Living Blues - Issue 280 - September 2022

98 Pages·2022·28 MB·English

Let It Roll with Blind Blake
®
©
Issue #280 •Vol. 53, #5
MR.SIPP
Bringing Gospel
to the
Blues Stage
EB DAVIS
MELODY ANGEL
LARRY LAMPKIN
DYLAN TRIPLETT
$6.95 US $6.95 CAN
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LIVING BLUES
Issue #280
Mr. Sipp ........................................10
I Never Really Left Gospel . . . I Brought
Gospel to the Blues Stage
By Scott Barretta
In 2013 Mr. Sipp, “The Mississippi Blues Child,” seemed to come out of
nowhere and reached the IBC finals in Memphis. But Castro Coleman
was already a well-established name in the gospel scene in Mississippi;
he was just rebranding himself as a blues artist. Over the past decade
he has used the skills he learned in gospel to wow the blues world.
EB Davis .......................................22
Ambassador of the Blues
By Bill Kopp
Vocalist EB Davis grew up in the Arkansas Delta and built his career in
the clubs of Memphis and New York. But, after an army deployment
to Germany, Davis settled in there to become one of the most popular
blues artists in Europe.
Melody Angel ................................30
It’s a Healing Thing
By David Whiteis
Guitarist Melody Angel is one of the top rising young stars
on the Chicago blues scene. Her dynamic guitar playing and
energetic live shows have quickly made her a crowd favorite.
Larry Lampkin ...............................36
I Couldn’t Get That Backbeat
Groove Out of My Head
By Scott M. Bock
Texan Larry Lampkin came to the blues late, guided by a
dollar store Freddie King CD. Mentored by U.P. Wilson and
Ray Reed, the young guitarist was soon a budding bluesman.
Within a few years he was on tour with Vernon Garrett and
over the last decade has focused on his own career.
Let It Roll .....................................42
Blind Blake – Paramount Records, Richmond,
Indiana, August 17, 1929
By Jas Obrecht
Blind Blake is one of the most skillful guitarists in the history of the
blues. His remarkable guitar runs and seemingly effortless playing
continue to amaze listeners today. By August of 1929 Blake was one of
Paramount Records’ most popular artists, and for this session they paired
him with Detroit’s premier pianist Charlie Spand. The result was some of
Blake’s best sides including one of his most popular, Diddie Wa Diddie.
Record Reviews
New Releases: Shemekia Copeland, Harrison
Kennedy, and Wallace Coleman ....... 46
Reissues: Phil Guy, Jackie Brenston,
and Syl Johnson & Smokey Smothers ... 74
Editorial ............................2 Cover photo by Bill Steber
Blues News ............ .. .. .. .. ......5 Mr. Sipp, July 7, 2022.
Breaking Out: Dylan Triplett ..............8
Contents photo by Marilyn Stringer
Obituaries .......................... 84
Mr. Sipp at the Bradenton Blues Festival,
Radio Charts ....... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 92 Bradenton, Florida, December 1, 2018.
EDITORIAL
Living Blues
The Magazine of the
T
African American Blues Tradition
his has been the hottest and driest summer I can remember in Mississippi—and that is vol. 53, no. 5 • September 2022
saying a lot. It’s Mississippi. We spent over two months with virtually no rain and heat
editor Brett J. Bonner
indexes over 100 every day. Thankfully our heat dome broke this week and temps are down,
art director Susan Bauer Lee
and the three inches of rain we received were welcome. Speaking of hot, this issue’s cover artist,
publication manager Melanie Young
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman), is one of the hottest stars in the blues these days. After exploding
onto the scene at the 2013 IBC competition in Memphis, Mr. Sipp has become a crowd favorite. associate editor Robin C. Dietrick
He took all of the skills he learned after spending decades in the gospel world and turned that contributing editor Jim O’Neal
into the basis for his electrifying blues shows. His journey into the blues world is a unique and founding editors
fascinating one. Jim O’Neal and Amy van Singel
Other features in this issue include Arkansas’ EB Davis who is now one of the most popular contributing writers
blues acts in Europe, Chicago’s Melody Angel who is one of the hottest young rising stars on Scott Barretta, Michael Cala, Henry Carrigan,
Robert H. Cataliotti, Steve Cheseborough,
the local blues scene, Texas’ Larry Lampkin, and “Let It Roll” focuses on Blind Blake’s August 17, Mark Coltrain, Margo Cooper, Jim DeKoster,
1929, Paramount recording session. Dan Erlewine, Michael Erlewine, Rod Evans,
Deitra Farr, Robert Feuer, Jeff Forlenza, Paul Garon,
There are several things from the Living Blues family I need to mention. First, one of LB’s Roger Gatchet, Tim Ghianni, Wayne Goins,
founders, Paul Garon, died on July 26. Paul was the oldest of the founders and was the one most Jeff Hannusch, Lee Hildebrand, Mark Humphrey,
Michael Hurtt, Stephen A. King, Jon Kleinman,
focused on pre-war blues. He was responsible for many articles and certainly the strangest feature Bill Kopp, Matt R. Lohr, Peter Lowry,
ever—“Surrealism and Blues” in LB #25. Garon was the author of several books including Blues Alex McCarthy, Robert Marovich, Frank Matheis,
Justin O’Brien, Jim O’Neal, Jas Obrecht,
and the Poetic Spirit, Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie’s Blues (with wife, Beth Garon),
Barry Lee Pearson, Steven Sharp, Mike Stephenson,
The Devil’s Son-In-Law: The Story of Peetie Wheatstraw and His Songs, What’s the Use of Roger Stephenson, Robert Stone,
Michael Tisserand, Gene Tomko, Elijah Wald,
Walking If There’s a Freight Train Going Your Way? Black Hobos and Their Songs (with
David Whiteis, Roger Wood, Melanie Young,
Gene Tomko), as well as several books on the surrealist movement. He was a gentle giant and a Lee Zimmerman
good friend, always willing to share his knowledge or his amazing 78 r.p.m. collection. We will contributing photographers
have a tribute to Paul in the next issue. Robert Barclay, Stuart Brinin,
Brett J. Bonner, Margo Cooper, Tom Davis,
Early Living Blues contributor and the founder of Trix Records Peter Lowry died on June 29. John De Leon, James Fraher, Erika Goldring,
Pete started scouring the Southeast in 1969 researching and recording regional blues artists like Phillip Gould, Noel Grigalunas, Paul Harris,
John Hart, Peter M Hurley, Michael Kurgansky,
Peg Leg Sam, Willie Trice, Roy Dunn, Frank Edwards, Guitar Shorty, and expanded his scope to Axel Küstner, Paul LaRaia, Erik Lindahl,
include Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lockwood Jr., Homesick James, and many others. He moved Bibiana Huang Matheis, David Rae Morris,
Jerry Novick, Rick Olivier, Pertti Nurmi,
to Australia in 1995 but continued to write about the blues, contributing numerous articles and Marc PoKempner, John Rockwood,
reviews to LB, as well as other blues publications. An obituary for Pete Lowry can be found on Joseph A. Rosen, Anthony Scarlati,
David Shepherd, Brian Smith, Bill Steber,
page 85.
Roger Stephenson, Robert Stone, Gene Tomko,
This issue’s feature on Larry Lampkin marks our final contribution from writer Scott Bock. Jack Vartoogian, Linda Vartoogian, Melanie Young
Scott died last year on August 23, 2021, but he was so prolific in his contributions that it has magazine consultant Samir Husni PhD
taken me a year to get through my backlog of stories from him. Scott is greatly missed. Printed in the USA.
Bluesman Phil Wiggins has cancer and he and his family are struggling financially with
Living Blues (ISSN 0024-5232) is published
medical bills, as well as having to move into a more accessible home. For further information on bi-monthly by Center for the Study of Southern
Wiggins or to contribute, visit his GoFundMe page at gofund.me/17bb1d1a. Culture, POB 1848, University, Mississippi 38677.
Periodical postage paid at University, MS. and
And last, please continue to be careful out there. Over the past month, two of our writers additional mailing offices. All rights reserved.
have contracted COVID-19 and have had a rough time recovering. Reprinting, in whole or part, is expressly
prohibited without written permission.
Brett J. Bonner director Kathryn B. McKee
blues archive J.D. Williams Library
Editor
blues archivist Greg Johnson
contact information
Living Blues
South Oxford Center • PO Box 1848
University, MS 38677
[email protected] • fax: [phone]
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2
• LIVING BLUES • September 2022
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B L U E S N E W S
Chicago Blues Festival Makes a Vibrant Return
Including a Powerful Women in Blues Tribute to Mary Lane
The 2022 Chicago Blues Festival returned to place alongside the greatest still-performing PET
Millennium Park June 9–12 for the first time legends of Chicago blues. As Buddy Guy has ER
M
since 2020. Stages included the beautiful out- proclaimed, “Mary Lane is the real deal.” . H
U
door Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a Visit Mississippi Jump-starting the tribute’s big lineup, R
Juke Joint Stage, and the debut of Rosa’s singer Lynne Jordan dedicated her soaring LEY
Lounge blues tent that showcased many of rendition of the national anthem to all African
this club’s star performers. These venues host- American military veterans. She then intro-
ed Chicago’s best: Joe Pratt & SourceOneBand duced a blistering all-woman band: Sherry
with New Orleans Beau, Mike Wheeler Band, Weathersby on bass, Andrea Moore-Demartra
Toronzo Cannon, Linsey Alexander, Ronnie on keyboards, Anne Harris on electric fiddle,
Baker Brooks, and Billy Branch & the Sons of and the program’s dynamic musical director,
Blues. Top of the line out-of-staters Mr. Sipp,
P
Ms. Jody, Annika Chambers, Johnny Rawls, ET
ER
Cedric Burnside, and many others headlined M
with the Chicagoans. The “Emerging Artists” . HU
R
spotlight shined on standouts Ivy Ford, Joey J. LEY
Saye, Jamiah Rogers, and Nick Alexander, the
son of Linsey.
Amid a number of group programs, Mary Lane.
the Women in Blues tribute to Mary Lane
electrified closing day performances. With the
recent release of her Travelin’ Woman on Johnson, and Demetria Taylor (the 2022
Women of the Blues Records, the making of recipient of Jus Blues Music Foundation’s
the documentary on her life I Can Only Be Koko Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Award for
Mary Lane, and having been named Living Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage) com-
Blues Magazine’s 2020 “Comeback Artist of manded their moments with scintillating solo
the Year,” octogenarian Lane has taken her vocal turns. The extravaganza culminated in
“Mama Mary” Lane’s center stage offering of
P
ET her signature song, I Don’t Want No Man
ER M Telling Me What to Do. With the band’s
. H Anne Harris and Donna Herula. brilliant key change signaling the finale,
U
RLEY Sheryl Youngblood, on drums. Guest vocal- MWaormy asneg!,u uedrg iinngto t hthee e cnltairses irco astnetrh oemf v oI’mca lais ts
ists Donna Herula, also on dobro, Peaches to join her on stage in an all-out blues shout.
Staten, and Sharon Lewis with guitarist Ivy With this, women’s stature in blues music
Ford alternately fronted this unit. This open- was celebrated in all its glory.
ing “traditional segment” band was in finely With a proclamation from the City of
tuned form. “Tight enough to tour!” declared Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared this
Youngblood at a Delmark Records’ Riverside June 12th as Mary Lane Day. Lane’s publicist
Studio rehearsal organized by CEO and pro- and co-owner of her record label Lynn Orman
gram producer Julia A. Miller. This ensemble’s said, “Mary is so grateful for this honor. It’s
arrangement of Junior Parker’s Mystery Train truly a blues story. On this day of her recogni-
was a showstopper. tion her youngest sister passed away; her only
Following this hot set, Demetria Taylor’s living sibling.” Holding back tears, Mary offered
band then backed the continuing talent that “Blues is a feeling. You have good and bad
parade of women blues belters: Laretha that’s how I sing the blues, from my heart. “
Ivy Ford and Sharon Lewis. Weathersby, Nora Jean Wallace, Shirley —Peter M. Hurley
5
September 2022 • LIVING BLUES •
BLUES NEWS
THE
2022 Jus Blues Music Awards
by Jim DeKoster
dozens
Held in Tunica
JIM
A
LEX
A
The 2022 Jus Blues Music Awards were held in ND
Tunica, Mississippi, on August 4. Honorees at ER
this year’s event included Eric Gales, D.K. Harrell, When featured artist EB Davis chose to establish
Demetria Taylor, Bobby Patterson, Barbara residence in Berlin rather return to the USA, he
Morrison, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Tia Carroll, was following a path that has been taken by a
Melvin Harden, Shirley Jones, Jessie Thompson, substantial number of Black American artists,
Lee King, Gregg A. Smith, James “Boogaloo” including the dozen listed here:
Bolden, Rojene Bailey, Alabama Mike, R.L.
Griffin, and Tucka. Lonnie Johnson – b. New Orleans, Louisiana
For further details go to www.jusblues.org/ Tia Carroll and presenter (1899); d. Toronto, Canada (1970)
Carlton Turner.
honorees-2022.html. Irene Scruggs – b. Lamont, Mississippi (1901);
Eric Gales. JIM JIM JIM d. Trier, West Germany (1981)
ALEX ALEX ALEX Curtis Jones – b. Naples, Texas (1906); d.
A A A Munich, Germany (1971)
N N N
D D D
ER ER ER Jack Dupree – b. New Orleans, Louisiana
(1910); d. Hannover, Germany (1992)
Eddie Boyd – b. Shelby, Mississippi (1914); d.
Helsinki, Finland (1994)
Memphis Slim – b. Memphis, Tennessee (1915);
Alabama Mike and Presenter Robyn Sykes and d. Paris, France (1988)
presenter Carlton Turner. Mel Harden of Mel & Tim.
Arthur Prysock – b. Spartanburg, South
Chicago Blues Bootcamp Carolina (1924); d. Hamilton, Bermuda (1997)
Willie Mabon – b. Memphis, Tennessee (1925);
d. Paris, France (1985)
Returns to Live Instructions
Willie Littlefield – b. El Campo, Texas (1931);
d. Leusden, The Netherlands (2013)
Nina Simone – b. Tryon, North Carolina
bCluheisc amgou sBicluiaens iBnosotrtuccatmorps,, freeastuumrinedg wbuosrilnde-cslsa ss PETER M (1933); d. Carry-le-Rouet, France (2003)
May 29–June 3. Harp virtuoso Billy Branch; . H Mel Brown – b. Jackson, Mississippi (1939); d.
guitarist-vocalists John Primer, Dave Specter, UR Kitchener, Canada (2009)
Billy Flynn, Joanna Connor, Johnny Burgin; and LEY Arthur Conley – b. Atlanta Georgia (1946); d.
bassists Bob Stroger and Harlan Terson met Ruurlo, The Netherlands (2003)
with students face-to-face for workshops for the
first time since 2020. “It was truly a blessing to
be back!” exclaimed Primer. “Not hearing the
blues live for so long affects all of us. This mu- Corrections and Amplifications
sic will heal you and the people really needed
Billy Flynn, Johnny Burgin, and Bob Stroger
to be healed. We all felt so good to see each Thanks to Jim O’Neal for providing this fur-
other and enjoy the music again.” performing at the student graduation ther information for an obituary in LB #279:
performance, Rosa’s Lounge, June 2, 2022.
The week was capped off at Rosa’s Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson)
Lounge where proprietor Tony Mangiullo rolled out the red carpet for student ensembles to per- was born on July 1, 1936, in Benton County,
form on his historic 38-year-old stage with blues veteran Marty Binder on drums. Stroger, Flynn, Mississippi.
and Burgin, instructors who were in attendance to support the students, joined Binder on an
impromptu short set. Sonny Rhodes was inducted into the
Bootcamp director Scott Weil was glad to get live operations back. “Up-close contact with Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame in Edmonton,
these great blues artists is an invaluable experience. Now past the pandemic, we’re back as Alberta, Canada, in 2015, not the Canadian
intended; in-person.” Blues Hall of Fame as we stated in his obitu-
Chicago Blues Bootcamps take place annually, designed for the week leading up to the ary on p. 91of LB #278.
Chicago Blues Festival. For info on future camps and more, visit chicagobluesnetwork.com.
—Peter M. Hurley
6
• LIVING BLUES • September 2022
ARTIST TO ARTIST
JA
N
R JH- It was my dream since I was four years
A
SM old. I fell in love with Thor, the God of
U
S-LIPP TI hlouvnedde hr.i mIt .w I ajsu sat ckonmewic Ib wooask gchoianragc ttoer maneedt
ELS him. I was focused on Scandinavia ever since
I was four. I had a disco band, because I
thought I was Donna Summer. [laughs] I got
us a job in Japan. Then we were working in
Las Vegas. One night an agent was in the
audience looking for a band to work at a fa-
mous club in Switzerland called Hazyland. So,
we went to Switzerland. Then a buyer heard
about us and asked us to come to Norway.
I was in heaven. We were working the SAS
hotels in Norway. I met this Norwegian guy.
He became my third husband. I met him in
1980. I married him in 1981 and divorced him
in 1982. But I stayed in Norway. Then I went
to Sweden for a year because I got a gig over
there. Then I went back to Norway, gigging
Janice Harrington around. I still enjoyed being in Scandinavia.
When I got the chance to come to Germany,
I got to play with the NDR Big Band in
Hamburg. I fell in love with Hamburg. I real-
ized it was better for me to be closer on the
continent, where I could work in different
we were singing to a group and this one countries. So, coming to Germany was a
By Deitra Farr boy was sleeping. They said, “Go to him, good move. Then I met trombonist Werner
go to him.” I went over to him, bent down Gürtler, who was playing at the Cotton Club
and sang into his ear, “I’m gonna do all the in Hamburg. He is my best friend, I trust him,
things for you, a man could want a girl to there is romance, he’s got a great sense of
DF- Janice, you have lived a lot in your 80 do, oh baby.” And he woke up and said, “An humor and brains.
amazing years. angel, a Black angel!” And I took him in my
arms. Girl I was crying and he was crying. DF- So, how long have you and Werner been
JH- Yes, I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and He really touched me. married?
we moved to Los Angeles, California, when I So going to Southeast Asia, Scotland,
was eight years old. My father and my brother Ireland, Newfoundland, Iceland, Panama JH- Thirty-four years!!
were both military career men. There was Canal, I really, really traveled around. And I
never a male presence at home. I often won- loved it. It was a big risk, because I had five DF- You finally got it right. [laughs]
dered what the mystery was. Why weren’t kids when I went over there.
they there? I needed to see it for myself. DF- What? How did you pull that off? JH- Hallelujah!! [laughs]
DF- So you started your international sing- JH- My mother always took care of me and DF- In 2018 you were a finalist on the first
ing career with the USO [United Service my kids. She was always in my corner. season of The Voice Senior (Germany)
Organizations], performing for the US military? Without my mother I couldn’t have done television show. I saw the clip of you singing
none of this. So, you know about my four Hound Dog on there.
JH- Yes. I actually saw an article in the Variety husbands. The first time I got married I was
magazine. They were auditioning for the USO, 15 years old. My mother said I had to get JH- Yes, I decided to audition and I passed
so I made an appointment. The audition was married because I was pregnant. Then after it. I thought any exposure on television
at the Hollywood Bowl and Jimmy Shelton, two kids we broke up. Then I went to live would be helpful. Now my new CD is out,
the boss of the West Coast office, liked me. with my mother. Then we got back together Janice Harrington—80 Years of
He said he would love to program me to for a short time and we had a third child. International Friendship. It’s got 16 songs.
some of the different areas. I went to Vietnam Then with my second husband I had twins I wrote 14 of the songs. I was determined to
three times. and I was 25 years old. He was a wonderful get them all out and all together on one CD.
I went to Southeast Asia a couple man and I was a little bitch. I apologized to Seven blues tracks and seven singer-song-
of times and there we played the hospital him later. I asked for his forgiveness and he writer tracks. I work all over the world. Call
tours. That was pretty heavy to go into said all is forgiven. me. Age is only a number. I am 80 and still
these hospitals and see these young boys all ready to rock the house!
jacked up. I remember one experience where DF- So, how did you end up in Norway?
7
September 2022 • LIVING BLUES •
BREAKING OUT
DYLAN TRIPLETT actually show people that you are a force to
be reckoned with.’”
Fortunately, Triplett’s perseverance paid
off. He became a fixture on the local St. Louis
music scene, and eventually, he made his way
to Memphis, Clarksdale, and Little Rock, wow-
Determining His Destiny
ing audiences along the way. With a vocal
dexterity that spans four and a half octaves
and a repertoire that melds blues, R&B, soul,
and jazz, he blends a reverence for the roots
to me,” he recalls. “He hosted this local with his obvious ability.
By Lee Zimmerman music competition, and the object was to see “I knew I had to kick it into high gear,”
who would draw the biggest crowd. So, I was he reflects. “And I knew that I needed to suc-
there performing one night, and thinking I ceed, or else I was gonna fail in this business.
was doing really well, but this other performer And I did not want to fail.” Even now, he
Age isn’t always a measure of talent. One ended up winning the competition. It broke credits others with helping him find his direc-
need only point to artists such as Stevie my heart that I had lost. But Skeet encouraged tion. “My stepdad kind of threw me in the
Wonder, Michael Jackson, Jonny Lang, and me not to give up. Even though my feelings wringer,” he says. “My stepdad played a big
most recently, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram were hurt and I was discouraged, he told me part in making sure that I was sharp, espe-
to appreciate the fact that youth can spawn I needed to keep going. So that’s what I did. I cially when it came to doing the right things
immense ability and creativity. And yet, when kept going. And from that point on, it started at the right time. He was a very punctual
it comes to the blues, the music often seems to make sense. It was in that moment, that person. He didn’t like being late. He didn’t
to demand a certain authority that’s best I felt, ‘Okay, I think I understand it now. It’s like missing things. He didn’t like any of that.
expressed by someone with seniority. not just about singing this stuff. You’ve got to So that kind of rubbed off on me. It changed
Consequently, it does draw notice when a
remarkably young individual like Dylan Triplett
Dylan Triplett, Clarksdale, Mississippi,
comes along. He began singing in earnest at
May 7, 2022.
the age of nine and performing professionally
when he was 15, initially in the company of his
stepfather and his uncle, both of whom were
professional jazz musicians. However, his desire
to sing the blues was spurred by a performance
he witnessed by singer/guitarist Carolyn Mason
at the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, the
city where he was raised. Mason, in turn, was
so impressed with his talents that she asked
him to sing with her even though he was only
in his mid-teens.
That was in 2016. Now, at age 22,
Triplett (born August 14, 2000) has a record-
ing contract with VizzTone Records, which
this past July released his debut album, a
set of songs aptly titled Who Is He? The
remarkable showcase for a young artist was
produced by Grammy Award–winning bassist
Larry Fulcher and features an all-star support-
ing cast: guitarist/co-producer/LB contributing
writer Dr. Wayne Goins; the aforementioned
“Kingfish” Ingram, Johnny Lee Schell, Sean
McDonald, and St. Louis native Tru Born on
guitars; jazz drummer Montez Coleman; veter-
an Mike Finnigan and Ryan Marquez on keys;
renowned percussionist Lenny Castro; and Joe
Sublett and Kyle Turner on saxophones.
Looking back on it all, Triplett says he
can still remember the moment in which he
R
realized that he was meant to make music his GE
N
career. “I was performing at this place in St. RI
T
Louis, and it was there that this dude named N S
Y
Charles ‘Skeet’ Rodgers became like a mentor RIL
A
M
8
• LIVING BLUES • September 2022