News

THE HOLMES BROTHERS APPEAR ON COVER OF “BLUES REVUE” MAGAZINE
12/13/2004
The Holmes Brothers (brothers Wendell and Sherman Holmes and Popsy Dixon) appear on the cover of the current issue of “Blues Revue” magazine (issue #91 Dec/Jan 2005). The story, written by Tom Callahan, features in-depth interviews with all three men and many new photographs as well. In other Holmes Brothers news, the song "I've Been A Loser,” written by Wendell Holmes, appears on the critically acclaimed, award-winning HBO drama "The Wire" (in the episode titled "All Due Respect"), which had it's initial airdate on September 26. The popular NBC-TV series "Crossing Jordan" used The Holmes Brothers rendition of "Need Somebody On Your Bond" at the close of the episode titled "Deja Past," which aired October 17. The song also appears on the Crossing Jordan Soundtrack CD on Sony/DMZ. The USA Network TV special, "Willie Nelson: Outlaws and Angels," which includes The Holmes Brothers performing “Opportunity To Cry” in a duet with Nelson, is now released on CD on Lost Highway and on DVD on Eagle Rock Entertainment.

THE HOLMES BROTHERS APPEAR ON COVER OF “BLUES REVUE” MAGAZINE

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MAVIS STAPLES IN THE NEWS AND ON THE AIR
12/6/2004
Gospel/soul mega-star Mavis Staples will be all over the media in the coming months, from print to radio to in-flight entertainment. The Grammy-nominated singer has been undergoing a career renaissance since the release of her Alligator CD, “Have A Little Faith,” in August 2004.

MAVIS STAPLES IN THE NEWS AND ON THE AIR

Highlights include:
--A review and large photo in the December 9, 2005 edition of “Rolling Stone” magazine.

--An appearance on the syndication radio program, “Mountain Stage.” Mavis’ performance will be available to affiliate stations to air for one week beginning December 10. For more information, go to www.mountainstage.org.

--An appearance on the National Public Radio program “E-Town”. The show, which tapes on December 5, will be available to affiliate stations to air for one week beginning January 26, 2005. For more information go to www.etown.org .

--An appearance as featured artist on the nationally syndicated radio program “The BeBe Winans Show” the weekend of December 11 and 12. The conversation and music show airs in 47 of the 50 top markets in the country. For more information go to www.beberadio.com .

--An appearance on the British television show “Later With Jools Holland.” Mavis performs on the famous New Year’s Eve edition of this celebrated program. Other guests that evening include Ian Hunter and Eric Clapton.

-- A hosting spot on a Delta Airlines In-Flight Radio Program. The 45-minute show, “Mavis Staples and American Treasures,” will run on all Delta audio equipped flights during the months of January and February 2005. The program, produced exclusively for Delta Radio and Delta Airlines by Soundtrack Marketing in Los Angeles, features Mavis talking about and playing some of the songs from “Have A Little Faith” as well as songs and artists that have influenced her career, including music from The Band, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Prince and many others.

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QUEEN OF THE BLUES KOKO TAYLOR TO RECEIVE 2005 HISTORY MAKERS AWARD
12/6/2004
Grammy Award winning blues belter Koko Taylor will receive the coveted History Makers Award from Chicago’s DuSable Museum of African American History. The award, presented on February 19, 2005 at the Museum’s annual “Night of 1000 Stars,” honors African American Chicagoans who have made outstanding contributions to society through their professions and civic responsibilities.

QUEEN OF THE BLUES KOKO TAYLOR TO RECEIVE 2005 HISTORY MAKERS AWARD

The DuSable Museum of African-American History is the oldest museum of its type in the country and is the only major independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and achievements of African-Americans.
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ALLIGATOR RECORDS DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY MARC LIPKIN TO RECEIVE 2005 KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AWARD
12/6/2004
The Blues Foundation will present Alligator Records Director of Publicity Marc Lipkin with a 2005 Keeping The Blues Alive Award (KBA) for “Publicist of the Year.” Lipkin, a 12-year veteran of the label, becomes the first-ever recipient of the award in this newly created category. Since 1980, the KBAs have been presented to a wide variety of individuals, including club owners, journalists, photographers, advertisers, educators, radio stations, producers and record labels.
ALLIGATOR ARTISTS MUSIC ON TELEVISION AND IN FILM
12/6/2004
A long list of Alligator recording artists’ music will be heard in a host of upcoming television programs and theatrical films.

ALLIGATOR ARTISTS MUSIC ON TELEVISION AND IN FILM

A long list of Alligator recording artists’ music will be heard in a host of upcoming television programs and theatrical films, as follows:
-- “Deck the Halls With Boogie Woogie” (Katie Webster) in the WB Network’s “Everwood.”

-- “Turn the Heat Up” (Shemekia Copeland) in new film “The Thing About My Folks” (directed by Raymond De Felitta, starring Paul Reiser, Peter Faulk and Olympia Dukakis).

-- “Snatchin’ It Back” (Albert Collins) in ABC Television’s “Boston Legal.”

-- “Santa Claus” (Little Charlie & the Nightcats) in the ABC Family Channel's tv movie “Snow.”
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MICHAEL “IRON MAN” BURKS RECEIVES 2004 “LIVING BLUES” AWARD
10/19/2004
“Living Blues” magazine named guitarist/vocalist Michael Burks “Most Outstanding Musician – Guitar” in its 2004 Critic’s Poll. Burks’ two Alligator CDs, MAKE IT RAIN and I SMELL SMOKE, along with non-stop touring, has helped him win over thousands of fans both domestically and internationally with his fiery fretwork and soulful, smoky vocals. “GuitarOne” magazine said Burks is “An immensely talented guitarist and singer who will singe the whiskers right off your face.”

MICHAEL “IRON MAN” BURKS RECEIVES 2004 “LIVING BLUES” AWARD

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MAVIS STAPLES APPEARS ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN
10/19/2004
Gospel/soul legend Mavis Staples appears on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” on Wednesday, October 20, singing the title track from her new Alligator CD, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH. Other guests on the show that evening will be actress Claire Danes and “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy” host Carson Kressly.

MAVIS STAPLES APPEARS ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN

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MAVIS STAPLES AND SHEMEKIA COPELAND APPEAR IN MARTIN SCORSESE-PRODUCED FILM, “LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE”
10/19/2004
“Lightning In A Bottle,” the Martin Scorsese-produced film, begins its limited theatrical release on Friday, October 22nd, 2004. Wider distribution will begin on November 5. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, compiles the highlights from the “Year of the Blues” concert at Radio City Music Hall in February 2003. Alligator artist Shemekia Copeland performs “I Pity The Fool” with Robert Cray, and Mavis Staples sings “A Dying Man's Plea” solo and “A Man Is Like A Streetcar” with Ruth Brown, Natalie Cole and Bill Cosby.
MAVIS STAPLES GOES TO BAT FOR THE BOSTON RED SOX
10/6/2004
The Boston Red Sox and New England Sports Network (NESN) have adopted “I Still Believe In You,” a standout track from gospel / soul singing legend Mavis Staples’ new Alligator CD, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, as the theme song in their televised promo spots for the team’s 2004 playoff run. The spots feature an MTV-type description complete with the artist's name, album title and the song title with each promo.
Mavis Staple Audio feature on WBUR's "ON POINT"
9/9/2004
Listen to the the 1 hour interview with Mavis Staples on WBUR's "ON POINT". Originally airing on September 3, 2004, this piece features an in-depth interview as well as two spectacular acoustic performances.
Mavis Staples USA TODAY feature
9/3/2004
Steve Jones interview Mavis Staples for this story in the September 3, 2004 edition of USA Today.
RAFUL NEAL: JUNE 6, 1936 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
9/2/2004
Famed Bayou bluesman, singer/harmonica player Raful Neal, died Wednesday, September 1, after a long bout with cancer. He was 68. With his relaxed vocal style and behind-the-beat harmonica playing, he was considered one of the best bluesmen to emerge from the south Louisiana area, bringing the sounds of the region to a worldwide audience. Neal was the patriarch of the famed Neal clan: nearly all of his children are blues musicians, including recording artist Kenny Neal.

RAFUL NEAL: JUNE 6, 1936 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

Raful Neal was born in Baton Rouge in 1936, and began playing harmonica at age 14. Heavily influenced by Little Walter, Neal’s playing quickly earned him a reputation as the area’s premiere harpist. His vocal mixed swampy Louisiana blues with soul and R&B. Combined with his harmonica playing, Neal helped create a sound now known worldwide as Louisiana Swamp blues.

Neal formed his first band, The Clouds, when he was just 17. The group originally featured guitarist Lester Johnson (later known as Lazy Lester) who was soon replaced by the young Buddy Guy. Little Walter himself heard the band while he was in Baton Rouge and invited them up to Chicago to fill in gigs he couldn’t make. While Guy headed north, Neal stayed in Baton Rouge to raise his growing family.

Neal’s first single, “Sunny Side Of Love” came in 1958 on Don Robey’s Peacock label. A series of singles followed on regional labels like Witt and La Louisiane. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Neal became a local legend, performing around the south and teaching his children the finer points of the blues. As his reputation grew, a 1987 single for the Fantastic label, “Man, Watch Your Woman,” was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award.

His first full album, “Louisiana Legend,” was released on King Snake Records in 1988 and was later reissued by Alligator. A 1991 recording for Ichiban, “I Been Mistreated,” and a 1998 release, “Old Friends,” for the Club Louisianne label, helped Neal stay in the public eye. Neal appeared on a number of compilation CDs for the Telarc label, including “The Hoodoo Kings,” and “Superharps II.” These recordings kept Neal’s tour schedule full, as he performed from Baton Rouge to points all over the country.

Nine of Neal's 11 children inherited his blues-playing prowess and play professionally, including guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Kenny Neal, who played on “Louisiana Legend” and has made 10 albums on his own. Other famed musician family members include Raful, Jr., Fredrick, Darnell, Larry, Graylon, Noel, and Jackie. Raful was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1995.

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