Year: 2013

Since it’s Boxing Day, let’s talk blues musicians who boxed

“Very good read! Sort of expected to read that the Wolf was a boxer as well. Best wishes for a prosperous 2014.” JonnyThumper (@jonnythumper) December 26, 2013. BLUESMUSE47. The heavyweight blues song writer, Willie Dixon In most countries in the English-speaking world, including Britain, Australia and Canada, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day.… Continue reading Since it’s Boxing Day, let’s talk blues musicians who boxed

Pop your cork this Christmas with these classic 50s pop clips

“Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a nice day!” Anonymous noreply-comment@blogger.com 11 March, 2014     Merry Christmas from the Paul… Continue reading Pop your cork this Christmas with these classic 50s pop clips

EXCLUSIVE. The world’s first black blues recording.

UPDATED: JULY 11th 2018 Is this a world exclusive? Well, I’d never seen it mentioned when I first wrote this five years ago. And I haven’t seen it mentioned since. BluesMuse46. Nearly 103 years ago, a song was recorded that many blues and jazz traditionalists rate as their genres’ greatest of all time. It was Christmas… Continue reading EXCLUSIVE. The world’s first black blues recording.

The Bloody Nerve: Rock & Roll in Nashville? Whatever next?

“Hey, Paul, That is the best write up yet!” The Bloody Nerve (@thebloodynerve), Nashville, USA, 15 December 2013.   Updated 16 December 2016. Last month (6 November actually) I wrote a post about the scarcity of mixed rock duos these days. Apart from Sweden’s Roxette, I couldn’t think of any other male/female duo to hit the international big-time… Continue reading The Bloody Nerve: Rock & Roll in Nashville? Whatever next?

Get ready for the centenary of the world’s first-ever blues recording

BLUESMUSE45. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, etc. etc. The countdown is on for one of the most important centenaries in the history of the blues. As soon as the year ticks over to 2014, we start celebrating the 100th anniversary of the world’s first blues recording. When I say we, I mean probably just me… Continue reading Get ready for the centenary of the world’s first-ever blues recording

Five exceedingly rare nineteenth century “blues” guitarists

“Always fun reading, Paul. Thanks.”  Jason Vivone  (@JVivone), leader of the Billy Bats, Kansas City, December 3, 2013. Charlie Patton: taught by Henry Sloan BLUESMUSE44. We ended last week’s post around 1910 on the streets of Dallas, Texas. It was five years before Huddie Ledbetter, also known as Lead Belly, began the first of his… Continue reading Five exceedingly rare nineteenth century “blues” guitarists

The birth of boogie guitar

“Fantastic, as usual. U always seem 2 write about bands I am interested in, with great links & writing style! :-)” Bev Wills@CoreCritical, Miami, USA and Leeds, UK, 27 November 2013 BLUESMUSE43 There’s been a fair share of boogie woogie piano in this blog lately, including a rare clip featuring Jools Holland in his younger… Continue reading The birth of boogie guitar

Celebrate 40 years of AC/DC. Help make ‘Highway To Hell’ the UK’s Christmas No. 1

” Love that blog! 🙂 AC/DC are one of the best bands to work for too.  They definitely get my vote over X-factor!” Bev Wills (@CoreCritical), Miami, USA and Leeds, UK, November 21, 2013.   If you’re reading this in the States, let me explain. The song topping the charts on Christmas Day is a… Continue reading Celebrate 40 years of AC/DC. Help make ‘Highway To Hell’ the UK’s Christmas No. 1