We receive lots of Blues from PR companies, Record Labels and Artists. All get played on Radio BluesFlac but you might not be listening. So this post will give you a chance to hear what you are missing.
Lead singer/founder of Misty Blues since 1999, Gina Coleman makes my eyes go misty when listening to her wonderful voice. Why it affects my eyes and not ears I cannot understand.
During these times I guess you have more time on your hands than usual.
So hopefully you will have a few minutes to let me know which songs you have listened to over the last few months. 10 maximum will be fine.
WHY?
The three radio stations I run will be doing one hour+ specials of music the artists listen to along with some of their songs that I choose.
The three radio stations will be doing specials IF you supply the songs you listened to and think deserve to be played on the radios.
Our Sactown pal Katie was one of the first to reply with an eclectic choice of songs from –
Gary Clark Jr.
Sharon Van Etten
Lucinda Williams
Bruce Springsteen
Son House
Mary Chaplin Carpenter
Tom Waits
Nina Simone
Elton John
Jolie Holland
Join us at 24.00 hrs C.E.T. Tuesday to listen to Katie’s choice and of course a few of her songs too.
Due to connection problems the link to add to VLC APP is
http://ingest-ams.radiomast.io/radioblues-flac
This link will show you song playing.
Without further ado here is our copy/paste effort for this post.
Wily Bo Walker is a solo artist, songwriter, composer and performer noted for his characterful vocals and swaggering ‘live’ performances
Renowned as being a diverse and prolific artist and hailing originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Wily Bo works across many styles and genres; Rock, Blues, Gospel, Soul, Classic R&B, Jazz, AAA and Americana
From his huge New York based ‘blues and soul revue’ productions to his UK based, New Orleans themed, ’Rattlin Bone Theatre Show’ and from his acoustic swamp’n’stomp Americana ‘VoodooVille’ shows through to his stripped-down & kickin’ 4 piece Rock & Blues ‘Wily Bo Walker Band’, Wily Bo proves why he has been recognised as an Artist who can twist genres into new forms and has been inducted in to, and is worthy of, the ‘U.S. Blues Hall of Fame’ accolade of ‘Master Blues Artist’
An independent Scottish artist, selling into 70+ countries and with a huge global following on streaming sites like Spotify (1.5 million streams 2017/2018), his previous release ‘Moon Over Indigo’ (Sept 2015) was considered for a 2016 Grammy nomination as was his prior collaboration with Grammy Award winner, Danny Flam; ‘Wily Bo Walker & The Danny Flam Big Band‘ (Nov 2013)
Working with guitar supremo E. D. Brayshaw, the album ‘The Roads We Ride’ was released in March 2019, charted worldwide and received spectacular reviews
Expanding upon the success of ‘Moon Over Indigo’, Wily Bo and Danny Flam are currently working with some of the cream of U.S. & U.K. musicians on a new volume of music that explores the genre-twists that have come to be expected of a Wily Bo production. The album is entitled ‘Ain’t No Man a Good Man’ and will be released early 2020
All roads lead to VoodooVille…
Visit http://www.katieknipp.com/ for tour dates and other info.
More about Katie: “Having hit #10 on the Blues Albums Billboard Charts with her 5th album release titled “Take it With You,” Northern California Blues Americana Siren Katie Knipp is equipped with powerful vocals and plays a variety of instruments from boogie woogie piano to slide guitar, to honest harmonica laden stories in between. Her various performance formats from raw solo act to full band captures audiences hearts from her first notes. She has opened for Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Joan Osborne, The Hidalgos (David Hidalgo of Los Lobos), The Doobie Brothers, Tim Reynolds, Jon Cleary, Ruthie Foster, Joe Louis Walker, and The James Hunter Six, William Duvall of Alice in Chains, among many others. She played the 2019 Mammoth Blues Festival as the only solo female act that included headliners Buddy Guy, Trombone Shorty, Charlie Musselwhite, and more. She has won 2019 SAMMIE for Best Blues Artist, and was nominated Artist of The Year by The Sacramento News and Review. She has gained worldwide radio support, putting “Take it With You” on the Roots Music Report in Top Contemporary Blues Albums spun for 2019 and 2018. She is currently in the studio with her 6th album that includes special guest Keith Cotton, the musical director and keyboardist for Joan Osborne.”
Lighter Side Of The Blues, the new album from Val Starr taps into a melting pot of influences from across the musical spectrum to create her unique brand of California Blues. “It’s a mindset as opposed to a style,” she comments. “I really try to capture the joy that the blues instills in the hearts of those who love it.” As with all four of her previous releases, Val is backed once again by a legit all-star band of west coast blues vets (dubbed The Blues Rocket by Starr because they send her songs into the stratosphere). Lighter Side offers up a baker’s dozen of original tracks that echo everything from traditional blues to ’60s girl group pop to guitar-driven rock and roll. But no matter what the tempo or the direction the songs take, every track has an undeniable groove that radiates with positive energy. “It doesn’t have to be heavy to be the blues.” Welcome to the Lighter Side Of The Blues.
Thanks Wily, good to know we have had a listener, a listener who knows his flac not just a listener.
As the first good post on Twitter mentioning flac it will be cherished.
Wily Bo Walker is a solo artist, songwriter, composer and performer noted for his characterful vocals and swaggering ‘live’ performances
Renowned as being a diverse and prolific artist and hailing originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Wily Bo works across many styles and genres; Rock, Blues, Gospel, Soul, Classic R&B, Jazz, AAA and Americana
From his huge New York based ‘blues and soul revue’ productions to his UK based, New Orleans themed, ’Rattlin Bone Theatre Show’ and from his acoustic swamp’n’stomp Americana ‘VoodooVille’ shows through to his stripped-down & kickin’ 4 piece Rock & Blues ‘Wily Bo Walker Band’, Wily Bo proves why he has been recognised as an Artist who can twist genres into new forms and has been inducted in to, and is worthy of, the ‘U.S. Blues Hall of Fame’ accolade of ‘Master Blues Artist’
An independent Scottish artist, selling into 70+ countries and with a huge global following on streaming sites like Spotify (1.5 million streams 2017/2018), his previous release ‘Moon Over Indigo’ (Sept 2015) was considered for a 2016 Grammy nomination as was his prior collaboration with Grammy Award winner, Danny Flam; ‘Wily Bo Walker & The Danny Flam Big Band‘ (Nov 2013)
Working with guitar supremo E. D. Brayshaw, the album ‘The Roads We Ride’ was released in March 2019, charted worldwide and received spectacular reviews
Expanding upon the success of ‘Moon Over Indigo’, Wily Bo and Danny Flam are currently working with some of the cream of U.S. & U.K. musicians on a new volume of music that explores the genre-twists that have come to be expected of a Wily Bo production. The album is entitled ‘Ain’t No Man a Good Man’ and will be released early 2020
All roads lead to VoodooVille…
Yes our very own Artist of the Month has a record label.
Everyone at Radio BluesFlac and TMEfm Radio are over the moon at the news.
Cut & Paste follows.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jan. 10, 2020 – PRLog — Nola Blue, Inc. and Blind Raccoon proudly announce a new option for musicians via the Blue Heart Records imprint. Artists will now be able to utilize the successful combination of CPI Distribution (physical), The Orchard (digital) and Blind Raccoon (publicity and promotion) that serves Nola Blue Records so well, while retaining the independence of full ownership and control of their music. This joint venture further expands the successful partnership established between Nola Blue and Blind Raccoon two years ago.
The unique needs of Blue Heart Records’ first client, Leslie Letven Bixler, exemplifies some of the key benefits provided by the label. At the recommendation of Betsie Brown, owner of Blind Raccoon, Bixler first contacted Nola Blue president, Sallie Bengtson, with the objective of discussing a label deal for her next blues album. By the end of the conversation, the women both realized there were other opportunities to explore first. After many years as a creator and performer of various styles and genres of music, Bixler has a catalog of music that has been released under various names: Leslie Letven (maiden name), Leslie Bixler (married name) and her hip new moniker, Miss Bix. How to connect the dots and strategically cross-market all of her work using the power of today’s digital recordkeeping and delivery presented both an opportunity as well as a challenge, and the women were inspired to take action.
Through a creative re-branding of all of Bixler’s work, her entire catalog will be released under the artist name of “Miss Bix” with sub-branding in the various genres (jazz, children’s, pop, rock and blues) to tie it all together. Creating a Miss Bix brand “umbrella” positions Bixler to revitalize her existing catalog and also reach new audiences in the process. A multi-phase roll-out of the new Miss Bix catalog is planned throughout 2020, beginning with “We Don’t Own The Blues,” currently charting on the Roots Music Report, the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association chart and the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay chart.
Leslie Letven Bixler has been creating music for her entire adulthood, including smooth jazz, rock and pop, then naturally transitioning to children’s music after becoming a mother. More recent explorations into the depths of the blues have sparked an intense, passion-driven musical trajectory. “The music biz is changing so fast and it’s a real challenge to stay on top of it. Sallie at Blue Heart gives me the help I need to tie all my loose ends together, and get a centered, clear marketing strategy. As a seasoned writer/producer, I really prefer to keep control of my projects and keep my publishing, and this concept allows me that independence while supporting mutual growth. I’ve gone the old-fashioned label route before, and ended up regretting it. I also like that there are two strong, talented women who get things done at the helm, running this label,” says Bixler.
Brown notes, “The launch of Blue Heart Records is a significant option for enterprising independent artists to harness the resources of Nola Blue & Blind Raccoon.”
According to Bengtson, “From our initial phone consultation to all subsequent discussions, there is no question why Leslie has had opportunities to collaborate with entertainers of the caliber of Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Dick Van Dyke. The passion with which she utilizes her gifts is both inspirational and contagious, and a perfect match for Blue Heart Records.”
BIOGRAPHY
LESLIE BIXLER aka MISS BIX aka LESLIE LETVEN has been writing, recording and performing since her early twenties. Her first international record “Make It Right” was released on Syndrome Records under her maiden name Leslie Letven and did very well in the smooth jazz category, reaching #12 on the charts, and still receiving radio play today. At that time, she was collaborating with her talented husband Bill Bixler of the Wild Blue Band and nightclub.
Moving back to LA, Leslie and Bill produced and self-released “Porcupine,” which she sold at gigs and on CD Baby. After the birth of her son, Leslie turned her attention to children’s music, spending several days a week doing music circles with preschool age children. It was there that she wrote and test-ran several children’s songs which attracted the attention of Dick Van Dyke and Chad Smith (drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), whose child was in her class. She produced two albums “Moon Food” with Dick Van Dyke and “Rhythm Train” with Van Dyke and Chad Smith. She toured with Dick and Chad promoting those albums and received notable press from many celebrities and publications and won a parent’s choice award.
Once her son grew up, Leslie’s yearning for a new musical start led her to Clarksdale Mississippi where she fell seriously in love with the blues, something she had always gravitated towards. Working with co producer collaborator Ralph Carter (former Musical Director with Eddie Money and co-writer of his hit tune ‘Shakin’’) Leslie began writing “We Don’t Own The Blues,” a group of blues-based songs that reflect a new and exciting musical direction: passionate, intense, and sultry.
The concept of this collection of songs is inspired by the home of the blues, the Crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Leslie Bixler (aka Miss Bix) spent several months there soaking in the culture and learning the blues from the founders themselves. This is a rare find, 12 songs that pack a punch, in a conceptual flow, reminiscent of days past, when albums told a story.
Leslie Bixler and co-producer Ralph Carter (previously with Eddie Money and Sugaray Rayford), who brings bass, percussion, guitar and keys to many of the songs, are joined by John ‘JT’ Thomas (keyboardist with Hornsby), Gary Mallaber (drummer previously with Van Morrison, Steve Miller and more), blues guitarist extraordinaire Franck Goldwasser (aka Paris Slim), sax man Bill Bixler, and harp player RJ Mischo.
The songs reflect the culture that permeates the south – ‘Voodoo Man,’ ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Slave To The Grave’, and ‘Crazy ‘Bout You’ all have the smoky sensuous sound of the bluesy south. At the same time, Bixler creates a sound and voice that is all her own, and each song tells a different story. The Hendrix inspired ‘You’re A Child’ harkens back to the excitement of early rock days, and features the amazing RHCP drummer, Chad Smith, with whom Leslie worked on the children’s album “Rhythm Train.” The opening track ‘Follow Me Down’ draws the listener in with a trance-like psychedelic groove and from there the excitement builds.
Artistic influences like Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Sting, John Mayer, and many others weave together in this altogether new package. Hints of Motown are perceptible in the R&B feel of ‘Baby Come Back’ and the ending cut is a sensitive homage to the muse herself, that never ends, in ‘All The Time.’ The title cut ‘We Don’t Own The Blues’ is a playful look at the nature of love and heartbreak, and is destined to become a blues classic, as is the romping ‘If You’re Doing What I’m Thinking.’ The vocal stylings of the heartbreaking ballad ‘It Wasn’t Me’ are beautifully framed with the gorgeous keyboard virtuosity of John ‘JT’ Thomas.
