It's coming upon the close of the month and time for a new Young Gun VIP. While I have already chosen the band for July, I'd like to ask your input in chosing the artist for August. I've selected ten bands from around the world and you may vote for your favorite. Links to their websites are provided. Let's see how this goes. Thanks for your participation. ~ Bion
Disclaimer: Young Blues Gunslingers is not a band's website. Its purpose is for internationally networking young blues musicians/bands and fans. The start up music you hear, then, is a "featured" band. I will try to change this every month. Comments are welcomed but it would be nice to mention the featured band's name. Better yet would be to message the band directly.
This month's Young Gun VIP is Dani Wilde from Brighton in the United Kingdom. She is the sister of last featured artist, Will "Harmaonica" Wilde. In September 2007, she signed a record deal with Top International Blues Label Ruf Records. Her debut disc, Heal My Blues, was released in February 2008. Dani is currently on The Blues Caravan Tour, with fellow Ruf artists Candye Kane and Deborah Coleman, performing throughout Europe.
Go to myspace.com/daniwildemusic to learn more about this young artist. Keep on bluesin' ~ R.J. Bianchino
2009 New Generation Award Competition
The New Generation Award is an annual competition presented to the year’s most promising blues musician, as determined by an elite panel of music industry professionals from the entries received.
This contest is open to all young blues musicians at least 12 years of age, but no older than 21 years of age as of May 1, 2009. Entries must be on VHS or DVD videotape. For complete rules and an application in downloadable pdf form please visit www.robertjohnsoncrossroads.com website for updates.
The winner of the New Generation Award will receive a Gibson “Robert Johnson” Edition guitar, a certificate signed by Claud Johnson (son of Robert Johnson) and an invitation to perform at the Robert Johnson Blues Jam 2009 held on the 2nd Saturday of May, 2009 at Chautauqau Park in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.
25th International Blues Challenge announces Youth Showcase
The Blues Foundation will add a youth showcase for the 25th year of the International Blues Challenge. Smokin' Bluz of Charlotte, NC has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor. Over the years this event has witnessed the influx of younger musicians competing for top honors at this international event. In an effort gain maximum exposure to this new crop of talented artist, the 25th IBC will include an afternoon (Friday, February 6, 2009) of these talented young people showcasing their talents for record labels, media, festivals, managers, talent buyers and the fans.
This will be a showcase, not a competition. Acts may also be competing at night in the challenge, but they are not required to be the affiliate’s entry for the competition. Each affiliate has the right to send a youth act for the showcase. While the definition for youth act is loose, we would expect no member of the band to be over 21. The essence of the showcase is to expose the blues world to future stars of this genre.
"Bo Diddley's a Gunslinger" - always was, always will be...
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!
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.
:: Bluesin Around ::
The Las Vegas Blues Society Presents
Be sure to check out Young Guns of Blues at Canvas Café, this Friday, June 27, from 7–9pm. Terrific young players, great food and a friendly staff – plus ALL AGES WELCOME!
The members in the band are Adam Joshua (19 yrs) on guitar and vocals, Matthew Gonzalas (18 yrs) guitar, Stephen Derringer (18 yrs) drums, and Vinny Pizzaro (23 yrs) on bass.
Every Thursday at 9pm, House of Blues Las Vegas and local musician and talent promoter Michael Soli present Acoustic Strip. Acoustic Strip showcases a variety of local and national artists performing original music. Even better, admission is free and all ages are welcome. House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay is the place on the Strip to hear original music.
Party on the Porch at Acoustic Strip
On Thursday, June 26th, Las Vegas Weekly will be hosting their Party on the Porch at Acoustic Strip featuring complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The Las Vegas Weekly party starts at 6pm and will roll straight into a great night of music at Acoustic Strip featuring four bands including headliner Dangerous Hours, a Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Also playing are The Yeller Bellies, Shufflefootdrift, and Theresa Margiotta.
:: Memphis Teenage Friendly Event ::
:: Young Guns of Blues CD Releases ::
ERIC STECKEL BAND: Havana
Spirited and soulful guitar oriented Blues from Eric Steckel and his talented band. Deeply rooted in the Blues, this live record celebrates the arrival of Duane Trucks on drums and recalls the sound of the 60s and 70s Blues Rock era.
ERIC STECKEL: Feels Like Home
With his latest release, Feels Like Home, guitarist Eric Steckel is clearly coming into his own as a singer/songwriter/guitarist. The blues will always remain his first love. Not wanting to fall into a trap of regurgitating the same old Pentatonic scales, Steckel seems concentrative on the craft of songwriting. The guitar playing is strong and is used as a second voice to add more color to the canvas. - Southwest Blues
ELI COOK: Miss Blues'es Child
"Eli Cook doesn't just play exceptionally well for someone his age, he plays exceptionally well for someone of any age, in any age. He's a prodigy, with enough soul in him now to match someone with years of experience, and the chops to flaunt it."
YOUNG GUNS OF BLUES: Young Guns of Blues
Tom Richardson, Jason Lowe and Jonno Zilber are three of the most promising and exciting young Blues/Roots artists in Australia today. What is impressive about each of these artists, apart from their age, is that although still in their teens, they have already managed to create their own sound, with a maturity beyond their years.
DANI WILDE: Heal My Blues
"Dani Wilde's voice is astounding, with a unique raw passion and energy. I truly believe one cannot consider themselves to be a true blues fan until they add Dani Wilde to their collection. She sings with more conviction and passion than old legends from the Mississippi Delta." - Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2
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.
Movies
:: Classic Young Gun CDs ::
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Ledbetter Heights
Ledbetter Heights was released in October 1995 when Shepherd was 18 years old. Its name refers to a neighborhood in Shepherd's home town of Shreveport, Louisiana and was named after folk blues legend Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter who lived and performed there.
The album was an immediate success, selling over 500,000 copies by early 1996. It spent 20 weeks topping Billboard's blues chart. Most blues records never achieve that level of commercial success, much less ones released by artists who are still in their teens. Ledbetter Heights was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1996, and certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2004. After its release Guitar World magazine voted Kenny Wayne Shepherd #3 following B. B. King and Eric Clapton.
July 1, 2000 Cub Koda guitar/harmonica/vocals/liner notes (Smokin' in the Boys Room), dies at 51
July 12, 1988 Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson alto sax/vocals, dies at 70
July 13, 1994 Eddie Boyd blues singer/pianist (Five Long Years), dies at 79
July 19, 2002 Little Jimmy King blues singer/guitarist, dies at 34 of a heart attack
July 22, 2006 Jessie Mae Hemphill North Mississippi blues singer/guitarist, dies at 82
July 25, 1984 Big Mama Thorton blues singer (pre-Elvis recording of Hound Dog), dies at 57
July 27, 1974 Lightning Slim blues singer (Nothing But the Devil), dies at 61
July 30, 2003 Sam Phillips entreprenuer/DJ, started Sun Records, dies at 80
Cub Coda: October 1, 1948 - July 1, 2000
Best known as the leader of Brownsville Station and composer of their hit, "Smokin' in the Boys Room," Cub Koda proved that his roots went far deeper, both before the band's formation, during its days in the sun, and long after its demise. His high-school band, the Del-Tinos, were dipping into blues and rockabilly as far back as 1963 -- not only pre-Butterfield, but pre-Beatles. Similarly, he recorded legendary home tapes during his off-hours from Brownsville, before the rockabilly revival had uttered its first hiccup, he formed Cub Koda & The Points and later teamed with Hound Dog Taylor's former rhythm section, the Houserockers, to play the blues in the '80s. Along the way he cranked out a monthly column ("The Vinyl Junkie") and recorded a series of albums that kept roots music of all kinds alive without ever treating it like a museum piece. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Young Blues Gunslingers's Details
Status:
Single
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Hometown:
Warren, Rhode Island
Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn
Smoke / Drink:
No / No
Education:
College graduate
Young Blues Gunslingers of Las Vegas and Worldwide - Young Guns Unite! Posted at 4:34 AM Feb 19 view more
Young Guns background by Charlotte Blauer President of the Las Vegas Blues Society
I'm a founding member of the Las Vegas Blues Society (www.lasvegasblues.org) and have a blues orientated myspace called Bion's Bluesbeat. Before I explain the purpose of this young gunslingers page, let it be known that I shall be the only "older young man" to be found here as a friend!
I started Young Blues Gunslingers because I was very impressed by many young blues people on myspace. Also, I would like to coordinate this space with the Las Vegas Blues Society's efforts to bring more under 21 bluesmen and women into the wonderful world of the blues, be it as musician or fan. One of the motivations of this effort is the simple fact that there are virtually no clubs that cater to the underage crowd. More on the LVBS's role later.
Young guns of the blues will appear as a public, and not private, profile. However, friend additions will be limited to only those who are under twenty six years old. So if you or your band fall into this category please request our friendship. Not everyone in the group has to be under 26, but the band must have at least one young gun in the mix.
So then let's get moving and begin using Young Blues Gunslingers to network your resources. Your host, Bion.
Gunslinger visitors since February 1, 2009
Who I'd like to meet: All Young Guns of Blues men and women around the world. Give a listen!
Thank you for the friend request This is a great site!!.. We can all use this type of support in the Blues Community. Great way to spread the word & keep the blues alive and well.. I will be playing at the 25th, 2009 International Blues Challenge, with my power trio, "Jake Haldenwangs Blues Brew" in the Youth Showcase. We are scheduled to hit the stage at Club 152 on Friday, Feb.6th at 3:30 pm. Hope to see some of you in Memphis!! Jake Haldenwang www. myspace. com/JakeHaldenwang www. youtube. com/JakesHwy61bb
From heaven above arrives a fascination, It..s a personal, glory innovation To be honest, thankfull and true - Holy night, I trust in you, cause you give freedom to everyone, You spend much love and also fun. I treasure Christmas through the years, It..s a magic time, which disappears. But it comes back again and again, I..m indeed a Christmas - fan.
I wish you and your family a merry christmas Love & Peace ~ MB ~
The New Generation Award is an annual competition presented to the year’s most promising blues musician, as determined by an elite panel of music industry professionals from the entries received.
Rock 'n Roll legend Bo Diddley dies
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. 
Ledbetter Heights was released in October 1995 when Shepherd was 18 years old. Its name refers to a neighborhood in Shepherd's home town of Shreveport, Louisiana and was named after folk blues legend Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter who lived and performed there.
Best known as the leader of Brownsville Station and composer of their hit, "Smokin' in the Boys Room," Cub Koda proved that his roots went far deeper, both before the band's formation, during its days in the sun, and long after its demise. His high-school band, the Del-Tinos, were dipping into blues and rockabilly as far back as 1963 -- not only pre-Butterfield, but pre-Beatles. Similarly, he recorded legendary home tapes during his off-hours from Brownsville, before the rockabilly revival had uttered its first hiccup, he formed Cub Koda & The Points and later teamed with Hound Dog Taylor's former rhythm section, the Houserockers, to play the blues in the '80s. Along the way he cranked out a monthly column ("The Vinyl Junkie") and recorded a series of albums that kept roots music of all kinds alive without ever treating it like a museum piece. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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