Bion's Bluesbeat - for Peter A. Cappuccilli's Interests
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Jazz and Blues. Photography. Music websites. Reading, Writing, Rockabilly and R&B.
Music
:: Las Vegas Blues Society News ::..
The next Blues Jam will be Saturday August 1st, from 5-9pm, at King Tut's II, formerly AJ's Bar. The Howlin' Hounds will host the event. The venue is located at 3650 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas 89103.
:: Bluesbeat News ::..
Rock 'n' Roll Legend Bo Diddley dies
MIAMI (Reuters) - Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley, who banged out hit songs powered by the relentless "Bo Diddley beat" that influenced rockers from Buddy Holly to U2, died on Monday, June 2, at the age of 79.
Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida, his management agency, Talent Consultants International, said in a statement.
"One of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll has left the building he helped construct," the statement said.
Diddley suffered a stroke during a concert in Iowa in May 2007 and was hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska. In August 2007 he had a heart attack in Florida.
In a career spanning more than five decades, Diddley composed a substantial body of rock classics, including "Who Do You Love," "Bo Diddley," "Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger," "Before You Accuse Me," "Mona," "I'm a Man" and "Pretty Thing."
He cranked them out on a signature rectangular guitar, setting many of them to rumba-like rhythm of his "Bo Diddley beat" that gave rock 'n' roll a powerful rhythmic foundation.
Along with such contemporaries as Chuck Berry and Little Richard, he was among a pioneering group of black recording artists who crossed the American racial divide with music that appealed to white audiences and was emulated by white performers.
Bo Diddley 1928-2008 Godfather of Blues Rock!
With a career that began at age 16, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has a storied decade in music's big-leagues. His first three albums mixed blues and blues-rock; his 1995 debut "Ledbetter Heights" has sold over a million copies, making it a platinum record. "Trouble Is" was released in 1998 selling over a million copies and Grammy nominated. "Live On" followed a year later, and also got the Grammy nod. (The latter two were produced by Jerry Harrison, who returned to produce "Ten Days Out"). On his most recent record, 2004's "The Place You're In" Shepherd took most of the album’s lead vocals for the first time. “I cut my teeth as a blues artist,” says Kenny Wayne Shepherd. “My first three records mixed my styles, and the last one, The Place You’re In, was a pretty heavy dose of rock and roll. So this became a perfect time to present a solid dose of the blues.”
With the 2007 release of the CD/DVD "Ten Days Out: Blues From The Backroads", Shepherd embarked on a ten-day trek into the heart of America. Traveling highways and byways with a roving documentary film crew, a portable recording studio, portable house band—the esteemed Double Trouble, and producer Jerry Harrison, Shepherd visited blues veterans in their homes, backyards and local clubs, creating asintimate and intense a blues film as has been seen in many a year. The resulting film allows music lovers to join in the exploration and witness the artistic creation of both the film and the accompanying live CD.
Derek Trucks is the nephew of long-time Allman Brothers' drummer Butch Trucks. Derek's musical career began at the age of nine, when he picked up a five dollar acoustic guitar at a yard sale. "It was nothing special," he claims, “It was just the only thing that looked interesting." But that seemingly inconsequential purchase changed his life. After learning what he could from his father and a family friend, Derek began playing with other musicians around town. "It happened pretty quick," Derek remembers. Within the span of a single year, he had purchased an instrument, learned how to play, and began touring - with his father acting as road manager/chaperone. What had begun as a weekend activity quickly became a life’s pursuit, and would eventually result in Derek being the youngest player to make Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.
Derek got his first paying gig at age 11 and formed his first band at age 12. Todd Smallie, who played with many jazz and blues musicians in the Atlanta area, entered the picture in 1994, when Derek was 15 years old. "We have so many stories and so much in common," says Derek, "It's been an amazing experience with him."
Blues Prodigy: A 12-year-old Derek Trucks wows the audience at the Marco Island Blues Festival in 1992. Photo Credit: Guitar Player Online Edition, March 2006.
Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings at Boulder Station Casino Thursday July 23, 2009 8:00pm-11:00pm FREE in the Railhead
Roy Rogers' new release "Split Decision" is gaining great momentum and has climbed to the #10 position on the Billboard Blues Charts, #4 on the Roots Blues Music Charts, and #12 on The Living Blues Chart. AAA and Americana Charts to be announced next week.
Here are some of the recent press raves about the new release:
“New age phenomenon Ottmar Liebert pops up on the virtuoso slide guitarist’s first studio album with his band, The Delta Rhythm Kings in seven years. Rogers opens with a raucous ‘Calm Before The Storm’, then moves through a diverse set of jazz-inflected blues tunes...” ~ USA Today
“Slide guitar whiz Roy Rogers has a strong album with "Split Decision," and it's a signature project... The album opens at a furious pace with "Calm Before the Storm," a wall-of-sound number punctuated by Rogers' stinging slide guitar. - Billboard
“Split Decision includes some of the strongest songwriting of Rogers’ career and a dazzling array of guitar tones.” ~ Offbeat
“Slide guitar ace Roy Rogers wowed a packed house in the blues tent (New Orleans Jazz Festival) with new Little Queen Bee and Calm Before the Storm (sung by son Sam),
a sizzling version of Robert Johnson's Terraplane Blues and rousing tunes with pianist Marcia Ball.” ~ USA Today
“Rogers is not only a fine musician and producer, he knows how to write then deliver each track with just as much emotion with singing as playing. This music is like the deadly venom of a rattlesnake bite, the kind that feels good, like sweet pain but it spares your life in the end and gives you the blues so you get try to dodge the bullet just one more time.” - E Jazz News
Boulder Station is located at 4111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, NV 89121.
Roy Rogers will also appear at Texas Station Casino in the South Padre room on July 24th as part of their Friday Night Blues series. Roy will play two sets beginning at 9pm. The performance is also free. Texas Station is located at 2101 Texas Star Lane (Lake Mead and Rancho) North Las Vegas, NV 89032.
March 13-14 and April 3-4, 2009
This Trout swims upstream
Blues veteran likes his music diverse, and he has no use for holier-than-thou purists
By Jerry Fink, Las Vegas Sun Thursday, January 15, 2009
Walter Trout always draws a big crowd when he visits Vegas as part of Station Casinos’ Blues Series.
He returns next week [Jan 22 @ Boulder and Jan 23 at Texas Station] and in March for free concerts at Boulder Station [March 12] and Texas Station [March 13].
Trout forged a reputation as a top blues guitarist as a sideman for John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton and Joe Tex and as part of such legendary groups as Canned Heat and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers...
He formed his own group in 1989 and has been touring and recording steadily. His latest CD, “The Outsider,” has been nominated for rock blues album of the year in the Blues Foundation’s annual awards. Winners will be announced May 7.
The 58-year-old New Jersey native spoke to the Sun recently by phone from his home in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he was resting after eight months on the road promoting the new album.
“I’m kind of at my leisure right now, starting to write some new tunes,” Trout says. “I’m a little bit burned out. I have to say for the past couple of weeks I haven’t really picked up the guitar.”
Actually, he played a fundraiser for a Southern California high school with two of his sons, ages 12 and 15. “We did ‘Rockin in a Free World’ by Neil Young, and we tore it up I have to say.” His sons, who play bass and drums, opened for Trout during his past three summer tours, and he has a 7-year-old son waiting in the wings. “They played in front of big audiences. They’re really, really good actually.”
Life itself is good, he says.
“Awesome. It’s going smoothly, but that’s always a day-by-day thing. You never know what the next 20 minutes hold in store. I live a block from the beach. We could have a quick tsunami, but right now everything is great.”
The entire Walter Trout interview can be found in the Bluesbeat Blog.
:: Young Guns of the Blues ::
A MySpace Website For Young Musicians & Fans
Future Blues Head on over to Young Blues Gunslingers and take a look at the future of blues and blues rock music. Better yet, begin right here at Bluesbeat and check out the websites of 10 young bands from around the world. Links to their sites are provided below. Then go ahead and vote for your favourite. Remember, these young musicians are the future of the blues. ~ Bion
Bion's Bluesbeat - for Peter A. Cappuccilli's Details
Status:
Single
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Hometown:
Warren, Rhode Island
Body type:
5' 10" / Slim / Slender
Ethnicity:
White / Caucasian
Zodiac Sign:
Pisces
Smoke / Drink:
No / No
Children:
Love kids, but not for me
Education:
College graduate
Occupation:
Jazz 'n' Blues lover
Bion's Bluesbeat - for Peter A. Cappuccilli's Schools
University Of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: English Literature
Minor: Education
Clubs: The Pub on campus, and other fine establishments serving alcohol.
1970 to 1973
Bion's Bluesbeat - for Peter A. Cappuccilli the man who put the "mojo" in The Mojo Hands. 1947 - 2009 Posted at 8:10 PM Jul 17 view more
Bion's Bluesbeat - for Peter A. Cappuccilli's Latest Blog Entry
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Born in Rhode Island and brought up with Duke Robillard's "Roomful of Blues," I've been both a blues and jazz aficionado since high school. In the 60's I managed The Mojo Hands, a local blues rock garage band, before joining the U.S. Army. I'm currently living in Las Vegas and am a founding member, and on the Board, of the Las Vegas Blues Society. At one time I published two weekly websites - JazzBeat Nevada and BluesBeat Nevada. Currently my new blues project (b. May 31, 2008) is Young Guns of Blues (aka Young Blues Gunslingers) at www.myspace.com/bluesyoungguns
Not Fade Away – In appreciation of Peter Cappuccilli (1947 – 2009) By Dennis A. Blackledge
A decade later it could have easily been used to introduce Warren resident Peter Cappuccilli and the incendiary Mojo Hands.
By 1964, rock ’n roll had become passé, when it implausibly reignited as the musical Brits suddenly stormed ashore. Every community across America staged a counter-offensive, sending forth their own teen music ensemble.
Our East Bay saw several regional stars, but none brighter than Peter Cappuccilli, the bomb grade plutonium that made the Mojo Hands explosive. For three years Peter led southern New England Baby Boomers in pursuit of the American rock ’n roll dream.
Forty years later, I bear witness as part of that audience.
Like us, the band came from working class homes, in working class neighborhoods and towns. We followed the Mojo Hands with the fervor of die-hard Red Sox fans.
We liked rock ’n roll because it was fun, a little bit crazy; okay, sometimes a lot crazy, but mostly because it belonged to us, and Peter was the epicenter of our rock ’n roll fantasy. When the Mojos succeeded, we succeeded; on good nights we thought anything was possible, the doors were wide open.
Peter was a one of a kind performer, mature beyond his years. A solid singer, as a young teen he sang with R&B notables Benny Woods and his Superiors; the only white face in the ensemble. There he developed into an athletic dancer and a dynamic showman.
Peter and a group of East Bay friends formed the Mojo Hands in 1964, playing blues in overdrive on primitive equipment. The Mojos were conduits of electricity, closing the circuit between amplifier and audience, delivering music that was direct and honest.
Their concerts were akin to driving a powerful car without brakes, often ending in a smoldering wreck. We cheered, held our breath, hoping to see Peter emerge from the smoking ruins. We were addicted to the adrenaline rush.
The Mojo Hands’ accomplishments were many, too numerous to list. They nearly grabbed the brass ring, a break here or there — who knows? But our saga ended in 1967 short of the goal line for reasons all too common in rock ’n roll at the time: too little professional guidance, the intrusion of the Vietnam era draft, and the brash youthful behavior of the band and its audience.
But let there be no doubt, Peter Cappuccilli and the Mojo Hands defined rock ’n roll for East Bay Boomers.
Post Mojo, Peter went on to have many successes outside of music. Although kidney disease and other medical issues got in his road, it never fully stopped him. He went on to graduate from Rhode Island College with a degree in Psychology (1992) and later earned a master’s from RIC in Elementary Education (1998); a year later, he represented the United States in Fencing at the World Transplant Games in Budapest, bringing home both a bronze and silver medal; and in 1998 he was the subject of a book by this author — “We Gotta Go Now” (Windholme Press).
Peter never gave up music completely. He worked hard to become a good piano player, recorded a number of demos, and worked in a wide variety of styles. He often helped younger musicians, offering guidance, history and the occasional kick in the pants.
Pete made numerous special guest appearances for charity and was often asked to sit in. His biggest post-’60s musical success came in 1987, with the much acclaimed reunion of the Mojo Hands for the benefit the Rhode Island Kidney Foundation.
To this day, Peter Cappuccilli remains the yardstick I use when taking the measure of rock ’n roll front men. Recently I developed and produced a radio program called “Rock & Roll Heaven – the Unsung Heroes.” Pete now takes his rightful place front and center with the house band.
In paraphrase of Jimmy Vaughn: ‘We’ve been waitin’ on you brother – welcome to the band. Heaven done called another blues singer back home.’
Dennis A. Blackledge is the director of production for the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Washington, D.C., and was raised in Warren.
Photo by Holly Blaclledge. This article appeared in EastBayRI, 03/03/09.
Who I'd like to meet: I've meet Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Little Milton and other great bluesmen. Now I'd like to meet Jimi Hendrix. But I'm in no hurry. You dig?
PEACE & MANY BLESSINS' ON YOUR PATH R.J. !! THANKS FOR KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE!! MAY THERE BE FEW STONES IN YOUR PASSWAY MY FRIEND!! HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE ROAD..TILL THEN.. KEEP MAKING IT DO WHAT IT DO... ~ RR
"DEVIL OFFERED A GOLD DOBRO~I SAID NO,I BE A HOBO!!" ~ RiYeN RoOtS
As I see, You are really great lover of the blues. Blues was a first music style, what catch me for My heart. And I think, that in my songs is still in the ground. Even if it not clear blues now, are that songs. You are activ musician, or only fan of the style? Cheers from gray middle Europe. Marek
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
Derek Trucks is the nephew of long-time Allman Brothers' drummer Butch Trucks. Derek's musical career began at the age of nine, when he picked up a five dollar acoustic guitar at a yard sale. "It was nothing special," he claims, “It was just the only thing that looked interesting." But that seemingly inconsequential purchase changed his life. After learning what he could from his father and a family friend, Derek began playing with other musicians around town. "It happened pretty quick," Derek remembers. Within the span of a single year, he had purchased an instrument, learned how to play, and began touring - with his father acting as road manager/chaperone. What had begun as a weekend activity quickly became a life’s pursuit, and would eventually result in Derek being the youngest player to make Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. 
Roy Rogers' new release "Split Decision" is gaining great momentum and has climbed to the #10 position on the Billboard Blues Charts, #4 on the Roots Blues Music Charts, and #12 on The Living Blues Chart. AAA and Americana Charts to be announced next week.
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