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Episode # 1 Bruce Iglauer Way Laid By The Blues

This week hear Bruce Iglauer the founder of Alligator Records talk about how he got interested in the blues.

Alligator Records is one of the largest, if not the largest independent blues labels around today. Alligator is the status symbol of the blues record labels. An artist knows they have made it or at least well on their way when they are asked to record on Alligator Records. Just look at the names of some of the artist that have recorded one time or another for Alligator Records. Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, Roy Buchanan, Michael Burks, Tommy Castro, Albert Collins, Shemekia Copeland, James Cotton, Robert Cray and that’s only getting us through the A, B and C’s of the artists last names. Even with this I skipped big artists like Marcia Ball, Elvin Bishop and Cephas & Wiggins. There’s just way to many to list here. Check out a full list at Alligator Records Website.

To see a full list of artists signed to Alligator Records it’s truly amazing.

Bruce Iglauer, the founder of Alligator Records has agreed to be on the show the first week of the month for the next few months. This will be a very interesting and informative show since Bruce has worked with so many outstanding blues artists in the past 39 years. Put down that dry blues history book, step up to the speaker, and listen to Bruce tell you just how it was when he first heard Mississippi Fred McDowell playing the blues. How he got Luther Allison to play at his college and promoted it so good Luther stayed to play a second show. Bruce also got to work for Bob Koester, the head of another great blues label Delmark Records, where he got to see first hand Junior Wells and Buddy Guy record the 1970 record Southside Blues Jam. He saw many others recordings made and got ideas on how he would soon record his artists.

Be sure you take time to go to Alligator Records’ Website where you can read about all the artists that have been on the label, see when their tours comes near you, buy your favorite CD’s, DVD’s, T-shirts, or just enjoy the music on the Alligator Steaming Radio.

Songs in this week’s show:
Mississippi Fred McDowell “You Gotta Move” from You Gotta Move
Luther Allison “Cherry Red Wine” from Live in Chicago
Junior Wells & Buddy Guy “Blues For Mayor Daley” from Southside Blues Jam

Alligator Records Website

Thanks to Arhoolie Records for permission to play Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “You Gotta Move”. Click here to find out more about Mississippi Fred McDowell at Arhoolie Records website. They have some hard to find blues CD’s, LP’s and 45’s. Down Home Music Since 1960.

Thanks to Delmark Records for their continual support of this show as well as permission to play the Junior Wells & Buddy Guy song “Blues For Mayor Daley”. Be sure to go by Delmark Records’ website for the finest in Jazz & Blues since 1953. By the way if Junior Wells & Buddy Guy are not enough of a reason to buy this CD it is also the last studio appearance of Otis Spann.

To hear part two of the interview with Bruce Iglauer click here.
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Blues Music and Interviews
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by A1 Mark