The Blind Boys of Alabama Winners Again With Two 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards

The Blind Boys of Alabama have been honored with wins for each of their nominations in the 2009 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. They won Best Traditional Gospel Recorded Song for "Free At Last" and won Best Traditional Gospel Album for Down In New Orleans, marking their third win in this category since 2003. These wins follow The Blind Boys' 5th Grammy win as well as their 2009 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The 40th Annual Gospel Music Awards were held April 23, 2009 in Nashville and were broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel. The Blind Boys continue to tour the globe in 2009, please see tour dates>>

Charlie Musselwhite Honored With Blues Trail Marker

Legendary blues harp master Charlie Musselwhite will be honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker, to be unveiled in a ceremony on April 24, 2009. The Marker will be placed in Charlie's home town of Kosciusko, MS. Charlie's impressive credentials include collaborations with Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Gov't Mule, INXS, Mickey Hart, George Thorogood and a long and close personal relationship with his real-life best man at his wedding, John Lee Hooker.

Created by the Mississippi Blues Commission, the Blues Trail is composed of historical markers and interpretive sites located throughout the state. Artists honored with markers to date include fellow legends B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Willie Dixon.

Charlie will continue to tour extensively throughout the year including stops in Italy and Romania in May and Australia in the Fall. Please see tour dates>>

more at smashingpumpkins.com

Mavis Staples both opened and closed a night of music to celebrate the 25th anniversary of WTTW-TV's "Chicago Tonight" at the Harris Theater in Chicago, IL on April 17, 2009. Her second set included two songs with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. According to SmashingPumpkins.com, "Corgan accompanied Staples on a cover of "For What It's Worth" as well as the Staples Singers' classic "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." While Corgan's vocals never overpowered Staples', it was hardly a surprise, as the soul songstress' celebratory energy and booming voice overtook almost every element of her performance. Rather, Corgan danced in place and sang along to the classic selections, all the while sporting an impossible to miss grin, clearly relishing the opportunity to perform alongside a true musical legend…Corgan and Staples walked off stage, first hand in hand then arms around each other, displaying an unmistakable musical respect and affinity for each others massively disparate approaches." You can catch Mavis Staples at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this weekend or on tour throughout 2009 - see tour dates >>

Bettye LaVette Appears With Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr And More At Radio City Music Hall

Bettye LaVette scored yet another triumph in a year of great milestones for her. Bettye was chosen to perform as part of the David Lynch Foundation's Transcendental Meditation benefit at Radio City Music Hall on April 4. Bettye sang two songs with Moby - "Natural Blues" and "As Close As I'll Get To Heaven" before joining the finale where she shared the mic with Paul McCartney on "Cosmically Conscious". The all star cast also included Sheryl Crow, Donovan, Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder as well as appearances by Jerry Seinfeld and Howard Stern. All this follows on the heels of Bettye's Kennedy Center Honors performance in tribute to The Who in December and her performance with Jon Bon Jovi at President Obama's pre-inaugural celebration in January. Bettye continues a busy live performance schedule through the summer and beyond - dates here >>

Booker T. To Release Potato Hole On April 21 During Featured Run on Late Night Jimmy Fallon Show

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Booker T. will open a new chapter in his fifty year musical career with the release of his searing new album Potato Hole (4/21/09) on Anti- Records. With backing from Southern rock visionaries Drive-By Truckers and guitar contributions from Neil Young, the CD features seven new original tracks and three covers (Outkast's "Hey Ya," Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule" and Drive By Truckers' own "Space City"). The Huffington Post has premiered one of the lead tracks "Native New Yorker". Kicking off the release, Booker will be featured as a special guest of The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for three consecutive nights (April 20-22). Booker T. will tour extensively in 2009 in support of Potato Hole including performances at Coachella, New Orleans Jazzfest and Bonnaroo with much more to be announced soon - see tour dates >>

Carrie Rodriguez Live In Louisville CD Out Now

Carrie Rodriguez has just released Live In Louisville, a new CD featuring a full 12 song set from April 2007, recorded while touring with Lucinda Williams.  Two of the songs are released here for the first time: a cover of Bill Monroe's "You Won't Be Satisfied (That Way)" and the instrumental "Blackberry Blossom."  Other highlights include "Big Kiss" and a rockin' version of "50's French Movie."  Carrie says of this tour, "this was truly a life altering experience!"  The CD is available on Carrie's website carrierodriguez.com, at her shows, and if you happen to live in Texas or Kentucky, Waterloo Records in Austin, TX and Ear X-tacy in Louisville, KY. Carrie is currently touring extensively throughout the North America and Europe - please see tour dates >>