Music News Net

MICK JAGGER & KEITH RICHARDS to Pay for HUBERT SUMLIN's Funeral

MUSIC NEWS - After the passing of electric blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin from heart failure, his manager and partner Toni Ann announced that The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have offered to pay for his funeral. In statement she said: “I just wanted to share with you, Hubert’s loving fans, that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert’s funeral. God Bless The Rolling Stones.”

Jagger and Richards’ move to pay for Sumlin’s funeral costs is quite reasonable as the late guitar player, who worked with renowned artists such as Howlin’ Wolf and (briefly) Muddy Waters, was a key influence on The Rolling Stones, and in particular Richards’ guitar style. Richards performed on several tunes from Sumlin’s 2006 album About Them Shoes.  The Noise11 report recently said, Jagger praised the guitarist as “an incisive yet delicate blues player. … He had a really distinctive and original tone and was a wonderful foil for Howlin’ Wolf’s growling vocal style.”

Sumlin’s public service is scheduled to be held at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, NJ, on December 12 at 10 am (viewing on 12/11), with a private service to take place the following day in Homewood, IL.

BETH HART and JOE BONAMASSA Release "Well, Well" Free MP3 - Listen

MUSIC NEWS- To promote the release of the “Don’t Explain” album – a collaboration between American singer-songwriter Beth Hart and the acclaimed Brit blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, the duo are making their version of Delaney & Bonnie’s classic “Well, Well” available as a free MP3 download single. All you have to do is sign up and you will receive the free download.

Produced by Kevin Shirley (John Hiatt, The Black Crowes, Joe Bonamassa, Black Country Communion), “Don't Explain” combines Hart's raspy and soulful vocals against Bonamassa's signature guitar sound. The pair collaborate on a stunning collection of hand-picked soul classics from the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Tom Waits, Etta James, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin.  The new album will be out on September 27 via J&R Adventures—the independent label founded by Bonamassa and his manager and business partner, Roy Weisman.

Amy Winehouse, Dead at 27

MUSIC NEWS- Troubled Brit blues/rock singer, Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her north London home, reports the London police and ambulance crews who responded to the scene around 4 pm on  Saturday.

Police confirmed that a 27 year-old woman had been found dead in Camden, they did not offer a cause of death for the soulful singer whose father, a former cabbie, said only a few days ago that despite her going through some rough stuff, "the last few weeks she's been absolutely fantastic."

Seasick Steve Records Two Tracks with Jack White

MUSIC NEWS - Seasick Steve recorded two tracks with Jack White for his new album You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, which is currently being released.  Ufortunatley, the two tunes never made it on to the record, as Seasick had many already completed.  Instead they're were saved to be given away as an album bundle at iTunes.

The two tracks; Write Me A Few Of Your Lines and Levee Camp Blues,  were recorded at Jack White's Nashville, TN Third Man recording studio, where Jack played the drums on both.

When recently asked about how the session came together, the American Bluesman Seasick Steve said;

Keb Mo Returns With "The Reflection"

MUSIC NEWS - Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter/guitarist Keb Mo returns with The Reflection, his new album, due August 2. The highly-anticipated collection is his first studio release since his 2006 album Suitcase, and also marks the first on his newly established record label Yolabelle International (in association with Ryko and Warner Music Group).

The Reflection was written and recorded over three years, including his move from Los Angeles to Nashville. Self-produced, the twelve tune set features duets with India.Arie and Vince Gill, as well as performances by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Mindi Abair and world-renowned studio musician David T. Walker.

Blues Guitarist, EDDIE KIRKLAND, Killed in FL Crash

MUSIC NEWS - The Atlanta Journal Constitution has reported that blues guitar legend Eddie Kirkland, "The Gypsy Of The Blues", was killed Sunday (February 27) morning in a Florida car crash.

Kirkland, 88, was born in Jamaica and was a former bandleader for Otis Redding. He recorded with John Lee Hooker, among others.  Kirkland performed Saturday night at the Dunedin Brewery, nearTampa, according to his website. Just before 8:30 am on Sunday, Kirkland was driving a 1998 Ford Taurus when he attempted a U-turn and turned into the path of a Greyhound bus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Blues Legend ETTA JAMES Gravely Ill

MUSIC NEWS- Sad news that singer legendary blues singer, ETTA JAMES is undergoing treatment for leukaemia and has been diagnosed with dementia.  Details of James's conditions were revealed when her husband Artis Mills asked a California court to permit him to take control of her finances; more than $1M of her money, reports the Associated Press.

In Mills' paperwork to the court, he has stated that Ms James can no longer sign her own name and needs help eating, dressing and with ablutions. His request will be heard in court today, January 14, 2011.

James won four Grammy awards and 17 Blues Music awards in her over 40 year music career and is best known to most for her 1961 hit At Last.

GRACE POTTER and the NOCTURNALS 2011 Plans

MUSIC NEWS - GRACE POTTER and the NOCTURNALS have had a busy 2010, and we happily saw them achieve national acclaim with their June released self titled album hit the Billboard charts.  They were also featured on VH1's "Artists on the Rise", helping to propelling their music sales and put the VT based blue/rock/jammers in the national spotlight.

Ms Potter said she's now set on releasing a new album later in 2011, and is looking for for some new places to play.  "I'd really like to get to Europe and Asia. I think that would be a really fun tour, (and) maybe down to Australia," Potter told WPTZ/Newschannel Five in Vermont recently.  They're on the road currently, touring the USA through March 2011 (full itinerary below), don't miss out.

THE BLACK KEYS To Be SNL's First Music Guest in 2011

MUSIC NEWS - American blues/rock outfit, The Black Keys have been booked to appear as the music guests on the first 2011 episode of Saturday Night Live.  The Keys will perform on Saturday January 8, 2011 when Jim Carrey hosts the show. The Akron, OH duo’s appearance (guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney) will be their last in the USA before heading off to New Zealand and Autralia on their current tour to promote their BROTHERS album.

North Mississippi Allstars Announce 2011 Plans, New Album & Robert Plant Tour

MUSIC NEWS - The North Mississippi Allstars have announced new album plans; their Keys to the Kingdom, (Songs of the South), will be releasing on February 1, 2011. The new album was recorded in the spring of 2010 at the Dickinson family's legendary Zebra Ranch Studio  in Coldwater, MS., produced by the band and features special guests -- Mavis Staples, Ry Cooder, Spooner Oldham, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Gordie Johnson and Motown Funk Brother Jack Ashford among them.

2010 was an emotional year for the band, in which guitarist/vocalist Luther Dickinson and his drummer brother Cody's father, Memphis music legend, Jim Dickinson, passed away.  During the year, Luther and his wife welcomed a daughter into the world. Keys to the Kingdom is their song cycle, said to be a celebratory declaration of life in the face of death as well as a musical interpretation of this unique experience with the cycle of life, written and recorded honestly, fast and raw.

Blues Singer, ROBIN ROGERS on NPR This Weekend

MUSIC NEWS - Charlotte, NC based blues artist, Robin Rogers is being featured on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Saturday"program today, Saturday, December 11th.  Ms Rogers was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in August 2010, just one month before the release of her latest album, the wonderful, Back in the Fire (out via Blind Pig Records).

Robin was interviewed for the report by "Weekend Edition Saturday" host Scott Simon.  For a complete list of NPR radio stations and broadcast times for the program, here.  If you missed the story, listen at NPR archives. 

DAVID LYNCH's Modern Blues Album, Releases "Good Day Today" Digital Single

MUSIC NEWS - Legendary film director DAVID LYNCH has created his first original electronic single “Good Day Today,” backed with a narcotic blues track "I Know," and has signed it to one of the UK's leading independent music labels, Sunday Best Recordings.  Both tracks released today, Monday, November 29 as an exclusive release via iTunes.

With a stamp that is undoubtedly LYNCH, “Good Day Today” features the director on vocals and on production duties.  “Good Day Today” was mistakenly credited to Underworld by Jason Bentley due to its warm synth sounds when it first aired on his influential Los Angeles-based KCRW radio show “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”

Gregg Allman Announces Solo Album, His First in 14 Years !

MUSIC NEWS - Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame southern rock legend Gregg Allman will release his first solo record in 14 years on January 18, 2011 (via Rounder Records).  The set will be entitled Low Country Blues for the coastal Georgia region Allman calls home and was produced by T Bone Burnett, recorded at his Village Recorder studio in Los Angeles.  The work features Dr. John on piano, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, and Burnett's brilliant go-to rhythm section - bassist Dennis Crouch and drummer Jay Bellerose.

A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band and in his own storied solo career, Allman has long been a gifted natural interpreter of the blues. His soulful and distinctive voice is one of the defining sounds in the history of American music.  Low Country Blues  has Allman putting his own stamp on songs by some of the blues giants whose work has long informed his own, from Muddy Waters and BB King to Buddy Guy and Magic Sam. 

ELTON JOHN and LEON RUSSELL Live from NYC Tonight on Your TV

MUSIC NEWS - ELTON JOHN and LEON RUSSELL will make the live premiere of songs from their new album, THE UNION, tonight at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.  If you can't make it to the show, don't worry, the event will be live on television via MSG's music cable channel Fuse and will be re-broadcast on Ocotber 24 at 9pm.  See MNN's previous coverage on The Union tour.

The two friends new album was produced by the very active (is there a new, great album he's not involved with?), and talented, T Bone Burnett and released today.  The two touch upon a range of music genres that include rock, R&B, soul, country, and pop with some notable help from several talented friends; vocals from  Neil Young and Brian Wilson and assistance from Booked T Jones, Robert Randolph and an amazing 10-piece gospel choir.

CROSSROADS Guitar Festival 2010 on DVD/Blu Ray in November

MUSIC NEWS - CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010, a 2-DVD set (also available on Blu-ray), will be released on November 9 via Rhino Entertainment.  

The Eric Clapton curated event brought together an amazing line-up for this, the third Crossroads Guitar Festival this past summer at Chicago’s Toyota Park.  The 11- hour celebration drew a crowd of 27,000+ and benefitted The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility Clapton founded to help people suffering from chemical dependence.