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Duke Robillard, Tommy Castro, Bettye LaVette and Ruthie Foster have been nominated for a total of 10 Blues Music Awards. The 31st Blues Music Awards will take place at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN on May 6, 2010. Rosebud artist nominations are as follows: Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro both have four nominations each. Duke is nominated for Album of the Year for Stomp! The Blues Tonight, Band of the Year, Best Instrumentalist - Guitar and Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. Tommy is nominated for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Band of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Hard Believer and Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year. Bettye LaVette and Ruthie Foster are both nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. In addition, Duke produced 10 of the 12 tracks and guests on one song on Album of the Year / Contemporary Blues Album of The Year nominee Between a Rock and the Blues by Joe Louis Walker. Other Rosebud related nominations are, in the Instrumentalist - Horn category: longtime Tommy Castro Band saxophonist Keith Crossan and Deanna Bogart, who plays in the Rosebud booked Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue with Tommy Castro. Nominated in the Historical Album of the Year category are: Muddy Waters' Authorized Bootleg and Little Walter's The Complete Chess Masters, featuring hit compositions by Willie Dixon. Both Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon were Rosebud artists until their passing. Nominated in the Acoustic Album of the Year category is: Things About Comin' My Way - A Tribute to the music of the Mississippi Sheiks, which features songs by Rosebud artists John Hammond and Bill Frisell. Congratulations to all the nominees!
We're thrilled to announce that Rosebud Artists received 10 Grammy nominations for this year's awards taking place on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles. Artists honored with nominations include Duke Robillard's Stomp! The Blues Tonight nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album. Please see the full entry >> Rosebud has been fortunate in that generally our artists score between 4 and 6 Grammy nominations every year but 10 is definitely a new record and we are Thrilled, especially considering the fact that Rosebud artists only released 14 eligible CDs this past year. Congratulations to all the nominees!
Duke Robillard and Sunny Crownover’s Tales From The Tiki Lounge November 17, 2009 Duke Robillard and Sunny Crownover will release a new CD, Tales From The Tiki Lounge, on November 17, 2009. Conceived as a tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford, it is also a concept lounge music CD. It encompasses blues to standards, vintage tunes from movies to South American pop from the 40s and 50s, all recorded in the sprit of Les Paul, featuring Duke’s orchestral approach to his guitar tracks and the wonderfully warm vocals of Sunny Crownover. This release is Duke’s third collaboration with Sunny this year. Duke says of the new CD: “I want to transport people to an age when music had beautiful melodies and a genuine feel-good quality.” See Duke live on stage, including the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise in January, please see Tour Dates >>
Catch both Charlie and Duke live on stage:
Bill Frisell, Duke Robillard and Marcia Ball are all featured on separate NPR programs in the coming weeks: Bill Frisell's new album, Disfarmer, out July 21 on Nonesuch Records, was chosen as an Exclusive First Listen on NPR's website. Recently named Guitarist of the Year for the second year in a row by the Jazz Journalists Association, Bill's new CD showcases "evocative original themes and motifs here, surrounded by backgrounds sounding distant echoes of country, bluegrass and old-time mountain music" per NPR's Patrick Jarenwattananon. The Disfarmer project began as a touring multimedia work, with Bill scoring a slideshow of images from photographer Mike Disfarmer (1884-1959). Bill is joined on the CD by Greg Leisz (steel guitars, mandolin) Jenny Scheinman (violin) and Viktor Krauss (bass). Duke Robillard's performance at the Mountain Stage radio show in Charleston, WV is scheduled to be broadcast beginning the weekend of July 24-26. It will also be archived in it's entirety. For a complete list of stations that carry Mountain Stage please click here. Duke, four-time Best Blues Guitarist winner at the Blues Music Awards, recently released Stomp! The Blues Tonight, which he describes as "Blues / classic-rhythm-and-blues, basically where I started in my Roomful of Blues days." Marcia Ball will appear live on Mountain Stage on August 9, 2009 at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. For detailed information, please click here. Also on the bill are Hill Country Revue, Cracker, Other Lives and Maia Sharp. Marcia, a four-time Grammy nominee, won her fourth Pinetop Perkins Best Piano Player Award in the past five years at the Blues Music Awards. Marcia was also recently nominated for Most Outstanding Musician, Keyboard in the upcoming Living Blues Awards, a category she has won the last two years. Catch all three artists live, please see their tour dates at: Bill Frisell Tour Dates, Duke Robillard Tour Dates, Marcia Ball Tour Dates
Duke Robillard's new CD, Stomp! The Blues Tonight, will be featured on the House of Blues Radio Hour, beginning the weekend of July 18-19. The radio show currently has a limited number of autographed copies of the CD available for purchase. Duke describes the new disc as "Blues / classic-rhythm-and-blues, basically where I started in my Roomful of Blues days." Duke has recorded with and / or produced Bob Dylan, Maria Muldaur, Dr. John, John Hammond, Jay McShann, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Rosco Gordon and Long John Baldry. The W.C. Handy Awards (recently renamed the Blues Music Awards) have named Duke "Best Blues Guitarist" four times and his production work was honored by The Blues Music Foundation in 2004 when he won the Keeping The Blues Alive Award for Best Producer.
Duke Robillard, the four-time Blues Music Award winner for Best Blues Guitarist, is featured in the cover story of the June/July 2009 Blues Revue magazine. Duke is proclaimed as being "a master of many styles who moves forward while maintaining a firm ground in the past." This is borne out by Duke's illustrious history, having founded Roomful of Blues, replacing Jimmie Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds, leading his own bands with a mastery of blues, jazz, R&B, rock and rockabilly as well as production and/or studio work on records by Bob Dylan, Ruth Brown, Johnny Adams, Kim Wilson, Jay McShann, Pinetop Perkins, John Hammond, Jimmy Witherspoon and many more. His production work was honored by The Blues Music Foundation in 2004 when he was named Best Producer. Duke unveils his upcoming project, Stomp! the Blues Tonight, in the Blues Revue cover story as "Blues-slash-classic-rhythm-and-blues, basically where I started in my Roomful of Blues days." He also highlights his latest project, the recently released CD, Introducing Sunny and Her Joy Boys. "I found swing-era jazz and blues to be brother and sister. Especially the Kansas City sound because bands played a lot of blues, only in a big-band style. This is Depression-era jazz, played all acoustic - two acoustic guitars, acoustic bass, clarinet, and saxophone - and Sunny singing." Catch Duke live on tour both with his own band and with Sunny and Her Joy Boys, please see tour dates>>
Sunny And Her Joy Boys debut CD, featuring Duke Robillard, will be released by Stony Plain Records March 24, 2009. Duke writes that the CD showcases, "some of my favorite 1930s tin pan alley and classic jazz tunes featuring the wonderful vocalist Sunny Crownover as well as Billy Novick, along with Paul Kolesnikow, Jesse Williams and myself. It was a joy to record and we are looking forward to doing many live appearances around New England and the country." The disc will be a featured CD of the Month on the internationally syndicated House Of Blues Radio Hour for the month of April. The Rosebud Agency will book the group exclusively while continuing to book Duke Robillard in his other band formats. See Duke live on tour, please see tour dates>>
Duke Robillard is featured on three tracks of Tell Tale Signs Bob Dylan's new Bootleg Series Vol. 8. The three songs come from unreleased "Time Out of Mind" sessions: "Red River Shore," "Marchin' To The City" and "Mississippi." Duke will be featured and interviewed on the nationally syndicated radio show, House of Blues Radio Hour, the weekend of November 22nd / 23rd. The show airs in the U.S. and Canada. To find a station in your area, visit thebluesmobile.com or Shivers. The second album by the trio of stellar guitarists, Shivers is set for release on Stony Plain Records July 8 in the U.S. and June 10 in Canada. Covering classics such as “Flying Home,” “Honey Suckle Rose” and “Broadway,” Robillard, Geils and Beaudoin comeref="http://www.thebluesmobile.com/bluesmobile/bluesradio.shtml">stream the show directly from this website.  Duke Robillard, Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin's New Guitar Summit Album, Shivers In Stores July 8May 2008, Rosebud News 
Duke Robillard joins up with Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin once again as New Guitar Summit for a new album, see tour dates >>
Duke Robillard’s latest CD, A Swingin' Session with Duke Robillard is due for release on May 13. His 14th album on the Stony Plain label features special guests Scott Hamilton, Bruce Katz, Doug James and Carl Querfurth. Tracks include a number of timeless jazz standards, as well as some great small group swing and blues tunes. The album focuses on the “swing” side of Duke’s playing, and includes classics like “Deed I Do,” “The Song Is Ended,” “Them That Got,” and “When Your Lover Has Gone.” Duke is currently nominated by the Blues Music Awards for Best Blues Guitarist, an award he has won 4 times previously. Duke will be touring extensively throughout 2008 with The Duke Robillard Band. ..see tour dates >>
Duke Robillard’s World Full of Blues (Stony Plain Records) and Tommy Castro’s Painkiller (Blind Pig) were voted among the Top 10 CDs of 2007 by House of Blues Radio Hour listeners. The January 7th and 8th House of Blues Radio hour featured Robilard’s "World Of Blues" and Castro’s "I Roll When I Rock." Tommy Castro’s "Soul Shaker" was also featured on the International Blues Challenge segment on January 19th and 20th in honor of his past win. House of Blues Radio Hour is hosted weekly by Dan Akroyd. Tommy Castro and Duke Robillard will tour heavily throughout 2008.
Bettye LaVette, Tommy Castro, Duke Robillard, Ruthie Foster and Muddy Waters were honored with nominations for the 2008 Blues Music Awards just announced. Bettye LaVette’s incredible year (Grammy nomination, Pollstar magazine cover story and topping many “Best Of 2007” lists) continues with three nominations for Album of the Year (Scene Of The Crime), Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Tommy Castro grabs two nominations for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year (Painkiller) and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Duke Robillard yet again receives a nod for Best Instrumentalist - Guitar. Robillard has won this award an unprecedented four previous times. Ruthie Foster scores her first nomination for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. And former Rosebud artist, the late Muddy Waters, is honored with a nomination for Historical Album of the Year (Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down - Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton). The Blues Music Awards will be held on May 8, 2008 in Tunica, Mississippi. The 2008 Blues Music Awards >>
Rosebud artists Bettye Lavette and Duke Robillard have been nominated for Canada's 11th annual Maple Blues Awards. Selected by a distinguished panel of blues DJs and journalists across Canada, Bettye LaVette and Duke Robillard have been nominated for the B.B. King International Artist award. The Maple Blues Awards are coordinated by the Toronto Blues Society, and you can cast your vote Nov. 3 - Dec. 8 by visiting mapleblues.ca. Winners will be announced at the awards gala in Toronto on Jan. 21, 2008."
The House of Blues Radio Hour will feature Duke Robillard in early October, marking the latest highlight in a major year for the singer/guitarist. Duke’s 2006 album, Guitar Groove-A-Rama, was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year and his just released double-disc CD, Duke Robillard’s World Full of Blues is being met with widespread acclaim. Duke also received the prestigious Rhode Island Pell Award from his home state in June. He has been on the road steadily over the past year, touring North America and Europe several times in addition to playing guitar for Tom Waits on his rare late 2006 tour. The House of Blues Radio Hour interview will air the weekend of October 6-7. For local listings, please visit www.thebluesmobile.com. Also look for Duke on tour throughout the year and into 2008... see tour dates >>
Stony Plain Records will release Duke Robillard's World Full Of Blues, the latest album from the veteran blues guitarist, June 26. The two-disc set features nearly two hours of music, touching upon swing, funk, soul, gospel and more while remaining solidly anchored in Robillard’s signature blues. The album features many new Robillard originals along with fresh interpretations of songs by Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Booker T. & The MG's, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and more. World Full Of Blues follows last year’s Grammy-nominated Guitar Groove-A-Rama. Robillard and his band will continue to tour North America throughout the year ..see tour dates >>
The State of Rhode Island has announced that Duke Robillard will be honored for Excellence in the Arts at the 2007 Rhode Island Pell Awards. The prestigious award honors exceptional artists who have contributed to the advancement of their chosen form as well as the betterment of the community and world at large. Duke will receive the award at a June 2 ceremony along with fellow Pell recipients Bob Colonna, Mihailo "Misha" Djuric and Olympia Dukakis. Duke’s new album, the two-disc Duke Robillard’s World Full of Blues, is due out in June and he will be touring with his band throughout the year.
Rosebud Artists scored 14 nominations this year for the Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards. Charlie Musselwhite is nominated for 5 awards, including Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Traditional Blues Album of the Year (Delta Hardware), Song of the Year ("Church is Out") and his perennial nomination for Best Instrumentalist- Harmonica. Bettye LaVette is honored with two nominations for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year (her fourth year in a row), as well as a nod for the top honor of the evening - B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Marcia Ball also earned two nominations for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year (4th consecutive nomination) and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. Duke Robillard received a nomination for Best Instrumentalist - Guitar and his saxophone player, Doug James, receives one as well for Best Instrumentalist - Horn. Mavis Staples is nominated for the fourth year in a row for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year. Former Rosebud artist, the late Ruth Brown is nominated for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year and the late John Lee Hooker's just released box set, Hooker (on Shout! Factory), has been nominated for Historical Album of the Year. Rosebud owner/founder, Mike Kappus, coordinated 16 of the original featured recordings in the package. The Blues Music Awards ceremony and concert will be held May 10, 2007 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. For more information, please go to Blues Music Awards Information >>
The 49th annual Grammy nominations were announced with Rosebud artists Allen Toussaint, Duke Robillard and Ann Savoy honored in the Pop, Blues and Folk categories, respectively. Allen Toussaint received a nomination in the Best Pop Vocal Album category for his collaboration with Elvis Costello on The River in Reverse, a project created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation to Toussaint's hometown. Duke Robillard received the first Grammy nomination of his career for his latest CD Guitar Groove-A-Rama in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. Ann Savoy from The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band was recognized for her collaboration with ten-time Grammy winner Linda Ronstadt in the Best Traditional Folk Album category for Adieu False Heart. Congratulations also to Gary Paczosa, engineer of the CD who was nominated for Best Engineered Album. In addition, Booker T. Jones will be honored with a Lifetime Grammy Achievement Award for his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame career with Booker T. & the MG's. The Grammys will air on CBS onFebruary 11, 2007.
Duke Robillard Joins Tom Waits Touring Band for August dates Duke Robillard has been picked to play guitar in Tom Waits band for an upcoming run of dates. Duke has collaborated on stage or in the studio with some legendary figures in the past including Bob Dylan, Ruth Brown, Muddy Waters and B.B. King among others but this will be his first collaboration with Waits. Dates begin August 1 in Atlanta, GA and run through August 13 in Akron, OH. Please see Duke’s tour dates page for the complete schedule as well as dates for The Duke Robillard Band.
Duke Robillard’s Guitar Groove-A-Rama will be released on Stony Plain Records on March 14. The new CD features Duke in a mostly trio format, accentuating the many nuances of his guitar work and representing perhaps Duke’s most ambitious album yet in a career that spans almost 40 years. Duke’s credits include a long list of impressive collaborations in studio and onstage with everyone for Muddy Waters and B B King to Bob Dylan. He is also known for founding Roomful of Blues and replacing Jimmie Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Duke has been honored as ‘Best Guitarist’ at The Blues Music Awards (formerly The W.C. Handy Awards) 4 of the past 6 years and was named "Best International Blues Artist" in Canada’s Maple Blues Awards three of the past five years. Look for The Duke Robillard Band on tour throughout the year.
The year end "Best of" lists have begun again and Bettye LaVette, Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro are among those honored so far. Bettye LaVette's album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise garnered the #2 spot in the R&B/Soul category and #59 overall in Amazon's annual "Editor's Picks" list. In the Blues category, The Duke Robillard Band's The Duke Meets the Earl was named #3 and The Tommy Castro Band's Soul Shaker came in at #5. For more information and purchase CDs, please visit Amazon's annual "Editor's Picks".
Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples have each been nominated in the category of International Artist of the Year in the 2005 Maple Blues Awards. Duke Robillard has dominated the category in recent years winning the award each year from 2001 through 2003. The awards are presented by The Toronto Blues Society. Online voting begins November 15th with winners to be announced January 16, 2006. For more information on the awards and voting, please visit Maple Blues Awards website.
Bill Frisell was voted Best Guitarist in the annual critics poll in the current issue (Aug 2005) of Downbeat magazine. Bill also ranks in several other categories including Best Jazz Artist, Best Composer, Best Arranger, Best Electric Group and Best Jazz Album for his 2005 Grammy winning CD Unspeakable. Individual musicians from Bill's various touring bands were also recognized as Jenny Scheinman was voted top Rising Star Violin and Sam Yahel was voted top Rising Star Organ. Brian Blade was also acknowledged in both the Best Drums and Rising Star Drums categories with Ron Miles ranking in Rising Star Trumpet. Rosebud artists Mavis Staples, Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Duke Robillard also ranked among the best blues artists. Mavis Staples and Bettye LaVette were recognized in the Best Blues Artist and Rising Star Blues Artist categories, respectively. The Best Blues Album category acknowledged Charlie Musselwhite (Sanctuary), Mavis Staples (Have A Little Faith), Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama (There Will Be A Light) and Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl (The Duke Meets The Earl).
Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl have combined forces for a rare treat, The Duke Meets The Earl, a vibrant and dynamic musical conversation between two of this generation's most acclaimed blues guitar players. Guests on the album include the legendary Jimmy McGriff on Hammond B3 and Mighty Sam McClain, who adds his soulful vocals. Duke and Ronnie's history goes back to when Duke founded Roomful of Blues and was later replaced by Ronnie in the band. Duke moved on to his own projects including a stint as guitarist in The Fabulous Thunderbirds replacing Jimmie Vaughan. Duke has won the award for 'Best Guitarist' 4 out of the last 6 years by the WC Handy Blues Awards. Ronnie Earl is also a past winner in the same category. Robillard says of the album, "This album takes us both back to the old days when we would jam on gigs or after hours sessions, bringing us full circle to where we started, jamming the Blues!"
The Blues Foundation's nominees for the 26th Annual W.C. Handy Awards feature five Rosebud artists scoring a total of 12 nominations. Mavis Staples' first appearance in the Handy voting has her scoring among the most nominated artists this year with four nominations including Blues Album of the Year and Soul/Blues Album of the Year for her new release Have a Little Faith as well as a nod for Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year. The title track "Have a Little Faith" also received a Blues Song of the Year nomination for writers Jim Tullio and Jim Weider. Perennial winner, Charlie Musselwhite received three nominations including Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Sanctuary, Contemporary Blues-Male Artist of the Year and Best Instrumentalist-Harmonica. Marcia Ball also continues as a Handy favorite with nominations for Best Instrumentalist-Keyboards as well as Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year. Duke Robillard garnered a nomination for Traditional Blues Album of the Year for his album Blue Mood: The Songs of T-Bone Walker and again is honored for his virtuosity with a nomination for Best Instrumentalist-Guitar which he has won four of the past five years. Bettye LaVette continues her Handy honors with a nomination for Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year. The W.C. Handy Awards will take place on May 5, 2005 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. For more information go to blues.org >>
JJ Cale and Robert Cray are both featured on the just released two disc, four hour plus DVD of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival which took place in Dallas this past June. Duke Robillard is also shown performing with blues legends Honeyboy Edwards and Robert Lockwood Junior. The DVD chronicles the festival which brought together dozens of the world's top rock, blues, country, jazz, and folk guitarists and also included Rosebud artist, Johnny A.. Check out the Crossroads Media Player for clips and snapshots from the festival. Buy "Crossroads Guitar Festival" DVD from Amazon.com >>
Among the artists featured at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas June 4-6 are several Rosebud artists. JJ Cale (whose songs "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" are among Clapton's biggest hits) will perform Saturday night. Robert Cray who co-wrote "Old Love" with Eric after Eric had covered Cray's "Bad Influence", will appear in an all star jam Saturday night with Eric, Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan. Cray appears again Sunday in the Cotton Bowl with The Robert Cray Band. Also on the festival are Johnny A., performing early Sunday and Duke Robillard who performs as part of a blues clinic with Robert Jr. Lockwood and Honeyboy Edwards. Booker T. Jones will also perform along with the MGs during the Cotton Bowl show. The event is a benefit for Crossroads Rehabilitation Clinic in Antigua.
Rosebud Agency artists had a great night at the 25th Annual W. C. Handy Blues Awards Thursday April 29. Marcia Ball scored double honors for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year and also for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for her latest Alligator CD, So Many Rivers (also a Grammy Nominee this year in the same category). Duke Robillard's guitar mastery was acknowledged once again as he was named Best Blues Guitarist for the fourth time in the past five years - a stunning achievement given the competition in this category. And speaking of consistency, Charlie Musselwhite picked up his 15th Handy Award continuing an amazing streak as Best Blues Instrumentalist - Harmonica. John Hammond once again won as Best Acoustic Blues Artist - a category he has begun to dominate as well. And Bettye LaVette who was barely known to the blues world last year won Comeback Blues Album of the Year for her CD, A Woman Like Me, one of her 4 nominations this year. Finally, Best Historical Blues CD of the year went to Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live by former Rosebud artist, the late Muddy Waters. A big Thank You to The Blues Foundation and all the fans for expressing their appreciation for the talent and hard work put forth by our artists. And a big congratulations to all of our artists for another great year of keeping the blues alive.
Roots guitar virtuoso Duke Robillard was chosen International Blues Artist of the Year for an impressive third year in a row at the 7th annual Maple Blues Awards held in Toronto in January. The awards honor the finest in Canadian blues and are presented by The Toronto Blues Association in conjunction with CBC Radio, the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, the Montreal Blues Society, the Ottawa Blues Society, and the Thunder Bay Blues Society. Duke has also been nominated once again for a 2004 W. C. Handy Award for Best Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar. Duke won this award in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and this is his 5th consecutive nomination in the category - an extremely impressive accomplishment given the strength of the annual competition in the guitar category. The 25th annual W.C. Handy award ceremonies will take place in Memphis on April 29, 2004. Catch The Duke Robillard Band on tour throughout 2004 -- see tour dates.
Rosebud artists once again made an impressive showing in the 2004 W. C. Handy Blues Award nominations. Bettye LaVette scored four nominations for this year's awards tying her for second most among all nominees. Her album "A Woman Like Me" was picked in nominations for Blues Album of the Year, Soul Blues Album of the Year and Comeback Album of the Year. Bettye was also acknowledged with a nomination for Best Soul Female Artist. Marcia Ball, the 2002 winner for Blues Album of the Year, picked up three nominations. Her CD "So Many Rivers" is nominated in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category while "Foreclose on the House of Love" from the CD is nominated for Blues Song of the Year for the songwriter John Lee Sanders. Marcia also received nominations for Best Contemporary Female Artist and Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards. John Hammond is once again nominated for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year - the category he won most recently in 2002. Charlie Musselwhite scored another nomination for Blues Instrumentalist - Harmonica, a category he wins almost every year. And guitar virtuoso, Duke Robillard is nominated once again for Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar. Duke won this award in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and this is his 5th consecutive nomination in the category - an extremely impressive accomplishment given the strength of the annual competition in the guitar category. In addition to the above, Jay McShann, who joins The Duke Robillard Band on exclusive festival dates around the world picked up a nomination for Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards. Congratulations to all the award nominees. The 25th annual W.C. Handy award ceremonies will take place in Memphis on April 29, 2004. For the latest news on the Handy Awards visit http://www.handyawards.com.
Once again this year, Rosebud artists have been nominated for Grammys in a variety of categories. The Blind Boys of Alabama follow their back-to-back Grammy wins with a third consecutive nomination for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for this year’s "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Marcia Ball's "So Many Rivers" is nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Mavis Staples has been nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for her duet with Bob Dylan entitled "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking". The song appears on the album "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" which was also nominated for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. Also, Jay McShann's "Going To Kansas City" (featuring Rosebud artist and previous McShann producer, Duke Robillard, on guitar) was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album. Deceased long-time Rosebud Agency artists Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Willie Dixon are featured in "The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Volume 1" which was nominated for Best Long Form Music Video. Also nominated in this same category is Muddy Waters who is, of course, the focus of "Muddy Waters, Can't Be Satisfied". A number of artists featured on the Earthjustice benefit CD "Where We Live - Stand For What You Stand On" compiled by Rosebud founder, Mike Kappus, were also among the nominees. Earthjustice contributors Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, and Bob Dylan were all nominated in a variety of categories. The Grammys will be awarded February 8 in Los Angeles.
Duke Robillard has been honored with The Blues Foundation's 2004 Keeping The Blues Alive (KBA) Award as Best Producer. The award will be presented on Saturday, January 31, 2004 in Memphis Tennessee. The KBA Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations that have contributed greatly to the growth and vitality of blues music. Duke has received the W.C. Handy Award for Best Blues guitarist three of the past four years. The KBA award this year recognizes Duke for his impact as a producer for his work with artists such as Jay McShann, Jimmy Witherspoon, Billy Boy Arnold, Debbie Davies, and Toni Lynn Washington among others. All of this is in addition to his own active touring schedule and the release of "Exalted Lover" in September. Catch Duke Robillard on tour the remainder of the year and throughout 2004 -- see tour dates>> .
The Duke Robillard Band's new CD "Exalted Lover" will be released September 23 on Stony Plain Records. The album features ten new tunes (eight penned by Duke) and special guest duets with country star Pam Tillis and dynamic blues artist Debbie Davies. Duke is also a special guest himself on piano legend Jay McShann's new Stony Plain CD "Goin To Kansas City" also set for at September 23 release. Duke was recently awarded both the W.C. Handy Award for "Best Guitarist" and the Canadian Maple Blues Award for "International Blues Artist of the Year". It was the third time in the last four years Duke won the "Best Guitarist" Handy and his second consecutive Maple Blues Award for "International Blues Artist". Catch The Duke Robillard Band touring in support of the new record throughout the remainder of the year.
Though they represent different generations in the family of American guitar greats, Herb Ellis and Duke Robillard are brothers-in-arms. The parallels that run between the two gifted and creative forces are almost uncanny, and once examined, it makes complete sense that the two would eventually team up for the lengthy session that produced the acclaimed 1999 release Conversations in Swing Guitar and this its follow-up, More Conversation in Swing Guitar...... more >>
...his first all-blues album since 1994’s Duke’s Blues. The disc includes several prominent Robillard compositions mixed with select covers of esteemed blues dignitaries such as Little Milton’s “If Walls Could Talk,” Freddie King’s “Use What You Got,” Tampa Red’s “Hard Road,” Willie Dixon’s “I Live The Life I Love,” B.B. King’s “Long Gone Baby,” Bobby Bland’s “Good Time Charlie” and the title cut, Brownie McGhee’s “Living With The Blues.” ... more >>
Duke Robillard was awarded "Best Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar" at the 24th annual W. C. Handy Awards in Memphis, TN on Thursday May 22. This is Duke's third time to win the honor in the past four years - an especially prestigious accomplishment as the guitar is the primary instrument of the blues and given the incredible competition in the category of Best Guitarist. Duke was also chosen as the International Blues Artist of the Year, for the second year in a row, at the Maple Blues Awards, held in Toronto in January. Duke recently released his second CD with jazz legend, Herb Ellis, entitled "More Conversations In Swing Guitar" and will release his own new CD, "Exalted Lover," with guests Pam Tillis and Debbie Davies in August. Watch for him on tour worldwide throughout the year.
Rosebud Artists Score Big at 2003 W.C. Handy Awards Rosebud Artists were once again a significant presence at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards held May 22, 2003 in Memphis, Tennessee. Duke Robillard won "Best Instrumentalist - Guitar" for the third time in the last four years. Charlie Musselwhite won two awards including one for "Male Contemporary Artist of the Year" along with his perennial award for "Best Instrumentalist - Harmonica". John Hammond won once again for "Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year". Marcia Ball (last year's "Album of the Year" winner and a nominee for both "Female Contemporary Artist of the Year" and "Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards" this year) served as co-host for the ceremony and Ruth Brown stole the show in her role as presenter for the "Entertainer of the Year" award to B.B. King. Congratulations to all the W.C. Handy Award winners and nominees and be sure to catch Duke Robillard, Charlie Musselwhite, John Hammond, Marcia Ball, Ruth Brown and The W.C. Handy All-Stars on tour throughout 2003 - see tour dates.
Duke Robillard Wins International Honors At Maple Blues Awards Duke Robillard was chosen International Blues Artist of the Year - for the second year in a row - at the Maple Blues Awards, held in Toronto in January. Watch for More Conversations In Swing Guitar from Duke coming April 8 (March 18 in Canada). More Conversations is a follow up to the acclaimed Conversations In Swing Guitar and once again features Duke and the legendary Herb Ellis. More Conversations In Swing Guitar advance order at Amazon.com >>
Rosebud artists once again made an impressive showing in the 2003 W. C. Handy Blues Award nominations. Charlie Musselwhite scored four nominations for this year's awards as his latest CD, One Night In America, was picked in nominations for Blues Album of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. Charlie was also acknowledged with nominations for Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year and his perennial nomination for Blues Instrumentalist - Harmonica. Marcia Ball, last year’s most nominated artist and 2002 winner for Blues Album of the year, had no new CD this year but she is nominated for Contemporary Blues - Female Artist of the Year as well as Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards. John Hammond is once again nominated for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year - the category he won again last year. And guitar virtuoso, Duke Robillard is nominated once again for Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar. Duke won this award in 2000 and 2001 and was nominated last year as well. In addition to the above, Otis Taylor, who joins Rosebud artists John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite (as well as Eric Bibb) on this year's W.C. Handy All Stars tour, snagged nominations for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year and Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year. The W.C. Handy award ceremonies will take place in Memphis on May 22, 2003.
Rosebud Artists were a significant presence at the W.C. Handy Awards held May 23, 2002 in Memphis, Tennessee. Ruth Brown was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and also presented the Entertainer of the Year award to long-time friend B.B. King. Marcia Ball, the artist with most overall nominations this year, came home with the coveted Best Blues Album. Charlie Musselwhite was a winner in two categories – Best Blues Instrumentalist (Harmonica) and Blues Song of the Year for "Charlie's Old Highway 51 Blues". John Hammond took home the award for Best Acoustic Album for his Tom Waits produced "Wicked Grin". Duke Robillard, winner of the previous two years' Best Blues Guitarist awards, was once again nominated and was a featured presenter at the Awards. Former Rosebud client, the late Muddy Waters won for Best Historical CD for "Fathers & Sons", which also included former Rosebud artist, the late Michael Bloomfield. Charlie Musselwhite performed live at the show in a band which also featured Keb ‘Mo. And Marcia Ball & her band turned in a great set of their own. John Lee Hooker, who passed away last June, was also honored at the event with a video tribute.
Duke Robillard, winner of the W C Handy for Best Blues Guitarist in 2000 and 2001, has been chosen as one of the featured artists on the Blues Foundation’s special Blues Greats CD along with legends Rufus Thomas, Charley Patton, R. L. Burnside and others.
Duke Robillard is the focus of a contest with Epiphone Guitars and Harmony Central who will fly the winners of the contest to Memphis during Handy Awards Week. In Memphis the winners will meet blues guitar great Duke Robillard, hang out backstage at the W.C. Handy Awards and pick up a brand new Epiphone Emperor Regent guitar. The contest runs from April 22nd - May 8th and blues lovers can enter online at The winner will be notified by email on or before May 10th.
Duke Robillard won The Maple Blues Award for Best International Artist of the year on January 29. The annual awards, held in Toronto, honor Canadian blues artists except, of course, for this one award to the best international artist. Duke continues to rack up blues credits in the US as well as he was once again nominated for a W.C. Handy Awards for Best Blues Guitarist. Duke has won that award the past two years in a row.
Rosebud Congratulates our 2002 W. C. Handy Award Nominees. Marcia Ball tops all contenders with 5 W. C. Handy Awards Nominations. John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite and Duke Robillard also score Handy nominations Marcia Ball's Handy nominations include nods for Blues Entertainer of the Year, Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year, and Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboards as well as Contemporary Blues Album of the Year and Blues Album of the Year for her Presumed Innocent CD. John Hammond, whose Tom Waits produced Wicked Grin CD has been collecting accolades all year, hauls in three nominations including Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, Blues Album of the Year, and Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year. Duke Robillard who was named #1 Blues Guitarist in 2000 and 2001 returns once again as a nominee in the same category in 2002. Charlie Musselwhite, already a ten time W. C. Handy Award winner, brings in yet another nomination for Blues Instrumentalist-Harmonica. Charlie's song, "Charlie's Old Highway 51 Blues", also got a nod for Blues Song of the Year. Rosebud Artist, the late Muddy Waters, was also honored in the Historical Blues Album of the Year category for his Fathers and Sons album.
W. C. Handy Awards Honor Rosebud ArtistsDuke Robillard Awards News - Maple Blues Nomination and ASCAP Performance Duke Robillard, winner of the Best Blues Guitarist category of the W C Handy Awards for the past two years, is up for a Maple Blues Award. Duke is nominated in the category of International Artist of the Year. The awards are presented in Toronto on January 29. Just to stay in shape and to help a friend, Duke accepted the 2001 ASCAP Foundation Award on behalf of Jay McShann who was unable to attend. Duke has played on and produced Jay's Hootie's Jumpin' Blues and Still Jumping The Blues CDs for Stony Plain Records. In Jay's honor, Duke played one of Jay's classics, "Lonely Boy Blues."
Congratulations to our W C Handy Award winners. Charlie Musselwhite won his umpteenth Handy as Best Instrumentalist, Harmonica while Duke Robillard scored his second consecutive win as Best Guitarist in the awards held in Memphis on May 24 and due to be telecast later this year. Ruth Brown made a rare appearance at the event to present one of the final awards along with Rufus Thomas.
Members of the initial Handy All Stars tour continue to rack up awards already this year. Johnnie Johnson will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March. Handy All Stars scoring W. C. Handy Award nominations again this year included Little Milton (Blues Entertainer of the Year and Soul Artist of the Year-Male), Duke Robillard (Guitar), Trudy Lynn (Soul Artist of the Year - Female), Charlie Musselwhite (Harmonica) and Gordon Sax Beadle (Horns). In the meantime, core band leader, Duke Robillard, also made his mark by producing Handy nominated CDs by Eddy Clearwater and Rosco Gordon.
Duke Robillard's presence in the W C Handy Award nominations extends beyond his nomination for Best Instrumentalist - Guitar, a category he won last year. Duke also produced and his band performed on Rosco Gordon's Memphis,Tennessee CD which is nominated for Comeback Blues Album of the year. He also produced and was enlisted his band to play on Eddy Clearwater's Reservation Blues CD which is nominated for Blues CD of the year. To top it off, long time Duke Robillard Band saxaphonist, Gordon Beadle, has been nominated for Best Blues Instrumentalist - Horns.
Four Rosebud Artists Honored with W. C. Handy Award Nominations Ruth Brown, Charlie Musselwhite and Duke Robillard all scored W. C. Handy Award Nominations with Marcia Ball pulling in two nominations. Artists and categories are as follows: Marcia Ball - Contemporary Blues - Female Artist of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist - Keyboards The Handy Awards will be held in Memphis on May 24,2001 at the Orpheum Theatre.
Duke Robillard's versatility has put him in great demand as we begin the new millennium. Duke and his band have been tapped as the core band for the new W.C Handy All Stars touring aggregation. Duke won the W. C. Handy Award earlier this year for Best Blues Guitarist. He and his band were also nominated for Blues Band of The Year. As a bandleader he has been busy touring the country in support of his Shanachie release, Explorer, but there's much more. Earlier this year Duke co-starred on new CDs including Conversations In Swing Guitar, the historic instrumental sessions with Duke and Herb Ellis as well as the last recording by the late Jimmy Witherspoon with The Duke Robillard Band. Duke also produced and performed, with his band and special guest Carey Bell, on the latest release from Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Reservation Blues.
In addition, Duke produced and played on Stony Plain releases scheduled for 2001 by Billy Boy Arnold, Jay McShann (Duke's third with Jay) and a follow-up to his recording with Herb Ellis. And in his "free time", Duke moonlights as one of the featured players in the New Guitar Summit along with Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin. Duke Robillard Sessionograpy >>
Duke Robillard is interviewed on the CDNow at: Duke talks about his new CD, Explorer, as well as the past, present and future of the blues, rock and roll, and some of his other influences. Watch for Duke on tour with his own band and with The W C Handy All Stars this Fall.
Duke Robillard is involved in yet another new high profile venture entitled New Guitar Summit. The group features Duke along with Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin. This jazz, blues, and swing event explores the American Songbook and offers an entertaining and diverse look into the work of the great masters on guitar. Several key players present a two hour concert attraction and are joined onstage by their rhythm section consisting of bass and drums.
The Duke Robillard Band's, Explorer, Out June 13 The Duke Robillard Band's new CD, Explorer, is set for release by Shanachie Records. on June 13. This comes immediately on the heels of Duke's 2000 win in the W.C. Handy Awards as Best Guitarist. Duke's preceding CD, New Blues For Modern Man, was also a 2000 Handy Award nominee and The Duke Robillard Band had also been nominated for Blues Band Of The Year.
The W.C. Handy Awards, the Blues' equivalent to a Grammy, were held May 25 and three Rosebud Artists came up winners. Duke Robillard won Blues Instrumentalist of The Year - Guitar. Charlie Musselwhite won Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year - Harmonica - for the 8th time! Traditional Blues Album of the Year was awarded to the late Muddy Waters for his CD, "The Lost Tapes of Muddy Waters". Muddy was a Rosebud artist throughout his final touring years.
Duke Robillard was named in Guitar One Magazine's (May 2000 issue) reader's poll as #2 Most Diverse Guitarist stating that "Robillard's style boasts an impressive potpourri of jazz, blues, swing and rock". Proving the point is the fact that Duke is currently nominated for three W.C. Handy Blues Awards while his current release, Conversations in Swing Guitar, is with Jazz Legend Herb Ellis.
Five Rosebud Artists Score W.C. Handy Nominations Ruth Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, Duke Robillard, Robert Cray and Luther Allison scored W.C. Handy Awards nominations in results just announced by The Blues Foundation. Duke Robillard scored three nominations including Blues Band of The Year, Blues Album of The Year for New Blues For Modern Man, and Best Blues Instrumentalist - Guitar. Ruth Brown picked up Handy nominations for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year, Soul Blues CD of the Year and her title track, A Good Day For The Blues was nominated as Blues Song Of The Year. Charlie Musselwhite picked up two handy nominations - one for Blues Instrumentalist of the Year - Guitar and for Blues CD of the Year. And Robert Cray scored a Handy nomination for Contemporary Male Blues Artist of the Year. The late Luther Allison was also honored with nominations for Blues CD of the Year and Contemporary Blues CD of the Year.
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Rosebud Artists Nominated for 10 Blues Music Awards
10 Grammy Nominations for Rosebud Artists! 
Charlie Musselwhite and Duke Robillard CDs Selected As Best Blues Albums Of 2009 (so far) By About.com:Blues
Bill Frisell, Duke Robillard and Marcia Ball NPR Features
Duke Robillard Featured On House of Blues Radio Hour, Ruthie Foster Featured On Mountain Stage, Carrie Rodriguez Repeats on Austin City Limits 
Duke Robillard Featured In Blues Revue Magazine Cover Story
Introducing Sunny And Her Joy Boys, Featuring Duke Robillard, Out March 24
Duke Robillard Featured On New Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Vol. 8 and Upcoming House of Blues Radio Hour
Duke Robillard's, 'A Swingin' Session With Duke Robillard' In Stores May 13
Tommy Castro and Duke Robillard Featured on House of Blues Radio's Top 10 CDs of 2007
Blues Music Award Nominations for Bettye LaVette, Tommy Castro, Duke Robillard, Ruthie Foster and Muddy Waters
Bettye LaVette, Duke Robillard Nominated for Canada's Maple Blues Awards
Duke Robillard's World Full Of Blues Due June 26
Duke Robillard Honored With Pell Award
Grammy Nominations and Awards for Rosebud Artists
Duke Robillard’s ‘Guitar Groove-A-Rama’ Out March 14
Bettye LaVette, Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro - Let the "Best Ofs" Begin
Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples Nominated In Canada's Maple Blues Awards
Bill Frisell and other Rosebud Artists Honored in Downbeat Critics Poll
Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl Team Up For 'The Duke Meets The Earl'
5 Rosebud Artists Honored With 12 W.C. Handy Blues Awards Nominations
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD Features JJ Cale and Robert Cray plus Duke Robillard
Rosebuds Gather For Clapton Benefit
Rosebud Artists Win Big At 25th Handy Awards
Rosebud Artists Score Multiple W.C. Handy Blues Award Nominations - Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball, Charlie Musselwhite, John Hammond and Duke Robillard All Named
Rosebud Agency Artists Score Grammy Nominations in Pop, Blues and Gospel Categories
Duke Robillard Honored With The Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" Award
Duke Robillard's "Exalted Lover" In Stores September 23
Guitar One Magazine's July 2002 Issue Featured an Interview with Duke in the Opening Axe Section
Rosebud Artists Score Big at W.C. Handy Awards
Duke Robillard Featured on Blues Foundation’s Blues Greats CD
Duke Robillard, Epiphone and Harmony-Central Offer Free Guitar and Trip to Handy Awards
W. C. Handy Awards Honor Rosebud Artists
Handy All Stars Honored Again
Duke Robillard Projects Score Handy Nominations
Duke Robillard's Non - Stop Year 2000
Duke also produced and played with his band on the just released 
Duke Robillard Interview On CDNow.com
Duke Robillard, Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin featured in The New Guitar Summit
Duke Robillard, Charlie Musselwhite and Muddy Waters Score Handy Awards