Shades Of Blue

CD - Chris Farlowe: Hotel Eingang

2009-02-28T10:55:34Z

The Primer's last exposure to Farlowe was the excellent 2003 release "Farlowe That", which was characterised by great song choices, fairly lush production values and stellar accompaniment in the shape of Van Morrison.

"Eingang" is a significant departure from Farlowe That. It's a band orientated album, with much simpler production values - still a Van Morrison link though, with sometime Van band member Sarah Jory appearing here on pedal steel guitar.

The song selection on Eingang is also pretty sound - the Primer could have done without 'It Should Have Been Me' - after Ray Charles, no other attempt is truly going to cut it, this one included. Ignore that one though, and songs by Snooks Eaglin, Boz Scaggs, Robert Cray and Farlowe himself add up to a consistent and varied release. Farlowe's voice is still exceptionally strong and let's not forget this guy was having his major commercial successes in the sixties.

Straight ahead rock, blues, R&B and country are all present and correct but, as usual, Farlowe excels with the ballad choices. Even when the lyric might be a little hackneyed, Chris pulls it off through the power of both voice and personality - 'Don't Wanna Love You Anymore' and Cray's 'Baby's Arms' are excellent versions of great songs.

I wonder if Chris Farlowe might well be one of the most under-appreciated vocalist in popular music - he has a uniquely muscular but agile approach to what he sings and both this and Farlowe That deserve investigation. This CD is clearly not going to re-establish him as a star (it's probably too late for that) but it should appeal to most blues and R&B fans and to those who have continued to follow his career from the 60s onwards. He's still touring and is definitely worth seeing live.

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Mitty Collier (Born 21/06/1941)

2009-02-28T13:04:42Z

Mitty is now probably best remembered for her truly exceptional ballad 'I Had A Talk With My Man' - based on the James Cleveland gospel 'I Had A Talk With God' and recorded and released in 1965. But this stellar release is far from the complete story and the recent release of the Chess singles anthology on Kent records provides an appropriate opportunity to pick up on Collier's career, especially her tenure at Chess records.

Like many before her and since, Mitty was initially attracted to music through the gospel of her local church in Birmingham, Alabama. While she was still at college she started singing secular material and performing in local R&B clubs. Following a visit to her brother, who had moved to Chicago, she entered a number of talent shows, the most important of which was probably the Al Benson show, which she won for seven weeks in a row. Benson had strong ties with Chess Records and, on the back of her talent show success, Ralph Bass from Chess saw her perform and offered her a recording contract

Initial recording sessions from 1961 onwards included 'I've Got to Get Away From It All' and 'I've Got Love'. The release was picked up and reviewed by a number of the music publications of the day but her first chart success didn't come until the 1963 release of 'I'm Your Part Time Love' (an answer record to Johnnie Taylor's 'Part Time Love'). Before her next hit, she released a terrific version of 'Let Them Talk' that failed to chart. By this time Mitty had been at Chess for around four years with only one appearance on the R&B charts to show for it.

'I Had A Talk...' was the next single to be released and became Mitty's second R&B chart success. Fantastic arrangement, truly exceptional vocal performance and a great song - an instant classic that managed #3 on the Cashbox R&B charts. It also reached #41 on the hot 100 and obviously deserved to go much higher. 'No Faith, No Love' was the follow up, another adaptation of a Cleveland song. Another great performance, it nonetheless only managed #49 on the Billboard charts.

Other releases followed (including the album "Shades Of A Genius") but further chart success was proving illusive. 'For My Man' was just a bit too similar to 'I Had A Talk' although the flip 'Help Me' was a punchy track that merited a bigger push from Chess. As Tony Rounce has commented in his liner notes for The Chess singles anthology, Chess has in the past been criticised by many of its former artists over its payment of appropriate royalties but there is no denying its commitment to Mitty. She stated with the label for eight years and Chess only managed to get four reasonably sized hits out of all the sessions held in that period. In the end her biggest hit wasn't 'I Had A Talk' but a 1966 release called 'Sharing You', which reached #10 on the Billboard charts (Billboard wasn't publishing R&B charts when 'I Had A Man' was released. New releases followed every six months or so, but no chart success. 'My Party' in particular is fantastic, almost as intense as her most famous recording.

In 1969 Mitty left Chess and joined the Atlanta independent label Peachtree but by 1972 she had abandoned secular recording completely. Following recovery from polyps on the vocal chords she did at least begin singing again, but only gospel / spiritual recordings.

Her post pop career has seen Mitty develop her own ministry, work at the University of Illinois, receive an honorary doctorate and B.A, as well as release a series of gospel albums. For R&B lovers however, her tenure at Chess is a "must hear". With the release of Kent's "Shades Of Mitty Collier - The Chess Singles 1961 - 1968" we've all got the chance to do just that. A must have in any R&B collection, I'd urge everyone to get it while it stays in print.

Shades Pick

The "Shades Of Mitty Collier" compilation is a terrific overview of the Chess years. Can't imagine any lover of R&B / Soul not wanting it.

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Mitty Collier

I Had A Talk

CD - Elvin Bishop: The Blues Rolls On

2009-02-28T14:50:23Z

Anyone who only knows Elvin Bishop from the 70s hit 'Fooled Around and Fell In Love' is in for a shock - this is a blues album beginning to end and is of course far more representative of Bishop's career than that fairly brief flirtation with the pop charts.

Firstly, a quick nod to the many and varied guests on the album. These include B.B. King, James Cotton, George Thorogood, Kim Wilson, Angela Strehli, Derek Trucks and Warren Hayes - that's a stellar list and evidence enough of the high regard in which Bishop is held by both his peers and some of the younger blues players that have followed him on to the scene. But do they bring anything to the party and what of Bishop himself?

Bishop has always been a very fine guitar player (and a slightly weaker vocalist) and his playing throughout this album is very fine, fiery and soulful - possibly better than ever. The use of guest vocalists is also helpful, fleshing out the sound and providing a little necessary variation. An excellent example is the Paul Butterfield era 'Yonder's Wall', presented here as a mid tempo workout with Ronnie Baker Brooks on vocals, leaving Elvin to concentrate on the featured guitar work. 'Keep A dollar In My Pocket' features B.B. King, with the added bonus of a little pre song chat with B.B about bandleader Roy Milton, the song's originator.

Most of the songs are well chosen, but another Ray Charles "tribute" ('Night Time') is a little superfluous, especially when, as in this case, it adds little to what went before, either vocally or in its arrangement. There are a couple of Junior Wells songs, with 'Come On In This House' already a Primer favourite. 'Black Gal' adds some zydeco blues to the mix, a Clifton Chenier tune sung by R.C. Carrier, who had previously played in Chenier's band. The sleeve notes tell us that Bishop also got to play on one of Clifton's 70s albums. The album finishes with the Jimmy Reed classic 'Honest I do', with John Nemeth on harmonica.and Bishop providing some lovely slide guitar

It's a very solid release from a fine blues practitioner. The album has a guest list that includes both veterans and relative newcomers, and it includes tunes both old and new. It connects a blues history with the future of the genre and is clearly a labour of love, without being precious or stuffy - Bishop's music has alway been imbued with a sense of humour. Very listenable, but given the track record of both Bishop and his guests, perhaps not as stellar as might have been expected.

And I still can't decide whether 'Oklahoma', with Elvin on vocals and solo guitar only, is the best or worst track on the album .

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Stephen Dale Petit

2009-05-23T08:56:28Z

Petit has been lauded as key player in the modern blues movement ever since the release of "Guitararama" in 2008. And he definitely seems to be on a mission, claiming he "was put on the planet to play the blues"

Listening to him on his own website, he's clearly paid his dues, both musically and through his addictions to alcohol and drugs, both of which he has now kicked. He says he's particularly keen to get the blues across to a younger audience and Guitararama certainly has that modern edge to it, both in terms of the playing and the production values.

And he's not short of admirers either - the album was voted album of the year by Guitar Magazine and he's been featured on the Paul Jones blues show on Radio 2, which unusually was also filmed; you can see Petit performing 'Love In Vain' with Mick Taylor by going to the Radio 2 website

He's got a new album coming out shortly and the lead off single from it is a terrific reworking of 'As The Years Go Passing By'. If this is a true reflection of the quality of the rest of the album, I'd argue that this is the release that might help to take the blues to a new audience. Guitararama is a fine record but not necessarily the one to pull in new listeners - by and large it's a modern blues album with rock sensibiilties; and it's largely intrumental, which can lead to a lack of variey if it's not paced correctly.

The latest single is arranged by Chris Elliot (Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse etc.) and is truly a modern take on a blues classic - hopefully a very promising foretaste of what's to come from the new release.

Petit has been touring reasonably extensively recently so if you get the chance to see him live then take it - you can decide for yourself whether this is the real deal and a take on the blues that will bring in a newer audience. For the Primer, very promising but not too sure it's the "New Blues Revolution"

See You Next Editorial

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CD - Jackie Payne: Overnight Sensation

2009-05-23T09:57:44Z

This release was nominated for the Soul/Blues Album of the Year in the Annual Blues Music Awards (2009) so we were expecting an R&B treat. Payne and partner, guitarist Steve Edmondson, have been playing together for years, with countless appearances at festivals around the world to their name.

"Overnight Sensation" reflects that track history and shows off a terrifically tight band and their particular brand of timeless R&B that recalls the sounds of Pickett, Redding and particularly Bobby Bland. Gospel, blues, soul and straight ahead R&B are all featured on the set, with most of the tracks written by the two lead protagonists.

And therein lies one of the weaknesses of the release - the songs aren't really anything to get that excited about, and you occasionally get the feeling that you've heard it all before. There's a fine line between being true to the form and straight forward repetition and there are one or two songs that veer towards the latter. Which makes a couple of covers the more successful tracks on the album, especially a very fine, understated version of Charlie Rich's 'Feel Like Going Home'; and that is praise indeed because I doubt Rich's version could ever actually be surpassed.

Vocally, Payne has been compared directly to Bobby Bland and you can certainly hear the influence. Unfortunately, he isn't the same league (but who is) and he isn't as good an interpreter either (Feel Like Going Home Aside), even on his own material.

This isn't a bad album at all, and lovers of the soul/blues hybrid popularised by the likes of Bobby, Little Milton and Z.Z. Hill will find a great deal to enjoy if they take a punt and buy the CD. It's just not bringing much in the way of innovation to the table. And so in the end I think I'd just rather listen to the real deal and all those wonderful Bland Duke/ABC recordings!

See You Next Review

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CD - John Scofield: Piety Street

2009-05-23T10:25:13Z

I'll be the first to admit that the Shades CD collection isn't awash with John Scofield releases; obviously a singular guitar talent, just not one that has found its way into the blues, R&B and soul catalogue of the Primer (or any other part of the catalogue for that matter)! Known to Shades as a fluid and technical virtuoso, his previous releases just never struck an emotional chord. Which makes my reaction to this release even more surprising.

As Scofield himself says of this release "I'm just shifting the balances for this one. I've always wanted to record and tour a blues project. That's where I started as a guitarist and I'm feeling that music more than ever of late. I launched a personal search for musical inspiration beyond the standard 12 bar blues and found it in "old time gospel" music - the closest relative to and inspiration for the R& B that we all love. I've always treasured Gospel but never really dug deep into it. My search led to countless songs that really move me. It's really powerful stuff. Of course, it will be Gospel done my way - all the arrangements are mine".

That last bit is important because the arrangements are great. I've read one review that considers the performance and arrangements 'lifeless' but we can't have been listening to the same CD. A band that includes Jon Cleary on keyboards, George Porter Jr. on bass and Ricky Fataar on drums is simply not going to deliver a lifeless set and it doesn't.

This is gospel music in an understated setting and there are 13 excellent examples of Scofield's obvious arranging skills on here, mainly well-known gospel standards with a couple of originals thrown in to the mix for good measure. The guitar playing is understandably first rate throughout - simpler and more direct than Scofield fans are used to maybe, but showcasing what a fine blues guitarist he can be. The title track, 'It's A Big Army', 'Ninety Nine and a Half' and 'Just a Little While' are favourites but the whole CD hangs together very well. So understated it may be, but it's certainly not lifeless - there's more than one way to play any genre and it doesn't always have to be flat out and high octane.

A couple of minor quibbles - the CD feels a little bit over produced for music centred on New Orleans jazz and blues and I will concede that some of the vocal performances are not up to the standard of the playing - John Boutte is particularly average. But overall this is one of the best and most surprising releases I've heard this year.

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DVD - B.B.King: Live In Africa '74

2009-05-23T10:25:38Z

Any B.B performance is likely to be a treat but this 1974 performance is better than anyone has a right to expect. Appearing in Zaire on the back of the Muhammad Ali and George Foreman heavyweight title fight (billed it as the 'Rumble in the Jungle'.

B.B. King was the headlining act. Anyone who has ever had the fortune to see B.B. King play live knows that he is always gives value for money, even when he finally made concessions to his age and remained seated throughout large parts of a performance. "B.B. King: Live in Africa '74" highlights the Blues Boy at the peak of his powers, as a performer and as a player - he had by this time largely manged to crossover to the popular mainstream and had a following far beyond the standard blues lover; and he was already approaching fifty when he played in Zaire, so it took him a while to get here.

The sound recording is excellent, and the filming is great in that it is all concert, beginning to end - no distractions to disrupt the flow of the show. Some might now call this technique perfunctory, but for those just interested in the music, it's perfect. The picture isn't bad either, considering it is by necessity a video to DVD transfer.

Excellent choice of material - 'Sweet Sixteen' from early in his career, a great interpretation of 'Believe To My Soul', along with what was then fairly recently released material such as 'Ain't Nobody Home' 'Guess Who' and the King standard 'The Thrill Is Gone'.

Great playing, great singing, great band! What more could you want? Well, you would probably want a little more of the same, as the DVD only runs to around 48 minutes. And there isn't much in the way of extras - there's a fairly short interview with King, which isn't specifically about the Zaire concert and probably doesn't tell you much you didn't already know about him. But 48 minutes of King in his prime is worth more than two hours of mediocrity and this is B.B at his best.

Unreservedly recommended and easily the best DVD featuring the great man that I have yet to see and hear. Ali is in the audience by the way, but blink and you'll miss him!

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B.B. in Africa

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Mezz Mezzrow - Really The Blues

2009-05-23T10:25:56Z

Originally published in 1946 this book has often been described as one of the key autobiographies in popular music. Mezzrow was a white Jewish boy who learnt to play saxophone in reformatory school and went on to immerse himself in the jazz world of the 1920s and 30s. But does it have any relevance to or resonate with 21st century sensibilities?

First point to note is that Mezzrow was a very interesting character. He was a musician, a manager (Louis Armstrong), owned his own record label and also had a reputation as one of jazz's foremost drug dealers! He also crossed the racial divide in 1920's America to make himself part of black culture. And I mean crossed the divide!

Mezzrow was obsessive in his embrace of what was then a "pariah nether world" and took his passion to extremes. He wasn't the first to adopt the back man's music, slang and style but he was probably the first who, after extended immersion in the black community, genuinely believed he had actually, physically, turned black. When he was arrested in 1940, he insisted on being held in the black section of a New York prison. He claimed that even if he didn't look coloured, he was - the prison wardens believed him and moved him in with the black prisoners.

So Mezzrow is clearly a fascinating character. But what you also get from this book is a first hand account of the jazz / blues world of the day - the street life, blues roadhouses, brothels, bar and the honky tonks as well as his own view of some of the great musical personalities of the day. And as it was to a large degree written in the slang of the jazz underground of the day, it introduced a new audience to what soon became the standard vocabulary of the wider musical world. It's difficult to imagine now, but this is the first time many had come across words such as 'hipster', 'groovy' and 'high'.

The hip slang of the time in which the majority of the book is written can on occasion become a little tiresome, especially for a middle age white man from a Yorkshire steel city who struggles with some of the meaning even now; but it is also part of its charm and on balance would be far more ordinary and conventional without it. In some ways it set the mark for much of the beat generation writing that followed.

As to its current value - it tells us how everything started, an eye witness account of the birth of jazz/blues and its associated culture. It describes a genuinely unique individual (a much overused characterisation) who was at the same time inspired, odd, passionate, misguided and incredibly influential. It is, in the end, simply a very fine autobiography coupled with a genuinely entertaining overview of a musical and cultural time and place that set the context for everything that followed. Definitely worth a punt!

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Another View of Overnight Sensation

2009-05-23T16:30:23Z

Hi,

I want to present another opinion regarding your review of the Jackie Payne/Steve Edmonson CD. Although I can appreciate the difference of opinion, I wonder if you have seen this group in a live performance. If not, I do hope you will get an opportunity to see the band live. Since I am also a journalist, sometimes I listen two or three times before I get the full flavor of what is coming through a cold environment. If I am reviewing a CD, I listen much more over a period of time.

Since I have been a fan of Jackie Payne's for many years and have seen him in many venues (just recently at the 2009 Blues Music Awards show), I can tell you that his live performances are sensational--and his "partner in the blues" Steve Edmonson is just icing on the cake.

BTW, I love "Overnight Sensation"!

Chinie

2009-08-23T22:41:59Z

Chinie is a delectable saucy UK songwriter artist that loves to write out sweet tunes. I love the sould track ''I Smell''.

Introducing Reggie Sears: The King Of Love; Southern Soul, R&B & Slow Jam Specialist

2009-11-10T08:19:21Z

Miami, FL, A Melting Pot Of Culture, is known for its Swingin' Nightlife, lavish Beaches, Exotic Women, Lushous Landscape, Victorious Sports Teams, and among other things, Music. Some Of The World's Biggest Stars Hail From Miami: Gloria Estefan, KC & The Sunshine Band, Betty Wright, Latimore, Gwen & George McCrae, Pretty Tony, Stevie B, 2 Live Crew, David Hudson, 69 Boyz, Bobby Stringer, Trick Daddy, and the list goes on...A Name To Add To The List Is Southern Soul and R&B artist Reggie Sears, "The King Of Love".
Miami may not be known as a Soul, R&B or Blues haven like Detroit, Memphis, Chicago or Mississippi, Sears is one of the few Southern Soul-R&B artists to come out of Miami in quite some time. The South Florida native grew up in a South Florida ghetto with loving parents & 2 brothers. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be an entertainer. "Since I Was About 4 or 5 I knew I wanted to be a Recording Artist. I Grew Up in a house with music always being played. There was all types of music from all across the board. Everything from Gospel-Yolanda Adams, The Soul Stirrers, Cleophus Robinson Jr., Alvin Slaughter, Mississippi Mass Choir, Jackson Southernaires, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caeser, ect & Secular music- Al Green, Parliament, Luther Vandross, B.B King, Johnnie Taylor, James Brown, Teddy Penedergrass, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Silk, Keith Sweat, Gerald Levert, Bobby Brown, Faze, Cameo, Vanessa Williams, Johnny Guitar Watson, Prince, Sheila E, Babyface, Candy Staton, Bobby Womack, Jeffrey Osborne + LTD, Aretha Franklin, Zapp, Brick, Con-Funk-Shun, Tyrone Davis, Bobby Blue Bland, and too much to name. Also Grunge, Alternative, Rock, Techno, 80s Pop, a whole lot of Disco, Rap- Too Short, 2 Live Crew, Ice Cube, NWA, Public Enemy, Dr. Dre, Bone Thugs 'n' Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Silk The Shocker, and the list goes on. And I remember watching MTV & VH1, and the 90's version of Soul Train, among other shows, and I'd see the bands or the artists on the stage Singing & Playing & entertaining the audience and I knew even then that I wanted to be up on that stage singing & making records", Sears says.
For his 11th birthday, Reggie asked his parents to buy him a guitar, and he recieved a Epiphone Les Paul. His appetite for learning & playing the guitar kept him out of the harsh, rough ghetto streets. "I Remember when all my friends would always ask me why I wouldn't put down the guitar to go roam the neighborhood, but I told them that I was busy playing music. Thats what I wanted to do." Being a kid in school limited his playing time. "I practiced for 5 or 6 hours a day & all day on the weekends. To tell you the truth, I went to school monday through friday, 8 AM to 3 PM, I'd get home, do homework, have about 3 hours of jammin' in the room, eat dinner, watch a little t.v. & then wait till my parents go to sleep, then unplug the guitar from the amp & quietly play guitar and by the time I went to sleep It'd be 2 or 2:30 in the morning & then in 3 hours I wouldn't want to wake up for school.(Laughs)."
When he was in his early teens he started paying his dues by sneaking into clubs & playing at Blues jams during the summer & eventually led him to sitting in with established artists/acts, during the summer. After finishing middle school, Sears decided he would like to play music full time & he preposed homeschooling to his parents, which they agreed if he did his work. He was then able to play music 7 nights a week, if he wished to.
When he was still 12 years old, Sears met Rock'n'Roll Hall-Of-Fame Inductee, The King Of Rock'n' Soul, King Solomon Burke, who invited him onstage infront of over 5,000 screaming fans. Burke, so impressed with Reggie's searing guitar announced to the crowd that Reggie Sears was the "Future Of The Blues" and that he was called Sears his "godson", and by the time he was 13 years old, he had already played with legends such as Michael Burks, Fruitland Jackson, Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Bobby Stringer, Sherman Hunter, Betty Padgett, Ike and Val Woods, Chris Beard, Ronnie Baker Brooks and many others.
In January 2004 he formed his first band, hiring a veteran rhythm section to back him & they played their first gig a few months later and by the time of this writing (August 2009) he has released 4 acclaimed C.Ds, Been On T.V., Magazines & Radio, shared the stage/or/shared the bill with such luminaries as Keith Sweat, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Bobby Rush, Steve Harvey, Kool And The Gang, Latimore, Omarion, Marvis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, Denise LaSalle, Tank, Jimmy Bo Horne, Rahiem DeVaughan, Ruben Studdard, Inner Circle, Average White Band, Fred Bolton, Moody Scott, Kenny Neal, Otis Clay, Steve Perry, Luther Lackey, T.K. Soul, 2 Live Crew, John Lee Hooker Jr., Buddy Guy, George Clinton, Tony Orlando, Bobby Jonez, Gregg Allman, Cheap Trick, The Love Doctor, Big Time Sarah, Lil' Ed Williams & The Blues Imperials, Liz Mandville Greeson, Bobby Womack, Nathaniel Kimble, Howard Hewitt, Kelly Rowland, Mims, Roach Thompson, Delbert McClinton, The Lee Boys, Shemekia Copeland and many others.
In Febuary 2004 Sears got his first festival date, as the opening act on the main stage of the Fiesta Tropicale Blues & Zydeco Festival, and in May 2004 headlined the "South Florida Music Showcase", where he headlined with Reggae band Inner Circle, known for their classic "Bad Boys[The Themesong from "Cops".]
All through 2004 Sears & his band played over 100 shows in all types of venues: from Clubs to Festivals, Hole-In-The-Walls to House Parties & everywhere in between. 2005 was also a good year for Sears. In addition to over 150 club dates, he also started working more actively on the festival circuit.
In Febuary 2005 he played the Fiesta Tropicale festival for the 2nd year in a row, this time on a later time slot on the main stage, just 2 acts ahead of the headliner, and
Also in February 2005 he opened the 1st Annual Miami Dade College Blues Festival, opening for Soul legends David Hudson, Ike And Val Woods, Bobby Stringer & Latimore for a crowd of over 2500. In late May he headlined the "South Florida Music Showcase" for the 2nd time.
On June 15th, 2005, Sears and his band entered the studio & recorded his debut album "Transitions", a Chicago style Blues album which was released in September 2005 to acclaim from critics and fans alike, which is unfortunatly rare, out of print & hard to find.
"Transitions was a Traditional Blues disc. It was really like, a Blues Guitar Slinger Kind Of A Disc, Except It Was A Bit More Funky & Jazzy, instead of heavy Rock-kind of stuff that alot of the younger artists were playing. There Were Alot Of Funk-Blues & Slow Blues, with a couple of Jazzy tunes, a few Soul-Blues kind of songs & even a what I call 'Disco-Blues' cut on that disc. I hadn't really found my sound yet. I had already developed my own guitar sound & my own licks & stuff like that, but I was still trying to find my voice & my musical style. I am still really proud of that record, and I think it was pretty good, considering that we went & cut it live in a few hours. I liked the traditional Blues that I was doing but, I soon found that I'd really rather do Soul music, which is what I grew up listening to."
Sears' popularity grew outside of the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-West Palm Beach tri-county area with his opening slot at the Sarasota Blues Festival in October 2005, where he played a searing set that left the crowd of 2,000 breathless. His fiery set at the Sarasota Festival led to many bookings on the west coast of Florida, which in return, led to him getting shows all over Florida. Throughout the rest of 2005 he toured heavily to promote "Transitions".
In early 2006, Sears followed his heart and started adding Southern Soul songs to his Blues set. In the summer of 2006, he embarked on a 6 month national tour.
The tour included headlining gigs at The House Of Blues in Orlando, FL; a headlining appearance at the Sinnissippi Band Shell in Rockford, IL, a co-headliner at The Rockin' Rib Fest in Machesney Park, IL, a co-headlining slot at "On The Waterfront" Music Festival, with a crowd of 3500+ fans plus a Dozen-plus Club Shows throughout the midwest. While on his midwest tour, he made a guest appearance at the world-famous Blues club "Kingston Mines" in Chicago, IL, where he played with Chicago mainstay, the Legendary John Primer. His 2006 national tour culmintated in several Casino appearances in Las Vegas, NV & a appearance at the Cultural Fest in as Vegas, where he wowed the crowd of over 25,000.
Following his 2006 tour Reggie began to tour as opening act/guitarist with The David Hudson Revue(of Honey Honey fame) & The Godfather Of Soul Band(featuring original members of James Brown's Band) in addition to doing his own shows, and in November 2006, he announced that he was officially leaving the Blues to become a Southern Soul artist but, not before he dropped his 2nd c.d. in October 2006, a traditional Down-Home Blues disc "One Step Closer To The Blues", which is rare & long out of print. It Was On This Album That Reggie started playing all the instruments himself.
Following his move into Southern Soul, he quickly dropped "Southern Soul, Florida Style", which was his first Southern Soul disc. Despite positive reviews, It is now out of print, and is now sought after as a "collector's item."
In addition to gigging with his own band, 2007 saw him playing with a variety of acts which include David Hudson, Betty Padgett, Bobby Stringer, The Soul Generals and others. In Febuary 2007, Sears co-headlined "Fiesta Tropicale" for the 4th year in a row. July 2007 saw the release of "Get Up On It", which showed him moving into more R&B pastures & while that c.d. recieved positive reviews, the disc didn't recieve the promotional push it needed. It did, however, feature several underground hits, including the #1 underground hit "Back Dat Thang Up" and its b-side, a cover of Ronnie Lovejoy's "Sho Wasn't Me", helped Sears forge a name for himself in the South.
With 4 C.D.s out & still no major success Reggie continued to tour full-time with The Godfather Of Soul Band & David Hudson throughout 2007 but, in his spare time, he began writing and recording new material for his next C.D. as well as writing & producing newcomer Jerome Towers' debut singles which included the big hit "You Gotta Be A Freak." Reggie's breakthrough came in October 2007, when his singles "Sweet Thang" & especially "Dip My Dipper", which became his biggest hit to date,
started getting rotation on some of the more prominent Southern Soul stations across the nation and started getting quite a bit of airplay overseas.
The single "She Made A Freak Out Of Me" followed in late November 2007 and got considerable airplay as well.
Through March 2008 Reggie continued his gruesome touring schedule with The Godfather Of Soul Band, and with little time for his own solo career, there was a difficult decision to be made, and Reggie had to make that unfortunate departure from "The Godfather Of Soul Band" to pursue his solo career full-time. In May 2008 he dropped the singles "My Outside Woman" & "U Caught Me With My Drawers Off", to much fanfare & radio play, especially overseas. Between May 2008 & the time of this writing, Reggie continued to do shows, Session Work, Writing, Producing, Mixing & Engineering & Arranging For Other Artists & in his spare time finished up his current disc, his 5th LP titled "Sweet Thang".
This Disc is where it all comes together: The Performances, The Voice, The Songs, The Musicianship, The Production & The Arranging. On This Album, Like His Past Albums(excluding his debut "Transtions"), Reggie plays and sings virtually every note, lick & instrument, with the occasional help of Jerome Towers, Wilena Johnson & "Angel" on Backup Vocals on a few songs. Reggie's knack for writing catchy Uptempo songs, Pleading Ballads, Sexy Slow Jams & gritty, gutbucket Blues is especially evident on this c.d., with 10 of the 16 songs written by Reggie Sears(2 co-written with Angela Sears & 1 with Wilena Johnson). The Uptempo Songs Keep The Booty Wigglin', The Head Boppin', The Foot-Tappin', Or Whatever It Is That You Do; His Blues numbers show off his Soulful, Gritty Vocals & Guitar Prowess. But, Its The Ballads that really steals the show. In South Florida, Reggie's way of serenading the ladies in his live show & on his regionally-spinned C.D.s earned him the title "The King Of Love" and this C.D. is the perfect indication of why.
Reggie is one of the few under-25 years old performers who is not only a truly Dynamic Vocalist, who bridges the gap of Ol' Skool Soul Singers of the 60s & 70s, With The Urban Sounds of 80s and 90s R&B. Reggie's vocals wring with emotion & his rich voice will have you feeling every word he is singing, but also a superb musician who plays 5 instruments & is a wiz in the recording studio. The ballads range from that Ol' Skool Bluesy Southern Soul tunes to sexy Smooth R&B and Slow Jams that covers everything from Matters Of The Heart: Being In Love, or Losing Your Love; Being Done Wrong By The One You Love; Repairing A Broken Relationship & About Makin' Love. There's Also Songs About That Famous(or Infamous) Southern Soul/R&B subject, Infidelity.
This Album Isn't Bubblegum. This isn't manufactured commercial drivel. The songs here are about Real Life For Real People Who Are Grown and Sexy. Slow Jams such as "Make Sweet Love", "Weekend Of Love", "Lay Your Body Down" will put you in the mood for makin' love, while songs like "Sweet Thang", "I Won't Stop Lovin' You" & "Prisoner Of Love", are about Being In Love while "Don't Say Goodbye" is a slow R&B song about a failed relationship. Covering the full-spectrum of Life there are tracks like "Dip My Dipper", "Careless Things We Do", "I'm In Love With My Best Friend's Wife", "My Outside Woman" & "U Caught Me With My Drawers Off" that tell tales of infidelity, while "Big Papa", "Bounce Dat Booty" & "Lookin' For A Freak" is sure to be "Party" hits that will for sure pack the dance floors.
Reggie Sears is The Real Deal, People. He's a young Soul artist who doesn't rely on gizmos like "Auto-Tune" to make him sound good. He doesn't need hot-dance moves, flashy Theatrics or other Gimmicks; Instead, he lets his talent take centerstage here.
With a voice reminiscent of the Raw, Gritty Ol' Skool artists such as Tyrone Davis, Johnnie Taylor, Otis Redding, or Marvin Sease, and the Smooth Sounds of Gerald LeVert, Babyface or R. Kelly, Reggie's vocal style & sound has been compared with greats such as Tyrone Davis, Gerald Levert, Little Milton, Latimore, Otis Redding, Marvin Sease, K-Ci Hailey, R. Kelly & Bobby Womack, to name a few; While his skills as a guitarist has been compared to B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Rush, Lonnie Brooks, Prince, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Albert King & Little Milton. His songwriting & production skills have been compared to such geniuses like Babyface, "Prince", Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Gamble & Huff, Holland/Dozier/Holland, Smokey Robinson, Issac Hayes/David Porter, R. Kelly, George Jackson & Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis. Not only a vocalist & guitarist, Reggie played all the instruments on this C.D., Engineered It & Mixed it all at His Recording Studio, Raw Dawg Studio.
With The Release Of The Long-Awaited new Disc, the Critically Acclaimed "Sweet Thang", Reggie Sears, The King Of Love, With His Soulful Voice, Guitar Skills, Hard-To-Beat Live Show, Not To Mention His Skills As A Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Writer, Arranger & Engineer, He is Poised To Take The Southern Soul World By Storm & Become One Of The Top Artists In The Rising Genre.

Maryport Blues Festival 2010 - Press Release

2010-05-13T13:28:00Z

Tickets to go on sale on Thursday May 13^th

With the full programme now announced tickets will go sale for the 12^th Maryport Blues Festival next Thursday, May 13^th.

Over the three day festival programme over sixty bands will be performing including on the main stage: The Robert Cray Band, Booker T, Paul Carrack, Canned Heat, The Hoax, Mica Paris, Holmes Brothers (US), Paddy Milner & the Big Sounds, Gregg Wright (US), Bex Marshall, Marcus Bonfanti Band, The Rory Ellis Duo (Australia), Hokie Joint, The Steve Rodgers Band, Feed Me.

Ticket outlets and Prices

MAIN STAGE

These are available from three outlets

1. The Carnegie Theatre, Finkle Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2BD

Tel: 01900 602122

2. Ticketline www.ticketline.co.uk or tel 0871 424 4444 or online 24hrs/day.

3. Maryport Festivals Ltd, 104, Senhouse Street, Maryport, Cumbria. CA15 6BS Tel: 01900 817200

and also on the door (subject to availability)

Main stage ticket prices are :

Friday £38
Saturday £50 (afternoon and evening sessions)
Sunday £55 (afternoon and evening sessions)
WEEKEND £105

Buying a ticket for the whole weekend represents a saving of an amazing £38 over individual marquee day tickets. PLUS a weekend main stage ticket includes a free trail weekend wrist band worth £15.

Trail Wrist Bands

These give access to all the trail venues around the town.

Trail prices :

Per day £6
Weekend £15

Trail is available from Maryport Festivals Ltd, details above.

All ticket sales are subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the festival website

The Best Fest is a West Fest!

Whether you like music, family festivals, maritime fun or food and drink, there is something happening all year round in the Western Lake District. Our coast and countryside play host to a magnificent array of Events and Festivals to keep you entertained during your visit. The loveliest corner of England is also the liveliest. For more information on Events in West Cumbria and details on accommodation in the area please see www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk or call 01900 818741

Don't forget to sign up for the Newsletter and on the website and join our Maryport Blues Festival Facebook site.

Keeping the blues alive in Maryport

The Festival Committee

news@maryportblues.com

Television Singer Starts MySpace Contest to Find Web Developers

2010-06-01T06:04:54Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2010 (New York, NY) -- Courtney Salter, a neo-soul artist on the Premier Musique Group (PMG) record label, has initiated a contest for all webmasters to design her MySpace page. The winner of the challenge will be allowed on the set of her upcoming music video; be the first to receive her highly anticipated EP Album prior to release; and be invited to her album release party.

The sultry artist’s claim to fame in her career thus far, was her past participation on American Idol & Making the Band. According to her manager, Cynthia Davis-Middleton, the 18 year-old artist did not make it to the ladder rounds. To add to that, Salter said “I thought it went well in my last audition. I wasn't prepared to do the song and forgot some of the words, but overall I enjoyed the time and experience.”

Since then, the young singer has built a strong online social following on YouTube. With hundreds of thousands of views, it is no wonder why she has turned to MySpace as her next future social triumph. MySpace has for a long time, been a great avenue for artists, comedians, film companies and more, to attain sales and spread the news of their events. Although not all have success, some members have had millions of hits and became global sensations. A few notables include Tila Tequila, Jeffree Star, Fall Out Boy, whom all became famous, seemingly overnight on the popular MySpace.com website. Although it is not Salter’s goal to become popular, famous, or a celebrity, it is the goal of the hardworking people behind her development to build her presence in the online and televised music markets.

Hulon E. Crayton II, an A&R of PMG, hopes that her music will reach the mainstream urban music audience, yet reach what he calls the youthful ‘Disney Generation,’ which he claims are those that are in middle school and younger. Further, he mentioned that “we plan to develop her presence on MySpace, YouTube and other social networking sites to put her in front of her audience. I hope that this contest will bring about participation from her fans, and bring about new followers.”

Participants of Salter’s MySpace contest can partake in the event until June 8th, 2010. PMG advises that web developers create a MySpace.com music page with their chosen layout and design, and then email the link to info@craytoncorp.com. Out of the lot of participants, one winner will be selected.

For more information on this contest, go to facebook.com/courtneysalter. She can also be found online at twitter.com/courtneysalter2 and myspace.com/courtneysaltersingssoul.

###

Rachel Matthews & J. Marie
MM Entertainment Publicity (Crayton Corp)
1515 Broadway, 11th Fl.
New York, NY 10036
P.O. Box 1145
Lynn Haven, FL 32444
800-891-3990 ex. 722
info@craytoncorp.com
http://mmentertainmentpublicity.com

Maryport Blues Festival 2010 - Press Release 2

2010-06-01T13:15:22Z

BBC Radio 2 and Paul Jones return to "this unique and much loved event"

Following last year's inaugural visit, Radio 2 is proud to return to the Maryport Festival 2010. The network's Blues show presenter Paul Jones, who provides the Radio 2 audience with a weekly dose of Rhythm and Blues every Monday night from 7pm-8pm, will host a Radio 2 Blues Night to be broadcast in July. Paul will present exclusive coverage of the festival including live music from all the major artists featured on the Main Stage, including Paul Carrack, Robert Cray and Canned Heat. With backstage interviews and features about the festival, the fringe performances and the local area, Paul will bring Radio 2 listeners a true taste of this unique and much loved event.

.....and a special message from Paul Jones

"Just a quick word to let you know that I will be in Maryport for this year's blues festival - along with a crack team from BBC Radio 2 to broadcast it to the whole of the UK and beyond - and we're all looking forward to it eagerly. Last year's festival was full of memorable musical moments, but I'm expecting this year's line-up to surpass even that" Paul Jones

The Paul Jones Maryport Special will be on Radio 2 from 7-10pm on Monday 26th July.

The Best Fest is a West Fest!

Keeping the blues alive in Maryport

The Festival Committee

Maryport Blues - A Week to Go...

2010-07-15T13:26:28Z

Maryport Blues ....a week to go

It's now just over a week until the 12^th Maryport Blues Festival and three days of the best blues music you will hear this summer. With The Robert Cray Band, Booker T, Paul Carrack, Canned Heat, The Hoax, Mica Paris, The Holmes Brothers plus over 40 other bands and BBC Radio 2 recording and interviewing the artists, there's lots to look forward to.

Virgil & the Accelerators will now kick off the Saturday afternoon, after Steve Rodgers had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. With an average age of only 17, and having already supported big name acts such as Otis Grand, Nine Below Zero, Kim Wilson, Eric Sardinas, the Blues Band and Carvin Jones, Virgil and the Accelerators are an awesome blues trio who are taking the country by storm. http://www.virgilandtheaccelerators.com/

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Youth festival For the third year running, on the Thursday before the festival, Maryport will celebrate the talents of local young people between the ages of 11 to 18 in the main marquee. For the latest information on Maryport Youth Festival, visit their website http://www.maryportyouth.co.uk

Maryport Blues donate tickets to Cockermouth Flood support organisations

In recognition of the amazing work done by the emergency services and the many other organisations during the terrible floods in Cockermouth last November, Maryport blues festival committee are donating festival tickets to Cockermouth Mountain rescue, Fire Service, Ambulance, Maryport Inshore Rescue Boat and The Duke of Lancasters regiment soldiers injured in conflict in Afghanistan. These organisations and many others braved extreme conditions and worked tirelessly for many hours back in November and the obvious way we can show our appreciation is by donating tickets

If you haven't bought your tickets yet go to the website for all the details. www.maryportblues.co.uk

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

The Blues Festival Committee

The Best Fest is a West Fest!

Recommended by Maryport Blues

CockRock July 16^th to 18^th The 6^th three day grass roots festival held in Cockermouth with over 150 bands on 7 stages including headliners 'Sham 69", Dodgy, Kid British and The King Blues. www.cockermouthrockfestival.com

Silloth Kite festival & Silloth Watersports and Triathlon Weekend.

July 24^th to 25^th http://sillothonsolway.com/events.html

A great weekend of activity for all the family, with the annual kite festival welcoming a triathlon event. There will be arts, crafts and a beginners cycle roadshow as well as a family triathlon running alongside the main event. For triathlon entries and further information please visit www.trihard.co.uk