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Tommy Castro celebrates the release of his Soul Shaker (Blind Pig) CD with an appearance on the cover of Blues Revue. The CD has enjoyed an extensive run on the Billboard Blues chart and the band, as usual is touring extensively in support of the new CD.
The Robert Cray Band is already creating a significant buzz with their new Sanctuary CD, Twenty. TrueMajority.org will stream the title track to their entire membership of nearly 600,000 people on release date. The following day the band appears on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Watch for an extensive world tour beginning two days after the CD’s release with a benefit for Music In Schools Today in San Francisco.
For the 10th time in the 18 year history of Gambit Weekly's Big Easy Entertainment Awards, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet won the Best Cajun Band Category. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band also took home honors, winning Best Brass Band once again. The Big Easy Awards honor the best of what New Orleans has to offer in Music and Theater. Winners and honorees were feted in New Orleans at The Municipal Auditorium on April 18, 2005.
On May 5 in New York City, Dan Rather presented The Blind Boys of Alabama with The American Foundation for the Blind's distinguished Helen Keller Personal Achievement Award, presented to individuals and organizations that have improved the quality of life for people who are blind, visually impaired or disabled. Past recipients include Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Jose Feliciano. On May 9 in Washington D.C., Her Majesty, Queen Noor of Jordan presented the Blind Boys the First Niarchos Prize for Survivorship. The Landmine Survivors Network awards the prize to an artist whose life's work promotes resiliency and recovery. In addition to the above awards, The Blind Boys and other distinguished artists will help celebrate Jazz at Lincoln Center's annual Spring Gala at the Apollo Theater on June 6. The concert, held at the Apollo Theater, is the centerpiece of Lincoln Center's 4th Annual Spring Gala. In addition to The Blind Boys, the event features The Wynton Marsalis Septet with Lyle Lovett, Robert Downey, Jr., Wynonna Judd, and Tom Jones.
The Blues Foundation announced the recipients of the 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards last night (May 5, 2005) in Memphis and Rosebud artists Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite and Marcia Ball received a total of eight awards. Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite were the big winners of the night tying for the most awards for any artist with three awards each. Mavis won all three of her nominations, including "Blues Album of the Year" (for her acclaimed release "Have A Little Faith"), "Soul/Blues Album of the Year" and "Soul/Blues Artist, Female". A related fourth award went to the album's title track "Have A Little Faith", which picked up "Blues Song of the Year", a songwriters award for Jim Tullio and Jim Weider. Mavis' wins come on the heels of a Grammy-bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of The Staple Singers. Charlie Musselwhite took home three new awards as well to add to a Handy collection that now numbers 18. Charlie won for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" ("Sanctuary"), "Best Contemporary Male Blues Artist" and "Best Instrumentalist-Harmonica" (his 12th win in the category). Marcia Ball, "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" winner in 2004, took home the Handy for "Best Instrumentalist-Keyboards". The Handys are the highest honor in the blues world, an event often touted as the Grammys of the Blues. Thank you to the Blues Foundation, all the fans and congratulations to all the artists for another great year of keeping the blues alive.
Mavis Staples has been nominated for four Living Blues Awards including "Best Blues Album", "Blues Artist of the Year (Female)", "Most Outstanding Blues Singer" and "Best Live Performer". Mavis has been nominated in every category for which she is able to qualify and her four nominations are the most among any artist. Charlie Musselwhite has been nominated for three awards as well including "Best Blues Album", "Blues Artist of the Year (Male)" and "Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)". Nominations were taken from a polling of Living Blues critics and ballots can be found in the March/April 2005 issue of Living Blues magazine. Both Mavis and Charlie will be on tour throughout 2005 -- see tour dates >>. |
Tommy Castro On Blues Revue June / July Cover
The Robert Cray Band’s New CD, Twenty Out May 24, Late Late Show appearance, TrueMajority.org to stream “Twenty”
BeauSoleil & The Dirty Dozen Repeat At Big Easy Awards
More Blind Boys of Alabama Honors plus Jazz At Lincoln Center Feature Performance
Rosebud Artists Win Big at 2005 W.C. Handy Awards
Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite Lead Living Blues Award Nominations