Blues America

An in-depth conversation about one the strangest characters of the Blues and Rock-N-Roll, Screaming Jay Hawkins with author Steve Bergsman. Details of Hawkins life is based on Bergsman new autobiography called, I Put a Spell on You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Part 1 of this 2 part series will cover Hawkins early career which both, sensationalized and marginalized by his many character flaws.

James Armstrong is a veteran westcoast guitarist who cut his teeth as a teen on the Los Angeles blues scene with Smokey Wilson. He launched a successful solo career during the 90’s after being discovered and signed-to Hightone Records by Bruce Bromberg. He mastered the slide guitar after a tragic and violent altercation damaged his fret-hand. He’s released many studio efforts since this time, including the critically acclaimed ‘Blues Been Good to Me.’ James is known to perform in a diverse contemporary style with rock overtones, but his latest release captures the depth of his downhome upbringing.

Keesha Pratt is a Houston Native who was born in Mississippi and grew-up singing gospel in the church. In 2018 she took Memphis by storm to win the International Blues Challenge. Her critically acclaimed debut studio effort is titled, Believe and features 12 original tracks produced by bass man, Shawn Allen.

Charley Crockett is a self-taught guitarist who cut his teeth busking on the streets of America. He hails from the same Texas border town as Freddy Fender. He has a talent for seamlessly integrating traditional blues with country. Charley has cut several studio records, his latest is called Lil GL’s Blue Bonanza. The album features original songs and a few covers of blues standards including Jimmy Reed’s hit, ‘Bright Lights Big City’ and GL Crockett’s south Chicago hit, ‘There’s a Man Down There.’

Christone Kingfish Ingram became an internet sensation during his early teen years being followed by the likes of Bootsy Collins and the Game. After bursting on the scene from Clarksdale, Mississippi under the tutelage of Howlin’ Madd Perry, Kingfish could be seen on network television programs like the Rachel Ray Show and the Steve Harvey Show. His first studio releases appeared on the Netflix hit series, Luke Cage. Kingfish recently signed to Chicago’s famed Alligator records to release his debut single, Fresh Out featuring the legend, Buddy Guy for the upcoming album, Kingfish. The album is produced by Tom Hambridge and features Keb Mo and Billy Branch.

Thaddeus Krolicki is a young guitar player on the Chicago scene who cut his teeth playing for Willie Buck, the Taildragger, Harmonica Hines and Barrelhouse Chuck. He often performs with Lil Ed and currently finds a home with the band of Mojo Mark. Recently he cut some studio sides with Willie Buck and was featured on showcases in Westcoast venues. He received hi undergraduate degree from Purdue. Additionally, Thad has found guidance from Billy Flynn, Billy Boy Arnold and Illinois Slim.

Many people are glad to put 2018 in the rearview mirror after another year of wild rides. The headlines were dominated with news about wild fires, mid-term elections and trade-wars; but all of that is for some other show. At Blues America there was no royal wedding, no #metoo scandal or talk about a wall. We added more stations, listeners and produced over 20 new programs that featured legends and the top talent in the business. Saddly, we lost too many blues heroes including Preston Shannon and Eddy Clearwater who spoke with us shortly to their passing. Before we close the book and write a new chapter in 2019 for season 5 of Blues America, we rewind the tape to hear what the year sounded like featuring some of the best guests and outtakes from 2018.

Thornetta Davis is the reigning Queen of Detroit Blues whose latest album “Honest Woman” has been climbing the music charts and earned her two Blues Music Award nominations. She confesses that her recent studio effort that has earned national critical acclaim was 20 years in the making. She was mentored by the great late Alberta Adams. The Queen has also had her music featured on the hit cable series Sopranos and has performed many times with Bob Segar, Kid Rock and Iggy Pop.

Lindsay Beaver is a multi-instrumentalist from Halifax, Nova Scotia who is the most recent young talent to sign with Chicago-based Alligator Records. Her debut studio effort for Alligator, 'Tough as Love' showcases her deep love for roots music and features a helping hand from Marcia Ball and amazing talent like Laura Chavez, Sax Gordon and Dennis Gruenling (among others). Lindsay tours extensively as Tough as Love has risen to the top of the roots charts.

Whitney Shay is a talented upcoming blues talent from Southern California with 2-San Diego Music Awards under her belt. She’s hit the road with Igor Prado and is seen locally on nearly 200 shows per year. Recently, she cut her sophomore studio effort, A Women Rules the World, at Kid Andersens’ renowned Grease Land studios with an all-star cast of player that included Igor Prado and Aki Kumar, among many others.

Sugar Brown is a multi-talented instrumentalist who cut his teeth on Chicago’s Westside and the Delta Fish Market backing the Tail Dragger and Rockin’ Johnny Burgin. He earned his PhD from New York University and is a professor at the University of Toronto where he has resided for the past 18 years. He celebrates his third studio effort, “It’s a Blues World” which showcases his understanding for deep blues in the vein of greats like Frankie Lee Sims, Little Mack Simmons and Big Bill Broonzy while adding hints of outside roots influences such as, Tom Waits.

Shemekia Copeland is the Grammy-nominated reigning Queen of Chicago Blues who released her 8th studio effort on Alligator records, ‘America’s Child.’ The album was produced by Will Kimbrough and features all-stars like John Prine, Emmy Lou Harris and Steve Cropper. Shemekia carries on the legacy of her family name in the blues made famous by her legendary father, Johnny Copeland. She’s won numerous Blues music awards.

Dom Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist and native of Arizona who emerged onto the roots scene as the co-founder of the Grammy-Award winning folk band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. After leaving the group to pursue a solo career he quickly lived up to his moniker as the American Songster performing in front of music coinsures around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. Recently he teamed with the Smithsonian Folkways label to produce his latest studio effort titled, Black Cowboy. A roots experience that highlights the forgotten culture and history of African American Cowboys.

Walter “Wolfman” Washington cut his teeth backing the legendary R&B legend, Lee Dorsey (Ya Ya) who took the young teen on the road and legendary venues like the Apollo theatre. Later, Wolfman learned details about singing and the music biz while backing Johnny Adams for many years. He released critically acclaimed records during the 80’s and 90’s for some of the top labels of the day, like Rounder and Point Blank. The New Orleans native is rooted in deep blues but cut many funk grooves and naturally commands deep soul ballads with tremendous feeling. His debut studio effort for Anti-Records is a stripped down bluesy contemporary-Jazz project called “My Future is My Past.”

"Long-Tall" Marcia Ball earned world-wide fame as a two-fisted barrelhouse piano player who delivers a fiery twist of Louisiana swamp blues and Texas stomp-rock. The award winning Southern piano player has been cutting critically acclaimed studio records since the mid-80’s. Her latest effort is called, Shine Bright, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and available everywhere from Chicago’s renowned, Alligator records. In 2018, she was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

Shawn Holt is an international blues star who carries on the tradition and family legacy of his father, the legendary Magic Slim. He picked up the guitar and performed with dad at only 17, before becoming the leader of his dads famous band, the Teardrops that featured Shawn's famous uncle, Nick Holt and the great John Primer. Shawn performs out sold-out venues around the world and released his debut studio effort for Blind Pig records, 'Daddy Told Me" that won a blues music award.

He led a remarkable life filled with struggles and tales of bad luck but also stories of worldly adventures and meetings with seminal blues figures such as Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Champion Jack Dupree. Along the way he recorded extensively, first as Rocky Fuller for Chess, later contributing to some of the best lowdown blues the genre has ever produced; like ‘Red’s Dream’, ‘Sweet Blood Call’, and ‘I’m Too Poor to Die.’ In total, he recorded almost 50 albums during a career spanning 65 years and received multiple awards internationally.

Remembering the legendary Eddy Clearwater (1935 – 2018). Born in Mississippi, raised in Alabama and entered the blues scene in the early 1950’s Chicago behind Magic Sam before cutting sides for his uncle, Houston Harrington on the small Atomic-H label. During the early 80’s, Eddy would forever be known as the Chief, from the popular title of his Rooster Records Label debut which featured the exciting showman in a Native American headdress and riding a horse. He would continue to impress fans worldwide, releasing 17 albums, being nominated for a Grammy Award and winning a handful of blues music awards.

Johnny Tucker started playing in the local clubs of Fresno during the early 60’s with his family band. Later, he cut his teeth as a drummer for Phillip Walker. This put Johnny on the road and he would later work with Floyd Dixon, Robert Cray, Johnny Otis, Lowell Folson, Johnny Copeland and many more. In the late 90’s he cut a studio album with James Thomas before launching a solo career with the release of “Why You Lookin’ at Me” some years later. Today he celebrates a long career in Big Jon Atkinson’s vintage 1-track studio to cut the downhome blues project, Seven Day blues released on the High John label.

Mud Morganfield is the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters. He has never lived in the country; he was born and raised in the inner city of Chicago during the Motown era making his path into the blues much different from his famous father. When he commands the stage the similarities of his powerful vocals with that of his father is uncanny; giving blues fans a sense that the spirit of Muddy Waters is alive. In 2015, Mud earned a Blues Music Award for his album, ‘For Pops.’ Mud celebrates the release of his fourth studio effort, ‘They Call Me Mud’ on Severn records.