Jimmy Reed “Take Out Some Insurance” (1959)
I hate paying for home insurance. Thousands and thousands of dollars, year after year, just out the window. With absolutely nothing to show for it. And for what, just in case my house gets struck by lightning and burns down? Come on, how on earth is that ever going to occur? What a colossal waste....... Read More
Barbecue Bob and The Spareribs “Swamp Thing” (1996)
They came after many months of painstaking planning, a not insubstantial expense, and more than a few sleepless nights sweating out the weather forecast, but hearing the sound of the first few notes of this song was one of the crowning moments of my life..... Read More
Jeff Healey “See The Light” (1988)
..I did once, however, get a chance to witness another blind guitarist play live, this one an utterly mesmerizing dynamo named Jeff Healey, and it was one of the most unforgettable performances I’ve witnessed in my life. Healey is one of the ten greatest guitarists I’ve ever heard. Hard stop. No qualifier.... Read More
Tedeschi Trucks Band “Midnight In Harlem” (2011)
The stupifyingly amazing Derek Trucks, guitarist and co-leader of the indomitable Tedeschi Trucks Band. What has, at times, actually curtailed my enjoyment of his unreal playing? He's too good.... Read More
Aretha Franklin “Today I Sing The Blues” (1961)
I’m quite sure there’s not a soul who needs me to try to describe the greatness of The Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin was one of those artists that’s just universally accepted as magnificent, and deservedly so. Like the Mona Lisa, Aretha’s grandeur had long ago ceased to even be something to assert, her artistry...... Read More
Guitar Shorty “Get Busy” (2004)
A lot of times I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to all the awesome rockin’ blues guitar there is. What’s a guy to do, except... Read More
Tedeschi Trucks Band “I’m Gonna Be There” (2019)
What the Tedeschi Trucks Band can create is something truly rare: pure joy... Read More
Johnny Winter “Illustrated Man” (1991)
At the time that Johnny Winter signed his first recording contract with Columbia Records in 1968, his advance of $600,000 was reportedly the largest in the history of the music industry. Throughout his life, he did most everything else to excess as well... Read More
Gary Moore “Still Got The Blues” (1990)
Sure, I wish I’d seen Jimi Hendrix. And Duane Allman. And a handful of other guitar gods gone before my time too. But the guitarist I most regret missing, Gary Moore, probably wouldn’t make many people’s list. A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Moore died of a heart attack in 2011 at just 58 years...... Read More
Gatemouth Brown “Born In Louisiana” (1989)
Sunday, May 5th at 7:00PM CST another New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival came to an end at the Fair Grounds racetrack. Over 8 days and across 2 weekends, for attendees numbering around 475,000, a lineup of 688 acts performed – and notwithstanding the presence of some of the biggest names in music, roughly 600 of...... Read More