April 2011
For immediate release: April 12, 2011
Congratulations to Robert Jr. Whitall!
“Robert Junior’s Big Chief” painting is one of twenty finalists out of over 200 entries for “How Does New Orleans Music And Culture Inspire Me?” The Creative Allies second annual Art Contest for illustrators, painters and designers who submitted thier artwork inspired by the music and culture of New Orleans. “Robert Junior’s Big Chief” was chosen as one of the twenty winning contest entrants that will have their wall art exhibited at the Jazz & Heritage Gallery and Sync Up Conference at the New Orleans Museum of Art during Jazz Fest at The Jazz & Heritage Gallery during Jazz Fest, with openings on the evenings of April 27 and May 4.March 2011
Joe Willie Perkins, “Pinetop”
1913-2011
Another "Sequoia" in our "Blues Forest" falls, Joe Willie Perkins, "Pinetop" passed but not without dancing, looking at the girls, smoking a cheroot at SXSW in Austin, Texas at Antones on Saturday night..97 years young!..Sugar, Junior & BCR&B magazine were "Happy To Have The Blues" to know Pinetop..Junior did not talk to him a whole lot but he was very interested in Sugar and girls in particular, "Ladies Man"..We were honored to present him with a 97th birthday cake at the 2010 Blues On The Fox in Aurora, Il. We all should be so lucky! (above photo by Tony Ferraro)
February 2011
“Blues fallen down like snow!” - Robert Johnson Centennial Tribute at the Crossroads--61/49
Award winning national music & travel destination magazine - Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine (made in Detroit for over 15 years) celebrated Black History Month: Robert Johnson Centennial Tribute at the Crossroads--61/49 on Sunday, Feb. 20th, 2011, 4 pm at Kelly's in Hamtramck. Despite blizzard conditions during the entire event, it was standing room only as the music of Robert Johnson was honored and performed by Larry McCray, Laith Al Saadi, Brett Lucas, Bob Monteleone, Stumbling Mice, Luther “Badman” Keith, Chris & Angie Canas, Rev. Robert Sexton, John D. Lamb, Paul Carey, Rev. Mark Falconberry, Jeff "Baby" Grand, Nick Tabarias, James Cloyd and many others jammed for over 7 hours! “We got through all 29 of Robert Johnson’s recorded songs as a blizzard raged outside and blues fans loved it!” reported Robert Jr. Whitall, publisher of Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine. By midnight the winter blast had stopped. And what an evening to remember! Robert Johnson & the Crossroads baptized in Detroit under a foot of new snow. What an evening of blues! “Blues fallen down like snow!”
Get Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine new Feb./Mar 2011 New York City’s Greenwich Village Blues. Subscribe today and receive the new issue along with their FREE CD Sampler—“Always For Pleasure!” Add a year and also receive a FREE 61/49 legendary Crossroad t-shirt (black or white). Subscribe today at www.bigcitybluesmag.com or call 248-582-1544.
Sugar Mae celebrating Robert Johnson
with Jeff "Baby" Grand, Nick Tabarias, Larry McCray,
Laith Al-Saadi, Luther "Badman" Keith, & Rev Marc Falconberry,
Sunday Feb20th,
Kelly's Bar,Hamtramck (Photo Robert Jr Whitall)
January 2011
On the 2011 Caribbean Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine helped raised big bucks for the Sailin’ on the High Seas Charity Auction that benefited The Blues Foundation, The Music Makers and Gimme 5! A Fundraiser! The highest bid was for The Music Maker’s Pete Townsend autographed Gibson guitar. Eden Brent not only donated and autographed her four CDs but also offered two tickets to sit at her table at the 2011 BMAs that raised over $600! Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine would especially like to thank the fantastic Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise staff and of course those extremely generous “Legendary” cruisers who participated and placed high bids. Big thanks to Mardi Silva—comptroller of Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and thank-you to everyone!
Biannually the Sailin’ on the High Seas Charity Auction happens on the one and only Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (Caribbean & Pacific). Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine works year round collecting auction items such as autographed music memorabilia, artwork, guitars, books, CDs, photographs and more. Donated auction items are on display for bidding during the cruise until the finale. Donations are tax deductible. For more information you can email blues@bigcitybluesmag.com or blues@bluescruise.com.
Robert Jr, Sugar Mae and Paul Benjamin "Live" with Pete Townsend
guitar
(Photo by Jan Schneider}
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