences, the formation of his band, ‘The Rockets’, and his work with Sam Myers on this week’s edition of Time Signatures with Jim Ervin.  Anson was also a good friend of our own Jim Flynn here in Lansing, and he has memories to share there, too. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane with one of the true gentlemen of the Blues, so please join us.

Website: https://ansonfunderburgh.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anson.funderburgh 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkPVWjDsX5hEHREHuui3HSA 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MeJdAj02pfiiAYXdQLlBW?si=csfVs469RruQnelEuRFPhQ _________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

In the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, the Greater Lansing area was abuzz with a ton of Blues music. In addition to the incredible local talent on hand, a small handful of people were responsible for doing a great deal of work, attracting out of town Blues musicians to play. Harry Oman traveled to the metro Detroit area, formed some partnerships, and brought some of the biggest names in Detroit’s Blues scene to play at LeRoy’s in Lansing’s south end. A chance meeting with Eddie Kirkland led to a long lasting relationship that lasted until Kirkland’s death in 2011. If you like great Blues history, complete with solid gold stories, this episode is a can’t miss.  Huge thanks to Harry for taking time to help us preserve these stories, too!

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

It’s a very special edition of Time Signatures with Jim Ervin, as Erv welcomes longtime Detroit Free Press Photographer, Wilson Lindsey for a chat about his decades working behind the lens for the Freep as well as his early stint on the Freelance side of things. It was in those early years that Wilson dabbled in professional wrestling photography, which led to a job at the Free Press where he had occasion to shoot with a young Cassius Clay (Pre-Ali years!), and also at the Fifth Dimension in Ann Arbor where he happened to catch a young guitar phenom by the name of Jimi Hendrix. He also shares his stories of the early years at Idlewild, located NW lower Michigan. Only a handful of episodes remain in Season Five, so don’t miss this one!

For Photo Purchase Information: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wilson.lindsey.348368

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

It is our 100th episode at Time Signatures, and you cannot celebrate a landmark episode without a legendary Bluesman, like Billy Branch. Billy came up in Chicago, learning harp skills in all of the local clubs, battling with the likes of James Cotton, Willie Dixon, Carey Bell, and others. Billy joins Erv to talk about all of that, plus his first recorded single with Willie Dixon and the Chicago Blues Allstars, his longstanding Blues in the Schools work (some 46 years!), forming the Sons of Blues and playing as the first band to play at the legendary Rosa's Lounge. In addition to all of that, Billy is about to celebrate the release of his new album, the first on the Rosa's Lounge Record label, and he recently was named as a recipient of the prestigious Taproot Fellowship for his lifelong work in the Blues. This is a wonderful episode you do not want to miss, as it is full of great stories, and Billy is just an amazing guest, and Blues Ambassador. Enjoy!

Rosa's Lounge Records: https://rosaslounge-records.com/

Taproot Fellowship: https://taproot.actaonline.org/fellow/billy-branch/

Website: https://www.billybranch.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyBranchMusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cUazMvxcAPELFif0BGn2t?si=YaluP4-sR8i7bZ_OKdL1CQ

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Y1KhczoDrp2T8UcfmcMJQ

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

This week, host Jim Ervin welcomes 10 time BMA nominee, Harmonicist and Delmark Artist, Tad Robinson. Tad dropped in to discuss his early life in New York City, where he listened to Sam Cooke, The Temptations, Ray Charles and many other R&B musicians. Even at the age of 8, the young man realized music was in his blood, and the proverbial hook was set. Following an early stint with Severin records, Robinson made the move to Chicago, where he solidified his musical base, collaborating with many Blues musicians in the Windy City.  Truly a gentleman, and truly thankful for his good fortune in the business, you will enjoy our chat. 

Website: https://tadrobinson.com/bio/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tad.robinsonband 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDhD8rrcKvVfoeZAneaoddQ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Tv4PJFnVdT5JBwyCwBObG

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

Episode 98 has arrived, It’s another home run discussion on ‘Time Signatures with Jim Ervin’ as Erv welcomes a member of the next generation of the Blues, 18 year old Harrell ‘Young Rell’ Davenport. Rell has been on an absolute tear, wowing crowds in Chicago, Mississippi, and across the pond in Norway and other stops in Europe with his deep passion for those old school Blues. Billy Branch said he has never seen anyone his age deliver the Blues in the traditional fashion in his 46 years of working in the Blues in the Schools program. Yet, despite his deep skillset as a musician, Rell is humble and displays a hunger to deliver his best work to those who would have him. You are absolutely going to want to keep an eye on this young man as he continues to make his presence known in the world of the Blues!

Website: https://youngrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harrell.davenport.1 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youngrellblues 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iB5eOcGNGZoSMwTUjsEPf?si=bvGPeGW4SZOG1FxTwa5bdA

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

This week, join host Jim Ervin as he welcomes another Woman of the Blues. Alexandria Bailey, aka Lexie Blue, came up in Las Vegas during her early life, occasionally joining her adoptive parents on stage as they performed, and the musician bug took hold of her early on. Following her move back to Michigan, she took out an ad on Craig’s List and put her first band together. She has since gotten married, and formed another band with her husband, but she also formed her own Blues-based band, ‘Lexie Blue’ in 2023. She has since competed in Memphis during the International Blues Challenge, and is an active participant in the National Women in Blues events. In fact, during her visit to Beale Street, she buddied up with two other ladies and they are all presenting a Ladies Only event in Kentucky and Michigan this fall.  Great conversation with an incredible Woman of the Blues….please enjoy our chat with Lexie Blue!

Website: https://www.lexieblue.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexieBlueBand 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1EznkhE2ee541dhaFxRYAj?si=F0XVDSfaROmjQyw2gQvn6w 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmrxDR50TsSqpLHNHN1zLKg 

Women in Blues from Beale Street

Covington, KY (Madison Theater) October 3: https://madisontheater.com/

Westland, MI (Token Lounge) November 7: https://madisontheater.com/

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

What do you do when you find that your longtime gig is about to be slowed to a halt, albeit temporarily? If you are Matthew Stubbs, former full-time touring guitarist with the legendary Charlie Musselwhite, you think it over…and then you form a band to keep the bills paid.  On this week’s edition of Time Signatures, Erv and Matt talk about that period of time, and how it ultimately led to that band with an old time 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s sound, GA-20. Matt and his new GA-20 bandmates, Cody Nilson and Josh Kiggins are here to talk about coming together as friends and neighbors to form the newest iteration of this iconic band, their chemistry, and the new music you are soon to enjoy.  They are out there touring, so check them out!

Website: https://ga20band.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GA20blues

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lg8xPLWMK8R3EfQlKA5bT?si=-d-mL26eSWO3Ck6LG6pjEw

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU6asn78UCHxIIoCtAkz55A

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

What happens when a local radio personality establishes a wildly popular daily radio program and then is thrust onto the national stage after an article is written about his work? Well that is precisely what happened to this week’s guest on Time Signatures, and before it was all said and done, he had been hired by Sirius XM satellite radio and tasked with helping to launch the Bluesville channel. Over the course of the 12+ years that followed, Bill Wax made an incredible connection with the late legendary Bluesman, B.B. King who was later proclaimed Mayor of Bluesville, with his name added to the channel. In the years that followed, Wax would record a series of 40 one hour programs with King, each talking about various music-related issues, his history in music, etc. There is a lot more, so check out this program and enjoy!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.wax.777

_________________________

Facebook: Time Signatures

YouTube: Time Signatures

Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

Website: Capital Area Blues Society

Friends of Time Signatures _______

Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project

Website: Blues Society Radio Network

Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation