Blues Trip Photobook Complete

After months of editing the images, finally, the book is complete.

For those of you interested, you can view the book here:
http://www.mypublisher.com/bookshelf/bookviewer.py?d=tq%3Ey-cppl%60je%3E352%3A716

Please let me know if you are interested in actually buying the book by replying to this post.  Please note that I have no intention of actually making money on this thing.  If you want to buy it, you will be purchasing it directly from MyPublisher and not from me.

The book features alot more photos than the photo section of this site, and they are all digitally enhanced.  Feel free to view the book at the link above, just to check it out.

Rock on!

HoneyBoy Edwards is Still a Ramblin’ Man

At 93, and the last of the True Delta Musicians, Honeyboy is Still on the Road.

David “Honeyboy” Edwards is still at it, and still going strong.  Currently on tour in the New England area, Honeyboy is considering retiring from long road trips and hectic tour schedules.  “When you get to a certain age you’ve got no business being on the road, especially when it gets cold,” says Edwards, who is currently playing with Rocky Lawrence(for those of you not in the know, Rocky is a notable Robert Johnson-stlye blues picker).

Edwards, fresh off a Grammy win for his last traditional blues album, is still going strong.  Of course, Edwards almost went undiscovered.  Lomax, on a trip to the Delta in 1942, heard Edwards playing in a town square and offered to record the man.  The whole session was almost cancelled and forgotten, when a tornado ripped through the area on the very day Edwards was to record. 

“It took about an hour and a half for the storm to blow over, and then we went on and got through about 15 songs,” says Edwards, who included his original “Wind Howlin’ Blues” in the session. “He gave me a $20 bill, and that was the most money I had in my life. I kept that $20 bill three weeks.”

Edwards didn’t record again until the 1950′s, and that’s when he started to gain a little fame.  Of course, he is more known on this site as a open source of information pertaining to Robert Johnson.

Honeyboy Edwards, for a long time, was willing to talk about Robert Johnson to anyone who would listen.  Of course, it is hard, listening to Edwards, to dissect fact from fiction.  Some of his tales are intertwined in both – and it is hard to tell what he knows first hand, what he heard, and what is fabricated.  However, many of his stories led researchers down paths that would eventually lead to fact-finding or witness interviewing.  The fact remains, Edwards is and will always be as proponent to the Johnson legend.

Edwards plans to wrap up his extended road trip, and call it a day.  Of course, this legendary blues man, one of the last – if not THE last of his generation – will continue to play.  But now, my friends, we will have to travel to see him.

Rock on, Honeyboy, Rock on.

12/9 – Bradenton, FL – Two Masters

Two Masters Scheduled to Appear Together – December 9, 2008 – Ace’s Lounge, Bradenton FL

Ben Prestage, considered by many to be a modern master of the cigar box guitar, and T-Model Ford, a living legend delta blues artist, are scheduled to appear together in Bradenton Florida on December 9th.

Ben Prestage, as many of you know, is an extraordinary musician.  Not only does he play guitar – bass, rhythm, and lead – he also plays the snare drum, high hat, and bass drum – at the same time.  His music is powerful, moving, and something any blues fan would not want to miss.  His composing skills are amazing, and his live shows are awe inspiring.

T-Model Ford, also known as the “taildragger”, is a down-home delta blues musician that still does his thing.  Recently hospitalized from pace maker surgery, T-Model is back at it again.  He is a confident musician, who often teases the crowd with his hollering and complicated melodies.

This is not a show you want to miss.  In fact, I highly recommend anyone living within a 500 mile radius attend this show.  I had to travel to Mississippi to listen to these guys play – and it was worth the 12 hour trip.  

Ace’s Lounge is located in Bradenton Florida, and will house this powerful duo.  You can visit Ace’s Lounge site for more info. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $13 at the door.

I will see you there – fo sho.