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News Grammy Nominations Announced Nominees for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards have been announced. Best Contemporary Blues Album nominees are Make Do With What You Got (Solomon Burke), Twenty (Robert Cray), Bring 'Em In (Buddy Guy), Cost Of Living (Delbert McClinton), and Electric Blue Watermelon (North Mississippi Allstars). Sonora Blues Festival Announces Dates The 10th Annual Fire On The Mountain - Sonora Blues Festival will be held August 12, 2006 in Sonora, California. Walter Trout, Joe Bonamassa, and Sonny Landreth are scheduled to highlight the event. Paul "Wine" Jones Passes Bluesman Paul Jones died of cancer on Sunday, October 9, in Jackson, Mississippi. A memorial service will be held at 11 in the morning this Saturday, October 15 at the Humphreys County High School gymnasium in Belzoni, Mississippi. R.L. Burnside Passes Bluesman RL Burnside died today, September 1, 2005, in Memphis Tennessee. He was 78 years old. Susan Tedeschi Has New CD Susan Tedeschi has a new album coming out called Hope and Desire. The CD, her first for the Verve Forecast label, will be available in stores October 11, 2005. Arcadia Blues Club Set To Open The Arcadia Blues Club (formerly Dianne's Blues Café) will open on September 14, 2005 in Arcadiia, California, at 16 E. Huntington Drive. Buddy Guy Has New Album Blues legend Buddy Guy will release his newest album on September 20, 2005. The new CD called Bring'Em In, includes special appearances by Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, and John Mayer. B.B. King Has A Birthday CD, Book BB King has a brand new CD coming out to help celebrate his 80th birthday on September 16, 2005. The release, called BB King and Friends - 80, features duets recorded with the likes of Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, John Mayer, Roger Daltry, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, and many more. North Mississippi Allstars New Album The North Mississippi Allstars have a new album that will hit the streets September 6, 2005. The new release is titled Electric Blue Watermelon, and features guests appearances by Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Richard Johnston Tours With The Killers Country bluesman Richard Johnston will tour with The Killers, as their opening act. Seven dates have been announced so far, starting August 12th, 2005, at beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Little Milton Cambell Passes Away Legendary Bluesman Little Milton Cambell passed away August 4, 2005 from complications due to a stroke he suffered July 27. Arraingments are still pending. New Otis Taylor CD Otis Taylor has a new album coming out called Below The Fold. The CD hits the streets August 23, 2005 and will be his third for the Telarc label. Corey Harris Releases New CD Corey Harris has a new album called Daily Bread. The CD has been released on the Rounder label and features 13 tracks. Sonny Landreth Releases New Live Album Sonny Landreth has a live album out, called Grant Street. The new CD has been released on the Sugar Hills label. Telluride Adds Al Green, Robert Cray, Joan Osborne The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival finalized it's 2005 lineup with the additions of Al Green, The Robert Cray Band, and Joan Osborne. The 2005 edition will be the 12th annual event, held in Telluride, Colorado September 16, 17, and 18 2005. Zooma Tour Cancelled The producers of the Zooma Tour regret to announce that this summer's tour has been canceled. Ticket refunds for all dates will be given through the outlets where the tickets were purchased. Eric Johnson Has New Album; Sets Tour Dates Eric Johnson's much anticipated new album, Bloom, will be released June 14, 2005. The new album contains sixteen tracks, and features guest performances by Shawn Colvin, Adrian Legg, and Steve Vai. Telluride Blues & Brews Announces Lineup The bulk of the lineup for the 2005 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival has been released. The 12th Annual event, will feature The Black Crowes, Maceo Parker, Susan Tedeschi, Subdudes, Sonny Landreth, Chris Thomas King, Henry Butler, Corey Harris, Alvin Younblood Hart, Mofro, Dixie Hummingbirds, Eddie Turner, Hazel Miller, Eric Lindell, plus others to be announced in the next few weeks. Fargo Blues Lineup Set, Earlybird Tickets On Sale The lineup for the 2005 Fargo Blues Festival is finalized. Earlybird tickets are on sale now for $24 until June 3, 2005. King Biscuit Blues Festival Announces 2005 Dates The 2005 King Biscuit Blues Festival will be held October 6-8, 2005 in Helena Arkansas. The festival celebrates it's 20th anniversary in 2005. North Mississippi Allstars and John Hiatt Will Tour Together The North Mississippi Allstars and John Hiatt will tour together this summer. This tour starts June 23rd in Albany, NY and ends August 4th in Oyster Bay, NY. Chris Beard Releases CD, Tour Dates Chris Beard is set to release a new live album called Live Wire!, on the NorthernBlues Music label. The CD will be available on the streets May 17, 2005. Trey Anastasio Headlines Zooma Tour Zooma Tour, a multi-stage tour will kick off on June 16th featuring Trey Anastasio`s new quintet and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals as co-headliners. The tour plans to stop at amphitheaters in at least 28 major North American markets, concluding on July 31st. Wolf Trap 2005 Summer Season Tickets On Sale April 2nd Tickets for the Wolf Trap's summer season go on sale April 2, 2005. The Wolf Trap has two separate venues. Little Freddie King Releases New CD Jimmy Thackery Releases New Album Jimmy Thackery has a new album called Healin' Ground, released on the Telarc label. The CD is available online and in stores, now. Tab Benoit Releases New CD Tab Benoit has just released a brand new album called Fever For The Bayou, on the Telarc label. The new CD is available online and in stores now, and features guest appearances by Cyril Neville (Neville Brothers), Jimmy Carpenter, and Chief Monk Boudreaux. Tinsley Ellis to Record Live Album Tinsley Ellis will record a live album March 25-26, 2005 at the Chord on Blues club located in St Charles, Illinois. The live album will be released on the Alligator Records label. Telluride Blues & Brews Tickets on Sale March 1st Tickets go on sale March 1st for the 12th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. The festival will be held September 16, 17, 18, 2005 in Telluride Colorado. Jimmy Smith: 1928-February 9, 2005 Hammond B3 organ pioneer, Jimmy Smith, died Tuesday in his Phoenix home of natural causes. He was 76 years old. Heritage Music BluesFest Announces 2005 Lineup The Heritage Music BluesFest has announced it's 2005 lineup. The 2005 event will be held August 12-14 2005, in Wheeling West Virgina. Carlos del Junco Wins Maple Blues Award, Has New CD Carlos del Junco won a Maple Blues Award for Harmonica Player of the Year. The award was presented in Toronto, January 17th 2005. Sue Foley Scores Big at Maple Blues Sue Foley was the big winner at the 2005 Maple Blues Awards presentation, held in Toronto, January 17th. Her album, Change, walked away with Recording of the Year honors. The Recording Academy Honors Blues Legends The Recoding Academy will present it's Lifetime Achievement Award to blues legends Pinetop Perkins, Janis Joplin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jelly Roll Morton, and Art Blakey. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium. Son Seals: August 14, 1942 - December 20, 2004 WC Handy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated master Chicago bluesman Son Seals, 62, died Monday, December 20 in Chicago, IL from complications due to diabetes. Buddy Guy Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame March 14, 2005, during a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York City. North Atlantic Blues Festival Announces Lineup Additions Ronnie Baker Brooks and Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin (with Pinetop Perkins) have been added to the lineup for the 2005 North Atlantic Blues Festival. The 12th annual event will be held July 10-11, 2005 in Rockland Maine. Nightcats Scheduled For Lehigh Valley Blues Festival Little Charlie & The Nightcats are scheduled to appear at the Lehigh Valley Blues Festival on July 15, 2005. Bonerama Releases New CD Bonerama's new CD, Live From New York, is scheduled to be released Novemeber 9, 2004. The album features special guests Stanton Moore and Fred Wesley. North Atlantic Blues Festival Announces Dates, Headliners The 12th Annual North Atlantic Blues Festival will be held July 9-10th, 2005 in Rockland, Maine. Little Milton will be the headliner on Saturday, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds will be the top act on Sunday. Maple Blues Awards Nominees Announced Nominees for the 8th Annual Maple Blues Awards have been announced. The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Paul Reddick Releases new CD, Villanelle Paul Reddick's new CD, titled Villanelle, will hit the streets October 5, 2004. The new release is available on the NorthernBlues label. Telluride Blues & Brews Announces 2005 Dates The 12th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will be held September 16, 17, 18, 2005. Tickets on sale Tuesday, March 1st, 2005 at 10AM MST. Tommy Castro Re-signs With Blind Pig Records Tommy Castro, one of the most popular artists to emerge on the blues scene in recent years, has signed a recording deal to rejoin the family of Blind Pig Records, the independent label that brought him to international prominence. Castro recorded his first four studio albums for Blind Pig, as well as a live CD and a DVD that was taped at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. Koko Taylor Receives National Heritage Fellowship The National Endowment For The Arts (NEA) announced that legendary blues singer Koko Taylor will be one of 12 artists to receive the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. According to the NEA, Taylor was chosen for her "artistic excellence, cultural authenticity, and contributions to [her] field. Raful Neal: June 6, 1936 - September 1, 2004 Famed Bayou bluesman, singer/harmonica player Raful Neal, died Wednesday, September 1, after a long bout with cancer. He was 68. Black Keys Release New Album The Black Keys have released a new album called Rubber Factory. The album is on the Fat Possum label, and will be available in stores September 7, 2004. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Releases Latest Album Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, who turned 80 in April 2004, has released a new album called Timeless. The album is put out on the HighTone label, and will be available in stores September 14, 2004. Bill Perry Releases New CD Bill Perry's latest CD, "Raw Deal", was released under the Blind Pig label August 31, 2004. The new CD was produced by Papa Chubby. Noble "Thin Man" Watts: February 17, 1926 - August 24, 2004 Influential R&B and jazz saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts, whose recording career began in 1954 and who shared stages with such musical luminaries as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, died on August 24 in his hometown of DeLand, Florida. He was 78. RL Burnside Releases New Album Blues ledgend RL Burnside has a new CD called A Bothered Mind. The CD will be available in stores August 17th, 2004 and is being released under the Fat Possum label. A.C. Reed May 9, 1926 - February 25, 2004 Famed Chicago-based blues saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader AC Reed, a leading elder figure and the best-known sax player of the Chicago blues scene died Wednesday, February 25, 2004, from complications due to cancer. He was 77.