News

GUITARIST/VOCALIST SON SEALS 1942 - 2004
12/21/2004
W.C. Handy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated master Chicago bluesman Son Seals, 62, died Monday, December 20 in Chicago, IL from complications due to diabetes. The critically acclaimed, younger generation guitarist, vocalist and songwriter – credited with redefining Chicago blues for a new audience in the 1970s -- was known for his intense, razor-sharp guitar work, gruff singing style and his charismatic stage presence. According to “Guitar World,” “Seals carves guitar licks like a chain saw through solid oak and sings like a grainy-voiced avenging angel.” Seals released 11 albums during his 30-year recording career and toured worldwide.

GUITARIST/VOCALIST SON SEALS 1942 - 2004

Over the course of his career, Seals was hailed as one of Chicago’s great bluesmen and one of the city’s most powerful live performers. “Musician” stated, “Seals delivers performances of the most profound emotion…one of the genre’s most soulful exorcists.” His most recent recording was an Alligator Records career retrospective, “Deluxe Edition,” in 2002. Among his many accolades, Seals won three W.C. Handy Blues Awards, one each in 1985, 1987 and 2001, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1980 for his participation in the live compilation, “Blues Deluxe.”

Frank “Son” Seals was born in Osceola, Arkansas on August 14, 1942. He became an accomplished drummer by the time he was 13. By the age of 18, Son had put down the drumsticks and was leading his own band as a guitarist. He moved to Chicago in 1971 and began playing regular weekend gigs at The Expressway Lounge and other clubs on Chicago's South Side, regularly jamming with legends like Hound Dog Taylor, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy.

Son's 1973 debut recording, “The Son Seals Blues Band,” on the fledging Alligator Records label, established him as a blazing, original blues performer and composer. Son's audience base grew as he toured extensively, playing colleges, clubs and festivals throughout the country. “The New York Times” called him “the most exciting young blues guitarist and singer in years.” His 1977 follow-up, “Midnight Son,” received widespread acclaim from every major music publication. “Rolling Stone” called it “one of the most significant blues albums of the decade.”

On the strength of “Midnight Son,” Seals began touring Europe regularly, and even appeared in an Olympia beer commercial. A strong series of six more successful Alligator releases followed through the 1980s and 1990s (Seals also recorded two albums for other labels during this time), growing Seals’ audience all over the world. Seals shared stages with a wide variety of blues stars, including B.B. King and Johnny Winter. Even the popular rock band Phish recognized Seals’ talent and power, covering his song “Funky Bitch” on record and inviting Seals to join them on stage at many of their tour dates.

Seals played his last live performances in October 2004 in California.

Survivors include a sister, Katherine Sims of Chicago, and 14 children.

No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.


Alligator Records Discography:
The Son Seals Blues Band (1973)
Midnight Son (1976)
Live And Burning (1978)
Chicago Fire (1980)
Bad Axe (1984)
Living In The Danger Zone (1991)
Nothing But The Truth (1994)
Live-Spontaneous Combustion (1996)
Deluxe Edition (2002)


“Son Seals is the most exciting young blues guitarist and singer in years.”
--The New York Times (1973)

“A major blues talent.”
--Rolling Stone

“Seals carves guitar licks like a chainsaw through solid oak and sings like a grainy-voiced avenging angel. A master of gritty, blue-collar blues.”
--Guitar World

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THIRTEEN ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 25 W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARD NOMINATIONS!
12/15/2004
The Blues Foundation today announced the nominees for the 26th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards. Thirteen Alligator recording artists received a total of 25 nominations. Soul/blues/gospel greats The Holmes Brothers lead all nominees with six nods (three band nominations and three individual nominations), followed by gospel/soul legend Mavis Staples with four. Other nominees include W.C. Clark with three, Guitar Shorty, and Marcia Ball with two each, and Billy Branch & Kenny Neal, Carey & Lurrie Bell, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Shemekia Copeland, Hound Dog Taylor, Roomful of Blues, Andra Faye (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women) and Koko Taylor with one apiece. In the coveted Blues Album of the Year category, Alligator artists received a stunning four of the five nominations.

THIRTEEN ALLIGATOR ARTISTS RECEIVE 25 W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARD NOMINATIONS!

The W.C. Handy Blues Awards ceremony and concert will be held May 5, 2005 in Memphis, TN, at the Cook Convention Center. Alligator artists and nominations are as follows:


THE HOLMES BROTHERS
Blues Album of the Year - "Simple Truths"
Blues Band of the Year - The Holmes Brothers
Blues Song of the Year - "Run Myself Out Of Town" (writer Wendell Holmes, performed by The Holmes Brothers)
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year - "Simple Truths"
Best Instrumentalist, Bass - Sherman Holmes
Best Instrumentalist, Drums - Popsy Dixon


MAVIS STAPLES
Blues Album of the Year - "Have A Little Faith"
Blues Song of the Year - "Have A Little Faith" (writer Jim Tullio and Jim Weider, performed by Mavis Staples)
Soul/Blues Album of the Year - "Have A Little Faith
Soul/Blues - Female Artist of the Year - Mavis Staples


W.C. CLARK
Blues Album of the Year - "Deep In The Heart"
Soul/Blues-Male Artist of the Year - W.C. Clark
Soul/Blues Album of the Year – “Deep In The Heart”


GUITAR SHORTY
Blues Album of the Year - "Watch Your Back"
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year - "Watch Your Back"


MARCIA BALL
Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Marcia Ball
Best Instrumentalist-Keyboards - Marcia Ball


BILLY BRANCH & KENNY NEAL
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year - "Double Take"


CAREY BELL & LURRIE BELL
Acoustic Blues Album of the Year - "Second Nature"


LITTLE CHARLIE AND THE NIGHTCATS
Blues Band of the Year - Little Charlie and the Nightcats


SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Shemekia Copeland


HOUND DOG TAYLOR
Historical Blues Album of the Year - "Release The Hound"


ROOMFUL OF BLUES
Best Instrumentalist-Horns - Roomful of Blues Horns


ANDRA FAYE (of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women)
Best Instrumentalist-Other – Andra Faye - Mandolin


KOKO TAYLOR
Traditional Blues-Female Artist of the Year - Koko Taylor


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CHICAGO TRIBUNE PICKS CAREY & LURRIE BELL’S “SECOND NATURE” AS TOP BLUES CD OF 2004
12/13/2004
Chicago Tribune critic Steve Knopper chose Carey and Lurrie Bell’s 2004 Alligator release, “Second Nature” as the year’s top blues CD. The album, recoded in Finland in 1991 and released this year, is a favorite among fans and critics. In his review, Knopper said the CD was a “subtle, acoustic-blues classic.” Earlier this year, “The Chicago Sun-Times” declared, “There are no finer two-generation blues tandems that harpist Carey and his guitarist son Lurrie.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE PICKS CAREY & LURRIE BELL’S “SECOND NATURE” AS TOP BLUES CD OF 2004

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CHICAGO TRIBUNE NAMES MAVIS STAPLES “CHICAGOAN OF THE YEAR”
12/13/2004
Chicago Tribune rock critic Greg Kot has chosen gospel/soul great Mavis Staples as “Chicagoan of the Year,” in a story that will run on Sunday, December 26. Staples recently received a Grammy nomination for her duet with Dr. John on the song "Lay My Burden Down," from Dr. John’s "N’awlinz Dis Dat Or D’udda." Mavis is also the featured artist performing “Hard Times Come Again No More” from the Grammy nominated album “Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE NAMES MAVIS STAPLES “CHICAGOAN OF THE YEAR”

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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.