News

ALLIGATOR RECORDS AND ARTISTS CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE AND JANIVA MAGNESS ALL NAMED BLUES MATTERS (UK) INTERNATIONAL WRITER'S POLL WINNERS

Alligator Records, currently bringing its 40th anniversary to a close, was named Best International Record Label in the Blues Matters (UK) International Writer's Poll. Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite won the award for Best Harmonica, and singing sensation Janiva Magness took the award for Best Vocalist.

Musselwhite's latest CD, The Well, received a Grammy nomination. Living Blues said, "The Well features full-toned Memphis-to-Chicago harp chops and is filled with soul-stirring, spiritual uplift and hard-won, life-affirming blues wisdom."

Magness, winner of four Blues Music Awards (including the 2009 award for Entertainer Of The Year), is currently putting the finishing touches on a new CD due for release in Spring of 2012. Her previous album, 2010's The Devil Is An Angel Too, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Chart The CD also debuted as the #1 blues CD at iTunes.

BLUES LEGEND LONNIE BROOKS TO RECEIVE "MUSICAL GIANT" AWARD FROM ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY

Blues legend Lonnie Brooks will be presented with a coveted "Musical Giant" Award on November 19, 2011 during the annual Black & Gold Ball hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The event will take place at the Double Tree Hotel located at 5000 W. 127th Street in Alsip, IL.

Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is the oldest African American fraternity in the United States. Founded in 1906 at Cornell University, they now have college and alumni chapters across the country. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was among the organization's more notable members. The Black & Gold Ball generates revenue for academic scholarships for deserving minority students in the Chicagoland area.

ALLIGATOR RECORDS SIGNS AWARD-WINNING BLUES LEGEND

JOE LOUIS WALKER

NEW ALBUM SET FOR JANUARY 2012 RELEASE

Alligator Records is pleased to announce the signing of celebrated guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Joe Louis Walker, the man Blues Revue called "one of contemporary blues' most dynamic and innovative musicians, who releases consistently exciting music. No matter what he's singing, Walker's approach is soulful, heartfelt and spellbinding." According to Living Blues, he is "one of today's modern musical masters." Walker's Alligator debut will be released in January of 2012.

Alligator president Bruce Iglauer is thrilled to have Walker on board. "Joe Louis Walker is one of the most exciting and passionate bluesmen of his generation. He's a major talent whose music speaks to both blues and rock fans. We're excited to help bring his music to a larger audience than ever."

And Walker's in full agreement. "Alligator has clearly been one of the most important blues labels of our time and I am proud to say that I am an Alligator artist. I look forward to being part of the Alligator family."

Over his 27-year career, Walker has released 24 albums and toured worldwide. He won four Blues Music Awards, including the 2010 Album Of The Year Award for Between A Rock And A Hard Place (Stony Plain Records), and has been nominated for 43 more. He's also recorded as a guest with some of the blues world's best-known artists, including appearances on Grammy-winning records by B.B. King and James Cotton.

Fans and critics have been celebrating Walker for years. Living Blues said, "His fretwork is indelibly stamped with his own trademark blend of emotional heat and impeccable precision -- even at his most flamboyant, Walker sounds as if he's playing ideas, not just notes."

The New York Times raved, "Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. He delivers no-nonsense, gutsy blues. His voice is weather-beaten but ready for more; his guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair."

JJ GREY & MOFRO NOMINATED FOR PRESTIGIOUS MAPLE BLUES AWARD

JJ Grey & Mofro, whose new DVD/CD Brighter Days was called "compelling swamp-funk" by The New York Times, received a nomination for a coveted Maple Blues Award in the B.B. King International Artist Of The Year category. The Maple Blues Awards are Canada's only national blues awards. The goal of the awards is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Winners of the 15th Annual Maple Blues Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Toronto on January 16, 2012.

ALLIGATOR RECORDS DOWNLOADS NOW AVAILABLE ON FACEBOOK

Alligator Records has entered into an agreement with digital distribution company ONErpm to sell single song and full album downloads directly from Alligator artists' Facebook fan pages. Currently, 38 full Alligator artist albums are available for purchase, with many more to follow. Albums cost $9.99 and individual tracks are $0.99. Artists include Michael "Iron Man" Burks, Tommy Castro, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, James Cotton, Tinsley Ellis, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, JJ Grey & Mofro, Guitar Shorty, The Holmes Brothers, Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Janiva Magness and Anders Osborne.

Alligator was introduced to ONErpm's services through A2IM, the American Association Of Independent Music. A2IM is an organization of independent music labels that promotes business opportunities, provides advocacy and representation as well as networking opportunities for the independent label community. Alligator president and founder Bruce Iglauer sits on A2IM's Board of Directors. Iglauer says, "This is another way that A2IM is helping independent labels network with new technology services to make independent music more available in the very fast-changing world of music retailing."

ALLIGATOR RECORDS SIGNS VOCALIST/HARMONICA ICON CURTIS SALGADO

Alligator Records is pleased to announce the signing of soul singer/songwriter/harmonica icon Curtis Salgado. Salgado, winner of the Blues Music Award for 2010 Soul Blues Artist Of The Year, will release his label debut in Spring of 2012. Blues Revue says, "Salgado is one of the most down-to-earth, soulful, honest singers ever, and his harmonica work is smoking and thoroughly invigorating. He plays rollicking soul-rock...funky and electrifying." Salgado tours constantly, and is among the most energetic performers in the blues world. 

Originally from Everett, WA, Salgado grew up in Eugene, OR. He was featured vocalist of the original Robert Cray Band and later spent time as lead vocalist with Roomful of Blues and Santana. He has released a total of seven solo albums and has built a legion of fans worldwide. In 2008 Salgado overcame serious health issues and has returned stronger than ever.

TWO ALLIGATOR ARTISTS NOMINATED FOR BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE AWARDS

Harmonica giant Charlie Musselwhtie and soul/R&B singer Janiva Magness have been nominated for Blues Blast Magazine Awards. Musselwhite received two nominations, Magness received one.

Winners will be announced at the Blues Blast Awards Show on October 27, 2011 at Buddy Guy's Legends, 700 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL.

NOMINEES:

Charlie Musselwhite

The Well, Traditional Album Of The Year

The Well, Song Of The Year

Janiva Magness

Female Blues Artist Of The Year

ALLIGATOR RECORDS CONTINUES 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

WITH LAUNCH OF NEWLY REVAMPED WEBSITE

Alligator Records, currently in the midst of its year-long 40th anniversary celebration, relaunched its website on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Visitors to www.alligator.com will find song previews for all tracks, a new jukebox, a fully redesigned store and other features. The site will also be smartphone friendly. To celebrate, the label will host a month-long 20%-off sale.

JJ GREY TO PREMIERE BRIGHTER DAYS DOCUMENTARY AT NEW YORK'S CITY WINERY ON SEPTEMBER 13

North Florida funk, blues, swamp rocker JJ Grey will celebrate the release of his first ever live DVD/CD 2-disc set, Brighter Days, with a screening of the film at New York's City Winery on release date, September 13, 2011. Grey will then give a solo performance and, along with filmmaker Spookie Daly, take questions from the audience.

Shot in stunning HD and boasting 5.1 surround sound, the Brighter Days DVD finds JJ (vocals, guitar and harmonica) and his band Mofro - Andrew Trube on lap steel and electric guitar, Anthony Farrell on organ and piano, Art Edmaiston on saxophone, Dennis Marion on trumpet, Todd Smallie on bass and Anthony Cole on drums -- swimming in and out of thick grooves and hot, funky riffs. JJ prowls the stage, ripping notes from his guitar, singing with preacher-like conviction, telling stories overflowing with organic truths, breaking down the wall between audience and performer. "I've always felt that music opens the door," says Grey, "but we've got to walk though it together." The 2-hour DVD and 78-minute CD were recorded at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse in January 2011.

The New York Times praised JJ's "balance of wildness and cool" describing his music as "Southern swamp rock with undercurrents of Memphis soul. His songs chronicle ambiguous truths and unambiguous urges," delivered by Grey's "winningly uncontrived vocals." Likewise, Billboard touted Grey's "world-beating blend of Southern rock, blues and Florida swamp soul." Singing with a passion and fervor directly influenced by his classic soul heroes, Grey's deeply personal original songs are steeped in the rhythm & blues, rock, and country soul of his native home outside Jacksonville, Florida.

JJ GREY'S BRIGHTER DAYS TO BE FEATURED ON A&E'S THE GLADES ON AUGUST 7, 2011

 In other JJ Grey news,  A&E television's The Glades will feature Grey's original song Brighter Days on Sunday, August 7, 2011. The song will play over the closing montage of the episode.

HOUND DOG TAYLOR'S SONG SITTING AT HOME ALONE TO BE FEATURED IN NEW DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO VIDEO GAME

Blues legend Hound Dog Taylor, Alligator Records' first artist, will have his song Sitting At Home Alone featured in the new video game, Driver: San Francisco.  The gameplay involves two main characters as they race through the streets of San Francisco. It will be released on August 30, 2011.

Taylor, whose wild, raw slide guitar helped put Alligator on the map, died in 1975. According to Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, Hound Dog would have loved this. "He would really get a kick out of being part of a video game. Hound Dog's blues were full of raucous energy. He had more fun playing music than anyone else I ever saw."