Rico Ferrara Robert Palmer – More Than Meets The Eye Originally Posted on October 17, 2021 – Blues For A Big Town “In interviews I hardly ever get asked about music. I do, however, get asked about the ‘Addicted to Love’ video and my suits on a daily basis” Robert Palmer Say the name Robert Palmer and it immediately sparks a mental picture...
Year: 2022
Cindy Allingham In the 21st century, when we go looking for roots of music genres, we typically dig up old video footage and consult accredited music experts.
The West Side Soul of Chicago Blues Originally Posted on August 22, 2021–Blues For A Big Town As told numerous times, the emergence of Urban Blues was a by-product of the Great Migration of African Americans from the southern U.S. to points north. Undoubtedly affected, (for different reasons), by the Great Depression (1929-1933) and the War, millions of Blacks left...
Nina Simone - The High Priestess of Soul
It was in the mid 80’s when Toronto’s short lived Village Vanguard North was advertising “Sunday Brunch With Nina Simone”
“The audience never knows what comes next. And to tell you the truth, neither do we. We always throw them surprises, and they love it” - Louis Prima
“MY DAYS AT THE COLONIAL TAVERN – YONGE ST, TORONTO” Media articles about the old Colonial Tavern in Toronto often fail to convey the kind of ambience and excitement of the place. The Colonial was what was called a ‘supper club’ in the 1950s and 60s. My dad sometimes took his elder children to the club to expose them...
Bobby “BLUE” Bland – Blue is His Middle Name For a Reason Posted on June 19, 2022 by Rico Ferrara – Blues For A Big Town Blog “He’s my favourite Blues singer.” BB King “Bobby Bland was just the man…He had exceptional delivery and understanding. He made you understand what the song means to him” Dan Penn, celebrated Southern Soul songwriter and...
Joe Ruicci Musicians Ask – “Should I Join A Musicians Union?” In Todays Environment Are There Benefits To Belonging To A Union? Musicians ask “Should I Join A Musicians Union?” Well things were very different from today back in the 60’s when I was just learning to be a drummer and playing gigs in my first bands. Musicians ask “Should I...
Big Rude Jake – Has Left The Building Swing Punk, Blues Shouter Extraordinaire Jakes Web Site Updated from an earlier post Jake is a lyricist, songwriter, singer and musician with a diverse array of influences. Noted for his skill as a ‘blues shouter’ and the ‘swing punk’ sound of his first few albums, he is especially drawn to the...
ZEB PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS Dawn Tyler Watson – The Award Winning Queen of the Blues! TOURING INTERNATIONALLY www.dawntylerwatson.com Dawn Tyler Watson delivers a big show with or without a full horn section! Now booking 2022 & 2023: Reserve your dates now. DAWN TYLER WATSON LIVE VIDEO PREVIEW Dawn Tyler Watson – Canada’s Queen of the Blues, backed by the talented musicians from the Ben Racine Band, continue to represent Quebec...