GHI of blues. The genre’s kick-starters

GHI of blues. The genre’s kick-starters

The ‘G, H, I’ index to AMERICA’S Gift: THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW BLUES EVOLVED. James Hewlett started the blues ball rolling Believe it or not, a Trinidadian actor performing Shakespeare’s Hamlet in New York in 1822, one James Hewlett, is known to have bowed to audience pressure and interrupted his soliloquy to sing a popular American slave song of the…

The DEF of blues, starting with Daddy Stovepipe

The DEF of blues, starting with Daddy Stovepipe

The DEF of the America’s Gift Index. Anyone here you know? Daddy Stovepipe first recorded in 1924 aged 60. He’s in AMERICA’S Gift Here’s more of the AMERICA’S Gift index. THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW BLUES EVOLVED. OUT NOW! D starts with Daddy Stovepipe, possibly the earliest blues performer ever known? Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1867, Daddy entered…

Here’s my ABC (of blues).

Here’s my ABC (of blues).

UPDATED  April 12th 2017 The A, B and C of the AMERICA’S Gift book index.  Talk about a revolution. American music’s evolution into blues and rock & roll. Just in case you think America’s Gift is a stodgy old history book, it’s been described as a lightening read. America’s Gift is also a BIG read: 11′…

The Walking Dead, blues albums and English actors

Once upon a time the BBC made a habit of making world-class television, but I’m afraid those days are long gone. They can’t even get the sound quality right these days, let alone all the naïve writing creeping in, clueless direction and unrealistic plot lines pandering to political correctness. I put it down to young executives with no life experience controlling…

RIP Gary Richrath. Another 1970s rock-guitar-great passes away

RIP Gary Richrath. Another 1970s rock-guitar-great passes away

“Thanks so much for the article on Lonnie Johnson, Paul. It’s a shame he isn’t better known today. What a phenomenal talent.” Rob Monroe @RobMonroeVideo, Virginia. 2 October 2015. Gary Richrath in his prime. He sadly died this month   When I first heard REO Speedwagon around 1971, I thought what fantastic hard rock band these…