Maple Blues Online - Loose Blues News

Blues Legend and Electro-Fi Recording artist Finis Tasby (left) plays a couple of rare Ontario gigs with the David Rotundo Band this month. July 15th at the Ottawa Bluesfest, July 21st at Roc 'n' Doc's and July 22nd at Parti Gras in Toronto. Finis, as a member of the Mannish Boys was nominated for a 2005 Blues Music Award by the Blues Foundation. www.finistasbyblues.com

Dunnville rises again musically: Our correspondent Mark Neveu advises that "Readers may be gone, but not forgotten - lots of great musical times were had by many. So now it is my absolute pleasure to announce that the venue is in solid and worthy hands and has re-opened under a new name and slightly new management. It is now called Flyers, and when you pay a visit you will see the aeronautical connection. They are still serving great breakfasts and lunches and those delicious pies, as well as now having a bakery, and artisans and antique sellers will also be displaying their wares at the front of the shop. In June, an official Grand Opening Bash was held, with music by Jack de Keyzer. At this point I'm not sure how much live music will be presented in the future, but there is a pretty good chance that I may go up there and present 1 concert every 4 weeks or so starting in September (Sept 8 is already reserved!). So my sincere congratulations goes out to the present owners and I truly wish them much success." www.flyersindunnville.com

Mel Brown - The DVD: Electro-Fi enters the world of DVDs with the Talkin' Blues production of director Mako Funasaka's insightful DVD on the life and times of guitar legend Mel Brown, which features 105 minutes of concert footage, studio sessions and incredible interviews all wrapped up in a mighty hip package designed by E-Fi's Gary Collver. www.talkinblues.com

Fruteland Jackson: The Electro-Fi recording artist was a big hit in Iceland at the Reykjavik Blues Festival during his performances there in April. www.fruteland.com

Sam Myers Update: Sam recently underwent additional treatment for his throat cancer at a facility in Minnesota. His larynx was removed and a voice box implanted. Sam is now home in Dallas continuing his recovery. Tax deductible contributions to assist Sam can be sent to the Southwest Blues and Heritage Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 710548, Dallas, Texas 75371-0548. www.sweetsammyers.com

Blues Music Awards Winners: (previously the W.C. Handy Awards): Acoustic Album of the Year: Down In The Delta - Paul Oscher Acoustic Artist of the Year: Paul Oscher Album of the Year: Think of Me - Little Milton B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Buddy Guy Band of the Year: Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers Best New Artist Debut: Zac Harmon - The Blues According to Zacariah Comeback Album of the Year: Black Coffee - Al Kooper Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: Fever For The Bayou - Tab Benoit Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year: Janiva Magness Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Kim Wilson Historical Album of the Year: Hoochie Coochie Man: Complete Chess Recordings, Volume 2, 1952-1958 - Muddy Waters (Chess/Hip-O Select) Instrumentalist - Guitar: Hubert Sumlin Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Charlie Musselwhite Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year: Marcia Ball Song of the Year: Think Of Me, performed by Little Milton. Soul Blues Album of the Year: Think of Me - Little Milton Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Mavis Staples Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Little Milton Traditional Album of the Year: About Them Shoes - Hubert Sumlin Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year: Etta James Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: B.B. King

The Paul Butterfield Fund and Society: Recently established by Salli Squitieri & Gabriel Butterfield - son of Paul Butterfield - with the assistance of Dan Aykroyd and his wife Donna Dixon-Aykroyd and the sponsorship of Fractured Atlas (www.fracturedatlas.org), a NYC based non-profit art organization, "the PBFS is membership supported and dedicated to the preservation and revival of the memory, legacy and many contributions of Paul Butterfield and to the rich traditions of the Blues styles of music through the support of the arts and those involved with the arts. As PBFS grows and secures a sound operational foundation for the long stand we will strive to assist struggling artists with emergency relief, project support and cultural enrichment, particularly those creative endeavors with focus on projects dedicated to underprivileged and at risk children. www.geocities.com/butterfieldsociety Additionally, PBFS is working on a series of ongoing integrated projects and on the development of The PBFS Educational Archival Exhibit representing segments of Paul's life and career. Currently, the exhibit includes memorabilia--posters, handbills, tickets, art work etc, photographs, music, videos and personal artifacts of Paul's. The PBFS educational Archival exhibit was unveiled as part of a three day multi-media extravaganza on Dec 17th, 2004 at the Key West Hard Rock Cafe on Paul's birthday - a day when radio stations nationwide joined in memory of Paul & support of PBFS, by playing Paul's music throughout the day. We are presently working on our website and newsletter, continued growth of the exhibit, membership growth and general public awareness. We are also currently obtaining signatures on a petition for recognition for Paul for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. www.PetitionOnline.com/pb17d42/petition.html PBFS seeks members, volunteers & warriors, sponsors, funding, writers, membership incentive rewards, net-workers and... We can be contacted at butterfieldsociety@yahoo.com or butterfieldsociety@hotmail.com We have just established a brand new intimate and ever growing free butterfieldsociety yahoo group, and it is our hope to create a warm, welcoming, interesting and resourceful site bringing together blues lovers & performers, artists of all walks and art supporters, individuals & professionals in the arts industries, and a forum for everyone to network and promote their creative endeavors as well as meet others doing the same. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/butterfieldsociety/ We hope that we have enticed your interest in PBFS and possible interest in involvement with PBFS in any capacity. We would eagerly welcome your involvement. We look forward to hearing from you - Salli Squitieri & Gabriel Butterfield, 1107 Key Plaza # 335 Key West, Florida 33040, 305-304-2226, butterfieldsociety@hotmail.com, http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/butterfieldsociety/, www.geocities.com/butterfieldsociety/."

Clifford Jamal Antone, 1949 - 2006: Legendary club owner Clifford Antone died at his home in Austin, Texas from an apparent heart attack. Founder and owner of the world-famous Antone's in Austin, the club was home to a legion of Blues artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Janis Joplin, Lou Ann Barton, and dozens more. Remembering Clifford Antone - A farewell to the man behind the blues - can be found at www.austin360.com.

Billy Preston, 1947-2006 US blues and rock giant Billy Preston, dubbed the "Fifth Beatle" following his collaboration with the Fab Four, died at the age of 59, after a long illness as a result of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had been in a coma for some time.

Toronto's Lance Anderson provides the following thoughts: "Billy was a child prodigy. He was playing at his local church on the Hammond from at least the age of five. He appeared on national T.V. at the age of ten singing 'Blueberry Hill' with Nat King Cole. Billy was playing the organ accompanying Nat and then Nat would go around and slide onto the bench. Billy would stand up and do the next verse. They alternated verses like this. Sliding on and off the bench. Tricky enough for Nat on live T.V. - but a kid! It was amazing. At the end Nat said `You're going to hear a lot more from this young man, little Billy Preston'. Billy went on to play organ for Ray Charles at the age of 16. That's him doing the full organ solo on "Here We Go Again" which he reprised on Ray's Genius Loves Company CD. It gives me goose bumps to hear it. It is so beautifully played, with such soul and virtuosity. With drawbar changes during the phrase and great pedal work. Right out of the church. Like all of the truly great, he made it sound easy. It is not.

One of the best musical moments I ever witnessed on T.V. was a Christmas special of the David Brenner Show. Billy was musical director. They travelled to Detroit to play some Christmas songs with Aretha Franklin. (She does not fly, so didn't come to them). There they were, the queen of soul, and the master of soul sitting at the apartment size piano, on the bench together in her living room just having a ball. It was transcendent. It left David Brenner speechless. It was so good, I cried. My favourite version of 'A Change is Gonna Come' is one that Billy did. It is some of the best Gospel piano and organ together that you are likely to hear. That he played both and could fit them together so well, as if the two players were sitting across from each other and feeding off each other, speaks of his talent. And that voice !!! It came from a deep well. And recently, I was at a party and someone was playing the DVD to Eric Clapton's Guitar Summit. I wasn't paying much attention, but when Eric came on, I knew that it was Billy playing organ with him, before I saw him. That .... is the mark of a true artist. That you develop your own sound that is instantly recognizable. He does an organ solo that again brings the house down (including a chromatic run on the pedals to finish it off.)

Yes, Billy had his problems with substance abuse and other demons. People will remember that he was arrested for lewd conduct. There are many stories of his wild behaviour while visiting Toronto. I don't offer any explanations or excuses for him. His kind of gift comes with a price and can be a burden (as hard as that is to understand for the rest of us.) But today I wish to celebrate the music that he gave to us all and me personally. As you can see, I was moved to say something. There are many hard working and talented musicians in the world. I have the privilege of working with many dedicated and committed artists. But always a few really special, naturally gifted people rise above the rest. They don't necessarily work as hard. Don't know as much about the history of music, or the theory of harmony. They just have IT. They are born with it. They are blessed, and they bless us and inspire us with their immense and unexplainable talent. That's the way God planned it Billy. Rest in Peace"

Sue Foley Remembers Cifford Antone

Clifford Antone was one of my closest friends, soul mates and musical mentors. His sudden death a few weeks ago completely shocked me and filled me with so many conflicting emotions. I am of course saddened by his passing because I will miss him and I know going to Austin will never be the same for it was Clifford who made that town like home for me. But it's more than just grief I feel, I have been swimming in memories of my time in Texas since I heard the news that he was gone.

I was brought to Austin in 1990 after Clifford heard a demo tape I sent him. Up until that time I had been kicking around Canada for years playing coast to coast just doing the club scene. I didn't know which direction I was going, I was just in love with playing and learning about the blues. I had been on the road for about a year straight and finally gave up, exhausted and beaten. I went to an island in BC with my boyfriend to recuperate. One night after we were in bed the phone rang and it was Cliff. He told me he'd heard my demo tape and was really interested in a song called Gone Blind, a solo piece I'd written. He told me he loved the song, that it reminded him of Lightning Slim, which I now know would have been the highest compliment Cliff could give. I was flattered but I told him I didn't know who Lightning Slim was. Then he asked me what I was doing and if I wanted to come to Austin. I told him the truth, I wasn't doing anything, and oh yeah, would I ever like to come to Austin.

I knew I wanted to live in the US from day one. Getting the call to go to Austin was my fate there was nowhere else on earth that I wanted to be. The Austin blues scene was famous world wide, the musicianship of the highest caliber anywhere and the scene was supportive and vibrant. Antone's nightclub was smack dab in the middle and the fact that I was brought to town by the man himself gave me a ticket to the inner sanctum. Things could not have worked out any better. I knew I had arrived.

Clifford was the first music business guy to really believe in me and he put his money where his mouth was when he signed me to my first recording deal. He also took the time to tutor me on the coolest most lowdown blues, Louisiana Swamp Pop, Cajun, Zydeco, and R&B. He loved young people and he loved women so I guess I was perfect for him. In my first year in Austin I recorded with Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, George Rains, Angela Strehli and Derek O'Brien, shot craps with Albert Collins, ate barbeque with Gatemouth Brown, reminisced and hung out with Otis Rush, got to play with everyone who came through the club from Buddy Guy to Doug Sahm, Katie Webster, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rogers, Earl King, Lou Ann Barton and many more. I have all these amazing memories because of Clifford Antone. He was the one, the first one who really made a difference in my career.

We became very good friends. I lived at Cliff's condo for over a year and he always said I was the best roommate next to Hubert Sumlin. If I was broke he'd reach into his pocket. If I was in trouble he was always there for me. If I needed advice or just a friend he would stop anything he was doing to give support. This generosity was not reserved for me alone; Cliff helped so many people and nurtured young musicians from day one. Like I said, he loved young people and he would do anything he could to keep them on the right path. He believed in the blues more than anything and he loved the blues more than life itself. He needed to know that this music was not going to die but to grow and always be vibrant so he spent tons of time with young people and young musicians to help them along and help keep the blues strong.

His simple philosophies always stay with me and give me comfort wherever I go musically and otherwise. He always said that there were things you cannot teach or explain, that you just have to feel. He was talking about the blues but this also applies to what I'm trying to write here. My feelings for Cliff run soul deep and I know I could never really put most of them into words because there are no words to express my love for him or gratitude for all he did for me. Whenever I am in doubt I just remember what he always told me "Play the Blues baby, the rest is gravy."

Get involved! The TBS is looking for volunteers for its upcoming events. Volunteers receive free admission to events and other perks. To find out how, call the office now!

Members, please send us your current email address to ensure that you receive all the latest blues news including information about very special deals for TBS members. Email to: info@torontobluessociety.com

TBS MERCH AVAILABLE ONLINE

To make it easier for you to own a new TBS T-Shirt or other merchandise, we have added secure transactions on our website to allow you to buy merchandise over the Internet.
Visit our merch page.

You may also take advantage of our Secure On-line Processing to renew your membership with a VISA card at our join up page.

20 YEARS DOUBLE CD STILL AVAILABLE!