EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Art Tipaldi CUSTOMER SERVICE: Kyle Morris GRAPHIC DESIGN: Andrew Miller CONTRIBUTING EDITORS David Barrett / Michael Cote / Thomas J. Cullen III Bill Dahl / Hal Horowitz / Tom Hyslop Larry Nager / Bill Wasserzieher / Don Wilcock COLUMNISTS Bob Margolin / Roger Stolle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Vincent Abbate / Grant Britt / Michael Cala Mark Caron / Tom Clarke / Kay Cordtz Ted Drozdowski / Robert Feuer / Rev. Keith Gordon Brian D. Holland / Stacy Jeffress / Chris Kerslake Michael Kinsman / Karen Nugent / Brian M. Owens Tim Parsons / Tony Del Ray / Phil Reser Nick DeRiso / Pete Sardon / Richard Skelly Eric Thom / Mark Thompson M.E. Travaglini / Bill Vitka CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Scott Allen / Robert Barclay / Mark Goodman Les Gruseck / Aigars Lapsa / Doug Richard Joseph A. Rosen / Dusty Scott / Marilyn Stringer Jen Taylor / Susan Thorsen SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Phone Toll-Free: 866-702-7778 Web: www.bluesmusicmagazine.com E-Mail: service@bluesmusicmag.com EDITORIAL QUERIES E-Mail: editor@bluesmusicmag.com BUSINESS AND CIRCULATION QUESTIONS E-Mail: jack@bluesmusicmag.com MEDIA SUBMISSIONS Mail 2 copies to: Blues Music Magazine P.O. Box 1446, Bradenton, FL 34206 ADVERTISING Phone Toll-Free: 888-565-0554 Web: www.bluesmusicmagazine.com E-Mail: advertise@bluesmusicmag.com
Blues Music Magazine welcomes articles, photographs, and any material about the blues suitable for publication. Please direct queries to editor@bluesmusicmag.com. Blues Music Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or illustrations. Material may be edited at the discretion of the editors. To be credited and reimbursed, all submissions must be properly marked with name, address, telephone number, and e-mail of author/photographer/artist. Payment for unsolicited material is at the discretion of the publisher. All material becomes the property of Blues Music Magazine.
“Leave your ego, play the music, love the people.” – Luther Allison Last May, I attended the Blues Music Awards for the twentieth time. I began attending the W.C. Handy Awards in 1994 and attended through 2003. I missed 2004 to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday and have now attended 2005 through 2014. I’ve seen it grow from its days in the Orpheum Theater to its present location which turns the Convention Center into a dazzling juke joint setting. Today’s event features an all-access pass to every ticket buyer. There is no VIP pre-party; instead there is an hour cocktail party featuring selected nominees playing for everyone. Beginning at seven, there is a sit-down dinner, award presentations, and non-stop music from nominees until after midnight. The other biggest change is the effort of the Blues Foundation to have as many of the nominees and winners present. This year’s highlights were the pure soul showstoppers of Ronnie Earl and Beth Hart. They were the distilled essence of the blues. But there have been many other vivid moments. In 1996, after Luther Allison won his third Handy Award, Ruth Brown warned, “Luther, you better stay off my stage!” After he copped his fourth, Allison ran out of words of gratitude and announced, “I’m gonna let my guitar talk!” After his fifth, the guitar spoke Luther’s heart-felt LUTHER ALLISON MEMPHIS, 1997 gratitude for over an hour. In 1997, Luther gave me the finest picture I ever took. His leap is forever etched in the events of that night. An hour after I snapped the shot, my camera broke and I have no pictures from the rest of the weekend. There was also the standing ovation for Johnny “Clyde” Copeland who received a new heart on New Year’s Day. Copeland showed no ill effects as he tore through three songs. Tragically, he and Luther passed away within three months of that night. In 1998, it was all Bonnie Raitt. From her acoustic duet with Keb’ Mo’, her finger waggin’ gotta move from this neighborhood with Ruth Brown, and her “Walkin’ The Dog” with Rufus Thomas. However, after the Orpheum cleared out for the jam, I found Ms. Raitt at the rear of the hall talking with her dear friend, the wheel chair bound Jessie Mae Hemphill. Not many saw this simple act of kindness and respect. I’ll always remember the shivers from Ike Turner’s guitar in 2002. I remember Johnny Adams in 1998 running from his sound check to the Peabody lobby to watch the ducks leave the fountain. One of my favorite memories was the 2000 pairing of Gov’t Mule with Little Milton. As Warren Haynes and Milton exchanged guitar jabs, I was stopped walking out of the auditorium by a large, tie-dyed shirt. PHOTOGRAPHY © ART TIPALDI
PUBLISHER: MojoWax Media, Inc. PRESIDENT: Jack Sullivan
“Who’s the dude with the Mule?”... “Huh?” “Who’s the dude with the Mule?”... “Which dude?” “The black dude with the guitar?”... “Little Milton.” “He’s pretty good up there with the Mule.” “Let the music keep our spirits high.” Art Tipaldi, Editor-In-Chief
Blues Music Magazine © 2014 MojoWax Media, Inc. Blues Music Magazine is published bimonthly by MojoWax Media,Inc., 1001 11th Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Periodicals postage is paid at Bradenton,FL and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates (for 6 issues) are: U.S.— $ 35/year, Canada & Mexico — $ 40/year, Overseas — $ 50/year. U.S. funds only, cash, check on a U.S. bank, or IMO, Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover accepted. Allow six to eight weeks for change of address and new subscriptions to begin. If you need help concerning your subscription, e-mail service @bluesmusicmag.com or call 866-702-7778 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, or write to the business address Blues Music Magazine, P.O. Box 1446, Bradenton, FL 34206. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Blues Music Magazine, P.O. Box 1446, Bradenton, FL 34206.
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