Very Well Put

The following is part of the weekly gig e-mail that my friend Cheryl Arena put out this week. I really agree with what she had to say.

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All I can say is I feel lucky to be alive and well..this past week has been a shocker losing two great people who were dedicated to promoting Blues music and Blues musicians..that being Teo Leosmeyer (former keyboard player with Johnny Copeland and booker for the original House of Blues in Cambridge Mass.) who passed away last week at the age of 58 and then today hearing about Clifford Antone who was also in his 50's and I'm sure you all know who he was and how much he contributed to trying to keep the Blues alive...it's so sad and shocking.
I feel on the one hand kind of tacky telling ya'll my gigs for this week but then on the other hand I feel like that's what I do and I do it because I truly love this music and I want to share it with as many people as I can and carry it on...for as long as I'm living and breathing on this earth. Life is so precious and short and I feel blessed to have the gift of music to share that's why I play as much as possible..not just my gigs but the jams around town..there is so much talent down here and I hope that ya'll get out and hear some Blues this weekend..not just my gigs but any of the many gifted musicians in DFW.
KNON's Don O. has a website with all kinds of listings..Joanna has listings in Southwest Blues Magazine ...KNON's Blue Lisa tells ya every Thursday morning around 11am what's happening around town... please get out and support the Blues.

That I think is the best way to honor these two fine gentlemen.

Listen to KNON!!! Support the Blues!

There USE to be Blues on the radio all the time in Boston..but not anymore..there wasn't enough support for it and it dwindled from every day and night for many hours,on several college stations, to once or twice a week on a few stations for a few short 1-2 hour shows. There USE to be alot of Blues clubs up in New England but not anymore...that's what happens when people don't go out and support live music...please don't let that happen here...I love it here and I wanna stay here.
Peace & Love,
Cheryl

Clifford Antone Passes

I am still reeling from the news yesterday of the death of Clifford Antone. I was in my car on the way to my gig when Joanna Iz from Southwest Blues called to tell me. I instantly felt like a lead weight had been dropped to the bottom of my stomach, where it has sat ever since. I've probably eaten 20 Tums today, but I still just feel incredibly nauseous. I can't help but feel that it is the end of a golden era in Texas Blues.

It's funny how your mind works. I had the toughest time gripping the reality of it as I drove, but I suddenly realized I was wearing the exact outfit I had on the last time I saw him. (Those of you who know my love of clothes shopping and vast wardrobe will understand how highly unlikely an occurrence that was.)

It was last summer during Antone's 30th Anniversary week, when Andrea Dawson and I drove down for the "Chick" show and then came right back the same night so I could do the radio show the next morning. We went to see all the fabulous Antone's Women appearing that night - Lou Ann Barton, Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, Sister Sarah Brown, and Sue Foley. (Okay, Okay. I also went to look at Derek O'Brien - I love me some looking at- and listening to, of course! - Derek O'Brien!!) We were especially eager to see our friend Cheryl Arena on stage performing with Candye Kane, which eventually led to Candye coming to Dallas last year to headline my radio anniversary show.

The cool thing was after Candye's set, Clifford called Cheryl back on stage and made a big deal about her. I think he was just blown away (pun intended) by her harmonica talent. Luckily, I got a picture of them together. The man was just like that all the time - always listening, always recognizing and encouraging talent.

It never dawned on me that night that the next time I went to Antone's, Clifford would be gone. During my formative years in the blues (the early 90's) I was driving to Austin 2 or 3 times a month to go to Antone's. I never bothered to check ahead - Clifford always had someone or something amazing going on. And he was always there, standing to the side of the stage, helping artists on and off, soaking it all in, and occasionally jumping on stage and strapping on a bass for an impromptu jam. I'll never forget the night during on of his anniversary week celebrations -the year Derek was away on his , shall we say, government paid vacation. I was really blue that O'Brien wasn't there to be a part of it, but what I didn't know is that Clifford had helped arrange for his early release, driven a long round trip to get him, and much to my happy amazement, brought him straight to the Antone's stage still in his prison issue finest. I consider my time spent at Antone's my Blues education, and I will be eternally grateful to Cliff for making it all happen so this 30 something white woman rock and roller could discover the American treasure we call the Blues.

I love Dallas, and think we have one of the finest blues scenes in the world today, but those Antone's Austin blues are the very backbone of what I do and who I am. I can't imagine my life without them.

Thank you Clifford Antone, for your unwavering love and devotion to the blues. I know when you walked in to that big blues jam in the sky, all your many, many friends that had gone on before you held you your bass and welcomed you to the band.

BLUE LISA DOES SCOTLAND

Sounds kind of kinky, doesn't it? (I can only hope.)

Here's the official press release:

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Blue Lisa heads for Scotland in June where she will be one of the headliners of the largest free blues festival in Europe, the Dundee Blues Bonanza. She'll be on the bill with Bob Hall (Savoy Brown, Peter Green and others), Otis Grand, Little Jimmy Reed, and will be backed by the incomparable Son Henry Band. Last years festival drew over 12,000 people, and this years festival will be even bigger. Blue Lisa will be doing 2 shows, one on the main stage and one at a 300 seat venue that's already a sell out. www.dundeebluesbonanza.com

While in Scotland, Blue Lisa will begin work on her debut release for Scottish label Front Porch Records. www.frontporchrecords.co.uk

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I'm very excited for the chance to work again with my friend the legendary Son Henry. I never know what kind of musical mischief we'll get up to, but I always know it will be a good time. And as long as someone brings a fire extinguisher, we'll be all right!

This is the trip I've been wanting to take since I was 13 years old (and in love with Eric Faulkner of the Bay City Rollers!), and I'm finally going. I'm really beginning to believe that saying "Life starts at 40" is true!

Cheryl Arena has graciously agree to get up early the two Thursday's I'm gone and bring you BIG TEXAS BLUES, so I'm leaving you in great hands.

I'm sure I'll have many adventures to share with you. Keep watching this space!

Services for Alan Wiggins

A memorial service for Alan Wiggins will be held at 4 pm, Friday, May 12, 2006.
Services will be at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Furneral Chapel in Plano/McKinney.
Highway 75 and Exit 38 - Ridgeview Dr. P.O. Box 1007 McKinney, Texas 75070-1007
Phone: 972-562-2601

Graveside services will be at Red Hill Cemetary in Murchison, Tx on Saturday at 2 pm.

Thanks to Bob Fisk for putting it into words for us all:

'This all just too sad for words. When you go out and play tonight, tomorrow, this weekend. Think about our friend Alan who loved the blues. Play loud cause that's the way Alan liked his blues. To my friend Wiggins who's up there getting to jam with the greats who have passed before him. God Bless."

Sam Myers

Sam Myers is still in Minnesota recovering from his most recent surgery. Now I know a bigtown playboy like Sweet Sam is going nuts in a place like Minnesota! A web site has been set up to track Sam's progress. It also has a place where you can send Sammy an e-mail message. All the messages are printed off and read to Sam daily. Send him any kind of message you want, but don't bother sending him messages of a sexual nature - Andrea Dawson already has that covered! You can check on Sam's progress and e-mail him at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/sweetsam