Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
With Love for Etta James - Terminally Ill
The news of Etta James' terminal illness brings all of us blues women to the reality of our own mortality. It is with a heavy heart, love, admiration and sympathy for what she suffers that I right this. WE are praying that she fully recovers.
In the event she doesn't this is a personal letter for Etta. It's sent to give her comfort and peace of mind.
Dear Ms. James,
Ms Etta, please know how much you are loved by all of us blues women. You've inspired many despite your struggles and your voice and accomplishments will never be forgotten. Your voice, your song, "At Last," will always be my favorite love song of all time. I have sang it many times always paying you tribute and in honor of you.
You are in my prayers, dear Etta. May Angels surround you and God's love embrace you. May you know peace, love and happiness on the other side of the veil. Having been there once myself and sent back, I can tell you first hand that heaven is a wonderful place full of love. Please don't be afraid, dear lady. There is nothing to fear and only your dear friends, God's love and thousands of Angels to embrace you.
We are holding you in prayer daily. I wish we had the power to ease your suffering and pain. We love you, dearly. Please know in your heart, how much and by how many you are loved.
With Love and Respect,
Teressa "BluesBabe" Brewer
President
International Women in Blues
Friday, December 9, 2011
The Lucy Hammond Band
Her album "Proof" is "dedicated to all those who have yet to pursue their most heartfelt dreams." Buy it, play it, listen to it. She's keeping the blues alive and her song "Proof," does just that! You will not be disappointed and she just may inspire you, which is her intent. It's original, soft in some places, passionate, gritty and heartfelt with great rhythm and melody. Her voice and album tells of a life of motherhood, love and overcoming the challenges life throws at you.
My favorite on her album is "Mr. Right." Every woman in the world can relate to this song.
Every mother in the world can relate to her lamenting song about mother hood and the difficulties in having adult children, who run amok and break our hearts in "Doors."
Lucy knows how to work a crowd and command her band with a great sense of humor. She is indeed a woman of substance who freely speaks her mind, position and strength in her songs.
Lucy Hammond, I want to personally thank you and all of your wonderful musicians for welcoming me with open arms, back home, onto your stage and for your support of me, Candye Kane, Karen Lovely and the blues in general.
You've made your point, very well. Keep it up!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Blues Diva's United - Candye Kane, Laura Chavez, Teressa "BluesBabe" Brewer, Karen Lovely and Lucy Hammond Live Onstage Together at Duff's Garage
BY TERESSA "BLUESBABE" BREWER
Blues Diva's from all over Oregon converged on Duff's Garage to show support for Candye Kane and her band, after Jay Horton's horrible preview appeared in Willamette Week magazine and my article countered his. The blues world is chock full of dedicated and devoted fans, friends and colleagues.
This show of support of Candye Kane, is notable despite a miscreants ignorance and disrespect. Kane's honesty as she speaks about her life is very funny and truthful. Regardless of how other more conservative people view her, you can't help but respect her honesty and love her voice. She's a free spirit and we love her for it.
Laura Chavez tears up a guitar without it falling apart. I heard other male guitarists ooing and aweing over her playing. Chavez truly earned their respect.
Laura Chavez tears up a guitar without it falling apart. I heard other male guitarists ooing and aweing over her playing. Chavez truly earned their respect.
Kane invited me, onto her stage as well as birthday girl Karen Lovely and Lucy Hammond. We were all on stage together, it was a rare performance and night to behold! A rare occasion that will remain in the memory of all those who attended and performed. Each of us a power house in our own right. The only thing I wish was that I had the opportunity to sing as my powerhouse blues sisters did. But it was not my show and I did not want to over step my welcome. Despite the amp problems I suffered using someone elses amp, it was a blast!
Candye Kane rocks the house and she is dearly loved, despite Horton's ignorance. He was invited by Kane herself to attend her show to learn. Obviously he doesn't care to do so. He did not show up. Regardless of Horton's ignorance, which does not even qualify as a preview or good writing, it was an awesome night!
Many other blues artists were also in attendance, mostly harmonica players. It was great to see the men there to support us. We love our blues brothers, despite one's bad attitude and rudeness when I introduced myself to him. His name will not be mentioned, but he knows who he is.
The Cascade Blues Association Board of Directors and supporters were also in attendance. They are such a great support system for blues artists and in preservation of THE BLUES and roots music.
Bravo to all of you! We simply must do this again sometime. It was a night I will never forget. Even some our adult kids were there to see it. One of mine for the first time. Wow! What a night! This is a great memory, which I will always cherish.
Thank you Candye! As you said, "Awesome girl power!" Indeed it was and when women unite, great things happen.
So from now on let this be known to all. If you dog my blues sisters, we will show up in droves to support her and you will face the wrath of the blues community and it's fans in writing.
I love you all! It was truly my honor to play with you and show my support. HAPPILY!
Teressa BluesBabe Brewer's Live Performance with Candye Kane, Karen Lovely and Lucy Hammond
Live shot of Teressa "BluesBabe" Brewer while onstage with Candye Kane, Laura Chavez, Kennan Shaw, BaldHeadFred Rautman at Duff's Garage in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Slim Lively.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Candye Kane's Sister Vagabond Tour at Duff's Garage Wednesday Nov 23
Candye Kane and Laura Chavez on their "Sister Vagabond" tour appear at Duff's Garage Wednesday, November23rd Photo credit: Alan Mercer
As
President of International Women in Blues, it is my duty to stand for
and try to right the wrongs to the women within the blues world.
Regardless of the fact that we have no funding and the organization has
been put on hold, because of lack of funding and my move home to Oregon. I still take the position which I
was elected to by other blues women, very seriously.
I am outraged by the recent preview in Willamette Week by Jay Horton, of Candye
Kane's upcoming show at Duff's Garage in Portland, Wednesday Nov. 23rd.
Even his preview of BB King's show last night was appalling!
Complaints of ticket prices and the fact that BB is elderly and must sit
to perform, in Horton's appalling writing show this jerk to be
completely ignorant and disrespectful. This is a fine example of
defaming, slanderous, libelous, yellow journalism at it's worst. Even BB's King's show last night, was improperly previewed and put down, prior to the show. It seems as if, it is WW's
intent to dog the blues world and our stars within the industry. This jerk must be under 30 to behave this way and have no knowledge of
the blues or what it takes to be a great blues artist. Things like,
oh you know...living it!
I'm the first to notify the Cascade
Blues Society of this travesty. Within seconds of my notification, our
President; Greg Johnson, rallied for members to flood the publication
with complaints against this horrible excuse for writing, and for the
artists involved. As the comments and complaints pages and list grows
our support and power as an organization shows. Other blues societies
should take notice. The Cascade Blues Association has been recognized
as the best blues society in the country by The Blues Foundation for
years now. It truly is. Since I was here when it was first founded in
1988, hit the road in 1989, returned in 2009, I'm very proud of my home
blues society. It is indeed a wonderful organization with great
artists, fans and members and leaders within it. The Waterfront Blues
Fest is the best in the country that I have ever seen and I've seen most
of the blues fests. It makes this home grown Oregonian proud to call
herself a western born blues woman.
As a writer, blues woman and photo journalist, I'm offended by this cruel and defaming preview of Candye' and Laura's show. So are many others. It is an insult to her, blues artists and fans everywhere. This
preview has caused an outrage within Cascade Blues Association and other
writers for other publications. We are on a mission to right this
wrong. This is the worst piece of tripe I've ever seen on any artist and
WW is doing it's readers and the artists who are on tour and performing
here a horrible injustice.
Kane is a beautiful woman, intriguing, dynamic vocalist and songwriter no matter what
other writers disclose about her background. She's a free spirit in
control of herself and not ashamed of her ample bosom, body or
her sexuality. She's survived pancreatic and breast cancer. She's the
mother of two. She's the founder of United by Music. She's known world
wide and has a huge following. She's extremely conscious of the pains
of the world and does everything she can to make it a kinder better place.
She believes that love should not be dictated by the government. She
packs the house everywhere she's booked. Kane sings about her life, in
all it's truth. That's what the blues is about. Honesty.
Even when the neophyte reporters with religious right slam dunks her in defamation before the show has begun. Judge not lest ye be judged, as the good book says.
Even when the neophyte reporters with religious right slam dunks her in defamation before the show has begun. Judge not lest ye be judged, as the good book says.
There
will be other writers in attendance from other publications. I love
when I put the word out and other fans, friends and colleagues come to
show support.
To top that off, Candy generously
and graciously invited me to sit in with her. I'm honored to do so.
Our mutual friends have written in and expressed their outrage and
support. This should dispel all of Horton's negativity. It's gonna be
a GREAT night and a GREAT show!
Here's her bio and show details from Duff's Garage: http://www.duffsgarage.com
Wed 23rd CANDYE KANE - $12Candye Kane has been called a survivor, a superhero and the toughest girl alive.
(All are also titles of her self-penned songs.) They are apt descriptions of the
jump blues singer, songwriter and mother of two from East Los Angeles who
has earned this moniker the hard way. Nominated for five National Blues
Foundation Awards (Best Contemporary Blues Female 2011) winner of ten
San Diego Music Awards, starring in a sold out stage play about her life and
beating down pancreatic cancer in the last two years, Kane is one tough cookie.
She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy.
(All are also titles of her self-penned songs.) They are apt descriptions of the
jump blues singer, songwriter and mother of two from East Los Angeles who
has earned this moniker the hard way. Nominated for five National Blues
Foundation Awards (Best Contemporary Blues Female 2011) winner of ten
San Diego Music Awards, starring in a sold out stage play about her life and
beating down pancreatic cancer in the last two years, Kane is one tough cookie.
She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy.
Kane’s
eleventh CD release, Sister Vagabond will hit the streets on August 16,
2011 for the Delta Groove Label. Produced by Candye and her amazing
guitarist Laura Chavez, Sister Vagabond promises to be as exciting as
their last collaboration, Superhero, nominated for Best Contemporary
Blues CD of the year. Audiences love seeing two curvy gals onstage
together and Candye and Laura deliver the goods. With scorching, yet
understated guitar work and empowering, healing and sometimes funny
lyrics, Kane and Chavez are the feminist fireballs of the future.
Candye
has been included in countless Blues and Jazz Anthologies including the
Rolling Stone and Music hounds Guide to Jazz and Blues and Dan Akroyds’
30 Essential Women of the Blues. In addition to her music successes, she
is an activist and philanthropist. In August 2009, she appeared in
Dublin, Ireland for the World Congress for Downs Syndrome with her
United by Music charity. This project provides performance
opportunities, blues history lessons and songwriting instruction to
young people with disabilities, encouraging them to write their own
blues songs to help them overcome their daily challenges.
A fighter par excellence, Candye’s authenticity, determination and optimism keep her shows passionate, honest and irresistible. One evening with Candye, will keep the crowds happy, hopeful and coming back for more!
A fighter par excellence, Candye’s authenticity, determination and optimism keep her shows passionate, honest and irresistible. One evening with Candye, will keep the crowds happy, hopeful and coming back for more!
Where We're Headed is the Promised Land - Inspired by Teressa BluesBabe Brewer - Written by Louis John Casson
Inspiring others is a beautiful thing indeed. Today, I awoke to this beautiful poem in my in box, written by Louis John Casson, in the UK. Bless your heart, Louis! Thank you!
6 hours agoJohn Casson- "Teressa, inspired by your recent comments. Enjoy, Louis"
Where We’re Headed is the Promised Land
Last night I dreamed of things to buy
like a fender bass with an eight by ten stack.
Could feel the vibrations up from the flooring
and the air behind my back.
But woke to find me in the same old room,
same threadbare worn out lack.
If I know He’ll fill the poor in every way,
just when’s He coming back?
Singing
God is always with me
at the end of the day.
Some certainties from way down
help me rise to make again my way.
Reaching out for you brother
let’s go forward hand in hand.
And if it don’t seem brighter
yet still we believe
where we’re headed is the promised land.
Took a morning stroll down main street
all ol’ times tradition,
dirt poor jobs and collard greens.
Folks rising Blues keep coming,
when life wears out their dreams.
TV talking heads, governors and the President,
All telling us to knuckle down,
sharing pain, retired to teens.
Well if Wall Street keeps us all rolling,
what’s so good ‘bout greed and schemes?
Singing
God is always with me
at the end of the day.
Some certainties from way down
help me rise to make again my way.
Reaching out for you sister
let’s go forward hand in hand.
And if it don’t seem brighter
yet still we believe
where we’re headed for the promised land.
This poem lyric © Louis J. Casson 2011 All rights reserved.
www.behance.net
Poet and Lyrics writer for Blues, Country, Jazz and other musical styles.Contact details: Email: john.casson@cassonhr,.co.ukMobile/Cell phone: (United Kingdom): +44 (0) 7963 197046
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Randy Bluesman Hock - Ok Just Ain't Good Enough #1 in Tampa Bay
Randy's song "Okay Just Ain't Good Enough," hit #1 on the charts in Tampa Bay. Let's help him keep it there by casting our daily votes for Randy's song here: http://www.musictampabay.com/
Monday, November 7, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Alligator Records Signs Curtis Salgado
Alligator Records is pleased to announce the signing of soul singer/songwriter/harmonica icon Curtis Salgado. Salgado, winner of the Blues Music Award for 2010 Soul Blues Artist Of The Year, will release his label debut in Spring of 2012. Blues Revue says, "Salgado is one of the most down-to-earth, soulful, honest singers ever, and his harmonica work is smoking and thoroughly invigorating. He plays rollicking soul-rock...funky and electrifying." Salgado tours constantly, and is among the most energetic performers in the blues world.
Originally from Everett, WA, Salgado grew up in Eugene, OR. He was featured vocalist of the original Robert Cray Band and later spent time as lead vocalist with Roomful of Blues and Santana. He has released a total of seven solo albums and has built a legion of fans worldwide. In 2008 Salgado overcame serious health issues and has returned stronger than ever.
Much more information on Curtis Salgado's Alligator debut will be coming soon.
Originally from Everett, WA, Salgado grew up in Eugene, OR. He was featured vocalist of the original Robert Cray Band and later spent time as lead vocalist with Roomful of Blues and Santana. He has released a total of seven solo albums and has built a legion of fans worldwide. In 2008 Salgado overcame serious health issues and has returned stronger than ever.
Much more information on Curtis Salgado's Alligator debut will be coming soon.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
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