Time Signatures with Jim Ervin

Time Signatures is pleased to welcome a 35 year veteran of the Washington, D.C. music scene, J.P. Reali. He and host, Jim Ervin talk about his early years of being influenced by the constant diet of music he enjoyed as a young man, his 7 years with a local psychedelic band, his time working with his brother as one half of the “Reali Brothers”, and also his TWO visits to the International Blues Challenge in 2010 and 2011. J.P. is also here to promote his new EP, “Grateful Blues” a six song homage to a band he saw in concert dozens of times through his teens and into adulthood.

Website: https://www.jpreali.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/520STMyJtM1x5HD3Gh0Ymg?si=HiFnVE9DQ2C7n4a0boob5g

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jpreali/videos

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Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

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It’s another great conversation with the current/next generation of the Blues as host Jim Ervin welcomes Chicago’s Jamiah Rogers for a fun discussion about starting out as a VERY young drummer, his development as a multi-instrumentalist, finding himself on stage at the Chicago Theater with legendary Jimi Hendrix bassist, Billy Cox, touring with John Primer, Billy Branch, and Annika Chambers, and how he is working to make his own mark on the genre. C'mon in, and enjoy!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiah.rogers/

Brotherhood of the Guitar: https://brotherhoodoftheguitar.com/?team=jamiah-rogers

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OFTCHri7tRbRJw52DTxTD?si=egYoN_2yQ-uGpsMnTltSVw

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2oD8CEcvvlhmM6pQPbc7Q

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Website: Capital Area Blues Society

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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 on Time Signatures with Jim Ervin, Erv welcomes another member of the Chicago music Family, Songwriter, Radio Host, and self-professed “Guy with a camera”, Terry Abrahamson. Terry brought stories of the early days in the Chicago Blues scene, how he became enamored with the camera, his passion for the Blues, and how he met and began writing for Muddy Waters all those years ago. And you should also look into getting your own copy of “In the Belly of the Blues: Chicago to Boston to LA 1969 to 1983”

website: https://www.inthebellyoftheblues.com/

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.abrahamson

Facebook for In the Belly of the Blues Book: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063848160989

Facebook for The Blues Parade Children’s Book: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063673714173

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Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society

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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

Season Seven kicks off with legendary Bluesman, Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Kim talks about his early years in the music business, his early experiences with “the Originators” of the Blues, and the move that would forever change his life and lead to the foundation of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Kim and Erv also discuss the young newcomers to the genre, and the music business in general. What a fantastic start to this new season!

website: https://fabulousthunderbirds.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zmLTiN3NBNCDECRbbJKkT?si=Wx6Y7HCgRqyWj8JODvkm9Q

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfAXkyD5vxFXypN4ZqcF-kQ/featured

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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, Time Signatures with Jim Ervin celebrates another amazing season finale’ with arguably the most recognizable voice in the Blues, Big Llou Johnson. You will recognize his resonant tones if you listen to SiriusXM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville, but he also hosts events in Memphis during the BMA’s and he hosts a kickoff party in Chicago the week of Blues Fest! Llou came to visit with a bundle of great stories from his early years in Chicago, including his foundation of the only black-owned business of its kind back then (the talent agency), and his conversation with Bill Wax that led him to more than 25 years serving as the voice of Bluesville. Oh….yeah…..you will also note that he is now the voice of Time Signatures with Jim Ervin, too! “Shucky Ducky!”

Website: https://www.bigllou.com/

Golden Voice Audio Foundation: https://goldenvoiceaudio.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5O0jMfta6bIkog87GWvvi9?si=J1kISE3tRqeivKmraMrADg

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@bigllou

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Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive

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Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation

This week on Time Signatures, host Jim Ervin welcomes the founder of Bushman Harmonicas, John Hall. The birth of the rapidly growing harmonica brand began innocently enough on a summer evening in 1990, when John strolled past the legendary Slippery Noodle in downtown Indianapolis. The line launched in 1996 and over the course of the past 30 years, Hall has worked diligently to build Bushman into the number one supplier of his Knittlinger line to the Amish community.

We are also pleased to announce that beginning July 1st, Time Signatures with Jim Ervin has secured an endorsement deal with the harmonica brand. We have some BIG announcements still to come.....and lots more in this episode, so come on it and enjoy!

Website: https://bushmanmusic.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bushmanmusic/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bushmanharmonicas

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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

With only three episodes remaining on Season 6, host Jim Ervin welcomes first band runner up in the 2026 International Blues Challenge, Melissa McKinney. This woman of the Blues put an incredible band together to compete this year, and narrowly missed taking it all home with her. She has sold her successful music school, and she has come away from the IBC on a mission to bring her deep, soulful Blues to the masses. If you get a chance to check her and her band “Mama” out, you will not be sorry if you do.

Website: https://melissamckinneymusic.com/mama

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A5EiKAJr86zuGUlTN2oaC?si=Lae7eZ66Qj2t5H9qk8qXgg

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

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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 world of music, many of the albums produced are backed by record labels. In the Blues, we have Alligator, Blind Pig, Delmark, Ruf, Malaco and a few others. Each of these labels depend upon the skills of their publicists and radio promoters to help get word of each new artist and their respective albums out to the masses. Kevin Johnson has worked with the Delmark label for years, and he also works with the non-profit label, Little Village Foundation. Additionally, Kevin has work of his own, via Proud Papa Promotions and Publicity, and he is our featured guest this week on Time Signatures. Were it not for PR guys like Kevin, Matt LaFollette, Amy Brat, Jon Bleicher, and a few others, Time Signatures would not be in a position to bring you many of today’s Blues Artists. Enjoy our chat!

Delmark Website: https://delmark.com/

Little Village Foundation Website: https://littlevillagefoundation.com/

Proud Papa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProudPapaPromotionsPublicity#

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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

Billy Prewitt is a self-proclaimed musician in the “Artist Protection Program”, because many of you may not have heard of him. He is a guitarist, bassist, harmonicist, and the originator of the One Man Jam, and he dropped in to talk about the Blues scene of the late 1960’s and early 70’s, a chance meeting with Paul Butterfield on a New York elevator, and a move to Chicago, where he met and began working with Otis Rush at the legendary Mother Blues in Chicago. Billy’s stories are epic, including his first appearance in front of 10,000 Blues fans at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. You can catch some of his other stories on his podcast “Talk a Blues Streak” wherever you listen to podcasts. And be sure to catch the last known interview and performance recording of Sam Lay on the Emmy winning documentary “Talk A Blues Streak”, with Billy and host, Dick Shurman.

Podcast Website: https://bestrent.podbean.com/

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

YouTube Documentary Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXqJSllLlk0

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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 another stellar episode of Time Signatures with Jim Ervin as Erv welcomes renowned guitarist and soulful storyteller, JP Soars. JP recently joined forces with acclaimed violinist, vocalist and songwriter, Anne Harris. Together, the two have collaborated to produce “Gypsy Blue Revue”, a 9 track masterpiece, which drops this Friday the 29th EVERYWHERE. The album flows seamlessly between Blues, Soul and even some Gypsy jazz music, featuring JP’s skillful guitar licks and Anne’s mastery on fiddle and mandolin. If you are looking for a fun album, you are going to love this one.

Website: https://jpsoars.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/36CFNLLjVZDOv1NLW7RFaV?si=SZpbseRbQKqHV6NPv4OTMQ

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

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Facebook: Time Signatures

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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