Hear the interview with Lil Cliff & Rick Street from Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers as well as music from God Bless Women. This band is all about having a good time.

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Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers have been around in one form or another for over twenty years. This New York City band started out, like many bands, just a cover band to have fun playing music and picking up a little money. As time passed and personal changes happened, the band changed into more of a swingin’, jumpin’ blues band. Lil Cliff is the harp player and Rick Street plays an upright bass, both are lead vocalist as well as founding members of Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers. They both feel that one of the strong points of the band is it’s ability to play for an audience of young and old with everyone liking their music. Cliff said they can play to grandparents who will enjoy the swingin’ style of their music, remeniscant of their youth. At the same time there kids or grandkids will still enjoy the upbeat fun feel of the music.

The bands current CD is called God Bless Women. Rick Street wrote four of the eleven tracks, including the title track. “God Bless Women” is a great song that Rick put together from several different ideas. The song kicks off the CD with a fun dance able beat that sets the tone for the whole record. Check out the video for this song at their website. It was recorded during their show at the 2006 IBC Semi-Finals in Memphis. Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers made it to the top ten out of literally hundreds of blues bands from around the world, very cool. “Come Back Baby” is a song written by Sugar Ray Norcia when he was in the band Roomful of Blues back in the mid-nineties. The band really nails this song hard. The vocals, the harmonies, the harmonica playing, the guest pianist Manny Focarazzo, everything works to make this sound like their own song. You don’t even miss the brass section. What a good job they do.

Cliff said he always loved Brownie McGhee, so they decided to do his song “Living with the Blues”. Cliff also liked the idea of living the life of a blues man, which the song talks about. They do a good job on it with very nice guitar playing and good vocals. They also do a good job on the old Johnny Watson song “Cuttin’ In”. One of my favorites is the funny “My Last Meal” about a guy being on death row and what crazy things he wants for his last meal. All and all, this is a very fun record with good vocals, harp playing, and swing blues. In the show, Cliff and Rick will tell you about the songs Rick wrote plus you will get to hear four really fine originals. If you you’re going to be in the New York City area be sure to stop by and see one of their concerts. Be sure to bring some dance shoes. Later in the year they will be coming out with a new CD but till then be sure to pick up God Bless Women.

Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers’ line up on God Bless Women is:
Lil’ Cliff Bernard – lead vocals, harmonica
Rick Street – lead vocals, double bass
Dennis Phelps – guitar, vocals
Tom DeFranze – drums
with special guest Manny Focarazzo on piano & organ

The songs heard in the show are:
You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine
Gospel (Of the Blues)
Chump Change
God Bless Women

Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers’ Website

Lil’ Cliff & the Cliffhangers’ MySpace

Buy God Bless Women from the CD Baby Website
Thanks to Lil’ Cliff & Rick Street for taking time to do the interview.

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Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by  A1 Mark

Hear the big man him self, Big George Brock talks about working the cotton fields with Muddy Waters. How he ran his own clubs where Albert King started out. George turned down a recording contract with Chest Records, but later got a good deal from Cat Head Records. You’ll also hear songs from Big George Brock & the Houserockers.
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Big George Brock was born in 1932 in Grenada, Mississippi to a sharecropper. Later they moved to Flower’s Plantation in Mississippi. This is where he would pick cotton as a youth, like so many others of that time. Just to give you an example of what those days were like. In 1932 U.S. unemployment increased to 24.1%, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President. In London, hunger marchers protest the lack of food. Great Britain imprisoned Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi. Rocker Little Richard was born that year, as well as movie star Elizabeth Taylor, and a gallon of Gas was 10 cents in the states. George Brock grew up in a different time than ours, though there are still some real similarities today. His father bought him a harmonica, which he really liked playing. Out in the fields he met McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy Waters, and they found out that they both loved music. They would go over to George’s house to play at his mother’s fish fries. As a result of this, they become life long friends.

One Saturday coming out of the fields, there was a guy with boxing gloves on, and he had beaten two or three guys. George’s boss asked if he thought he could take him. George said, “I’ll sure try,” and in three minutes the guy was on the ground. From then on they had him boxing every Friday night at the Madison cotton dock after the trucks had picked up the cotton. This led to bigger boxing matches, which took George to Memphis, then to St. Louis. Around the end of 1952 or the first part of 53, before Sonny Liston went professional, Big George Brock beat him in three rounds. Unfortunately he was not making enough money to take care of his family, so he quit boxing and started playing music.

George was playing music at a club he opened, eventually he would have three clubs going and do a show at each club through out the night. For over five years, a local radio station KATZ would broadcast George’s shows from his club. This is the club that Albert King walked into when he first came to St. Louis. George gave Albert a job playing at the club every Sunday night right after Ike & Tina Turner were done with their show. George would also have acts like Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed play there for a whole week, and Muddy and Jimmy would stay at George’s house while in town. Jimmy even wrote a song based on the wallpaper George had on the wall. Muddy tried to get Big George Brock on Chess Records, but Chess wouldn’t pay royalties to their artists. They offered to buy George a tour bus so he could make his money on the road but no royalties. This happened to George with a few record labels, till Roger Stolle of Cat Head records came along. Roger offered George a fair deal, and George was happy to be with Cat Head records. The full name is Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc.

The above photo is from a great late night jam at BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups on Dec. 21, 08 from left to right you have.
Marquise Knox – Keep an ear open for this up and coming blues artist.
The man himself Big George Brock
Mike Safron – drummer for Pavlov’s Dog
John May – bass gtr. & owner of BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups
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Big George Brock has put out three CD’s with Cat Head records:
2005 – Club Caravan
2005 – Heavywight Blues – on APO Records
2006 – Round Two
2007 – Live at Seventy Five

Steven Seagal, being a famous and rich martial arts actor in Hollywood, could have just about anyone he wanted for his blues CD Mojo Priest. Steven chose Bo Diddley, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Robert Lockwood, Jr., James Cotton, Homesick James, Willie “Pinetop” Perkins, Ruth Brown, and two St. Louisans Henry Townsend and Big George Brock. When George got done playing, Steven said, “That’s what I’m looking for.” Big George Brock is what we’re all looking for, some one who can play great harp and make the old time blues come alive, especially in these hard times.

Songs played in the show:
Call Me a Lover / Down South 2007 – Live at Seventy Five
All Night Long 2005 – Club Caravan
Hard Times 2005 – Club Caravan
No No Baby 2006 – Round Two
Round Two 2006 – Round Two
Bring the Blues Back Home 2007 – Live at Seventy Five

Big George Brock’s Website

Big George Brock’s MySpace

Buy Live At Seventy Five from CD Baby Website

Buy Round Two from CD Baby Website

Buy Club Caravan from CD Baby Website

Buy the DVD Hard Times or any CD from Cat Head

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Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by  A1 Mark

Hear the Bob Margolin interview. Bob talks about his days in the Muddy Waters Band and about making his CD In North Carolina.

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See other great photos by Aigars Lapsa at his Website.

Bob Margolin was born in 1949 and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He was listening to soul and rock’n roll in the mid-sixties while still in high school. Bob was inspired to play guitar by listening to Chuck Berry so he looked into seeing who inspired him. This led Bob to discovering Muddy Waters and Chicago Blues music. Bob said, “When I heard that I fell in deep and I say I haven’t crawled out yet”. The first thing that got him was the voice of Muddy Waters, and the slide guitar was incredible too. Bob started playing guitar in bands that played blues music. Sometimes when Muddy would come to town Bob’s band would open for Muddy Waters. Muddy liked that Bob was trying to play Chicago blues so he would give Bob pointers. In 1973 Muddy came to town after firing his guitarist. Bob was asked to join the band because he was interested in playing what would make Muddy sound good, not what would draw attraction to himself. Muddy made a record in 1975 called the Woodstock Album this won the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording.

Artists on the record are:
Muddy Waters on vocal,guitar
Paul Butterfield on harmonica
Levon Helm on bass, drums, producer
Bob Margolin on guitar
Sammy Lawhorn on guitar
“Pinetop” Perkins on piano
Garth Hudson on accordion, keyboards, saxophone
Howard Johnson on saxophone

The following year Muddy asked Bob to accompany him at the Band’s fair well concert. If you watch the DVD of The Last Waltz to the right of Muddy you will see Bob playing guitar. Even though “Pinetop” Perkins is on piano and Paul Butterfield on harmonica you only see Muddy and Bob because only one camera was working by then so they keep it on Muddy and Bob was right next to him.

In 1977 Johnny Winter started working with Muddy Waters as a producer and guitarist on Hard Again, I’m Ready, Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live and King Bee. Bob played on all of these but King Bee. These are arguably some of the best Muddy Waters records. Hard Again was the first one they made and it won a Grammy Award in 1977 for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording. The next year Bob arranged for Muddy’s original guitarists Jimmy Rogers to play on what would be the I’m Ready record. This left Bob with out a job so Muddy said you should play bass guitar. Muddy had seen Bob play a year or so earlier in Europe with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown when his bass guitarist was sick. Muddy had liked what he heard so Bob got the bass job. Bob said one of the great things about this recording was getting to hear Jimmy Rogers and Muddy Waters playing together for the first time in almost twenty years. What was special about the way they played together is how they would weave in and out of each other with leads and rythmns. Everything would complement each other. Muddy Waters and Bob Margolin made one more record Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live in 1979. Bob said he felt this was their best record together. Bob has in recent years worked on liner notes for the reissue of these, as well as working on re-mastering some of them. Bob produced a record called Breakin’ It Up & Breakin’ It Down in 2007. This was from some tapes that had been lost of a 1977 tour that Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter and James Cotton had done. This CD won the Blues Music Award for Best Historical Recording in 2007.

Johnny Winter in 1977 made an album called Nothin’ But The Blues. Johnny wanted to play and produce the record so he hired Bob to not only play guitar but also be the bandleader.
The band was:
Johnny Winter – guitar & production
Bob Margolin – guitar
James Cotton – harmonica
Pinetop Perkins – piano
Charles Calmese – bass
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – drums

Near the end of the seventies Muddys health was deterring. Less concerts were being done, so the band split up. Bob toured the southern part of the United States for the next nine years as a solo artist. Only releasing two records The Old School in 1988 and Chichago Blues in 1990. Bob then got on Alligator Records for three CD’s that gave him world recognition. A full list of his CD’s is near the end of this article.

In this week’s show, you will get to hear songs from the 2006 CD, In North Carolina. Bob said this CD was to be just the music he would play around the house for family or friends. It’s music he liked to play. No attention was put on what would sell best, it’s just what Bob liked to do for a change. This made for a very diverse group of songs. With up beat songs like Muddy Waters’ “Tell Me Why” or the T-Bone Walker’s song “Natural Blues”. A very beautiful slide instrumental of Floyd Smith’s called “Floyd’s Guitar Blues” only out done by one of Bob’s originals “Colleen”. Then we have country blues of “Hard Feelings”. What ever kind of blues you like you’re bound to find some of it here.

Bob said he always enjoyed playing “Tell Me Why” on stage with Muddy because it rocked. This was also a good song to show case the way Muddy and Jimmy Rogers would weave in and out of each other. By the way I should mention right here that Bob Margolin plays all the instruments on this CD. The title song “In North Carolina” is a very beautiful song about missing his wife while he was touring Australia. This song is in the podcast so you can hear how truly wonderful this is. “You Rascal You” is a Louis Armstrong song that Bob really likes as well as a Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan version where they trade lines. Bob really does a fine job on singing this song with good voice inflection on the lyrics. Bob wrote “Lonely Man Blues”, although Muddy did add a verse to it. Muddy did it as a shuffle on the I’m Ready (re-issue) CD. Bob does it more as a Texas rockin’ blues song. “Red Hot Kisses” does a good job of paying tribute to Robert Lockwood Jr.’s guitar style. Not having the harp playing of Sonny Boy Williamson really changes the style of the song. The song is still very enjoyable even without the harp playing. “She And The Devil” is one of the stories you’re going to hear in the show. Bob’ has a great story about how he got the inspiration for this very cool song. This would be a great time for you to turn the show on and hear Bob tell you more about his fascinating career as well as hear songs from this wonderful CD In North Carolina.

Bob Margolin won 2008 Blues Music Award for Best Instrumentalist – Guitar

Bob Margolin is a columnist for Blues Revue magazine as well as BluesWax.

Keep you’re eyes and ears open for an up coming live CD from Bob Margolin. There may also be a live CD of Bob with Pinetop Perkins and Ronnie Earl. Both are still in the early workings but Bob said he is hoping for a 2009 release.

Songs in the show:
Colleen
Just Before Dawn
Hard Feelings
She and the Devil
In North Carolina

Solo CD’s by Bob Margolin:
1988 The Old School
1990 Chicago Blues
1993 Down in the Alley
1995 My Blues & My Guitar
1997 Up & In Buy Now!
1999 Hold Me to It
2003 All-Star Blues Jam
2006 In North Carolina

Bob Margolin Website

Bob Margolin MySpace

Buy Bob Margolin’s In North Carolina from VizzTone.com

Buy Bob Margolin’s In North Carolina from Amazon.Com

You can also buy Bob Margolin’s In North Carolina from iTunes

I would like to thank Bob Margolin for taking time out of his very busy day to talk to me.

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Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by A1 Mark

Hear the Kenny Wayne interview where he talks about his love for Fats Domino, Johnny Johnson, and Boogie-Woogie. Plus you will hear some great songs from Can’t Stop Now.
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Kenny Wayne was born in 1944 in Spokane, Washington USA. He spent his early years living in New Orleans, LA, and San Francisco. His father was a preacher, and so they moved around a lot. Kenny started playing piano when he was around eight years old. His mother loved Boogie-Woogie music, so when his father was not at home they would play Boogie-Woogie. Later in 1962, Kenny was working one of his many gigs, this time for Jimmy Reed. His parents came to see him play, but his dad was not pleased that Kenny was working in a bar. A fight started, with one man attacking another with a broken bottle. Blood sprayed all over the place. Kenny’s dad jumped up, grabbed his wife with one hand, ran on stage, and yanked Kenny off the piano bench and out they went. Well, that ended Kenny’s blues career for over 20 years.

By the late 60’s Kenny was in with the Los Angeles soul/R&B scene. Working with people like Delaney, Bonnie, & Friends (See show on the late Delaney Bramlett). Delaney Bramlett even produced a ’45 that Kenny and his band made. He became one of the first keyboardist for artists to call when they were coming into town and needed a keyboardist. He also worked with Billy Preston, Sly Stone, and the Doobie Brothers.

In the late 70’s, Kenny moved to Canada where he established himself as a very talented keyboardist.
At this time he was playing R&B, but he started playing more blues, as well as jazz. Then he toured Europe with the Joe Louis Walker Band (listen to the show on Joe Louis Walker). This gave a lot of the blues societies a chance to hear his music and book him for future shows. This is also where Johnny Johnson (Chuck Berry’s piano player, & writer of a lot of Chuck’s early hits) first heard Kenny play. In 2002 Kenny released 88th & Jump Street followed by Let It Lose which won a Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy’s).

In 2008, Kenny put out this very cool CD Can’t Stop Now. Which is a great title because you can’t stop playing this CD. He kicks it off with “Boogie Woogie Mama,” a fun up beat danceable song. “You Can Pack Your Suitcase” is one of the songs Fats Domino did, and Kenny just loves this song. He does a good job on it to. “Judge by the Look” is a R&B song with nice lyrics. “You Cured My Blues” is a very beautiful song that reminded him of an old friend Charles Brown (piano player). Another friend of his was the late Jeff Healey, who plays on this song. “Let’s Have Some Fun” could be a good title for this CD too. This is just what Kenny Wayne is all about, enjoying life and having some fun. I really like what he did with tracks 9 & 10. Track 9 is the song “Tangueray” by Johnny Johnson from his Johnny B. Bad CD. Kenny does a very nice version of this song. The song is followed by “Johnnie J. Was Good” a song about Johnny Johnson. He even came to St. Louis to record the song as Johnny’s wife looked on. The CD ends with “The Party’s Over,” another really fun song. As you will hear in the show, this is a really good CD to start your party with. Everyone will be having a great time. Below are some of the places you can buy this CD. Kenny Wayne is going to be on tour very soon, so be sure you get out and see him. Kenny will be performing at BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soup in St. Louis on April 22, 2009 (I’ll see you all there). Kenny will also be performing Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City on April 23, 2009. For a full list of shows go to his website.

The songs in the show are:
Boogie Woogie Mama
Ragin’ Storm
Johnnie J. Was Good
The Party’s Over

Kenny Wayne’s CD’s

Kenny Wayne’s Website

Kenny Wayne’s MySpace

Buy Kenny Wayne Can’t Stop Now at his Website