DECEMBER 2013: Charlie Musselwhite & James Cotton Tied For This Year's Top Blues Music Awards Nominees - Marcia Ball Also Nominated
With 5 nominations each, James Cotton and Charlie Musselwhite tied with Lurrie Bell for the most 35th Annual Blues Music Awards nominations of any artist this year. James Cotton's 2014 Grammy-nominated album, Cotton Mouth Man, garnered 3 separate nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for "He Was There"), and Traditional Blues Album of the Year. The album features James' high profile friends and mutual admirers including Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Rosebud artist and 2013 Grammy-nominee Ruthie Foster, Joe Bonamassa, Delbert McClinton and Keb' Mo'. James was also nominated in the Harmonica and Traditional Blues Male Artist categories this year.
Charlie was nominated twice for Album of the Year for his two 2014 Grammy-nominated collaborations: Get Up! with Ben Harper and Remembering Little Walter with Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia, and James Harman. Charlie was also nominated in the Harmonica category, Traditional Blues Album of the Year (for Remembering Little Walter), and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year (for Get Up!).
Marcia Ball was also nominated for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. Marcia has won the award 5 times before and has been nominated for the award 15 times previously. Overall, Rosebud artists were honored with 11 BMA nominations for this year's awards. The 35th Annual Blues Music Awards will be presented at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, May 8, 2014. For more info and a complete list of nominees, please see here.
To Catch Marcia Ball, Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton Live, See Tour Dates >>
NOVEMBER 2013: Rosebud Artists Place High In DownBeat Readers Poll, Trombone Shorty Wins Best Trombonist, Bill Frisell #2 Best Guitarist
Ten Rosebud artists were ranked among the best musicians in the 78th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll (December 2013 Issue). Trombone Shorty won the Trombone category outright for the second year in a row, and he and his band, Orleans Avenue, placed in the top artists ranked for the Jazz Group category. Bill Frisell came in second in the Guitarist category (he won the category overall in the recent Downbeat critics poll for the fifth consecutive year and twelfth time in the past sixteen years!) and placed high in three additional categories: Jazz Artist, Composer, and Jazz Album of the Year (for Big Sur). Also scoring high in a variety of categories this year were some of Bill's recent collaborators including John Zorn, Gary Peacock, Kenny Wollesen, Brian Blade, Joey Baron, Eyvind Kang, Jenny Scheinman, Jason Moran, Charles Lloyd and Lee Konitz.
Multiple Rosebud artists took prominent spots in the Blues Artist or Group category, with Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball and Duke Robillard as top contenders this year. Charlie also ranked in the top ten in the Blues Album category for Get Up!, his recent collaboration with Ben Harper. Also scoring in the Blues Album category was Jon Cleary for his album, Occapella, a collection of songs written by Rosebud artist Allen Toussaint. Toussaint himself was named in the Best Arranger category for the fourth consecutive year.
Meshell Ndegeocello was ranked in the Beyond Artist or Group category for the second year in a row as well as in the Electric Bass category, along with Robert Glasper Experiment bassist, Derrick Hodge, who Meshell appeared with on Glasper's album, Black Radio (2012).
Muddy Waters, a Rosebud artist until his passing, was ranked twice among the readers' top choices in the Historical Album of the Year category for his own album, You Shook Me: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3, 1958 To 1963, and for his collaboration with The Rolling Stones, Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981, which also features Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who Rosebud represents for his rare jazz performances.
Congratulations to all the artists. To Catch Them Perform Live On Stage, See Tour Dates >>
OCTOBER 2013: Marcia Ball In Holiday Motion Picture, Angels Sing, Starring Harry Connick Jr., Willie Nelson And Connie Britton
Marcia Ball will be featured in the holiday movie, Angels Sing, starring Harry Connick Jr., Willie Nelson and Connie Britton. The film, in which Marcia plays "Great Aunt Jocelyn", is set for release in select theaters and On Demand on November 1, 2013. The film also features Grammy-winning artists Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett. For a list of theaters screening the movie click here.
AUGUST 2013: Rosebud Artists Ruthie Foster, Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball And Muddy Waters Score Wins In The 2013 Living Blues Awards
Rosebud artist Ruthie Foster has been named Blues Artist of the Year (Female) in the 20th Annual Living Blues Awards Critics' Poll. This is the second time Ruthie has won this category. Meanwhile, Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite have again been voted as winners in the 2013 Living Blues Reader's Poll. Marcia has been named Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) - for the third year in a row and for the fifth time overall since 2007. Charlie Musselwhite also continues to add to his wins in the Reader's Poll by being voted the Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) - his 8th win in this category since 2004. He has also won this category twice before in the Living Blues Critics Poll. Muddy Waters (a Rosebud artist until his passing) and The Rolling Stones (whose drummer, Charlie Watts, is represented by Rosebud for his special Jazz projects) also received a nod for their live DVD, Live at Checkerboard Lounge, winning the Reader's Poll Best Blues DVD of 2012 category.
Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite were each nominated for awards for Blues Artist of the Year and Most Outstanding Musician (for their respective instruments). Marcia has won both of these categories three times since 2009 with additional wins for Most Outstanding Musician in 2007 and 2008, and Charlie has won the Most Outstanding Musician category a total of nine times.
Also nominated for Most Outstanding Musician this year were Jon Cleary, Duke Robillard, and James Cotton for keyboard, guitar, and harmonica, respectively, while Mavis Staples was nominated for Most Outstanding Blues Singer.
Ruthie Foster scored two nominations for Blues Artist of the Year (her third year in a row) and for Best Blues Album of 2012 for her 2013 Grammy-nominated album, Let It Burn. Bettye LaVette garnered a nomination in the Best Blues Book of 2012 category for her tell-all, unapologetic biography with David Ritz, A Woman Like Me.
Elvin Bishop was nominated for Best Blues DVD of 2012 for That's My Thing, and Muddy Waters, a Rosebud artist until his passing, was nominated in the same category for his collaboration with The Rolling Stones, Live at the Checkerboard Lounge 1981. Live at the Checkerboard Lounge 1981 also features Stones drummer Charlie Watts who Rosebud represents for his rare jazz performances.
Voting is now open to the public until July 15, 2013. Please vote at livingblues.com.
MAY 2013: Marcia Ball, Ben Harper And Charlie Musselwhite, And Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue To Be Featured On AXS TV's Live Coverage Of 2013 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Marcia Ball's performance, Charlie Musselwhite's performance with Ben Harper and Trombone Shorty's prestigious closing set at the 2013 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be broadcast on AXS TV. AXS TV's live coverage will begin May 3, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. EDT with programming continuing through May 5. This is the first ever live TV broadcast of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and it will also feature other major artists including Billy Joel, John Mayer, Willie Nelson & Family, Widespread Panic, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Phoenix, Gary Clark Jr., Cowboy Mouth and Galactic. The live coverage will also feature on-the-scene and backstage reports from around the festival with Savannah Jane Buffett, daughter of Jimmy Buffet, reporting. More info on broadcast times for each performance will be posted at axs.tv/jazzfest. To find an AXS TV channel on your TV provider please visit axs.tv/subscribe.
An audio stream of AXS TV's live coverage will be available on TuneIn, an online radio network. TuneIn's broadcast will also be from May 3 and continue through May 5, and it can be found on it's New Orleans Jazz Fest Radio Station. TuneIn's New Orleans Jazz Fest Radio Station is currently playing a mix of music from artists performing at this year's Jazz Fest.
To Catch Marcia Ball, Charlie Musselwhite, and Trombone Shorty Live, See Tour Dates >>
APRIL 2013: Marcia Ball, Loudon Wainwright III, And Jim Lauderdale Featured On NPR
Marcia Ball's recent taping of NPR's eTown, along with Paul Thorn, aired April 3 - 9 , 2013. This performance, which marks Marcia's third appearance on eTown, was recorded live in front of a theater audience at eTown's new solar-powered music facility, eTown Hall, in Boulder, CO. The full audio broadcast as well as three additional videos featuring Marcia, taken from the performance/interview are available at etown.org.
Jim Lauderdale's Mountain Stage performance with Buddy Miller will be broadcast beginning April 19, 2013 (check local listings for details). For more information on Loudon's and Jim's Mountain Stage performances and to view a full schedule of upcoming Mountain Stage broadcasts, please visit mountainstage.org.
Jim and Buddy were also featured on NPR's World Café Live! on April 11, 2013. The World Café Live! interview discussed the collaborators' work over the years starting from their meeting in 1980 to their most recent CD, Buddy and Jim. The interview is available at npr.org. Jim and Buddy, who The New York Times called "longtime pals and longtime pros, songwriters who have collaborated far and wide in the realm of handmade, twangy, tradition-conscious country and roots-rock" will be performing together on select dates this spring/summer.
To Catch Loudon Wainwright III, Marcia Ball And Jim Lauderdale Live, See Tour Dates >>
FEBRUARY 2013: Rosebud Artists On House of Blues and NPR Radio - Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Tommy Castro and Charlie Musselwhite
Tommy Castro's Greedy was featured on The BluesMobile, on December 29 - 30, 2012. "Greedy" was selected by show host, Elwood Blues, as Elwood's "Blues Breaker" or favorite new song of the week. This is at least the third time Tommy's music has been featured on The BluesMobile.
Another recent Blues Mobile "Bluesbreaker" was Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper's "I Don't Believe a Word You Say" from their recently released collaboration, Get Up! segment from the January 12 - 13, 2013 broadcast.
Ben and Charlie were again featured on The BluesMobile on February 9 - 10, 2013 as Elwood Blues' special guests. On the show they were interviewed on the unique nature of their collaboration which first began when they both recorded with the legendary John Lee Hooker (a Rosebud artist until his passing). Elwood Blues exclusively played music featuring Charlie and/or Ben throughout the show including multiple tracks from Get Up!.
Get Up!, also featured in The BluesMobile's Blues Of The Month Club, can be streamed in its entirety at getup.benharper.com.
2013 GRAMMY-nominated Ruthie Foster was also featured as Elwood Blues' special guest on The BluesMobile on February 2 - 3, 2013. On the show, Elwood showcased Ruthie's songs as well as music by winners of the Koko Taylor Award (The Blues Music Awards' Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year) which Ruthie has won several times in the past. Among the topics Elwood interviewed Ruthie about was her magic recording moment with Stax Records legend William Bell and her transition from singing Gospel to Blues.
On January 22, 2013 Ruthie digitally released Keep It Burning, an EP featuring two previously unheard takes from the Let It Burn sessions as well as live versions of "Welcome Home" and "Aim For The Heart" recorded at the 2012 Notodden Blues Festival in Norway. "Don't Get Too Comfortable", written and sung by Ruthie and Stax Records legend William Bell, and a funky New Orleans studio version of the Foster-penned "Truth!" are also included on the new EP.
Also coming up on radio is Marcia Ball's performance on NPR's eTown with Paul Thorn, which was taped on January 20, 2013. The show's air dates are not yet finalized, but it will be available for listening on NPR/public, commercial, and community stations. Click here for more info and to find a station near you. This performance marks Marcia's third appearance on eTown which was recorded live in front of a theater audience at eTown's new solar-powered music facility, eTown Hall, in Boulder, CO. Typically the performance is interspersed with informal interviews with show co-host Nick Forster that explore the artist's roots and influences as well as his/her interests in social and environmental causes. A known supporter of environmental activism, Marcia has participated in events that support conservation efforts in the Gulf Coast.
To Catch Marcia Ball, Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro, And Ruthie Foster Live, See Tour Dates >>
JANUARY 2013: Carrie Rodriguez, Ruthie Foster And Marcia Ball To Be Featured At Texas State Society's Presidential Inauguration Ball
Rosebud artists and Texas musical ambassadors Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster and Carrie Rodriguez are set to perform at the Texas State Society of Washington D.C.'s Presidential Inauguration Ball on January 19, 2013. Also known as The Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball, this bipartisan event in honor of President Obama will feature six stages with some twenty performers from the Lone Star State. In addition to Ruthie, Carrie and Marcia, the cast of Texas musicians performing includes Tracy Byrd, Jack Ingram, Asleep at the Wheel and more. The event will be held on the banks of the Potomac River at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and will feature Texan delicacies and a "Texas Fair". For more information and tickets to the ball, please visit blacktieandbootsball.com.
To Catch Ruthie Foster, Carrie Rodriguez And Marcia Ball Perform Live, See Tour Dates >>
NOVEMBER 2012: Marcia Ball and Ruthie Foster Featured in Austin Live Video
Rosebud artists and Austin, Texas mainstays Marcia Ball and Ruthie Foster are featured in Austin Live: Tick Tock, a brand new video short promoting the City of Austin. In the video, Marcia and Ruthie are featured among many of the city's best musicians from a variety of music genres promoting Austin's thriving music scene. Introduced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, the video features Ruthie and Marcia singing segments of Blues legend Jimmie Vaughan's song, "Tick Tock". This unique collaboration, was filmed on the streets of Austin and, in addition to all the artists involved, also features shots of some of Austin's best known venues as well as a statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan who had performed the song on the record, Family Style, with Jimmie.
OCTOBER 2012: Marcia Ball Featured on HBO's Hit Series, Treme
Marcia Ball made her debut performance on HBO's hit series, Treme, this week (Episode 25 "The Greatest Love", which aired initially on October 14, 2012). Marcia and her band played "Where Do You Go" with Treme lead actress, Lucia Micarelli guesting. The song was written by Marcia and long time friend and collaborator, Tracy Nelson. Marcia and her band followed with Marcia's song, "That's Enough of That Stuff". The show was filmed at New Orleans' Southport Hall.
JULY 2012: Rosebud Artists Marcia Ball and Mavis Staples Are Winners In The 2012 Living Blues Awards
Rosebud artists Marcia Ball and Mavis Staples have been named as winners in Living Blues magazine's 2012 Readers' Poll (issue #220). Marcia won all three of the categories she was nominated for, including Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) - her fourth win in this category since 2007. This year also sees Marcia named Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and also as the winner for Best Blues Album of 2011 (New Release) for her CD, Roadside Attractions. Mavis Staples was named Most Outstanding Blues Singer. She won this same category in last year's Living Blues Critics' Poll.
Congratulations to Marcia and Mavis! To catch either artist performing live, see Tour Dates >>
JULY 2012: Dr. John and Bill Frisell Are Winners In DownBeat Critics Poll! Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty Also Named Among The Best
DownBeat Magazine's 60th Annual Critic's Poll (August 2012 issue) heralds wins for Dr. John in the Best Blues Artist or Group category while Bill Frisell wins Guitarist of the Year, scoring his fourth win in a row since 2009 and his 11th win in the past 15 years! Bill also ranked near the top in the Best Jazz Artist and Best Composer categories as well as for Jazz Album of the Year for his All We Are Saying CD. Dr. John also ranked in the top five for Beyond Artist or Group. Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty.
Trombone Shorty joined Frisell in the Jazz Album of the Year category for his CD For True. In fact, Trombone Shorty scored high in seven categories including Best Trombone Player (ranking third), Rising Star Jazz Artist (also 3rd), Rising Star Jazz Group, Rising Star Trombone, Beyond Artist or Group, and Beyond Album. Also, appearing in the latter two categories is fellow Rosebud artist Meshell Ndegeocello.
Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Allen Toussaint for Best Arranger (second place), Bettye LaVette - Best Blues Artist or Group (top 5 ranking), and Marcia Ball - Best Blues Album category for Roadside Attractions.
Frisell's long-time collaborator, the late Paul Motian, was also inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. Frisell worked with the legendary jazz drummer for three decades. Some of Bill Frisell's other frequent and current collaborators were named in the following categories - Ron Carter (Bass category), Jenny Scheinman (Best Violinist and Rising Star - Violin categories as well as Jazz Album of The Year), and Joey Baron - Best Drummer category. Bill's Manager and Producer as well as collaborator on 2012's Floratone II CD, Lee Townsend, was also named among the best in both Producer and Rising Star-Producer categories.
Congratulations to all the artists. Catch all the Rosebud artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
JUNE 2012: Rosebud Artists Nominated for 7 Living Blues Awards: Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Mavis Staples and Duke Robillard All Up For Nominations - Cast Your Vote
Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, Mavis Staples and Duke Robillard all earned Nominations in the 2012 Living Blues Awards, with Ruthie Foster scoring two and Marcia Ball racking up an impressive three nominations - more than any other nominee this year.
Marcia Ball was nominated for Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard), both being categories she won last year. She won the former category in 2009 as well. This year Marcia is also nominated for Best Blues Album of 2011 for her CD, Roadside Attractions.
Ruthie Foster was also nominated for Blues Artist of the Year (Female) for the second year in a row - this being a category she won in the Critic's Poll in 2010. This year she also brought in a nomination for Best Blues DVD of 2011 with Ruthie Foster - Live At Antone's.
Mavis Staples is also acknowledged as a nominee for Most Outstanding Blues Singer, a category she won in the 2011 Critic's Poll in which she also won as Blues Artist of the Year.
Duke Robillard earns a nomination for Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar), a category he has won 4 times in the Blues Music Awards (of an impressive 14 nominations).
You can vote at livingblues.com for your choices, as well as write-in candidates. All ballots must be received by July 10, 2012. Congratulations to all the nominees!
Check out these artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
MAY 2012: Allen Toussaint, Ruthie Foster, Charlie Musselwhite and Marcia Ball Honored with Blues Music Awards
Ruthie Foster won the Koko Taylor Award for Traditional Blues Female of the Year, an honor awarded to her in 2011. In addition, Ruthie's Live at Antone's captured the DVD of the Year. Marcia Ball was honored with the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award making this her 5th win of her 14 previous Blues Music Award nominations in this category.
Formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards, the BMAs were staged at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN, by the Memphis-based Blues Foundation. The annual event brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year.
MAY 2012: Marcia Ball Inducted Into Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
On April 22, 2012 five-time Grammy nominee Marcia Ball became the most recent inductee into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Executive Director Mike Shepherd presented Marcia with her plaque and commemorative pin before her headline performance at the Baton Rouge Earth Day Festival. Upon graciously receiving her award, Marcia shared insight to her connection with Baton Rouge, "It is my home - where I started playing music, this is where my parents met. It's where I went to college. It's where my life changed, where I had the opportunity to become the person I am and to pursue the thing I love to do the most because of the way Baton Rouge is and the way you are."
In 2010, the State of Louisiana declared that The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is "the official honors and recognition organization, and information resource, for and about Louisiana's music, musicians and musical heritage." Since it's inception in 1979, The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame has recognized native, in-residence, and contributing artists in musical genres with deep Louisiana roots - Jazz, Blues, Dixieland, Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly, Rock 'n' Roll, and Zydeco. Marcia Ball now shares the honor with the likes of Dr. John (Mac Rebbenack), Allen Toussaint, Mahalia Jackson, BeauSoleil, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Little Richard and Ernie K-Doe.
Marcia performed at home during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Jazz Fest, and Wednesday At The Square. Catch Marcia on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>
JANUARY 2012: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2011 Pazz & Jop Poll
Albums and singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the 2011 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Music Critics Poll, which calculated 700 critics' votes for their Top 10 albums and singles of the year.
Also recognized on the list:
• Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings album which features Bill Frisell as well as a single from the album, "Meds"
• Ben Waters, Boogie 4 Stu: A Tribute to Ian Stewart, which features Rosebud Artist Charlie Watts
• Tom Waits' Bad As Me album, which features Charlie Musselwhite, as well as all five singles from the album that Charlie guests on ("Satisfied," "Bad As Me," "Hell Broke Luce," "Chicago" and "Raised Right Man")
• Steve Cropper's Dedicated: A Salute to the 5 Royales, which features Bettye LaVette
Congratulations to all the artists! Check them out live on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>
