Billy Boy Arnold, Mike Bloomfield, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Doc Pomus and Allen Toussaint lead the 2012 class of the Blues Hall of Fame, to be inducted tonight (May 9, 2012) at the Memphis Marriott Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee, ahead of Thursday’s 33rd annual Blues Music Awards ceremonies. The 2012 classRead More

Charles “Skip” Pitts, one of the architects of soul, R&B, and funk guitar and a member of the Bo-Keys, has passed away at the age of 65. Pitts is best known for creating two of the signature guitar riffs of all time: The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing” and theRead More

2011 brought its share of comebacks (Gregg Allman, the Meters’ Zigaboo Modeliste, the Time) Stax-related joys (both Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper issued solo sides) and out-of-nowhere delights (Big Head Todd does the blues?). But how did they rank on my list? Read on, as I count down myRead More

Nominees have been announced for the 33rd Blues Music Awards, to be held on May 10, 2012 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Click through the links for our thoughts on the new nominees! You May Also Like: Johnny Winter Refined His Hell-Raising Brand of Texas BluesRead More

The Bo-Keys, with a spring-loaded, testifying Memphis vibe associated with Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas and Al Green, have put out an album that bubbles like a dark, spicy gumbo. You May Also Like: Al Green’s Secular Comeback Was Made Complete With Lay It Down The Black Keys Hit Upon theRead More