Ahmet Ertegun Recovering From Fall

CURTIS SALGAGO UPDATE

Curtis had a scare, his abdomen swelled up tremendously and he had to go under the knife again on the originally transplanted liver. Curtis was bleeding inside. Things are under control now. He has his sister, and his lady friend, caring for him. They are still in a Omaha, NE hospital. Curtis should be back at his home by the end of the month.

Even with numerous benefits and donations assisting with medical costs it was necessary to take out a 100K loan. Additional benefits for Curtis are under consideration either in December, January, February, or March.

Meanwhile, Curtis is flirting with the medical staff, ready to get to the stage again, and continually overwhelmed with the support he has received. He is taking good care of himself, and wants everyone to know their prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

STROKE PUTS BLUESMAN IN THE HOSPITAL

Grammy Award-nominated bluesman Robert Lockwood Jr. had a stroke Friday and is recovering at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

The singer-guitarist, 91, was in stable condition Tuesday, said his wife, Mary.

Lockwood, a native of Turkey Scratch, Ark., took guitar lessons from legendary blues pioneer Robert Johnson. Lockwood has lived in Cleveland since 1960. A fixture on the local music scene, he has had a regular Wednesday night engagement at Fat Fish Blue. He performed there last week.

“He was playing good as ever,” said bassist Gene Schwartz, who has backed Lockwood since 1972.

As a solo artist, Lockwood has had a sporadic recording career. He earned Grammy nominations for a pair of albums: 1998’s “I Got to Find Me a Woman” and 2000’s “Delta Crossroads.”

He recently returned to the studio to appear on “The Way Things Go,” the latest album by singer-guitarist Cleveland Fats, aka Mark Hahn.

Lockwood has won four W.C. Handy Awards from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation, which inducted him into the Blues Hall of Fame. When he celebrated his 90th birthday in March 2005, the festivities included a sold-out tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Photo courtesy of The Blue Shoe Project

ACTION AT THE AUCTION

Memorabilia from some of the most influential musicians and songwriters of the 20th century will be headlining at Christie’s Rock and Pop Memorabilia auction on December 4 in New York. Highlights of the sale include Paul McCartney lyrics, Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, and recorded interview with John Lennon.

In 1994 Paul McCartney commented on the song, “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does, as I was beginning to find out at that time in my life. I wanted something symbolic of that, so to me it was some fictitious character called Maxwell with a silver hammer.” The lyrics were written in 1968 and soon after McCartney gave them to Barry Miles, his biographer, and a former Apple Records employee. An early working version of the composition, the last four lines of the lyrics are omitted and include deletions and alterations to the text as McCartney worked out the song’s wording (estimate: $200,000-300,000).

From one of the most genius guitar players of rock ’n’ roll legend comes a Fender Stratocaster with a sunburst finish owned by Jimi Hendrix from 1969-1970 (estimate: $80,000-120,000). The guitar has resided at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland ever since the museum opened in 1996. The guitar was modified for Hendrix’s left-handed use and seems to have been purchased for his use in the fabled Electric Lady Studios in New York. Hendrix’s mug shot will also be on the auction block— taken in May 1969 in Toronto when he was arrested for drug possession (estimate: $2,000-3,000).

A strong selection of John Lennon memorabilia is available, starting with a previously unheard and undocumented recording of an interview with Lennon that was the basis for an article in Crawdaddy magazine, March 1974 (estimate: $25,000-35,000). In this 60 minute taped interview with freelance journalists, Lennon discusses everything from his songwriting process, future plans and questions of a potential Beatles reunion, to being challenged by Nixon’s administration.

More information about Christie's sale of Rock and Pop Memorabilia can be found on www.christies.com.

MORE AUCTION ACTION

The Who drummer Keith Moon's drum kit and diaries are to be put up for auction.

The late hellraiser's handwritten diaries - one which was written in 1974, four years before he died of an accidental drug overdose aged 32 - include entries about filming 'Stardust' and 'Tommy'.

Two Premier drums are expected to fetch up to £12,000 and four Premier drumsticks could go for between £300 and £500.

A source told Britain's Daily Express newspaper: "This sale is a goldmine of collectables for fans of a man considered by many to be rock's greatest ever drummer. Who wouldn't want to own a piece of rock history?"

The sale, which coincides with The Who releasing their first album for 24 years, will be held at London's Christie's auction house on November 21.

A movie about the drummer's life is set to be filmed next year.

WE CALL THE BLUES

Beginning November 6, 25 XM music channels will stream  to Cingular handsets.  Cingular Wireless customers will be able listen to a variety of XM's popular commercial- free music channels, including Bluesville (Blues) through the XM Radio Mobile service for $8.99 per month.

Motorola customers with iRadio enable phones can receive on their cell phones  access to hundreds of commercial-free stations, including The Clear Channel's Blues Station hosted by Ben Sanders.
 

“THE CHESS RECORDS HOUR” TO DEBUT NOVEMBER 12 WITH HOST MARSHALL CHESS ON SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO

New show will air Sundays on SIRIUS Blues channel 74

NEW YORK – November 6, 2006 - Marshall Chess, of the Chess family who founded the Chicago blues music record label Chess Records, will host a new weekly blues music program exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The Chess Records Hour will air each Sunday at 12 pm ET, with a repeat broadcast on Tuesday at 5 pm ET, on commercial-free channel 74, SIRIUS Blues.

The Chess Records Hour will feature classic Chess recordings and insider stories from the heyday of the Chicago blues scene. Music industry veteran Marshall Chess will share his key knowledge of the music that played an important role in rock and roll history.

Marshall Chess also served as a producer on albums by such legendary artists as Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Fleetwood Mac and Otis Spann, and Minnie Riperton, among others.

Currently, he oversees the Arc Music Group, which administers and represents catalogues of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton.

For more information, visit www.sirius.com

One New Orleans music venue has found a way for students to enjoy more blues while spending less green.

House of Blues New Orleans has introduced Get Priority Access, a program offering special discounts to college students in Louisiana.

Students who sign up for a GPA card will receive a 20 percent discount on food and retail items at House of Blues New Orleans. The venue will also notify members by e-mail periodically with discounts on concert tickets.

The 1st National Women In Blues Festival, Saturday November 18th, 2006 in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina @ The Front Street Music Hall (formerly Marrz). The Line Up and Times are on the Calendar Below!

The show will be headlined by the Queen of Steam from San Diego, CA, Michele Lundeen.

TICKETS ON SALE SOON AT ETIX.COM. $10 in advance, $15 at the door for the Main stage and Side Stage. Side Stage only: $5 at the door.

The big news today, I just got off the phone with our friend Bill Wax, and The Blues Foundations radio show, Beyond the Delta, will premier next week on XM Satellite Radio, channel 74. Bluesville is also available on your Direct TV, channel 854.The first show will be from the Houston Blues Society. The theme music for this show was written and performed by John Richardson, 2005 Albert King Award winner, guitarist for Diunna Greenleaf and currently overseas with Otis Taylor. Please watch the news page of the website for the times of the broadcast and other blues news that you can use!

Tell a friend, tell a foe, tell everyone you know...

Joe W. Whitmer
BMA/IBC Producer
Volunteer Coordinator/Blues in the Schools
The Blues Foundation