Al Blake, Fred Kaplan, and Junior Watson will be our guest this week on A1Blues.Com. The Hollywood Blue Flames started out as The Hollywood Fats Band back in 1975. Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann was the leader of the band but unfortunately he passed away in 1986. The band folded until 2005 when original members decided to reform the band this time as The Hollywood Blue Flames. Al and Fred do a good job in the show going into more detail about the bands history.
Deep in America is a double CD. The first disc was recorded recently by The Hollywood Blue Flames. Disc 2 is live recordings of The Hollywood Fats Band.
Band members on this record are:
Al Blake – Harp & Vocals
Fred Kaplan – Piano
Junior Watson – Guitar
Kirk Fletcher – Guitar
Richard Innes – Drums
Larry Taylor – Bass
As you can see this is a band of hard hitting professionals and the music is just as good as the stars of this band.
Songs in this weeks show:
Read About My Baby (The Hollywood Fats Band)
Rambler and a Rollin’ Stone
Crescent City Rock
Bad Boy Blues
Fly Like the Eagle, Cry Like the Dove
About a year ago I did a show on Mississippi Heat’s CD Hattiesburg Blues. Pierre talked about growing up in Europe, Israel, and later coming to Chicago to live. While going to college in Chicago he discovered blues music. Pierre learned to play the harp, started a blues band, and the rest is history. Yes, you’re right there is a lot more to it than that. Click on this link and you can hear Pierre tell the whole story plus some great songs from their last CD Hattiesburg Blues.
This weeks show Pierre will be talking about Mississippi Heat’s CD Let’s Live It Up that just came out this Tuesday. You are in for some really great Chicago blues music.
Even though Pierre plays harp this is not a harmonica CD. He writes songs that incorporate everyone in the band so not just one person always takes the solos. Inetta Visor is the lead singer and boy, this lady can really sing. Giles Corey really pulls off some very nice guitar solos along with special guest Carl Weathersby and our friend John Primer. John even sings on three songs.
Once again Mississippi Heat has put out one great CD that you’re going to be hearing a lot of in the next few months.
When you go to buy Mississippi Heat’s CD Let’s Live It Up you might as well pick up the last one Hattiesburg Blues too. Both CD’s are on the Delmark Label.
Hear these songs from Mississippi Heat’s new CD:
She Died From A Broken Heart
Another Sleepless Night
Peace Train
Let’s Live It Up
This week hear Zac Harmon tell about his very interesting life growing up in Mississippi in the shadow if people like Z.Z Hill, Sam Myers, and Sonny Boy Williamson. After College Zac moved to L.A. where he became a studio musician working on a ton of records and later working on movie scores too.
In 2004 Zac won The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge as “best unsigned blues band.” Since then Zac has made three records with the new one being From The Root.
From The Root has many high points with song writing, musicianship, and vocals. One song that just about scorches you is “Hattie Mae” with help from Jimmy Z on harmonica.
On “Honey Bee” Zac digs down deep for some raw heart felt vocals. How can you not like a song called “Keep the Blues Alive”. Please be sure to buy Zac Harmon’s record From The Root, below is a link.
Songs in this weeks show:
Keep the Blues Alive
Since You Been Gone
Honey Bee
Hattie Mae
This week hear the interview with Donnie Walsh, founder of The Downchild Blues Band, now going by just the name Downchild. You will also hear songs from their new record I Need A Hat.
The Downchild Blues Band has put out about twenty records starting with their first one Bootleg back in 1971. While members have changed from time to time Donnie Walsh has keep his vision and love for the blues alive in his band.
Donnie will talk about growing up in Canada, discovering the blues, Dan Ackarout using some of their songs in a Blues Brothers movie, and of course about the new record by Downchild I Need A Hat.
