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Volume
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December 2012-January 2013
President’s Notes— Liz Walker It is so hard to believe that it is the end of the year already and what a year it’s been. New logo, new merchandise, new look for the newsletter, new venues, new people, new way of doing things, lots and lots of newness. But some things have stayed the same. As one of the oldest blues societies we have tried to stay true to our mission of preserving and promoting the blues as an art form.
Thanks to all those travelin’ bluesers who made the trip to New Orleans for the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival. We had a fantastic time. You can read all about our antics inside this and future publications. It’s with sadness that we acknowledge the closing of yet another blues venue in the area. Po’Boyz closed its doors at the end of October. Po’Boyz was an intimate setting with great food and music. I’m gonna miss it and wish the best of luck to Brenda in her adventures. She has assured me that Po’Boyz will still be bringing fabulous blues to the area through her festivals at Horsemen’s.
Your Blues in the Schools program’s reputation speaks for itself and is evident in the invitations to return year after year by several different groups and districts. It’s able to fulfill its charter of bringing the blues to youth in the area through the generous (and much appreciated) donations of several large donors. The Gene Chambers Musicians Crisis Fund was able to assist several musicians in need this year and the Hall of Fame committee has once again decided on five deserving inductees.
In closing I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to the SBS Board and to the society’s members at large. It’s been a pleasure (though challenging) to serve as the president this past year. Along with the society, I’ve experienced some personal growth. Change can be difficult at times but as in all things, change is essential. No living organism (and that goes for organizations as well) can remain the same. You grow and change or you stagnate and die. The Sacramento Blues Society has been bringing the blues to the region for 40+ years. To continue to do so, there must be constant growth and change. Please become involved. There is something for you to do.
And of course, there’s the music. The Dennis Jones Band rocked the house in May along with our aspiring young blues performers for the annual BITS benefit. Wendy DeWitt and Big Earl blew us away under the stars in June and Jimmy Thackery just didn’t want to quit in August. We’ve seen some outstanding talent during the IBC competition (the winner still not determined at time of press) and wish the winner the best of luck in Memphis. SBS has worked in collaboration with different presenters/promoters for shows at such venues as Harlow’s, 3 Stages, Swabbie’s and Horsemen’s…and I for one am looking forward to Paula Harris bringing us her own brand of funky soulful blues to our membership party. Phew! What a year.
See you on the dance floor!
The Sacramento Blues Society (SBS) is one of the oldest blues societies in California, founded in1979, and is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit corporation formed to preserve and promote blues music as an art form. SBS has kept the blues tradition alive in the Sacramento area by promoting the local blues music scene and bringing internationally renowned artists to the region. SBS is an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation, and provides educational opportunities for young people with The Blues Foundation’s “Blues In The Schools” Program. 2012 Board Officers Liz Walker—President Dave Alcock—Vice President Charlene Metzler–Secretary Vacant—Treasurer Jan Kelley-Parliamentarian Board Members at Large Kristen Dahl Kim DuVall Tammie Madill Rick Nolan Zane Toberer
Sacramento Blues Society is a Proud Member of
2012 Committee Chairs
BITS —Cynthia Jaynes, Liz Walker, Co-Chairs BlueNotes! —Vj Anderson, Jan Kelley, Co-Editors CD Reviews—Mindy Giles Events/IBC Competition —Vacant Gene Chambers Musicians Emergency Fund (GCMEF) — Kim Duvall Sacramento Blues Hall of Fame—Sally Katen; Board Liaison— Jan Kelley Membership/Volunteers —Zane Toberer Merchandise/Concessions/Graphics — Rick Nolan Public Relations —Liz Walker SacBlues e-News/Calendar —Willie Brown Web —Kristen Dahl
Board of Directors Meetings 2nd Tuesday of each month; 7:00 PM at the SMUD Building, 6301 S Street, Sacramento, CA. All SBS members in good standing are invited to attend. 2
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December 2012-January 2013
The Northern California Blues Festival 2012 Presents: Blues & Brews at Stoney's Rockin' Rodeo—by Pinkie Rideau It was a fair day in Sacramento. Those who braved the construction on Del Paso Blvd were pleasantly surprised by the excellent quality of music that the day was to bring forth. Stoney's Rockin Rodeo was fixin' to be very blue(s).
consensus of the crowd was that The Wires are simply great! The Daniel Castro Band from the East Bay was the headliner of the afternoon and let me tell you that he never fails to please! His originals are clean and crisp. He is mesmerizing and tantalizing. I'm happily married – I'm talking blues, here! Daniel just has a way about him. The way he plays to a crowd is almost like he's playing for one person. He draws you in and makes you pay attention, to the point that you really don't mind watching and listening. His playing is magic.
First on stage were the Soul Shakers, a very wellseasoned band with a groove and a sound that got people up and dancing right away. Those who got to the venue at the end of the Soul Shakers set were very upset with themselves that they weren't a bit earlier in their arrival. Upon speaking to the bands' lead guitarist, Mark Horr, Sr., the reason for them being so seasoned is revealed. The newcomer to the band has only been in for eight years, wow! Sweet sounds from Davis, CA!
There was only one person we could hold responsible for such a wonderful day of blues. Jason Haxton did it all. He refused to let go of the Blues Festival, no matter what. Pure determination and a love of the blues kept the whole idea rolling into The Blues & Brews at Stoney's Rockin' Rodeo. I hope Jason never lets go. I hope that all the people that organize, publicize, market and fund blues festivals never let go. Because they, we, them, those who care are all keeping the blues alive.
Next, the boys & I did our thing. Pinkie Rideau & Blind Resistance (Nevada City, CA) has been my passion for four short years, but when we get on a stage like that...bright lights and great sound men make it so easy to have fun. The energy that bounces back at us is a phenom. We like to show off our original songs when we do Thank you Jason! See you all next year at The Northern short shows and it’s always nice to see some folks who California Blues Festival 2013!! know the words! The best form of flattery is to know the words, trust me! Sing loud – performers love it! Leo Bootz, from Sacramento, was third to take the stage. That power trio then bulldozed the stage and bombarded us with gnarly, twisted, edgy blues that was an amazing thing to behold! Leo, the bands' bassist and lead singer, was talking to me before he took the stage and he said that the edgy side of blues needs love, too. He had the crowd. Good, bad, or indifferent – everyone was watching and listening to Leo. He can't help his passion for the edge, he lives there and we all like him that way. Rock on, Leo! The Fairfield band who really got the house hoppin' was the Matty T Band. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and loads of originals along the same lines showed off Matthew Taynton's abilities to no end. He effortlessly rolled through songs that have long baffled guitarists and listeners alike and had the crowd dancing, dancing, dancing! I couldn't help it – I had to get up! Next up was the long time Bay Area favorites The Delta Wires. What can you possibly say about a band that has been together for 45+ years that hasn't already been said? Personally, I can say I am glad to call each and every one of them my friend. They have held true to a form of blues that has lent them a signature, a trademark – so to speak. You know that when you go to a Delta Wires Show that Ernie Pinata and the Wires are willing to give you their hearts, souls, and minds to you as they play. General 3
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December 2012-January 2013
SBS Announces 2012 Blues HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Al Arnett—For more than 40 years, Al Arnett Ray “Catfish” Copeland—Born and raised in California, Ray Copewas the bass player land moved to Sacraof choice and an immento in 1967 and portant part of the began playing guitar, rhythm section which where he soon met built the Sacramento up with a local group blues scene. of musicians called the Sunland Blues Band. Their Guitarist S t e ve S a mu e l s helped Ray get going with some blues basics.
Born in Georgia and raised in Cleveland, Al started playing guitar professionally in 1947, wearing a fake beard and mustache to disguise his age. In 1960, he switched to bass guitar and, as an Air Force serviceman, played in bands composed of the best military musicians. During his overseas tours, he worked bases in France and Japan, often playing six to seven nights a week. In Japan, he met and worked with guitarist Gene Chambers (later to become a Sacramento resident and Sacramento Blues Hall of Famer) and they backed visiting stars, including Lou Rawls and Sam and Dave.
In 1976, Ray formed a band called Quickshake, where he met blues harmonica ace and guitarist Little Charlie Baty, who taught Ray all the correct chord forms for backing Charlie’s harmonica. Charles joined the band and the name soon changed to Little Charlie and the Nightcats. During the late 70´s Ray played with The Nate Shiner Blues Band and then got an opportunity through local blues promoter Phil Givant to go on tour with blues piano legend Floyd Dixon, followed by a short stint as guitar player for Mark St. Mary. In 1980 Ray was introduced to musician Johnny "Guitar" Knox (Hall of Fame inductee) and the band called The Blue Flames was formed. The Blue Flames performed in the area until 1999, even though Ray had left in 1985.
In 1972, he moved to Sacramento and, along with Gene Chambers and drummer Marshall “Soulman” Jones formed the core rhythm section for multiple Sacramento bands. Al typically worked in two or three bands at a time for many years, some of which endured for more than 20 years. Al played with the Dave Bonds Rhythm & Blues Band (considered for several years the top Sacramento band), the Blues Express, Blues Ambassadors, Soul of the Blues (Glenn Lane's band), Nate Shiner Big Blues Revue, Bits and Pieces and many others. Al also led Everyday People, another solid, long-time Sacramento blues band.
During the next 10 years Ray managed a Tower Records store in Sacramento and played occasionally at the Sacramento Blues Festival and a few local establishments. Ray has performed on stage with blues notables Big Momma Thornton, Luther Tucker, Elvin Bishop, William Clark, Rod Piazza, Little Joe Blue, Buddy Ace, Johnny Heartsman, Little Charlie Baty, Rick Estrin, (Hall of Fame Inductees) Kenny "Blue" Ray and many other great musicians.
Al played most of the Sacramento Blues Festivals and many of the Sacramento Heritage Festivals in multiple bands. He's backed Little Milton, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, Roy Brown and countless other local and national blues luminaries. He also recorded with the Blues Ambassadors, Glenn Lane, Arbess Williams, Johnny Heartsman and Omar Sharriff.
Catfish and the Crawdaddies formed in 1995 and play a wide range of blues including Chicago, Texas, New Orleans, and West Coast styles, in addition to some old school Rock´n´Roll. They have been a popular attraction at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee for the last 15 years and played several years at the world famous "Saloon" in San Francisco. Catfish and the Crawdaddies have released three selfproduced recordings, for which they have received Al passed away in May 2012. He was best-known high reviews and numerous awards.
as the bass player that “everybody wants to play with.”
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December 2012-January 2013
Blues HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES—Continued from page
4
Marshall “soulman” Jones—For more Steve Samuels—Known as one of Sacramento's
best blues guitarists/ vocalists, Steve Samuels was an important contributor to Sacramento's reputation as a blues town. Born without a left hand, his arm ended just below the elbow. Nevertheless, he utilized it like a onefingered wrist and picked a right hander's guitar by holding it upside down and backwards.
than 30 years, Marshall Jones was the drummer of choice and an important part of the rhythm section which built the Sacramento blues scene. Born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Marshall started drumming to accompany the country music he heard as a kid. After moving to Oakland in 1995, he met Johnny Heartsman (HOF inductee), his next door neighbor, and started playing blues. He began his professional career in 1959-60 with Johnny's band and developed his skills in Bay Area nightclubs, backing visiting national artists and jamming.
Steve grew up in Sacramento, started playing guitar at 17, discovered B.B.King and the blues at 19 and was a professional by age 20. In the late.60’s, Steve played guitar for Sacramento's legendary blues band of exceptional local players, The Sunland Blues Band. In 1969, he sat in with The Muddy Waters' Band for a gig in Berkeley and was invited back for Muddy's gigs the next two days. In 1970, he started his own band, The Steve Samuels Blues Revue, and played regularly at many Sacramento area clubs, including Tootsie's, Vangari's, Melarkey's and the Torch Club. He played nearly all of the Sacramento Blues Festivals as either a leader or sideman and his band was featured seven times from 1979-1989.
In the ‘70s, he moved to Sacramento and met harmonica player Johnny Ayers, who introduced him to Dave Bonds, Al Arnett and Gene Chambers (HOF inductee). Together, they first formed the Dave Bonds Rhythm & Blues Band, which was the most popular Sacramento band at the time. They played the Sacramento Blues Festival and backed many visiting musicians, including Little Milton. After Bonds found religion and moved to Los Angeles, Al, Gene and Marshall stuck together and formed the core rhythm section for multiple Sacramento blues bands that have endured for more than 20years. He was the leader of The Blues Express and The Blues Ambassadors throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s and played with many other local bands such as Nate Shiner's Big Blues Revue.
Steve has released two excellent LPs. In 1985, he recorded On The Corner Of Blues And Swing, backed by former members of the Mighty Flyers Band, along with William Clarke, pianist David Fraser, his brother Andrew Samuels (of Sacramento country-rock band Redwing) and special guest, Sacramento vocalist Bobby “Blues” Ray. He wrote two of the cuts. In 1994, he recorded Saturday Night Blues, which also included David Fraser and William Clarke. He also backed Bobby “Blues” Ray on “Your Friends” which appears on the Sacramento Blues compilation CD.
Marshall played most of the Sacramento Blues Festivals and many of the Sacramento Heritage Festivals. He also recorded with the Blues Ambassadors and Glenn Lane.
Steve continued his successful blues career after moving to Los Angeles. He played with William Clarke and many other Southern California blues artists. In the late 1980's, his Steve Samuels Band toured Europe. He was also praised as a fine guitar teacher by Coco Montoya on the Thom Meyers radio show and he was featured in a story in Guitar Player magazine in November 1986.
AWARD CEREMONY will be at THE DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP PARTY Please come and honor the musicians that contributed to the Blues in Sacramento
Continued page 6 5
Volume
33; Issue
6
December 2012-January 2013
Blues in the Schools—By Cynthia Jaynes The BITS Committee is busy planning the next year’s round of presentations, lessons, and seminars. We are honored to be included in the Directory of Providers in the Any Given Child program, funded by the Kennedy Arts Center in Washington D.C. We have already been contacted by one large middle school and are planning an outdoor concert for their students to be held next spring. It’s exciting to bring some national arts funds to our local musicians.
I want to take a moment to explain the requirements for musicians involved with BITS First, all musicians must be SBS members (which can be secured with their first payment), they must adhere to all school policies, and have signed agreements in place with the BITS Committee. Musicians involved with the after school artist in residence program must also pass a background check and a TB test. A huge Thank You to our sponsors, Mary Carrera of Carrera Productions, Rex Foundation, Yolo County Arts Council, and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. We would not have such a vibrant program without your generous support!!
We are also bringing BITS to the Children’s Receiving Home and the often over-looked kids that have been innocently removed from their homes and truly in need of the healing power of the Blues. We are really excited to serve these kids!
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES—Continued from Page 7 Torch Club/ Texeira Family— The Torch Club was one of the first bars in Sacramento, established in 1934, the year prohibition ended. Frank Texeira bought it in 1969, when it was originally called The Tumble Inn. It had an upstairs sporting bar where patrons would place their bets on horse racing and the fights, and “ladies of the evening” were waiting for those who won. When the “fallen doves” didn’t have any business, they would come downstairs & sing torch songs at the piano located there. Thus it became known as “The Torch” although it is not known when the name officially changed.
Club, which is attributed to the late Frank Texeira. Looking at the display cases and pictures on the walls at the Torch, one can realize the sense of what was past. Ron moved the club in1982 from its original location at 8th & L Street forsaking the last “watering hole for politicians” who took an easy stroll from dinner at Frank Fat’s to drinks at the Torch Club. It was at this time people came to the Torch Club partly for the jukebox that was known for its 45 records in addition to the socializing over drinks. Over the years, music was gradually added, first by a live DJ, and eventually bands, notably The Beer Dawgs, by Ronnie Texeira, Ron’s son. That’s when Sam’s Hof Brau on J Street closed and there weren’t any other blues clubs around. Marina Texeira, daughter of Ron, soon joined her father and brother and was instrumental in bringing in nationally known blues acts every day of the week. Their dad Ron passed away in May 2009. Since then, Marina has hosted various musical events for non-profit organizations and benefits at the Torch Club, always caring for the Blues Family at large.
There were also live jazz and lingerie shows held there, as well as a competitive art show that became so popular it was televised on the local TV stations. Frank was a gambler and fight manager who died in 1980 in Del Mar, where he had gone to retire. The slogan “known from Maine to Spain” became recognized in association with the Torch
This club has continued to keep its jovial charm but has evolved into more than just a bar but also a community treasure. It is now going into its 12th year at the current location on 15th Street between I and J Streets.
What is the Hall of Fame? The Sacramento Blues Society is working to document the disappearing history of local blues music. The people that built the blues scene are older, and some no longer participate so are not well-known to our members. We want to capture the history, and also honor the people that made significant contributions to blues in the Sacramento region. We honor the inductees at the annual Member Party each December.
Each year, SBS calls for nominees from our members. Nominees need not be members. All nominees are reviewed by our Hall of Fame Committee. A qualifying nominee is required to have Blues as the primary format or music style, at least a 20 year history of Blues participation and had historical impact and overall influence on the blues in the area. Nominations are accepted year-around, so if you would like to nominate a deserving person, go to our website and find the procedure. You will find it at www.sacblues.com. 6
Volume
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December 2012-January 2013
Do You Know the Real Mick Martin? - By Vj Anderson and Cynthia Jaynes We jumped in to the BITS program with little background and much enthusiasm. SBS Board member Cynthia Jaynes pulled together a few SBS members to serve on a BITS Committee. Now the challenge was gaining entrance into Sacramento’s schools, developing a local program and finding musicians willing to volunteer. We had no funds for the program.
Mick Martin is the current patriarch of the Blues in our area. A native son (“of a native daughter of a native daughter”, he adds) he has been in the music scene most of his life. His byline was over the entertainment guides in the Sacramento Union for movies and music, and his arts critiques were heard on local radio stations for many years. He credits his book of movie reviews for putting his daughter through school. Any local blues fan recognizes Mick’s name from his 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon Blues show on Capitol Public Radio since 1991 and at KZAP before that.
A charter high school, Sacramento High School’s Arts Academy, gave permission for the first presentation. Our first venue was set, but we needed musicians. When Cynthia contacted Mick Martin, he was immediately receptive to the idea and signed on to perform without accepting any compensation. We had no knowledge of his prior willingness to assist in our youth, and were pleasantly surprised at his enthusiasm. He did it for the love of the blues and the importance of bringing this music to the students in the area. He also brought on a young local musician to be sure to draw the students – a now internationally known local keyboard player and singer named Jackie Greene. Now, if only we could expand the program to the local public schools.
Mick began playing in local bands in 1964. Later, Phil Givant, a founder of SBS and the annual Blues Festivals, asked Mick to put together a band of local musicians to play and labeled them the All Stars. The band changed members each year, depending on availability. Soon, the musicians decided they were not “stars” among the festival headliners, and changed the name to The Blues Rockers. Mick has been their leader since the early 1980’s, and the members stay constant now. Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers have won the Blues Band SAMMIES three times and have been retired from competition to the Hall of Fame. The only other blues band to share this honor is Little Charlie and the Nightcats.
Immediately following those first Blues presentations Gaye Wood, a BITS Committee member and retired music teacher, provided the contacts necessary to help us gain entry into local public schools, and Mick volunteered to assist us with the program. Mick worked closely with Gaye to develop a lesson plan based on the Sweet Home Chicago documentary and adapt the related music. He worked out a little levity in introducing Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters to the students just to hold their attention. For the 2004/2005 school year, Mick and accompanying local professional musicians all volunteered their time and talent to provide the informative, inspiring and entertaining program for 18 performances in nine schools, reaching over 2,000 students.
Mick was mentored by another musician when he moved to this area, a jazz and blues B-3 player named Jimmy Smith. He believes Jimmy helped him not just as a musician, but as a music business person and confident stage presence. Now he hopes to pass on that information to other musicians that want it. And, when he teaches his 3 times a year class in harmonica or takes on a student, he works to develop not only talent, but also style, tone and “when playing is right and when it is rude”. He also believes we all need to keep learning, and we lose interest in life when we don’t have goals, dreams and a desire to know.
In short order Mick became the Clinician of our program, and with his name recognition we had a program going stronger than ever. With Mick at the helm, and with his expert leadership, musicians were eager to participate without compensation. This “pilot program” was vitally important to BITS by providing the experience and data needed to successfully pursue grants from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and other community giving organizations. Since that first year, all musicians have been paid for every BITS performance. The BITS program grows stronger and reaches more students each year, thanks primarily to Mick and the strong foundation he helped to build. Mick has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for bringing the blues to area youth.
But we would like to tell you about a different Mick Martin, a man that has been very generous with his time and talent for the youth of our community. He has been active for many years in both Sacramento and Placer counties in programs for at-risk youth, and has many awards for his volunteer work. He also has been active in programs to develop creativity, and ultimately self esteem in young people with awards for that work as well. In early 2004, the Society was struggling to get into area public schools with our Blues in the Schools (BITS) program, which had long been neglected. The Blues Foundation provides some direction for its BITS program to its affiliated Blues societies like Sacramento Blues Society, and provides some designed curriculum. There is no established program or nationally directed initiative, and each society that wishes to participate develops its program to meet the needs of the community and participating schools. Emphasis can be various subjects like social studies, American history, visual arts or prose - as well as the obvious –music education.
Mick is also a kind mentor to young musicians and a role model for other professional artists in the region. Mick has been a teacher and mentor for 19 year old Kyle “Rockin” Rowland, local blues harmonica protégée, currently the front man for the Kyle Rowland Band. Kyle says in 2003, another musician pointed out Kyle but Continued page 8 7
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the real Mick Martin - Continued from Page 7 Mick did not see him as he was about 10 years old and quite short at the time. The third time Mick asked him to stand up, he jumped on a chair and Mick saw him and invited him to play on stage, the beginning of a lasting bond. Mick’s strong and positive influence is evident as Kyle performs. Kyle has taken on the role of lecturer/ performer for some of the BITS presentations and does a fabulous job with lecture content, onstage presence and interactions with the audiences, and, of course excellent harmonica playing! A true reflection of Mick’s heart, soul, and love of the blues!
ity. Mick credits Little Charlie Baty with helping area blues musicians play what they loved, rather than playing rock to make a living and blues when they could slip a song or two in the show. He says Charlie was adamant about being true to the blues. He also admires Johnny “Guitar” Knox for his loyalty to this country’s roots music and knowledge of its creators. And he believes the Blues represent American history with an all-American personality. So when you turn your dial to Capital Public Radio to listen to Mick next Saturday afternoon, I hope you will also think about how Mick not only loves the blues; he really believes in keeping the blues alive, one school and one group of students at a time. And listen carefully – he is also giving a lesson in American history.
Mick hopes others see the need for keeping the blues alive – because it is a part of our history, it adds to our humanity, and it gives us reason to be humble in success and strong in adversity. It saddens him to see rock music mislabeled as blues, or a musician knowing only one genre of music. Each genre has a history and a personal-
Thank you, Mick Martin, for being our BITS star and guiding light!
Just another day in NOLA! - By Sharon Earl I joined the group of Blues Society members that went to New Orleans for the Blues and BBQ Festival. As I rode the bus out to buy a tambourine the lady next to me appeared to be in some distress. She commented that her labor pains were about an hour apart and she was headed home where her family was waiting for her, to grab her belongings and go to the hospital. Oh my! I sat next to her while she was breathing through a contraction and then got off at the next stop. She apparently took riding the bus while in labor all quite in stride.
My best memory was the Oral History session with Keb Mo. There were maybe 30 of us in the theatre, as he told an endearing story of his youth. He said he basically had a lack of interest in anything and would come back to music now and then. He didn't have a sense of direction until his mom told him he was good at making money with his music. Then he got focused! I got to speak with him and shake his hand and found him to be a very gracious and kind man. He said he had played at Sac Blues Festivals in the past. Seeing Keb Mo had been a dream of mine, meeting him was the highlight of the trip for me.
I’m very happy about making two new dear friends and look forward to more adventures. I even ate Garbage Salad at a dive bar - hey that was good. We went down Bourbon Street to the Funky Pirate to hear some blues, and we stopped off at another bar to do a little dance on the way back to the hotel.
“Do You Know What it means to Miss New Orleans?” by Liz Walker I’ll tell you what it means. It means you missed the PARTY! What a fabulous trip to the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival. The second weekend in October found 18 SBS bluesers walking into Lafayette Square along with thousands of locals. From the jazz band that met us at the airport (of course, they were there to welcome us, not the thousands of neuroscientists that were also converging on the city) to the perfect weather, the fabulous food, the incredible music and the general overall well-organized festival, the experience just couldn’t have been more pleasurable. I’m so glad I sprung for the VIP package. We had a place in the shade, room to move around (which was HUGE as the day/evening wore on and the square became crowded), our own bar (bartenders Tina and Patty treated us like the
VIP’s we pretended to be), our own potty (no waiting in long lines), and up close access to the stage. While the focus of the trip was the festival, we all found time to check out some other parts of the city. Some of my favorite highpoints were two-steppin' to a kickin’ Cajun band at Rock-N-Bowl, dancing at Cyril Neville’s birthday bash in the quarter and Sunday morning jazz brunch at Buffa’s (a very cool neighborhood spot where everybody knew everybody else, the Eggs Benedict yummy, the Bloody Mary’s spicy and the music hot!) Everywhere we went generous, friendly people were willing to help and engage with you. (I especially loved our ride back to the airport, finger snapping and singing harmonies with the cabbie.) I can’t wait to go again! 8
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December 2012-January 2013
Northern California Blues Festival e-mail: info@norcalbluesfest.com Website: http://www.norcalbluesfest.com
Bluebird Tours Grady O'Bryant 1017 L St. Ste 580 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916)443-8741 office (916)271-2685 cell (916)473-5789 fax www.sactrips.com California Seller of Travel #2084147-40
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December 2012-January 2013
Support our Band Members— Hire a Band! Andy Keene & Kinda Blue ajkeane3@aol.com
Marshal Wilkerson www.marshalwilkersonband.com
Bad Catz www.badcatz.com
O Street Jumps www.myspace.com/OStreetJumpsBand
Big Earl and the Cryin\' Shame bigearl@gmail.com
Randy Carey randrock@prodigy.net; 916-607-0695
Blues Vandals bluesvandals.com
Red Moon Band www.facebook.com/pages/REdMOOn/133617156681084
Bobby Blues Ray 916-422-5830 Chicken & Dumpling www.chickenanddumpling.net Coyote Slim www.coyoteslim.com Dave Croall & the Soothers rightdave@hotmail.com Diamond Bob & the Alley Sneakers www.diamondbobsblues.com; 408-313-7194 Gary Mendoza Band www.garymendozaband.com; 916-599-9947 Groove Diggers 916-217-1263
Ro Harper and the Blues Busters www.facebook.com/Roharpo Rolling Blackouts deborahsingsblues@hotmail.com Sky O'Banion Blues Band www.facebook.com/sky.obanion Spotted Dogs booking@spotteddogmusic.com Sunny Blue Bland Review kingsoftheblues@ymail.com Steve Foster Band Stevefosterband @comcast.net Used Blues Band Sean@myifp.com
Jeramy Norris and The Dangerous Mood www.facebook.com/ JeramyNorrisTheDangerousMood
Val Starr & the Blues Rocket www.bluesrocket.biz
Julie and The Jukes cmoriel@ucdavis.edu
Wingnut Adams www.wingnutadams.com/fr_home.cfm
Kyle Rowland Band www.kylerockinrowland.com
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Sacramento Blues Society Is Pleased To Acknowledge
our Sponsors and Donors and Thank them for Supporting our Programs
Platinum Sponsor
Arts Education Sponsor/ Donor
Carrera Productions Mary Carrera
Sacramento Blues Revue Sacbluesrevue.com
The Rex Foundation
Private Donor
Gold Sponsor
The Read Family
Folsom Telegraph
Business Donor
Silver Sponsor M-3 California
Barber Blues 916-258-BLUE (2583) www.barberblues.net
Jobe Custom Guitars Byron and Ginny Jobe
Bluebird Tours Grady O’Bryant www.sactrips.com
Crystal Basin
Bronze Sponsor Bluezzee Tees 530-321-7197 Bluezzee-tees.com
AAA Insurance Emmy Sabra 916-724-0351
Elk Grove Sports Bar 916-685-6103 www.elkgrovesportsbar.com
CLA Real Estate Max Moon 916-214-4348
Hammond/Leslie sales..service, sound John Noxon, Musician 916-660-6466
The Couch Sports Lounge www.thecouch.net Damore, Hamric & Schneider, Inc. Marta Williams, CPA 916-481-2856
San Juan Club Nick & JoAnn Jamson www.sanjuanclub.net
Gotradio.com 916-765-0162 Keller Williams Real Estate Edward Haneffant 916-782-1000 Roseville Station Lounge www.thestationlounge.net Torch Club Marina Texeira www.torchclub.net 11
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P. O. Box 60580 Sacramento, CA 95860-0580
Blue Notes! is The official bi-monthly Newsletter of the Sacramento Blues Society. Co-editors Vj Anderson & Jan Kelley Send information for the newsletter to editor@sacblues.com or mail to Editor, P. O. Box 60580 Sacramento, CA 95860-0580
Not a Member? Join on our website
www.sacblues.com Current calendar, news, past newsletters and more!
Cover Art—graphic by Richard White Richard White has pursued photography 35 years. In 1978 he started as a “roadie” in North Highlands, CA., then started working for local Rock bands – KTTK and Cherry Bomb, as roadie, photographer, and all around “good guy”. In 2011 he was invited into the blues scene by Bruce Pressley. He has since worked closely with Mick Martin & The Blues Rockers, documenting many of their performances. He has gone on to photograph Lydia Pense, Donny Baldwin, J. Geils, Jerry Beaudoin, Jeff Pitchell, Terry Hanck. and many local Blues players. He created the Bruce Pressley commissioned art work for the Stephen S. Schofer Memorial Benefit held at The Torch Club this year. He also used his backstage privileges to
obtain the signatures of J Geils, Gerry Beaudoin, and Jeff Pitchell on a guitar destined for a BITS raffle. His work has been published in prior issues of Blue Notes, The Sac Blues News, and the Examiner.com. Richard’s special thanks go out to all who have assisted him along the way, too many to name, but especially Virgil White, Paul Bean, Casey Corrigan Bruce Pressley, Mick Martin, Skip Murphy, Mary Carrera and The Sacramento Blues Society. “I couldn't have done it without you!”
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