News

MARCIA BALL APPEARS ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO’S “DAY TO DAY” AND “A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION”
9/25/2003
Pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball appeared on the NPR program “Day To Day” on Monday, September 29. She discussed the PBS television series, “The Blues,” and displayed various piano blues styles and vocal techniques. The program is carried on 78 stations around the country.
PBS TELEVISION SERIES, “THE BLUES” AND PUBLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL 13-PART BLUES RADIO SERIES SCHEDULED TO BEGIN RUNNING SEPTEMBER 28
9/25/2003
The seven-part television film series (from executive producer Martin Scorsese), “The Blues,” is scheduled to begin running on Sunday, September 28, 2003 on PBS stations nationwide. Four Alligator artists are featured in the films: Koko Taylor and Lonnie Brooks (“Godfathers and Sons” directed by Marc Levin), Shemekia Copeland (“The Soul Of A Man” directed by Wim Wenders) and Marcia Ball (“Piano Blues” directed by Clint Eastwood).
Tary Owens 1943 - 2003
9/23/2003
Tary Owens, famed producer/songwriter/performer, died Sunday, September 21, 2003 in Houston, Texas. He was 60. Owens co-produced all of Texas bluesman Long John Hunter’s Alligator CDs: “Border Town Legend,” “Swinging From The Rafters,” “Ride With Me” and the Hunter, Lonnie Brooks, Phillip Walker collaboration “Lone Star Shootout.” Owens, one-time owner of Austin-based Catfish Records, is often credited with being a key player in the birth of the Austin blues scene.

Tary Owens 1943 - 2003

Owens was born in Illinois and raised in Port Arthur, Texas, where he was a classmate and friend of Janis Joplin. All through his life, Owens championed forgotten or unsung Texas bluesmen. He collected field recordings of blues, hillbilly music, old-time fiddlers, work songs, toasts and prison songs from across Texas. These recordings are considered an invaluable part of Texas’ musical heritage, and are included in the permanent collection at the University of Texas’ Center for American History.

In 1986, Owens sought out 1920s-era barrelhouse piano legend Roosevelt Williams - the Grey Ghost - and revived his career. Williams, inspired by Owens' encouragement, put out a well-received solo album, “Grey Ghost,” on the Spindletop label in 1992 and found a new generation of fans.

Owens and his partner Jon Foose revived the career of East Austin blues players T.D. Bell and Erbie Bowser, and brought attention to East Texas blues musicians such as Frank Robinson and Long John Hunter.

During the last several years, he began writing and recording music of his own with a band called the Texas Redemptors and released a solo album, "Milagros."

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SHEMEKIA COPELAND WINS LIVING BLUES READER AWARD; APPEARS ON FRONT OF NEW YORK TIMES ARTS & LEISURE SECTION
9/22/2003
Singing sensation Shemekia Copeland received the 2003 Living Blues Reader Award for “Best Blues Singer – Female” as published in issue #169 (dated Sept/Oct 2003). This is her second time winning this coveted award. In May 2003, she won three W.C. Handy Blues Awards including “Blues Album Of The Year” for her most recent CD, “Talking To Strangers.”
Marcia Ball on Acoustic Cafe
8/13/2003
Marcia Ball will be the featured artist on the nationally syndicated radio program, Acoustic Cafe. The show will begin airing on affiliate stations starting August 18th. Join Macia and her band as they work through acoustic versions of songs from her latest Alligator release, So Many Rivers.
ALLIGATOR SET TO RELEASE GENUINE HOUSEROCKIN' CHRISTMAS!
7/30/2003
Alligator Records has set an August 26 release date for GENUINE HOUSEROCKIN' CHRISTMAS. The CD showcases 16 songs (including 14 written specifically for this release) from 16 of the label's best-selling artists celebrating the holiday season with over an hour's worth of brand new recordings. Recorded at studios all over the country, the disc features an infectious blast of holiday cheer from the biggest names in blues and roots music, including Koko Taylor's explosive opener "Have You Heard The News?," Shemekia Copeland's new classic, the jazzy Christmas come-on "Stay A Little Longer, Santa," Little Charlie And The Nightcats' satirical "It's Christmas Time Again (Spend, Spend, Spend)," and Marcia Ball's Cajun-flavored "Christmas Fais Do Do."

ALLIGATOR SET TO RELEASE GENUINE HOUSEROCKIN' CHRISTMAS!

Full track listing is as follows:
KOKO TAYLOR - Have You Heard The News?
CAREY BELL - Christmas Train
MICHAEL BURKS - Christmas Snow
LIL' ED AND THE BLUES IMPERIALS - Christmas Time
SHEMEKIA COPELAND - Stay A Little Longer, Santa
THE HOLMES BROTHERS - Back Door Santa
W.C. CLARK - Christmas Party
C.J. CHENIER - Zydeco Christmas
CEPHAS & WIGGINS - Christmas Day Blues
MARCIA BALL - Christmas Fais Do Do
ROOMFUL OF BLUES - Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues?
SAFFIRE - THE UPPITY BLUES WOMEN - Really Been Good This Year
LONNIE BROOKS - All I Want For Christmas
COCO MONTOYA - A Blues Man's Christmas
LITTLE CHARLIE AND THE NIGHTCATS - Christmas Time Again (Spend, Spend, Spend)
DAVE HOLE - Fattening Up The Turkey
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Roomful of Blues Live in Detroit on 7/31
7/29/2003
Roomful of Blues will be performing live tracks from their new Alligator release, That's Right, on Thursday, August 31st at 1:30 PM EST on WDET-FM in Detroit. Join Roomful and WDET host, Martin Bandyke, for this exclusive live performance and interview.
FOUR ALLIGATOR ARTISTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING PBS SERIES, THE BLUES!
7/29/2003
As part of the continuing celebration of the Congressionally-declared "Year Of The Blues," Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Marcia Ball and Shemekia Copeland will all be included in the upcoming Martin Scorsese-produced PBS series, "The Blues." The seven-part series premieres nationally on September 28 and includes films by Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Richard Pearce, Charles Burnett, Marc Levin, Mike Figgis, and Clint Eastwood. In addition, a 13-part radio program, airing on Public Radio International, will begin on September 27 and will feature a number of Alligator artists including Elvin Bishop, Marcia Ball, Shemekia Copeland, Koko Taylor, Cephas & Wiggins, as well as Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. Both Taylor and Copeland recorded new songs specifically for the program.

FOUR ALLIGATOR ARTISTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING PBS SERIES, THE BLUES!

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SUNDANCE FILM CHANNEL TO AIR "BUY THIS RECORD" FEATURING ALLIGATOR RECORDS ON AUGUST 21!
7/29/2003
The Sundance Film Channel will air the documentary "Buy This Record" as part of its original series, "Keeping Time: New Music From America's Roots," on Thursday, August 21. "Buy This Record" looks at how independent labels (including Alligator) are bringing artists in a variety of genres to a wider and younger audience and features interviews with Alligator president Bruce Iglauer and singing sensation Shemekia Copeland, as well as performance footage from Copeland.

SUNDANCE FILM CHANNEL TO AIR "BUY THIS RECORD" FEATURING ALLIGATOR RECORDS ON AUGUST 21!

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KOKO TAYLOR AND LONNIE BROOKS PERFORM AT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S ALL STAR GAME!
7/29/2003
Blues legends Koko Taylor and Lonnie Brooks teamed up on July 14 to perform "Sweet Home Chicago" at Major League Baseball's All Star Game held in Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field (formerly Comiskey Park). Singing prior to the game, the two blues stars received a tremendous ovation from the packed house of celebrities, professional athletes and baseball fans.

KOKO TAYLOR AND LONNIE BROOKS PERFORM AT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S ALL STAR GAME!

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Marcia Ball On World Cafe
7/23/2003
Marcia Ball will be the featured guest on the nationally syndicated Public Radio International program, World Cafe, on Monday, July 28th at 2 PM EST. Hear Marcia and her band perform tracks from her new Alligator release, So Many Rivers. She'll be joined by World Cafe host David Dye for live music and an in depth interview. The World Cafe can be heard on more than 150 stations nationwide.
Shemekia Copeland Featured on American Routes
7/23/2003
Shemekia Copeland will be featured on the nationally syndicated PRI progam, American Routes. Shemekia and her band will be performing live from the House Of Blues in New Orleans in celebration of American Routes' 5th anniversary. Listen in to American Routes as host Nick Spitzer explores the roots of popular music and popular roots music. The show airs on affiliate stations between July 30th and August 5th.