Blues Foundation Board member Betsie Brown has arranged for Henry Butler to perform at a fundraiser for The Blues Foundation on Friday, November 28, 2008 @ 8 p.m. (Doors at 7:30 p.m.). The location is one of the funnest and funkiest places in downtown Memphis, The Warehouse, 36 E GE Patterson Avenue (at Front Street). Betsie's firm Blind Raccoon will be leading the get-out-the-attend effort in order to make this fundraiser a great success. Advance tickets... <more>

Twenty-two individuals and organizations will be honored with The Blues Foundation's 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award during a recognition brunch at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel Saturday, February 7, 2009 in Memphis Tennessee. The KBA ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. and will be held in conjunction with the 25th International Blues Challenge (IBC) weekend of events that will feature the semifinals and finals of the world’s largest gathering of Blues bands, as well as seminars, presentations, and receptions for Blues societies, fans and professionals. The Keeping the Blues Alive ... <more>

Blues harpist Pat Ramsey lost his battle with a long illness Novemember 17th, 2008.Considered by many to be the greatest of the Rock ‘n’ Roll harp players, Ramsey fought a long hard battle with Hepatitis C. Since his work with Johnny Winter in the late 1970s, on Winter’s White Hot & Blue CD Pat Ramsey had been playing and touring for the last 20 some years. His hot harmonica was matched only by his powerhouse vocals. Not too many could sing the Blues without trying to sound like someone else. Pat Ramsey was one of those few. Next week BluesWax will be holding our own tribute to the mas... <more>

Joe Rosen reports: "Recently, I alerted you that I was to be the “embedded photojournalist” with Bluzapalooza tour to entertain the troops in Kuwait and Iraq. Bluzapalooza is a tour of top flight modern Blues Musicians sponsored by producers Steve Simon and John Hahn, Armed Forces Entertainment, with support from The Blues Foundation, Blues labels, booking agencies, etc. www.myspace.com/bluzapalooza The trip was an amazing event that will be with me for the rest of my life. It was a special experience which I want to share. The people I traveled with were a wonder and a joy. I consider mys... <more>

Mrs. Doris Carr of Lula, Mississippi, passed away early this morning at age 80, according to long-time Carr Family friend and former Rooster Blues co-owner Patty Johnson of Clarksdale. Known by many as the beloved wife of legendary blues drummer Sam Carr, Miss Doris was also a blues singer in her own right and a care taker of other Deltans in the past. She is survived by her husband, Sam Carr -- the son of slide guitar master Robert Nighthawk and drummer of the world-famous Jelly Roll Kings. Sam and Doris Carr have been together since she was 13 years old. Mrs. Carr had been in poor health ... <more>

Legendary longtime Warner and now independent Rock ‘N’ Roll publicist Bob Merlis was honored with the 315th Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. The star was unveiled at 445 North Palm Canyon Drive at 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 8th. Robert Alexander, president of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, will preside over the event. Merlis is a music industry veteran who served for almost 30 years at Warner Bros., including as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Communications. In 2001, he started his own public relations and consulting business, M.f.h., whose clients have i... <more>

Judy Maxwell, New York, NY is the lucky member who will enjoy a cabin for two on the January 2009 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, sailing January 24-31. While technically worth thousands of dollars, its true value in music, 24/7 fun and lifetime friends is priceless. Taj Mahal, Etta James, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tommy Castro--oh the list just goes on and on as does the fun on board. She will go sailing with the likes of EG Kight, John Hammond, The Holmes Brothers, Jimmy Thackery... <more>

Blues fans will be thrilled with the many new faces filling the ballot for this year's Twelfth Annual Maple Blues Awards, Canada's national award program that promotes and recognizes outstanding achievement in blues music. Nominees from Atlantic Canada to BC have been announced for 2009 and voting begins online at www.mapleblues.ca from November 1, 2008 at 1:00 am (NFLD) until 11:59 pm (PT) December 6, 2008. The Gala Awards Ceremony will take place in Toronto at 8:30 pm on Monday, January 19, 2009. Although there is a strong showing from all across this blues land of ours, of the sixteen Ma... <more>

If you have not yet seen these hilarious videos showing what music would be like without the Blues, check them out and tell your friends. Click here. The videos are also on You Tube under "Without the Blues." Somebody is having fun!!!

You can find all the information you need about tickets, tee-shirts, travel and lodging and the schedule as we now know it here. All were posted for the first time October 1. Order and reserve early and often. !!The Doubletree is already sold out in less than 48 hours and other discounted rooms are going fast!! Don't forget that the IBC weekend starts early on Wednesday, February 4 with these three great events: 5:00-7:00 pm IBC Beale Street Meet and Greet. Beale Street Merchants Association welcomes IBC participa... <more>

2007 International Blues Challenge second-place finishers Homemade Jamz Blues Band have just rapped up an interview with Don Dotson of the Today's Show (NBC) which aired Monday, October 20. You can view here. Get the latest on Ryan, Kyle and Taya at www.hmjamzbluesband.com.

As always, Beale Street Caravan will be broadcasting portions of the 2008 Blues Music Awards. The first segments will air the weeks of October 29, November 12 and November 19. Beale Street Caravan could possibly be airing more Blues Music Award highlights this season. The schedule is posted online here Beale Street Caravan,® the most widely distributed Blues radio program in the world, attracts more than 2.4 million listeners each week. Produced in The Home of the Blues - Memphis, Tennessee - Beale Street... <more>

The International Songwriting Competition has extended its submission deadline, so if you haven't already entered, you still have a chance. If you've already entered and want to submit additional songs, you still have the opportunity to do so. All entries must be posted on or before December 1, 2008. ISC will continue to take online entries, as well as entries through the mail; the online submission platform will be open until 11:59 p.m. EST, December 1. Each year ISC is privileged to assemble an outstanding judging panel, and the 2008 competition is no exception. John Mayall, James Cotton,... <more>

The Blues Foundation has received significant grants from both the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC)and ArtsMemphis for the coming year. ArtsMemphis has been supporting The Blues Foundation for decades and we have applied for and received grants from TAC in each of the past four years, including for the first time in 2009 significant operating support. Thanks to each.

The Blues Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis have partnered to create a fund to which contributions will be accepted for the long-term endowment of The Blues Foundation. The Community Foundation has a professional staff to answer all your questions, though you should consult with your own financial planning team. For more information you may discuss with Jay Sieleman, Executive Director, at 901.527.2583 ext 12 or with Frank Horrell, CPA CFP, Director of Professional Advisor, Development at the Community Foundation at 901.722.0027. You should also consult with your... <more>

As many of you know, The Blues Machine, Koko Taylor’s band, was involved in a serious van accident near Black River Falls, Wisconsin early morning on Saturday, August 23. Some remain in the hospital and it will be awhile before they are able to return to performing. You may contribute to a fund set up for The Blues Machine members by mailing a check to The Blues Foundation, 48 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103-2492 or making an online donation here and entering Koko Taylor in the "Referred" By box Traveling w... <more>

Ruf Records announces an October 7 release date for Rich Man’s War: New Blues & Roots Songs of Peace and Protest, a 12-song CD compilation of performances from a dozen artists that brings the protest song art form into the 21st century. Produced by Kenneth Bays, editor of the internationally celebrated magazine Blues Revue, the new CD includes performances from such established blues and roots artists as Bob Brozman, Guitar Shorty, Norman & Nancy Blake, Candye Kane, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael Hill and Doug MacLeod, as well as a number of rising stars in the blues field. “The... <more>

Video of 2008 Champion Trampled Under Foot a/k/a TUF can be found here. Here is a link to some of first photos of the 2008 International Blues Challenge from Foundation member Barry R. Siegel Photography. You can view the slideshow or purchase photos. You can see some of Dusty Scott's photos at www.modernguitars.com. Stay tuned there will be more.

Creating the Mississippi Blues Trail is one of the Mississippi Blues Commission's primary projects. The Mississippi Blues Trail will be composed of scores of historical markers and interpretive sites, and will include locations throughout the state. The Trail will be developed in phases as funding becomes available. "Phase 1" of the trail will consist of 11 markers that will focus on higher profile locations. For more information and a list of markers that have already been erected, click here. A distinguished panel ... <more>

Put an ad on The Blues Foundation website and reach up to 20,000 blues consumers each month. Rates start at only $50.00 per month for a side banner ad. The Blues Foundation offers 3 locations for ads on our website: 1. Welcome Page Top Banner - this appears at the top of the welcome page, which is the 1st page most visitors to our site see. The content is usually a photograph. Ads are in a random order rotation so that a different ad appears each time the page is accessed or refreshed. Only 5 ads are now allowed in this location. The maximum size is 500W X 80H pixels. Maximum resolution is ... <more>

It is a great help to us and helps cut expenses if members look at their membership card and renew online or send a check before the month of expiration. That will save The Blues Foundation the cost of printing and mailing renewal notices.

Mental Health America is proud to announce an alliance with the Blues Foundation in the development of their first national signature event: JAMMIN’ AWAY THE BLUES, a varied musical entertainment event to be launched in late 2008. Mental health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With over 300 Affiliate locations nationwide, they represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness. And what better way to promote mental wellness than to launch... <more>

It has taken us a while to add to the initial four episodes, but we now have ten of the thirteen episodes of The Blues Radio Series hosted by Keb' Mo available on The Blues Foundation's website under the What is the Blues? icon. The remaining three episodes will be added soon. The series will be permanently located here. The series was produced by the Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions for the presenting station WGBH in Boston with major support coming from Volkswagen. This 13-part series was created as part of the ... <more>

Looking for Blues music on your radio dial. A very helpful website for finding Blues radio programs is Mary4Music. When you go to the Blewzzman's site, you might just find something more of bluesy interest to you. And check out www.MountainofBlues with host and producer Michael Cloeren. Then there is Bluesville on XM Satellite Radio with host and good friend Bill Wax.

For information on summer blues festivals. Visit Blues Festival Guide or check out the list at Blues Revue. The Blues Festival Guide lists 530+ Blues Festivals in 2007. In case you are wondering. Here's how they breakdown by month. January = 12 February = 16 March = 12 April = 20 May = 58 June = 99 July = 105 August = 102 September = 69 October = 22 November = 17 December = zero