Related nominations include Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues (featuring Rosebud's Charlie Musselwhite and Allen Toussaint) for Best Traditional Blues Album as well as Treme, Music from the HBO Original Series, featuring Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media AND "Down In New Orleans" (From The Princess And The Frog) for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (features Trombone Shorty playing with Dr. John on the song).

Congratulations and good luck to all.

NOVEMBER 2010: Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples Both Nominated for Maple Blues Award

Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples have both been nominated as B.B. King International Artist of the Year in the 14th Annual Maple Blues Awards, presented by The Toronto Blues Society. Duke was previously honored with this award three years in a row (2001-2003) - this in addition to six previous nominations. Mavis has been nominated twice before. Both Duke and Mavis were last nominated together in 2005. The Maple Blues Awards is Canada's national blues awards event with a goal of promoting blues music across Canada. Voting is open online at mapleblues.ca, until Saturday, December 11 at midnight (PST), to anyone in Canada with a valid email address. The winners will be announced at the Annual Maple Blues Awards Gala in Toronto on January 17, 2011.

Catch both Duke and Mavis live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

OCTOBER 2010: Mavis Staples Featured At Jon Stewart / Stephen Colbert DC Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear

Mavis Staples lead the grand finale of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear in Washington, DC on October 30. Mavis and Wilco's, Jeff Tweedy, performed earlier in the show singing the title track of Mavis' new CD, You Are Not Alone. Tweedy produced the record which has become the most successful recording of Mavis' entire solo career. For the grand finale of the day's events, Mavis lead all the participants, including Jeff Tweedy, The Roots, Colbert, Stewart, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens), Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Father Guido Sarducci and Tony Bennett in a rousing version of "I'll Take You There", the Staples Singers hit. The huge audience, estimated at 250,000 people (slightly less than Stephen Colbert's earlier estimate of 6 billion), filled the National Mall to overflowing. Catch Mavis Staples on  tour now...

SEPTEMBER 2010: Mavis Staples Coming Up On The Tonight Show, Letterman and The Colbert Report - Lollapalooza Raves

Mavis Staples will be featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on September 7, The Late Show with David Letterman on October 5, and The Colbert Report on October 6. Joining her for Letterman and The Colbert Report performances will be Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, who produced Mavis' new album You Are Not Alone. The new CD (out September 14) has already garnered universal acclaim and, according to Mojo magazine, is "a definite contender for 2010 album of the year."  Mavis also made a significant impact with her Lollapalooza set on August 6. Rolling Stone raved that "Mavis Staples lit a fire under the sleepy crowd". The set included several songs from her new album and, for the title track,  Mavis was joined onstage by Jeff Tweedy on acoustic guitar. According to Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, "It was supposed to be Lady Gaga's night...But Gaga hasn't got anything on Mavis Staples, who threw down in her set with an urgency and passion." Catch Mavis live on stage this Fall, please see Tour Dates >>

Mavis Staples' new song "You Are Not Alone," the title track from her forthcoming album, has premiered on Pitchfork. Listen to it here. Mavis says she “shed some tears singing" the song, which was written by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco who also produced the album. Pitchfork praises the song's "lived-in, old-soul glory." The album will be released September 14 on Anti Records. Mavis will be performing at several festivals over the Summer, including Lollapalooza and the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival with extensive international touring to follow the release of the CD. Please see Tour Dates >>

JUNE 2010: Mavis Staples, You Are Not Alone Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy September 14, 2010

Mavis Staples will release her new album, You Are Not Alone (Anti Records), September 14, 2010. The project was produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy at the band's studio, The Loft. Tweedy also wrote two new songs for the album, arranged a third and contributes guest guitar, bass, and vocals. The disc also features traditional gospel numbers and interpretations of songs by her father (and Rosebud artist until his passing), the late Pops Staples, fellow Rosebud artist Allen Toussaint, Randy Newman, John Fogerty, Rev. Gary Davis and Little Milton.

A Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Mavis will be performing at several festivals over the Summer, including Lollapalooza and the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival with extensive touring to follow the release of the CD. Please see Tour Dates >>

APRIL 2010: Mavis Staples and Booker T. Join Earth Day Climate Rally on The National Mall in Washington, DC

Mavis Staples and Booker T. will be performing at The Climate Rally, taking place on The National Mall in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 25, 2010, in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Other featured artists include Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Bob Weir, Q-Tip and more.  Other notable figures attending include Reverend Jesse Jackson, James Cameron, Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong, and author Margaret Atwood.  The event calls on Congress to pass an effective and equitable climate and clean energy bill in 2010.  It will include speeches, live music and eco-village exhibits, capping off nine days of service projects, advocacy events, performance arts and exhibits organized by Earth Day Network.

Mavis and Booker have recently been Co-headlining a historic touring package entitled What It Is! featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. & JJ Grey.  Mavis will be playing The Kennedy Center  2 days prior to the National Mall event, on April 23.  She will be performing at multiple festivals over the Summer.  Booker has upcoming Spring shows in Brazil, England and Ireland as well as dates in the U.S.  Watch for new music from Booker and Mavis later this year and catch them both on tour in the meantime, please see Mavis Staples tour dates and Booker T's tour dates.

JANUARY 2010: Grammys for Booker T. and Loudon Wainwright III, Performances by Jim Lauderdale and Trombone Shorty plus Booker T. for Neil Young Musicares Tribute

Congrats to GRAMMY Winners, Booker T. (for Potato Hole - Best Pop Instrumental Album) and Loudon Wainwright III (for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project - Best Traditional Folk Album). And to Mavis Staples for her duet with Patty Griffin on Oh Happy Day (Winner - Best Traditional Gospel Album) and Trombone Shorty for his appearance on Buckwheat Zydeco's GRAMMY winner (Lay Your Burden Down - Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album).

Jim Lauderdale performed during the pre-telecast awards in an all star bluegrass band while Trombone Shorty played to the full GRAMMY audience as part of a New Orleans tribute just before the broadcast.

Friday night before the awards, to celebrate Neil Young as MusiCares Person of the Year and with proceeds going to musicians in need, Booker T. joined Keith Urban and John Fogerty for a rousing rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World". (read more at rollingstone.com)

Congratulations to all the winners! Check out these artists live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

FEBRUARY 2010: John Hammond, Mavis Staples and Tommy Castro Named Among The Decade's Best In Blues Revue Critics Poll

Albums by John Hammond (Wicked Grin), Mavis Staples (We'll Never Turn Back) and Tommy Castro (Painkiller) were named in The Decade's Best Blues - 25 Great Albums That Defined the Past 10 Years: A Critics Poll, published in the February/March 2010 issue of Blues Revue Magazine.

Of the albums, contributor Hal Horowitz writes:

"Hammond's talk/sung drawl perfectly captured the musky Delta swamp lurking beneath [the songs]."

"...some of [Mavis'] most emotionally fervent work... A legendary singer, flawless material, and superlative production [by Ry Cooder] combined to yield a masterpiece..."

"...the tracks soar; Castro sounded consistently inspired... It's a nonstop party and arguably Castro's finest, most focused set."

Both Mavis Staples and John Hammond were honored with 2010 GRAMMY nominations in the Blues category. Tommy Castro has received four nominations in the upcoming 31st Blues Music Awards taking place in May 2010.

Congratulations to all. Catch these artists live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Rosebud Artists Score Year and Decade End Honors ... read more >>

DECEMBER 2009: Bill Frisell, Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint CDs Recognized Among Best of the 2000's by Downbeat Magazine - Frisell #2 Jazz CD of the Decade Per London Times

CDs by Bill Frisell, Mavis Staples and Allen Toussaint have been recognized among Downbeat Magazine's Best of the 2000's, published in their January 2010 issue. Bill Frisell has four CDs on the list: Ghost Town (2000), Blues Dream (2001), East/West (2005) and History, Mystery (2008). Also honored are Have A Little Faith (2005) by Mavis Staples and Allen Toussaint's GRAMMY nominated The Bright Mississippi (2009). The list also names two historical releases featuring future Rosebud artists: Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967 DVD featuring Booker T. & the MGs and Newport Folk Festival: Best of the Blues 1959-1968 Box Set, which features performances by Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, who were both Rosebud artists until their passing.

Bill Frisell's East/West was honored with similar praise from the London Times, where was rated #2 on their "Best Jazz Albums of the Noughties" list.

Catch Bill, Mavis and Allen live on stage, please see    Bill Frisell Tour Dates >>    Mavis Staples Tour Dates >>    Allen Toussaint Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2009: 10 Grammy Nominations for Rosebud Artists!

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 Allen Toussaint for The Bright Mississippi (Best Jazz Instrumental Album); Booker T. for both Potato Hole (Best Pop Instrumental Album) and a track from that album, "Warped Sister" (Best Rock Instrumental Performance); Jim Lauderdale for Could We Get Any Closer? (Best Bluegrass Album); John Hammond's Rough & Tough and Duke Robillard's Stomp! The Blues Tonight are both nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album; Ruthie Foster's The Truth According To Ruthie Foster and Mavis Staples' Live: Hope At The Hideout are both nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album; Loudon Wainwright III for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (Best Traditional Folk Album); Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet for Alligator Purse (Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album).

Other CDs honored with nominations include the collection Oh Happy Day, nominated for Best Traditional Gospel Album which features a song by Mavis Staples with Patty Griffin. True Blood, nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, features a song by Allen Toussaint. Buckwheat Zydeco's Lay Your Burden Down features a guest appearance by Rosebud artist, Trombone Shorty. Ann Savoy of The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band is also a member of The Magnolia Sisters whose Stripped Down CD was nominated. And Elvis Costello's Secret, Profane & Sugarcane features Rosebud artist, Jim Lauderdale. Jim also co-wrote the title track to George Strait's Twang.

In other Grammy related news, Grammy nominated CDs, Cadillac Records - Music From the Motion Picture and Little Walter - The Complete Chess Masters also include songs written and made famous respectively by former Rosebud artists, the late Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters.

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!

MAY 2009: Rosebud Artists Everywhere At New Orleans Jazz Fest

Rosebud Artists could be found performing in a wide variety of formats during the 40th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 24 - May 3).

Mavis Staples also showcased the breadth of her talent with three separate shows for the festival beginning with a moving tribute to Mahalia Jackson on the first day of the festival. This was followed two days later with her own SRO performance at the Gospel Tent and the next morning with a Gospel workshop for the community at Tulane University..(read full story)

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.

Rosebud Artists, Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staple Singers and the late John Lee Hooker are featured in the recently released 3 CD set Let Freedom Sing! The Music of the Civil Rights Movement. Highlights include the songs "Free At Last" by The Blind Boys of Alabama, "Down In Mississippi" by Mavis Staples, "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)?" by The Staples Singers and "The Motor City Is Burning" by the late John Lee Hooker. The collection documents music important to the civil rights movement, released from 1939 up through today. "You get the heart, the soul, the sentiment and the struggle of a people," says Public Enemy's Chuck D, a consultant on the project, who also wrote the introduction for the liner notes. A companion documentary DVD originally broadcast on PBS will be released June 2, 2009.

Please check the song tracks and video clips at: letfreedomsing.us and imeem.com/letfreedomsing

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