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RAY CHARLES STATUTE DEDICATED

Ray Charles is back in his hometown of Albany, Georgia.  The town unveiled a revolving, lighted bronze statue of Charles on Friday in a new downtown plaza bearing his name. 

Family members attended the musical ceremony honoring the city's most famous native son. Charles was born in Albany but moved to Florida with his mother when he was young. He frequently returned to his hometown to visit family.

The singer passed away in 2004 at age 73. His version of "Georgia On My Mind" was made the official state song of Georgia in 1979, 19 years after he recorded the chart-topping hit.

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Cleveland White aka ’Schoolboy Cleve,’ Blues Musician, Passes Away at 82.
 
Cleveland White, a blues musician known as ‘Schoolboy Cleve”, passed away Tuesday,  February 5 in Daly City, California. White, originally a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was a longtime resident of San Francisco. The 82-year-old singer, harmonica player, and guitarist recorded for J.D. Miller’s Feature Records and Johnny Vincent’s Ace Records during the 1950s.
White’s break in music came through Lightnin’ Slim, aka Otis Hicks, beloved swamp-blues artists who recorded at Miller’s studio. White worked with Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and San Francisco rhythm-and-blues artist Ron Thompson.
“I was honored,” Thompson said this week of working with White. “I consider him an early rock n roll person. He was always inventive.”
White began performing professionally at 12.  Sonny Boy Williamson gave White some harmonica instructions during one of the blues star’s Baton Rouge visits.
“These bands would come into the area to play in these little clubs,” White remembered in 2006. “And people was telling about, there’s this schoolboy around here who plays the harmonica real well.“
White served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and returned to Baton Rouge working a day job and playing music at night.
“Music, deep in my heart, is my life,” White said in 2006. “But I had to carry a job, too. I was determined to have a good family life and still do my music. It took a lot of heart and pain and discipline to do that.”
During the 1950s, White encouraged a musical friend, James Moore, to pursue his musical interests. Moore, a.k.a. Slim Harpo, later released national hit records.
White moved to San Francisco in 1959. He stopped performing in the 1960s, but eventually returned to music. White played the first 1973 San Francisco Blues Festival and formed his own record company, Cherrie Records. He released his first CD, a retrospective collection called “South to West: Iron and Gold,” in 2006.
White is survived by his wife, four children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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Detroit Blues Legend Uncle Jessie White Passes Away at 87
 
Uncle Jessie White, beloved family man and Detroit blues elder statesman, passed away on January 29, 2008 at the age of 87.  Uncle Jessie White was known for delivering the deep-delta blues in his own manner.  He was characterized as the hardest working blues musician in town with his singing, harp playing, and pounding the piano. Jessie’s passing left many adoring family and friends mourning and honoring his life as he touch many during his tenure on earth. 
Jessie moved to Detroit in 1950 after spending his youth in Mississippi and playing in local juke joints in Jackson, Mississippi.  Jessie was a self-taught player devoting himself full time to music after retirement in the late 1980s. His work was infused with the down-home Delta sound he experienced while growing up. He abstain from standard song arrangements favoring loose improvisations, keeping band members alert as he called out off-the-cuff chord changes.
"I don't always like using the word 'authentic,' but that's what this was," said Betty Brownlee, who played bass in White's band, The Detroit 29th Street Blues Band. "He never changed his style -- he kept true to what he knew." "He loved playing the music, loved playing for an audience," she said. "He thought it was really important for younger people to carry on the tradition, and he talked about that quite a bit."
He helped lead the weekly jam sessions at Detroit's Soup Kitchen blues bar. During the riots of 1967 many blues and jazz clubs were closed in Detroit. Uncle Jessie White hosted weekend blues sessions throughout the weekends from Friday evening until Monday morning. The sessions would stop for the week so the musicians could go back to the Detroit's auto factories. People would come from miles around to witness and dance at the weekend long house parties.  These sessions went through 1971 and are well-known for the local and national talent that came to play. Jessie taught many Detroit musicians during those jam sessions and became a mentor and father figure to many.  Jessie also traveled throughout Michigan, the United States and Germany, playing his warm and charming music wherever he went.  He played at many Detroit blues clubs including the famous former Soup Kitchen where he ran the weekly jam sessions.  His 20-year-tenure recently ended at the former Attic Bar in Hamtramack  It was at this location where he led the famous Detroit 29th Street Blues band on the piano.  Jessie’s was known his home made ‘rig,’ holding his harmonica and microphone.  Blues Factory Records helped to record his music on CD in 1991, allowing his fans to listen to his sweet singing and performing.
Jessie was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian White a sister, and brother.  He and Lillian raised nine children: Jessie Lee White, Sherry White, Roselyn White, Danita Denham (Calvin), Janet Webb, David White, Anthony White, Derrick White (Renee), Pam White (Gregory).
He is survived by 24 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, his sister, Martha Ann Kent (Robert), nieces and nephews.
http://www.myspace.com/unclejessiewhiteandthe29thstreetband 
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Francis Clay - Star Blues Drummer – Passes Away at 84
 
Francis Clay, whose drumming helped propel blues great Muddy Waters' band died on Wednesday January 23rd. He was 84.  Mr. Clay was an esteemed elder statesman among local blues musicians and fans since arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late '60s. He played with many renowned entertainers of the 20th century:  Gypsy Rose Lee, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and many others.
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Mr. Clay was well known for his cheerful demeanor in the music community. "He was so damn happy about everything," recalled photographer Rosa Schuth, a longtime friend. Nancy Deutsch, who leads a writing group Mr. Clay participated in, noted he recently had been laughing and reading his poetry for a listening audience.
Mr. Clay was a drummer for Muddy Waters which included a 1960 appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival. This was a first by a blues performer which was documented on the "Live at Newport" album. Mr. Clay's innovative, jazz-inflected style did not immediately mesh with Waters' down-home blues. However it was not long his popularity increased and nightclub patrons were lining up to hear him.
Mr. Clay began drumming as a boy in Rock Island, Illinois making his own with sticks and drums. He stated playing professionally by 14 and at 16 was hired into the Jay McShann Band, which included Charley Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He went on to form his own group and worked on riverboats, the circus and in Chicago-area jazz bands. Mr. Clay also performed with Waters' harmonica player James Cotton and worked with other Chicago blues artists such as Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. Mr. Clay rejoined the Muddy Waters Band in 1965. Stones drummer Charlie Watts called him "one of the most exciting drummers" he'd ever seen or heard.
After coming to California on tour in the late '60s, Mr. Clay, who suffered from asthma and arthritis, decided he liked the California weather. He relocated to San Francisco and accept recording work backing up greats as Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins, Clifton Chenier, among others.
Some of his last recorded appearances were on Roy Rogers' "Slideways" album and Johnny Dyer's "Rolling Fork Revisited," with harmonica player and bandleader Mark Hummel.
Mr. Clay is survived by a son, Lonnie Lowe, a Minneapolis preacher. (1/27/08)

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State of Texas Historical Marker Unveiled at Home of Janis Joplin
 
An official Texas State Historical Marker was unveiled in front of the house Janis Joplin once lived on the anniversary of her 65th birthday. The marker was inaugurated on Saturday, January 19th at the home in Port Arthur, Texas where the famed singer spent part of her youth. Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 leading a triumphant and tumultuous life before passing away on October 4, 1970. Her family moved to Port Arthur, Texas, located on the southeast coast when she was four years old. They moved away in 1975. The first childhood home of the famed singer in the same town was torn down in 1980.
The Port Arthur Historical Society initially drew up plans for the marker about three years ago. However the marker honoring the famed celebrity was delayed because of Hurricane Rita. Joplin had a complex relationship with her hometown being taunted in high school, shunned, and considered an outcast.  Many local newspapers in the community only briefly mentioned her passing away in 1970. In 1988, Port Arthur memorialized her with a bronze, multi-image sculpture prior to the present marker embracing the famous   resident.
In high school, she pursued non-traditional arts, literature, and music gravitating to folk, jazz, and blues. Janis began copying the styles of Bessie Smith, Odetta and Leadbelly. She sang in the choir and played in small town Texas coffee houses before becoming the lead singer in Big Brother and the Holding Company. It was in the summer of 1967--the "Summer of Love"—where Big Brother played at The Monterey International Pop Festival. Janis smashed into the public’s eye with Big Mama Thornton's song “Ball and Chain."  The band met great success and play together for the last time in December, 1968.
Eventually Janis formed a new group more oriented towards blues called the called Kozmic Blues Band. They released a new album "I Got Dem 'Ol Kozmic Blues Again, Mama" in September of 1969.  She formed a third band, called Full Tilt Boogie Band, which evolved towards more professional popular sounds. While recording her next album "Pearl," she accidentally overdosed at the age of 27. Her third album was released posthumously to wide acclaim, launching the popular songs "Me and Bobby McGee" and Mercedes Benz."
Fans still come to see the house, says the Alicia Sanchez, the home's current owner. Sanchez claims she didn't know anything about the house's history when she moved in 10 years ago. "One day I just saw a TV crew out here shooting and I thought 'What's going on,"' she said.
I asked what they were doing and they told me that [Janis Joplin] used to live here. And then I started having people knock on my door, asking to see my house."
 
The Sanchez family joined several dozen fans and former neighbors for the unveiling while an acoustic recording of Joplin singing Me and Bobby McGee was played.
"The thing that bugs me is that it took so long," Joplin fan Pete Tauscher, 58, told the Beaumont Register newspaper. "But I'm really glad to see they're doing something for her now."

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CANADIAN HONORS FOR KIM WILSON OF THE FABOLUOUS THUNDERBIRDS 
 
Kim Wilson, founding member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, will be inducted into the Canada South Blues Society's blues museum on February 22. The museum is located in Oasis Lounge at Place Concorde, 7515 Forest Glade Dr. Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Wilson, turning 57 on January 6, 2008 formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1974 with Jimmie Vaughan. Born in Detroit, but living much of his early life in California, originally studied trombone and guitar.  He later switched to harmonica after discovering blues music while in high school.
Wilson still regularly tours with The Fabulous Thunderbirds current lineup. Jimmie Vaughan left the band in 1989 initially to team up with his brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. He began a solo career performing following Stevie Ray's death in the summer of 1990.
Wilson will be accompanies by Doug Demings and the Jeweltones at the event. Ticket pricing and other information: e-mail Louise Boomer at louise@bluesociety.ca

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Blues Artist 'Weepin' Willie Robinson Dies at 81

"Weepin'" Willie Robinson, a blues singer who performed with many legends of blues passed away at age 81. Robinson’s life had been distinctive with various occupation as an Army veteran, blues singer, and friend of many performers, including B.B. King.
"He was truly the elder statesman of the (Boston) blues. He was our godfather. He was the most dear man," Holly Harris, host of "Blues on Sunday" of WBOS radio.  When he sang, "you knew he meant it because he had passion."
Robinson was born in Atlanta and worked with his family up and down the East Coast. After serving in the Army in the 1940s, he became a master of ceremonies and doorman at blues clubs in Trenton, N.J.  It was there he met B.B. King and other blues legends. He eventually sang with King's 21-piece orchestra.
Lorraine Robinson, his daughter, stated her father found his place on stage.” A great smile would come on his face and he would be in his own little world, like he'd tune everything out," she said. "He just, like, felt the music. It was so much in his soul." When the stage lights came up, Robinson found his place singing standards like "Fever," original songs like "Weepin' Willie's Boogie Woogie," or "I've Got a Woman," the Ray Charles classic.
Robinson performed everywhere from local clubs to the rest home where he lived. Robinson was noted for singing on Friday nights at a local establishment a few times a month. "Even at 81 years old, he would get up and sing to the ladies in the crowd," said Gary Barcus, a bass player with Weepin' Willie and the All-Star Blues Band. Eventually, some women in the crowd would have a few drinks and start hanging onto him. "We'd have to defend him a lot of the times. . . . We were afraid he was going to get knocked over," Barcus said.
In 1991, he recorded a song he wrote called "Can't Go Wrong" as part of a compilation CD put together by musician Chris Stoval Brown. Robinson updated the lyrics as he got older, but the spirit remained the same: a playful homage to the ladies. "Just because I'm over 60, don't think I'm a dirty old man," he sang. Robinson recorded his first solo CD, at age 72. "At Last, On Time" featured Susan Tedeschi and Mighty Sam McClain.
Robinson settled in Boston in 1959 and played in clubs. However, in 2005 it was learned he was living on the street and out of touch with his family. Blues performers held a benefit concert and made sure he was fed and clothed. He moved into a residential care facility and continued to perform often with visiting performers. He gave a Christmas performance for the residents last week. He said that singing helped to numb the arthritis in his knees, recalled Merlin Southwick, the executive director at the home. "Physically, he was a man who was starting to show considerable frailty. But his voice was in enormous strength," said Southwick. "You could hardly believe when you heard him sing that that voice was coming out of that man."

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