Robert Johnson’s Son Dies in Mississippi

Claude Johnson, seated

The blues legend Robert Johnson remains an enigma; for all but two pictures are known of him (a third one is under dispute and is most probably fake), he also never left a will, and died at a young age. Yet his music shook the foundations and spawned rock n' roll.

One of his sons, Claude Johnson, was announced dead at the age of 83 in Mississippi a few days ago. Claude was the sole heir of his father's music, and under a supreme court order in 2014 to also benefit from the photograph royalties, despite heavy class action suits from relatives.

However, he didn't use these royalties to build houses or whatever, rather taking menial jobs and living a simple life.

Weekend Roundup + A Reminder

It's been a busy weekend, so I thought I'd group everything into one post:

First, we start off with some bad news.

1- Ornette Coleman, free jazz legend, dies at the age of 85. 

Ornette Coleman was known to be a breaker of conventions; a man who played a plastic Yamaha alto sax, which is alone a shocker at the time, and performing odd measures, scales, and with more and more freedom within jazz.

His album, The Shape of Jazz to Come, in 1959 was his breakthrough, and went on his never ending search of new sounds until the day he died.

Jazz truly was never the same without him. Here's an old post I wrote about him a while back.

2- My Full Interview with Urban Q8 is Out


I had a great time doing this video with Tarek of Urban Q8. I hope you guy like this video!

3- Only a Week Left for Fete de la Musique!


Remember, next week on 21 June, I will be performing with my blues band in Beirut, at Samir Kassir Square. 

Checkout the full lineup that day, and don't forget to say hi!

The Last King of the Blues is Dead; RIP B.B. King

All good things come to an end; kingdoms may rise and fall, but legacies endure the test of history.

Sad news this morning; the last king of the blues, one of the only remaining classic bluesmen, Riley B. King, most well known as B.B. King, has died at the age of 89.

I find it very difficult to grasp, that one of music's greatest pinnacles was currently in hospice and taken ill. It was inevitable, but we always don't like to admit it when the time comes.

I also had a shiver down my spine, as I performed one of his songs last night as a tribute; was it an omen?

B.B. King's legacy from his young upbringing in Mississippi, to capturing the audiences of all races and ages in the big cities is a huge success story; he won Grammys, countless Halls of Fames, hundreds of awards, and thousands of fans and proteges.

Today, we mourn the death of the last remaining King of the Blues. 

The thrill is gone, thrill is gone away.

Country Bluesman Robert Belfour Passes Away

Last year, I published a post about one of the great remaining original country blues musicians, Robert Belfour.

Sadly, it was announced on the 24th of February that he had passed away at age 74. He was not insured apparently, which is a sad reality for musicians who aren't popular with massive audiences. The Memphis Blues Society is taking donations to help his family at this time. Truly a blues story being lived.

He dedicated most of his life performing the deep roots blues, and wasn't recognized until the early 2000's when he released his major recordings. He will be missed; RIP Robert.

Here's Pushing My Luck:

Detroit Blues Queen Alberta Adams Passes Away

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The Queen of Detroit Blues Alberta Adams has passed away at the age of 97. Alberta was one of the last living blues divas who sang the deep blues.

Starting her career in the early 50's in Chicago, before settling in Detroit. She saw a major spike in popularity in her older years, even to  record her final album in 2008 at the age 91.

I have listed her in my Detroit Blues playlist post earlier.

She will be missed; RIP Alberta.

Here's one of her tunes from 1999 called 'Born With The Blues'.

Cream Bassist Jack Bruce Passes Away at 71

The music industry lost one of the greatest musicians yesterday. Jack Bruce, the voice of the band Cream of who he was also the bass player, passed away at the age of 71 in his town of Suffolk, UK.

Cream was one of the very successful blues-rock bands of the 1960's, with Eric Clapton also being in the band. They released four solo albums and were inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Jack Bruce also enjoyed a successful solo career as well as playing as a session player with major artists like Ringo Starr and Frank Zappa.

He will be truly missed for his musical contributions. Here's the 1967 hit 'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream:

Robin Williams (with Bill Bailey) Sing the Blues

RIP Robin Williams; to keep the content relevant to the blog here's Robin and Bill Bailey singing the 'Royal Birthday Blues', performed for Prince Charles' 60th birthday. It's brilliant as always.

Blues Legend Johnny Winter Passes Away at Age 70

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This is a truly sad day for the blues; the blues and guitar legend Johnny Winter has passed away at the age of 70. No cause of death has been announced, but Johnny was in a frail state of health for a while.

Johnny Winter was a pioneer in the world of guitar playing and the blues; his unique guitar sound and skills along side his gritty voice led him to stardom in the mid-60's, performing at Woodstock in 1969 and has released 20 albums, including the seminal 'Johnny Winter' and 'Second Winter'.

He was instrumental in the huge comeback of bluesman Muddy Waters, releasing four albums (one of them live) on Blue Sky Records and he was featured on all four, three of them winning Grammy awards.

He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and in 2003, and is ranked 63rd in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". 

It is a truly sad day and it will have a huge impact on the world of music. 

Here are a few videos of Johnny in action; Rest in Peace and May the Blues Be With You.

Jazz Icon Horace Silver Passes Away

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Some sad news today; jazz legend and hard bop icon Horace Silver passed away last night at the age of 85.

Horace Silver was a staple and pillar of the hard bop jazz movement, up there with other Blue Note artist Art Blakey. His Hispanic roots led him to have some Latin influence in his music as well.

I wrote about Horace a while back; it's is pretty hard news to hear honestly; the giants of jazz are so few in number already.

Rest in Peace Horace. Here's a live video of "Song for My Father":

Flamenco Guitar Genius Paco de Lucia Dead at 66

The great flamenco guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucia has passed away in Mexico today. He was 66.

de Lucia, from Spain, was a very influential guitarist, and was known as an ambassador of flamenco music. He also played flamenco jazz and fusion music. He has performed with dozens of musicians, including Chick Corea, Al di Meola, John McLaughlin, Eric Clapton, Brian Adams, and many more.

It's a sad loss for music today. Rest in Peace Paco.

Here's a video of Paco performing in a recent jazz festival:

Blues Pianist Aaron Moore Dead at 95

Blues pianist Aaron Moore, the last Mississippi born pianist in Chicago, is dead at 95.

He was a well-known session player in the heyday of Chicago's blues, backing many of the famous players for 36 years. However he didn't achieve star status like his compatriots, rather retiring in the early 80's to be with his family.

However, in the 90's he went back to music and released two albums, one in 1996 and another in 1999 under the Delmark label with success.

Rest in peace Aaron, hope you are having fun with all the other bluesmen up in heaven.

Here's the title track from his 1996 debut album "Hello World":

Bluesman T-Model Ford Passes Away

Last night, delta bluesman T-Model Ford (real name James Lewis Carter Ford) passed away from respiratory failure. I wrote about him last year, mentioning that though he can't really remember his birthday, it's somewhere around the late 80's.

He was one of the last pure delta bluesmen, living a hard blues life (alcoholism, killing a man and spending two years in jail, marrying six women and fathering twenty six children), and only learned guitar at the age of 58.

He became popular in the 70's and kept performing and recording until his death.

RIP to a true bluesman.

Here's one of his songs, a cover of Howlin' Wolf's 'Asked Her for Water':

Bluesman Texas Johnny Brown Dies

Another sad day for the blues as Houston blues legend 'Texas' Johnny Brown passed away last night July 1st, at the age of 85.

He was diagnosed with liver cancer but he refused to get chemotherapy; he died peacefully in his sleep.

The bluesman has been a staple of the Houston blues scene since his arrival from Mississippi with his dad, a blind blues musician, at the age of 10. Johnny worked with his father for some time before beginning a successful solo career. 

Here's one of his blues standards called "There Goes the Blues", which in this sad day, is very true. RIP Johnny.

Bobby 'Blue' Bland Passes Away

Bobby Blue Bland in 2011
Source: Rick Diamond/Getty Images North America

The highly influential rhythm & blues musician Bobby 'Blue' Bland has passed away on Sunday June 24th, at the age of 83. Bobby Bland was known to be "The Sinatra of the Blues", as his style was more soulful and classy as opposed of the raw blues of the 50's era.

He was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and recieved a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

His most famous song is 'Farther Up The Road' which hit #1 on the US R n' B chart in 1957, which you can see a live version of below.

RIP Bobby and thanks for the music!