BITS AND PIECES...
RIP Sarah Moore
This information comes via Roger Stolle. Sarah Moore, best known as the proprietor of the popular restaurant and music venue Sarah's Kitchen in Clarksdale, died on Oct 30th as a result of a car accident. She was 74. The list of blues musicians that graced Miss Sarah's stage through the years includes Robert "Bilbo" Walker, T-Model Ford, Lightnin' Malcolm, The Deep Cuts, Super Chikan, Louisiana Red, various Burnsides/Kimbroughs, Sam Carr, Dave Riley, Mississippi Marvel, Terry "Big T" Williams, Wesley "Junebug" Jefferson, David Lee Durham, Pat Thomas, KM Williams, Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band, "Mr. Johnnie" Billington, Big Pete Pearson, etc etc. Miss Sarah was as well-known for her delicious soul food plate lunches as she was her festival weekend blues blowouts. The Delta Blues Education Fund also held regular blues classes for local kids at Sarah's Kitchen for several years. She will truly be missed as both a beautiful person and an integral part of the blues community in Clarksdale.
RIP Big John Evans
Sacramento master blues drummer Big John Evans passed away on Monday, November 9, 2009. Big John had suffered from a stoke in September of this year. Best known for his many years of work with Johnny Heartsman, Evans also worked with Little Junior Parker and recorded with Heartsman, Tiny Powell, and Charlie Musselwhite. Big John was recognized with a West Coast Blues Hall Of Fame induction in 2007. Sadly, no biographical information is available at this time.
RIP Alvin Short
This email just in from Johnny Drummer; "Sorry to inform you and fans of the passing of Alvin Short, also known as Al Guitar, lead guitar player for the last eight years in my band; Johnny Drummer & The Starlighters. Al played with many greats such as Howlin Wolf, Earl Hooker, Otis Rush, and Bobby Rush. Al also played on my last Earwig CD, Rockin' In The Juke Joint. Alvin passed away at 11:30 am, Sunday , November 15th. He had a massive stroke in June and he never came out of a coma." Alvin Short was 58. Johnny also reports that Alvin was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. No other biographical information is available currently.
Numero Records Label Releases
Numero Record Label releases 70s Chicago Blues Compilation! The Numero Record label specializes in wonderful reissue compilations that thematically bring to light obscure but wonderful labels and music. Their new release is called Light: On The South Side, and it captures the wonderful vibe of the 45s coming out Chicago during the 70s. Included are songs by Little Mack, Willie Williams, Arlean Brown, Lady Margo, Syl Johnson, Andrew Brown, Bobby Rush, Artie White, Lucille Spann, and many others. This release comes out as a 2 LP set with a book filled with images and information from that wonderful, but often overlooked period in Chicago Blues. They also have released a set of photo trading cards as a companion to this release. Thanks to Rusty Zinn for the tip on this new release.
Blues Venue Closes
Bill's Blues In Evanston, IL has closed. A sad sign of the U.S. recession are the many businesses across the board who are not able to make it. The latest casualty in the blues world is Bill's Blues In Evanston, owned by Bill Gilmore, who shut down on Tuesday, November 9th. Bill Gilmore is a seasoned blues club proprietor having been involved in Elsewhere, then Elsewhere on Lincoln, then B.L.U.E. S., B.L.U.E.S. Et Cetera, and Chicago Blues before opening Bill's Blues in the college town of Evanston, best known for Northwestern University. Thanks Bill for your years of great service to the blues!
Blues Discography
As a component of my Master's Degree Thesis in 2000 as a student at Indiana University, I developed a recommended blues discography of the 50 blues collections I would recommend to get a blues collection started. I am glad to make that discography available to anyone who would like a copy. All I ask is that you provide me $1 postage (domestic), and I will be glad to mail you a copy. Please e-mail me if you are interested.
