FREE DOWNLOAD
A SONG FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD from
Monica Dupont, Gary Novak & Ron Thompson
Song is also on player for adding to playlist
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The Band on "LIFE GOES ON"
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RON THOMPSON, guitar
MICROWAVE DAVE, guitar
JIMI JAMES, guitar
MITCH WOODS, piano
SHAWNKA SHEPARD, piano
MARK HUMMEL, harp
WOLFIE WITCHER, harp
BUZZY LINHART, vibes
BOBBIE WEBB, saxophone
BLAINE HOOPES, saxophone
KENNETH NASH, congas
VICTOR PUEBLA, timbales
Backup on Shakin' the Sheets
-NANCY LEE ERICKSEN (she wrote
"The Stroll")PLUS CAVETT HUGHES
AND GRIF TORRES,"THE RAVINES"
MONICA DUPONT,vocals,rhythm
guitar and backup vocals
GARY NOVAK, bass, guitar,drums
keyboards, backup vocals,layout,
design, production, engineering,
mixing, mastering and inspiration
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GET "LIFE GOES ON" AT CD BABY
Click on picture to get directly to CD BABY
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" THE MAN FROM NEW ORLEANS "
Now you can check out the whole song and
add it to your playlist. It's free on the player
of THE OFFICIAL BLUES HALL OF FAME page
www.myspace.com/blueshalloffame
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MUSICIANS ON THE OLDER SONG -
SONG 7~"Try to Find Another Man"1982
originally released in 1982 and re-issued
in 2004 on Hoddyman Records. Features
The Stench Brothers-bass & drums*plus
Jim Thorsen,Warren Cushenberry,Monica
on guitars*& the late great, Bobby Forte'
on sax , best known for his classic solos
on early rock & roll records with players
like Little Richard, The Coasters, BB King
and countless other Blues & rock royalty.
Also includes Reid Whatley on drums.
∆ • MONICA DUPONT • ∆
by Bob Norangelo
" Monica Dupont is a highly unique
and original, singer and songwriter.
You can't compare her to anyone.
I tried, really.
It's a strange statement to make and
it sounds like it would be impossible
to believe, but it's absolutely true.
She is an outstanding vocalist, with
a surprising style, all her own.
Monica has a very low, rich voice,
that she uses to full effect, blending
traditional, Americana/roots music
with the distinctive, driving sound of
contemporary, Chicago style blues.
She is a very old soul, singing
passionately about the pitfalls and
triumphs of today's society, while at
the same time, conjuring up what can
only be described as fully authentic
country blues from the depths of the
real Mississippi Delta of yesteryear.
I'm impressed, to say the least!
Monica Dupont, is definitely one
of our greatest blues singers!"
Influences
Sounds Like
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"MONICA DUPONT SINGS LIKE
MUDDY WATERS AND LOOKS
LIKE MARY TYLER-MOORE".
Ralph J. Gleason
That quote has haunted her
for years.
ø • ∆ • ø •
The only other person
that she has ever been
compared to, vocally is
Junior Wells.
The man who compared
her to Junior Wells was
Buddy Guy ♫
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"Magical voice and music.
It's not just sing a song....
I can touch your blues !!"
• ø • ∆ • ø •
ARE YOU HIP TO KCOR ?
WELL GET ONBOARD !
Treat your ears to great Bluesman
TERRY KNOTT on his exciting new program !
www.myspace.com/road_rash_blues_show
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Catch the ultra hip and sassy, KOOL BREEZE ~
www.myspace.com/angelndisguizeus
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Mark Kerr's Blues Nation"- the best in Blues !
www.myspace.com/markkerrblues
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
<< Kansas City Online Radio >>
at KCOR www.KCOnlineRadio.com
• ø • ∆ • ø •
Dewberry Jam Community Radio
www.myspace.com/am1670
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
☆♫ Wendy ~ Spirit FM 91.1 ☆♫
☆♫ Spirit of the Blues ☆♫
myspace.com/wendyspiritoftheblues
☆♫ F A B U L O U S !!! ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ •
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
* Blues * Blues * Blues * Blues
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• ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • • T H E • B L U E S •
Nothing can grow and survive without
an influx of new energy . There aren't
many wise old folks left to tell stories
of generations past and valiant deeds.
This needs to be done with our music,
our Blues - and if we are stuck at the
Crossroads,all we will find is that same
old, hungry devil,who is killing off our
natural resources and precious wildlife.
Blues IS a natural resource-and what it
needs to stay alive is to grow. It needs
an influx of energy, passion, innovation
& love,a commitment to not just imitate
but to initiate and take it to new levels.
Leave the roots and water the plant
so it can grow new branches.
WALTER Q. FOXX, HAD TO FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF.
HERE IS THE REVIEW HE WROTE IN 1981, FOR
REVIVAL MAGAZINE, HOLLAND,
"I was nursing a beer at the bar waiting for Monica Dupont
and her band to start their first set.
How can a woman “sing like Muddy Waters & look like
Mary Tyler Moore”?
That’s what I wanted to find out.
I had to see and hear her in person and that’s what
dragged me down to the club. I’ve always had a soft
spot for weird combinations.
When she sang , her voice was deep , but nothing like I had
expected . There is no husk or rough edge in Monica's voice .
It is as smooth & sweet as pumpkin pie with whipped cream
& a tall glass of buttermilk.When she reached for a high note,
the sounds sent chills down my spine! She has a unique style
totally original even when doing someone else’s song.
She isn’t a Blues Lady in the mold of the famous ones.
She doesn’t play the same kind of songs, doesn’t carry herself
like them, doesn’t speak of the black woman’s experience, yet
Monica Dupont , is just as much an authentic part of the Blues
as any of the Great Ladies !!!"
TOM MAZZOLINI, 1983
founder, SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL
Monica Dupont is a guitarist and singer whose unusual
vocal delivery has resulted in some extraordinary singles
- especially her sardonic, "Try to find Another Man"!
"When you hear the voice of Monica Dupont, it makes you
think of the deep, dark blues voice of someone like
Howlin' Wolf, but not of a female blues voice.
This is a really great thing.
Monica plays guitar and with her low, soulful, experienced
voice she brings deepness and feeling into all of her songs."
" Since literally everyone has a unique voice sound, is it possible
for some people's voices to be "more unique" than others?
In Monica's case, "yes!" !
If ever there was a voice made to sing the blues, she has one ! "
We are having technical problems with showing this video on
MySpace. Temporarily please watch it on You Tube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTob-SQQNjA
THE ONLY FILMED FOOTAGE OF, MONICA DUPONT, SURFACED
RECENTLY , WHEN JERRY STEFFLER , MONICA'S BEST FRIEND
AND A GREAT SUPPORTER OF BLUES PASSED AWAY . THANKS
TO HIS SON,JERRY STEFFLER JR,WE NOW HAVE A VIDEO FROM
HIS DAD'S COLLECTION . IT WAS TAKEN 30+ YEARS AGO - BY
JERRY SENIOR AT HIS FATHER'S HOUSE AT 4 O'CLOCK IN THE
MORNING AT A GATHERING OF MUSICIANS, AFTER GIGS. THE
SONG IS "Hurricane Betsy" by Lightnin' Hopkins. WE WEREN'T
ABLE TO RAISE THE VOLUME OR EDIT THE END - IT WAS JUST
TOO CLOSE & IT WOULD HAVE CUT OFF THE END OF THE SONG
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO IMPROVE IT.FOR NOW
WE SUGGEST YOU WATCH IT ON YOU TUBE , AS IT WORKS SO
MUCH BETTER THERE THAN HERE , WHERE IT'S OUT OF SYNC .
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTob-SQQNjA
Legendary Blues singer/guitar player/songwriter, MONICA DUPONT is
back after a 25 year absence from music,at the age of 61,with a CD of
diverse and thoroughly modern Blues. Her exceptional, original songs
showcase her powerful,unique vocal style & the production is brilliant.
••• WHO/WHAT/WHERE •••
From the day , at age 17, when she walked into the personnel office of
I. Magnin's, (to get a part time job) & was discovered by a scout from
(New York advertising giant)McCann Erickson & signed to do Buick ads
which appeared in all top national magazines, (Please look in her main
slideshow for 1966 Buick Riviera magazine ad),Monica Dupont,has had
an extraordinary career.Her Blues years alone,found her leading bands
including, Bobby Forte', Johnny Heartsman , Luther Tucker , Mel Brown
Tom McFarland & many others. The infamous Stench Brothers were her
rhythm section for several years & then,Artie Wafer and Greg Williams.
Her main drummer was Ron Wilson, of " The Surfaris", responsible for
the world famous drum solo on, "Wipeout". He was replaced by prolific
Larry Vann.Monica's first drummer was brilliant percussionist,Kenneth
Nash.Her regular"fill in" bass players were, Rocco Prestia, from,"Tower
of Power", "Starchild", from "Confunkshun" & Willie Riser.Tim Kaihatsu,
guitar & Jerry Olsen, drums(Charlie Musselwhite's band) played for her
when Musselwhite wasn't working. She opened for Jimmy Witherspoon
in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Palace Hotel on New Year's Eve
1977 as vocalist, frontman & guitar player for the California Slim Band.
••• THE FILLMORE DAYS 1968-1971•••
Bill Graham "made" her a lifetime free pass to the Fillmore Auditorium.
She got to meet & become friends with people like , Howlin' Wolf & his
whole band,which included Hubert Sumlin & Otis Fiske, Buddy Guy and
his band too, which included close friends, A.C. Reed plus Jack Myers.
Buddy Guy once paid her guitar payment and grateful,she lent him the
Martin D-28,( Luigi ), so he could play an acoustic set at the Fillmore.
Then Albert King,James Cotton,Booker T+the MGs,(she became instant
friends with Duck Dunn),all the Paul Butterfield band-the list is amazing
and endless,it stretches from J.B Hutto to Tim Buckley.She used to stay
at Carlos Santana's house,when he had just started,"The Santana Blues
Band" & jammed with him & the others regularly . Her best friend dated
Elvin Bishop & she spent many evenings as the third wheel, taking taxis
between the Fillmore+The Avalon Ballroom with them.She even went to
Hollywood as guest of the Electric Flag to record"A Long Time Comin" &
stayed with Peter Tork of "The Monkees".While there she got to hang out
with L.A. music royalty like Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison & David Crosby.
At the time,she was dating Taj Mahal.She was a musician, not a groupie
& had very few romantic relationships.A few years later she became the
girlfriend of Buddy Miles,(who she'd known since the Electric Flag days),
during the time when he was in the Jimi Hendrix band+she got to spend
time with Jimi.Her manager then was Ron Polte who she was referred to
by James Cotton's manager, Gordon Kinnearly. Ron Polte's company was
named "Westpol".They also managed The Quicksilver Messenger Service
& included, Julius Karpen, who managed Janis Joplin and George Hunter
who represented "The Sons of Champlin" & "The Charlatans" (Dan Hicks
& Mike Wilhelm).Nick Gravenites another old friend from the Electric Flag
days was part of the Westpol agency & he wanted to produce her, he had
just produced "One Toke Over the Line"by Brewer & Shipley.Unfortunately
timing was wrong for both.She had other projects and he had a deadline.
Bugsy Maugh, called her, "Sunshine", Mike Bloomfield called her,"Brigitte
Bardot Jr." - and best of all, Eric Clapton called her , " The Big German ".
~
Nobody could have been better connected than Monica & this list is only
partial.Her favorite moments?All of them! BUT jamming for 4 hours with
JB Hutto,having Howlin' Wolf take care of her when she was sick & then
Phillip Wilson,Butterfield's drummer rushing her to a hospital+actually
carrying her up the steps,when she had pneumonia+was really weak+
having Charles Wright ask her to re-record "Loveland" for him,(Monica
on vocal)certainly stand out in her memories, along with her very close
friendships with late Mayor George Moscone and Joe Williams , Leonard
Feather,Tina Mayfield(Percy's widow)& her last manager Jimmy Tolbert
Lester Young's nephew who paired her with people like Sweets Edison.
She was also managed by Bumps Blackwell,who managed Little Richard
& started a project with his brother , Otis Blackwell who wrote classics ,
"Don't Be Cruel", "Great Balls of Fire" & a lot more top Rock & Roll hits.
Pete Welding nabbed her for Playboy Records to pair with Philip Walker.
Monica knew Al Bell, she knew Norman Winters, she knew anybody &
everybody that she needed to know to have a career, but nobody could
figure out HOW to package and produce Monica, who is distinctive and
stands out as being an instantly recognizable singer , who does not at
all look like she sounds . Others who tried , included Michael Dilbeck of
Columbia Records and Johnny Otis who, would always invite her to his
recording sessions for Shugi(studio A at Columbia) & when she showed
up,he would tell her that he wanted to record Linda Lu with her. an old
friend from Warner Brothers tried to turn her into a female John Cougar
Mellencamp . Tom Donohue asked her to record " It's a Man's World " &
bill herself as "The female James Brown, "The Captain"(before Tennille)
told her that she should to do songs like"Hard Hearted Hanna", lying on
a piano at , "The Troubador" in LA & call herself, " The new Mae West ".
••• YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT ? •••
Her first recording career began in 1961 and continued until 1982 . For
years she recorded only songs provided by producers who only gave her
just the current Folk Songs & Rock&Roll,trying desperately to match her
voice to her looks . They repeatedly tried to make her sing soprano, too
high for her baritone voice, but she strained & would do it.She recorded
songs like " Peanut Butter "," Monday, Monday "," 500 Miles ","Pleasant
Street", "Blowing in the Wind", " Once I Was","The House of The Rising
Sun"and dozens of forgettable current hits & standards, all cover tunes.
Nobody would allow her do her original material , in the correct key for
for her real voice & she was miserable . When she married Bard Dupont
in 1970 (bass player for, The Great Society, Grace Slick's first band) she
continued to record & started her performing career with him at famous
San Francisco club, "The Coffee Gallery". They first formed a duo called
Mr.+Mrs.Dupont & then later, a band with young Johnny Nitro on guitar.
••• RECORDING •••
In 1975 she decided she'd had enough of the senseless recording & she
went out on her own to record some memorable Blues singles, including
her 1975 original recording of, " Too Much Alcoho l" dedicated to her old
friend , JB Hutto , going on to record ," The Blues In The Night ", " Meet
me at the Deluxe Inn " ," The Lord is Recalling Sinners "," When I Woke
up I was Over You", then her all time classic single,"Try To Find Another
Man" & a handful of other Blues 45s.Her aptly named last recording was
" Checkin' Out " , done in 1982 , with the Seabury brothers, members of
the band, "Psychotic Pineapple" . She's also to be found on several Blues
compilation records, such as JSPs 1984 , LP , "Going to California", along
with Roy Brown,Don & Dewey,Model T Slim,Cleo Paige&Sugarcane Harris.
••• BLUES CLUBS •••
She then retreated to playing Blues clubs only and while on the thriving
Oakland/San Francisco Blues scene, ( from 1975-1983 ) she was a top
act. She consistently played all the of Blues clubs & smokey after hours
juke joints and progressed to appearing at the top venues in the area .
Monica , is especially proud of the fact that she got the chance to play ,
twice at the world famous, original , " Hungry i " while it was still in San
Francisco's North Beach and that besides being touted regularly by BAM
BAM Magazine, they picked her band as the only Blues Band to join top
rockers to play at the historical, 1977 "Rock Against Racism". Her band
at the time consisted of her husband Bard-bass, notorious, "Fast Floyd"
from Mink Deville on guitar- Roger Thompson,drums & MASTER of the
chromatic harmonica , Red Archibald , then known as "Marin Red",who
sadly passed away a week before he was to record on this Album,so we
added a live recording of the old band to Monica's player in his memory.
••• THE MEL BROWN BAND •••
In 1978,Monica&Bard divorced , when she left to form a band with the
great Mel Brown and also start her own group. She was playing 4 to 6
nights a week in those days, because besides being a member of both
bands , she was hired , regularly as a guitar player by many top Blues
musicians.She was also known for her excellent,original material,being
performed by many local bands,like "Lamb" & Janis Joplin.Almost every
group in the area in need of fresh material would go and see Monica .
••• BYE BYE BLUES •••
In 1981, she naively signed away the rights to all her songs & soon she
had to quit playing music completely , when she suffered a stroke at the
height of her career,in January of 1983. Her good friend,Troyce Key,also
owner of "Eli's Mile High Club" refused to let her stop.He really believed
in Monica & he helped her through almost 8 months of grueling physical
therapy,to help her prepare for what was her last performance,The 1983
San Francisco Blues Festival, featuring Blues royalty, Willie Dixon , Albert
King, Irma & Rufus Thomas, Joe Liggins & more. She wasn't able to play
her trademark guitar,JB(named after close friend JB Hutto)due to severe
damage the stroke had done to her hands,but managed to sing 2 songs.
" It was a great way to retire ! " , she's quoted as saying.
••• HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD •••
Monica, then moved to Hollywood & went on to be a seasoned Television
writer & show host. She wrote screenplays , sitcoms , a miniseries about
Ann Boleyn , 2 Milo King mysteries, a novel,"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve"
a book of art+Beat poetry,"Don't let that Whiskey drink your Dog" & then
"Windows",which was sold exclusively at prestigious places like, The L.A.
Museum of Contemporary Art and San Francisco's City Lights book store.
She can also be seen as "the blonde", doing small walk-on parts in about
a dozen major motion pictures, like "Naked Gun,( below) Tequila Sunrise,
Wired, Sunset beat , LA Stories , Wedlock & appearing on prime time TV .
••• THE MUSIC IS BACK •••
In 2000 , she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area , to peacefully live
live with her cat and her memories. This was not to be , as in 2004 , her
early recordings were reissued on a CD called"Early Eighties"(Hoddyman
Records).Monica started getting great reviews,massive worldwide airplay
and fan letters & gifts in the mail.Encouraged by all of this,she called old
friends that she hadn't seen or spoken to in 25 - 30 years & asked them
if they would record a new album with her and every one of them agreed
eagerly.All the talented players on this CD, added their music out of love
& respect for Monica & reviewers agree that some of them played better
than ever before.The result is a beautiful and inspired musical gathering!
••• DIVERSITY •••
Monica wrote 7 of the 10 songs on this CD . Each song here was chosen
to specifically showcase the diversity of her music and of Blues music in
general . They're each very different , but they all share the Blues root.
Peel away layers of each tune,(except for "The Man from New Orleans"-
stripped down to 2 guitars playing classic Delta Blues) the rest are very
standard Blues with a lively embellishment and fresh original approach.
This is really a most enjoyable and exciting Blues CD ! " Life Goes On "
is being critically acclaimed as Monica Dupont's finest work to date and
we sure hope it gets your feet tapping & puts a big smile on your face !
" Truly a showcase of diverse, great Blues, featuring
astounding performers and great production values.
Monica's powerful vocals are mature, deep, rich and
unforgettable.
This is a musical statement from a strong woman
who really has something to say!! "
• ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø •
BLUES BLAST, JAMES "SKYY DOBRO" WALKER, 2008
" Blues fans take note: this album is the real-deal
and well worthy of your attention! "
• ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø •
BLUES ART JOURNAL, NORMAN DARWEN, 2008
" This is a fine and exciting set of classy blues, both rough
and smooth ."
• ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø • ∆ • ø •
CAVETT HUGHES, "THE RAVINES", 2008
" LIFE GOES ON" has grooves that will never wear out,
no matter how hard you try. "
♫ RON THOMPSON'S guitar playing on "LIFE GOES ON"
by EDDIE NEON, 2008
I am always amazed by Ron's proficiency in style and the way he
compliments the melody of a song.His varied talents are displayed
to the max on " Life Goes On " . The title track,has an outstanding
solo, as does hard drivin' boogie"When I'm Gone"."The Man from
New Orleans",is pure,genuine raw roots music at it's best.His work
is STERLING on this CD - stand out quality !!!"
• R O N • T H O M P S O N • L I V E • You can find this incredible artist at
www.myspace.com/ronthompsonblues6699ff
You are invited to join us Saturday evening January 16th... At The Union Room atop Biscuits And Blues overlooking the majestic S F Theater District... Dinner Show: 8:30pm, Cocktail Show: 10pm ~~~ 401 Mason Street ~ 2nd Floor ~ San Francisco, CA 94102 ~~~
Hi Monica, I just heard about you placing in the top 100 Blues vocalists,,,, well deserved my friend! God Bless, Shannon Keep your lamp Trimmed And Burnin
The M. Dogs will be performing at Murf's Broadway Cocktail Lounge in Redwood City, THIS Friday, December 11th!... and this is gonna be one tail-waggin' event! We're celebratin' Mina's Birthday... and... there is rumor that the Diva from Fotia... yes... the inimitable Olympia will be joining the M. Dogs for a song or two!!! Woof!
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