News

KOKO TAYLOR ISSUES WAKE UP CALL FOR CHICAGO-AREA McDONALD'S RESTAURANTS
9/18/2006
Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor, who is currently finishing up work on a new CD scheduled for 2007 release, recently recorded a "Wake Up Call" for a McDonald's promotion in the Chicago area. In the promotion, customers can call a special number and choose to have a recorded message from Koko call their phone at a pre-designated time.

KOKO TAYLOR ISSUES WAKE UP CALL FOR CHICAGO-AREA McDONALD'S RESTAURANTS

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Eric Lindell live Performance from KFOG-FM in San Francisco
9/12/2006
Listen to this rare live performance of Eric Lindell singing "Give it Time" on KFOG-FM in San Francisco, recorded on June 5, 2006 at a private concert.
ERIC LINDELL SONG INCLUDED IN NATIONWIDE CHRYSLER PROMOTION
9/8/2006
Give It Time, the first single from Eric Lindell's critically acclaimed Alligator debut CD, CHANGE IN THE WEATHER, will be included in a special enhanced CD promotion spearheaded by automaker Daimler/Chrysler. An initial run of 150,000 cds will be given away at dealerships, special events and concerts from October through December 2006. Other artists on the CD include Gomez, Edwin McCain, Brand New Heavies, Allison Moorer, Marah, Janita, and Jake Brennan

ERIC LINDELL SONG INCLUDED IN NATIONWIDE CHRYSLER PROMOTION

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LIL' ED AND THE BLUES IMPERIALS APPEAR ON WORLD CAFE
9/8/2006
Chicago blues legends Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials will be the featured live guests on the nationally-syndicated National Public Radio program World Cafe on Wednesday, September 27.
BLUES SENSATION SHEMEKIA COPELAND NAMED “BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR”
8/29/2006
Readers of Living Blues magazine’s annual Reader’s Poll voted singing sensation Shemekia Copeland as Blues Artist Of The Year (female).

BLUES SENSATION SHEMEKIA COPELAND NAMED “BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR”

BLUES SENSATION SHEMEKIA COPELAND NAMED “BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR” IN LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE’S READER’S POLL

 

Readers of Living Blues magazine’s annual Reader’s Poll voted singing sensation Shemekia Copeland as Blues Artist Of The Year (female). Copeland’s latest CD, THE SOUL TRUTH (produced by legendary guitarist Steve Cropper), was widely hailed as the strongest of her career.

In addition to her non-stop touring and performing schedule, Copeland hosts Shemekia Copeland’s Blues Show which airs on SIRIUS Satellite Radio on Saturdays from 12:00pm to 6:00pm ET on Blues channel 74.

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Guitar Shorty's WE THE PEOPLE Reviewed in Billboard
8/11/2006
Billborad magazine's Philip Van Vleck declares the new Guitar Shorty CD WE THE PEOPLE the best of his career.
Listen to National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday interview with Lil' Ed Williams!
7/10/2006
Listen to host Scott Simon's insightful interview with blues master Lil' Ed Williams. The piece originally aired on Saturday, July 8, 2006.
LIL’ ED AND THE BLUES IMPERIALS HIT THE NATIONAL AIRWAVES!
7/7/2006
Chicago blues master Lil’ Ed Williams, whose new Alligator CD RATTLESHAKE was released on June 27, appeared on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Saturday on July 8.

LIL’ ED AND THE BLUES IMPERIALS HIT THE NATIONAL AIRWAVES!

Chicago blues master Lil’ Ed Williams, whose new Alligator CD RATTLESHAKE was released on June 27, will appear on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Saturday on July 8. The 13-minute piece will feature an interview with Ed as well as tracks from the new CD. The feature will air about 40 minutes into the 1st hour of the program.

 

Then, on Wednesday July 12, Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials will perform Leaving Here (the lead track from RATTLESHAKE) on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Ed appeared on Late Night last May in Chicago in a hilarious filmed segment followed by Ed sliding across the stage of the Chicago Theatre on his knees and jamming with O’Brien. The entire Late Night staff was so impressed by Ed’s talent and charisma, they invited him and The Blues Imperials back for a full song performance.

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Watch the WGN-TV Alligator Records Cover Story
7/5/2006
Superstation WGN-TV aired a wonderful Cover Story on Alligator Records featuring interviews with Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor and members of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women. Get a glimpse into Alligator headquarters and see rare film of Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers.
WATCH LIL' ED'S MAY 10 APPEARANCE ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN
6/21/2006
Lil' Ed's May 10 appearance on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" was widely hailed as the best -- and funniest -- bit during O'Brien's stay in Chicago the week of May 8. Watch the full 8 1/2 minute film of Lil' Ed doing his best to teach O'Brien to become a real Chicago bluesman, followed by Ed joining O'Brien live on stage to jam with the Max Weinberg 7.
Mavis Staples Receives National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship
6/20/2006
Mavis Staples received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship. The Fellowship is the country's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

Mavis Staples Receives National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship

The Fellowship Award Ceremonies will be held in Washington D.C. in September 2006 and include a banquet at the Library of Congress, an awards presentation on Capitol Hill, and a concert at the Strathmore Center in Bethesda, MD.

Fellowship recipients are nominated by the public, and then judged by a panel of experts in folk and traditional arts on the basis of their continuing artistic accomplishments and contributions as practitioners and teachers. This year a nine-member panel reviewed 217 nominations for the 11 fellowships.

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Two Alligator Artists Receive Blues Music Awards
5/12/2006
On May 11, 2006, The Blues Foundation announced the recipients of the 2006 Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards).

Two Alligator Artists Receive Blues Music Awards

On May 11, 2006, The Blues Foundation announced the recipients of the 2006 Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards). Two Alligator recording artists received honors: Marcia Ball was named the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year and Mavis Staples won for Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year.

The Blues Music Awards ceremony and concert were held May 11, 2006 in Memphis, TN, at the Cook Convention Center. Alligator award recipients are as follows:

MARCIA BALL
+Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year - Marcia Ball

MAVIS STAPLES
+Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Mavis Staples

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