Excerpts from Kenny Smith’s website: beedyeyes.com below. Kenny Smith was unquestionably born into blues royalty. He grew up in the same house where Muddy Waters once lived in Chicago, the home of the blues. Throughout his childhood, Kenny was surrounded by Muddy and his friends, which included his own father, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (1936-2011). These same blues icons helped mold him into the person and drummer he is today and later in life asked him to provide his famous back-beat on some of the largest and most respected stages and recordings in the world.  Grammy A ..read more

Just last week, I had the pleasure of working with the beautiful MIZZ LOWE (Loretta Harris-Wilson) on a cd cover for her brand new Christmas release “Christmas Tears” featuring Bobby Rush. Mizz Lowe is a longtime dancer with the great Mr. Rush and a recording artist/vocalist in her own right. Check out her singles on all music platforms and go see Bobby Rush as soon as you can! Mizz Lowe’s official bio below. The Biography of Mizz Lowe Dancer, Artist, Writer, Entertainer, Actress  Mizz Lowe was born Loretta Harris in Holmes County, Mississippi. Growing up in Greenwood, Mississippi, M ..read more

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* “All the kids made their own guitars. Made mine out of a box and bit of stick for a neck. Couldn’t do much with it, but that’s how you learn.”  – Muddy Waters December 7, 2022  Volume 3, Issue 25 Focus: Instrument Making Violin-Maker & Player Make History Chicago Blues Master Anne Harris’s Incredible Story and Collaboration with Luthier Amanda Ewing  WGN Cover Story: Anne Harris & Amanda Ewing’s Historic Violin Commission ..read more

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* “Blues is about wanting and not having, about putting that need into someone else’s hands for a little while so you can pause and breathe.”  ― Cassandra Khaw, A Song for the Quiet November 23, 2022  Volume 3, Issue 24 Special Treat for Kids of All Ages Wendy and DB’s New Album Into the Little Blue House Features Chicago Blues Masters Billy Branch and Dave Specter—and is Nominated for a Grammy! Chicago Blues Masters Dave Specter and Billy B ..read more

AUDIObiography©   Interviews with Blues Artists on the Records That Move Them Blues Artists discuss the recordings throughout their lives that impacted them deeply. A sound biography, as it were.  Today, Dear Reader, we’re debuting a column called AUDIObiography©, a glimpse into the listening life of musical artists from first memories until the present. We’re including YouTube links for easy access to each of the artist’s choices. Enjoy listening to each and every record as our interviewee recollects songs that earmark significant times of his or her life!&n ..read more

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu May 11, 2022  Volume 3, Issue 10 Pete’s Pics “Blues in Action” by Peter M. Hurley MELODY ANGEL MELODY ANGEL will receive much deserved exposure by appearing in no less than three featured spots during this year’s Chicago Blues Festival. Check her and her blazing guitar out along with a wide range of Chicago’s best; June 9-12, 2022. To learn about the festival, click here. Chi ..read more

A long-time highlight of Bobby Rush’s stage act is the gorgeous presence of Mizz Lowe. I had the pleasure of seeing Mizz Lowe at Hammond Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino with Mr. Rush last Saturday at the currently touring Chi-Town Blues Festival. Below is an excerpt of her bio on her website: Mizz Lowe was born Loretta Harris in Holmes County, Mississippi. Growing up in Greenwood, Mississippi, Mizz Lowe grew up singing in her church and school. Mizz Lowe was very active in her school, singing, a member of the school band (playing the flute), on the dance team and ..read more

Excerpted from REUNIONBLUES.COM: “Touring can be brutal on any guitar. Through rain, snow, sleet, hail… I rely on my Reunion Blues to see me through.” Mr. RIC HALL aka “Ric Jaz” is truly an extraordinary example of one of the best musicians to come out of Chicago, He currently tours and performs around the world with Blues legend BUDDY GUY. Ric’s 30 year plus resume includes associations with a surreal list of GRAMMY and ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME Award winning artists like BB KING, ALBERT KING, ERIC CLAPTON, JOHN MAYER, CARLOS SANT ..read more

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* “I don’t think I ever sing the same way twice. The blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it. Anything I do sing is part of my life.” – Billie Holiday  Wednesday November 9, 2022  Volume 3, Issue 23 Get FREE Tickets for November 17, 2022 Johnny Burgin Blues Revue with Ben Levin, Marie Martens and Joel Astley Johnny Burgin, Chicago Blues Master, educator with Chicago Blues Network ..read more

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* “I just play blues for fun.” – Howlin’ Wolf October 26, 2022  Volume 3, Issue 22 Blues Spotlight: Howlin’ Wolf How Much do you Know About Howlin’ Wolf? Hailing from Mississippi, Howlin’ Wolf learned Blues directly from none other than Charley Patton, and Wolf bridged the gap between Delta Blues and the burgeoning Chicago Blues. When Wolf moved to Chicago as an adult, he was noticed by Ike Turner (who was then just 19) and started his recording career in 1951. Many gems ..read more