GRAYWOLF – Blues Guitarist
Extraordinaire and The Graywolf Blues Band
I first heard of GRAYWOLF through a mutual
friend of ours named ERIN. Both of them are two
great human beings. When I went to GRAYWOLF’
S MySpace site a song titled “Gravity” began
playing. From the first drumbeat to the squeezed
notes GRAYWOLF was playing on his Strat’ this
song made me pay close attention. But, where did
this song come from?
I called GRAYWOLF on the phone and finally after
two months of trying to catch up with this non-stop
busy man who is a father, a friend, a husband, a
grandfather, a voice for Native Americans
throughout this great country and one heck of a
great blues guitar player, I got to talk with him. He
told me his father gave him his first electric guitar
on his birthday in 1960, a Sears black and white,
at the ripe age of fifteen. Immediately he started
listening to Johnny and the Hurricanes and the late
great Duane Eddy and taught himself how to play
by listening to their records. This was his
opportunity to meet lots of girls. Because everyone
knew guitar players get the girls. Six months after
getting his guitar he was playing live gigs. Because
of his age he had to be sneaked into the bars to
perform. During this time he had met a young girl
and they became girlfriend and boyfriend. She
broke up with him and he was heartbroken. One
night while listening to the radio he heard Sweet
Sixteen by the great blues legend B.B. King. This
is when he told himself that he wanted to play the
blues. So he began to listen to B.B. King
exclusively. However, he happened to hear the
track San-Ho-Zay by another great legend
FREDDIE KING. This encouraged him even more
to dig deeper into the blues.
In 1964 “WOLFMAN JACK” was playing the album
“James Brown Live at the Apollo” on his radio
show. He then began to incorporate James Brown
songs into his songlist with the band he was
playing with at the time. The Hollywood Palladium
had booked “JAMES BROWN” for a show there
and GRAYWOLF got to see this performer for the
first time live. It was one of the best live shows he
had ever seen.
He played in several bands and was asked to play
with the band “Smokestack Lightnin” produced by
Bones Howe and managed by the famed William
Morris Agency. One of the places they performed
was the Seawitch, 8514 Sunset Blvd. founded in
1961 located in Hollywood, Ca. (Smokestack
Lightnin’ had also been a regular house band
which played at the famed Whiskey and the
Cheetah on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, Ca. They
toured with some of the biggest names in the
music business such as THE DOORS, BO
DIDDLEY, CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL,
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, JAMES BROWN, CREAM
just to name a few. The name of the band came
from a song called “Smokestack Lightning” written
by Howlin’ Wolf in 1956 that received a Grammy in
the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.)
GRAYWOLF was also the guitarist for the famous
Art Laboe Oldies but Goodies Show where he
backed up such acts as the Coasters and the
Drifters. It was around this time GRAYWOLF
became a studio musician for West Coast Records
and worked in the recording studio with the famous
Johnny Otis. At the time, as a recording studio
musician, he earned five-hundred dollars for a 12
hour shift. He has also backed the great “Johnny
Guitar Watson”.
Now, who wrote the song “Gravity”? I’ll tell you
soon!!
GRAYWOLF and “The Graywolf Blues Band”
which consists of Alfred Panther on backup vocals
and percussion, Stirling Frisbee on vocals,
Andreas on drums, O’Livett on vocals, Winnie on
keyboards, Bobby on bass guitar, and
GRAYWOLF on guitar have completed their first
CD and for more information on where to purchase
it go to: www. myspace. com/graywolfbluesband
Ever hear of John Mayer? Yes, that John Mayer
who is the young uprising star with all the hits you
have been hearing on the radio. Who in 2003 won
“Best Male Vocal Performance” and a Grammy for,
“Your Body is a Wonderland”. And who in 2007
also won “Best Pop Vocal Album” for continiuum
and “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for
“Waiting On the World to Change”. Well that is
who wrote “Gravity”. GRAYWOLF and his band
went into the recording studio in Los Angeles and
recorded it in one take. John called GRAYWOLF
and told him he really liked his version better than
the one he had written. As he was driving to Simi
Valley, Ca. one day he hears Gravity on KCSN
88.5 radio station out of Northridge, Ca. His radio
was losing the station so he had to turn his car
around the opposite direction to finish listening to
the DJ play their song! Two more favorites
GRAYWOLF enjoys playing on their setlist is
“Stormy Monday” written by the famous Bobby
Bland. Here GRAYWOLF and his band is ripping it
up and setting his guitar on fire with those burning
blues licks on this one! Another favorite is “Boogie
Man”. Stirling with his raunchy raw vocals and the
rest of the band right on the money and smokin’
hot make you want to get up and dance! (You can
hear and watch these videos on YouTube posted
by Baby Gurl). You blues guitar pickers will love
this. GRAYWOLF has also played with blues
legend and master BERNIE PEARL, slide guitar
virtuoso, who was taught by the likes of SAM
“Lightnin’” HOPKINS, “Mississippi” FRED
MCDOWELL, and MANCE LIPSCOMB. Put your
hands together and somebody help me now!!
GRAYWOLF has also performed with Micki Free
who is managed by Gene Simmons of KISS fame.
Micki gave him a black Stratocaster which he plays
today and is one of his favorite guitars. He has
also performed with the “Irene Bederd and Deni
Band”. Irene was the actress who performed the
speaking voice in Disney’s “Pocohontas” and has
starred in over 42 movies. GRAYWOLF has also
acted in a movie with the famed actress Karen
Black.
I have known GRAYWOLF for several months
through telephone conversations and
communicating with him on MySpace. He is
presently putting together his own radio show for
“Blog Talk Radio”. At 63 his love of music is not his
life but rather a part of his life. He heads up an
organization S.O.T.Y. (Save Our Tribal Youth)
which helps the youth on the reservations here in
the states and in Canada. His concern is for Native
Americans and helping his people. GRAYWOLF
along with his partner Alfred Panther run
GRAYWOLF Productions the only Native American
owned company that does casting, wardrobe and
props for motion pictures as well as television.
GRAYWOLF and Alfred are also assisted by two
other partners of GRAYWOLF Productions David
Mayfield and Aaron Tenbears.
GRAYWOLF Productions has worked on the movie
"Hidalgo" where they made all of the Native
American props as well as working on "Pirates of
the Carribean" where they made the bone hair pin
in Johnny Depps hair as well as other items.
They also worked on the last three seasons of
"Wild West Tech" on the History Channel as well
as working as consultants, casting, wardrobe and
props on the mini-series "Conquest of America",
where they along with Jeanine Weist were
nominated for an Emmy award.
He is a man of integrity and through his music a
message can be heard that affects us all. Get
together!
T. Roy Taylor
July 2008
www.myspace.com/audiogate
Extraordinaire and The Graywolf Blues Band
I first heard of GRAYWOLF through a mutual
friend of ours named ERIN. Both of them are two
great human beings. When I went to GRAYWOLF’
S MySpace site a song titled “Gravity” began
playing. From the first drumbeat to the squeezed
notes GRAYWOLF was playing on his Strat’ this
song made me pay close attention. But, where did
this song come from?
I called GRAYWOLF on the phone and finally after
two months of trying to catch up with this non-stop
busy man who is a father, a friend, a husband, a
grandfather, a voice for Native Americans
throughout this great country and one heck of a
great blues guitar player, I got to talk with him. He
told me his father gave him his first electric guitar
on his birthday in 1960, a Sears black and white,
at the ripe age of fifteen. Immediately he started
listening to Johnny and the Hurricanes and the late
great Duane Eddy and taught himself how to play
by listening to their records. This was his
opportunity to meet lots of girls. Because everyone
knew guitar players get the girls. Six months after
getting his guitar he was playing live gigs. Because
of his age he had to be sneaked into the bars to
perform. During this time he had met a young girl
and they became girlfriend and boyfriend. She
broke up with him and he was heartbroken. One
night while listening to the radio he heard Sweet
Sixteen by the great blues legend B.B. King. This
is when he told himself that he wanted to play the
blues. So he began to listen to B.B. King
exclusively. However, he happened to hear the
track San-Ho-Zay by another great legend
FREDDIE KING. This encouraged him even more
to dig deeper into the blues.
In 1964 “WOLFMAN JACK” was playing the album
“James Brown Live at the Apollo” on his radio
show. He then began to incorporate James Brown
songs into his songlist with the band he was
playing with at the time. The Hollywood Palladium
had booked “JAMES BROWN” for a show there
and GRAYWOLF got to see this performer for the
first time live. It was one of the best live shows he
had ever seen.
He played in several bands and was asked to play
with the band “Smokestack Lightnin” produced by
Bones Howe and managed by the famed William
Morris Agency. One of the places they performed
was the Seawitch, 8514 Sunset Blvd. founded in
1961 located in Hollywood, Ca. (Smokestack
Lightnin’ had also been a regular house band
which played at the famed Whiskey and the
Cheetah on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, Ca. They
toured with some of the biggest names in the
music business such as THE DOORS, BO
DIDDLEY, CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL,
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, JAMES BROWN, CREAM
just to name a few. The name of the band came
from a song called “Smokestack Lightning” written
by Howlin’ Wolf in 1956 that received a Grammy in
the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.)
GRAYWOLF was also the guitarist for the famous
Art Laboe Oldies but Goodies Show where he
backed up such acts as the Coasters and the
Drifters. It was around this time GRAYWOLF
became a studio musician for West Coast Records
and worked in the recording studio with the famous
Johnny Otis. At the time, as a recording studio
musician, he earned five-hundred dollars for a 12
hour shift. He has also backed the great “Johnny
Guitar Watson”.
Now, who wrote the song “Gravity”? I’ll tell you
soon!!
GRAYWOLF and “The Graywolf Blues Band”
which consists of Alfred Panther on backup vocals
and percussion, Stirling Frisbee on vocals,
Andreas on drums, O’Livett on vocals, Winnie on
keyboards, Bobby on bass guitar, and
GRAYWOLF on guitar have completed their first
CD and for more information on where to purchase
it go to: www. myspace. com/graywolfbluesband
Ever hear of John Mayer? Yes, that John Mayer
who is the young uprising star with all the hits you
have been hearing on the radio. Who in 2003 won
“Best Male Vocal Performance” and a Grammy for,
“Your Body is a Wonderland”. And who in 2007
also won “Best Pop Vocal Album” for continiuum
and “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for
“Waiting On the World to Change”. Well that is
who wrote “Gravity”. GRAYWOLF and his band
went into the recording studio in Los Angeles and
recorded it in one take. John called GRAYWOLF
and told him he really liked his version better than
the one he had written. As he was driving to Simi
Valley, Ca. one day he hears Gravity on KCSN
88.5 radio station out of Northridge, Ca. His radio
was losing the station so he had to turn his car
around the opposite direction to finish listening to
the DJ play their song! Two more favorites
GRAYWOLF enjoys playing on their setlist is
“Stormy Monday” written by the famous Bobby
Bland. Here GRAYWOLF and his band is ripping it
up and setting his guitar on fire with those burning
blues licks on this one! Another favorite is “Boogie
Man”. Stirling with his raunchy raw vocals and the
rest of the band right on the money and smokin’
hot make you want to get up and dance! (You can
hear and watch these videos on YouTube posted
by Baby Gurl). You blues guitar pickers will love
this. GRAYWOLF has also played with blues
legend and master BERNIE PEARL, slide guitar
virtuoso, who was taught by the likes of SAM
“Lightnin’” HOPKINS, “Mississippi” FRED
MCDOWELL, and MANCE LIPSCOMB. Put your
hands together and somebody help me now!!
GRAYWOLF has also performed with Micki Free
who is managed by Gene Simmons of KISS fame.
Micki gave him a black Stratocaster which he plays
today and is one of his favorite guitars. He has
also performed with the “Irene Bederd and Deni
Band”. Irene was the actress who performed the
speaking voice in Disney’s “Pocohontas” and has
starred in over 42 movies. GRAYWOLF has also
acted in a movie with the famed actress Karen
Black.
I have known GRAYWOLF for several months
through telephone conversations and
communicating with him on MySpace. He is
presently putting together his own radio show for
“Blog Talk Radio”. At 63 his love of music is not his
life but rather a part of his life. He heads up an
organization S.O.T.Y. (Save Our Tribal Youth)
which helps the youth on the reservations here in
the states and in Canada. His concern is for Native
Americans and helping his people. GRAYWOLF
along with his partner Alfred Panther run
GRAYWOLF Productions the only Native American
owned company that does casting, wardrobe and
props for motion pictures as well as television.
GRAYWOLF and Alfred are also assisted by two
other partners of GRAYWOLF Productions David
Mayfield and Aaron Tenbears.
GRAYWOLF Productions has worked on the movie
"Hidalgo" where they made all of the Native
American props as well as working on "Pirates of
the Carribean" where they made the bone hair pin
in Johnny Depps hair as well as other items.
They also worked on the last three seasons of
"Wild West Tech" on the History Channel as well
as working as consultants, casting, wardrobe and
props on the mini-series "Conquest of America",
where they along with Jeanine Weist were
nominated for an Emmy award.
He is a man of integrity and through his music a
message can be heard that affects us all. Get
together!
T. Roy Taylor
July 2008
www.myspace.com/audiogate
| Advertise with us, get seen around the world. Cheap & Easy, Details Page Down |
| Moues click photos and graphics, to visit other blues sites & find acres, and acres of blues. |
Here in the Arkansas River Delta, shooting off fireworks on
the 4th of July is still a legal event whereas consumers can buy
their cardboard box full of pyrotechnics at the numerous fire
works stands all over the state. Just another freedom many
states in our union have done away with, as understandably in
larger high population dense cities, fireworks in the hands of
the populous could start street warfare. My boys and me look
forward to this event every year, and on the lake my daughter
lives on, we set up our launching site, and from dusk to mid-
night, we relive the part of our national anthem, “ . . . and the
rockets red glare.” Of course, we do our skyrocket madness
to a large selection of blues discs I bring to blare out on my
Jeep’s CD Player. Now it doesn’t get any better than that,
Blues, BBQ and Fire Works. I love shooting off the 2” & 3”
mortars that have multiple bursts, called rapports.
Man, ol’ man, June was an all blues get on down to the count
of ten for the old blues picker here. At my age and condition,
those moments in time where you have to pinch yourself to
make sure it isn’t a wonderful dream, come too few and far
between. We went into the month with my band’s CD release
party at Studio Joe’s, with Essie Neal and Joe Pitts sitting in
with us. The house was a rockin’ until the place closed. Then
Len Rainey, my former band mate from California stopped by
Arkansas, where we put a local group of Joe Pitts, David
Bishop and me to back Len. This was off the charts jammn’
you just don’t get much of these days. Then, the band played
at the Arkansas River Blues Societies 24th Anniversary
celebration at Juanita’s in Little Rock. Photos above on the
slide show. Michael Burks, on Alligator Records, a local
Arkansas bluesman, came by to close out the show, and all I
got to say is WOW. I’ve opened for Albert King, seen Freddy
King live and BB King, numerous times besides many of the
other great American bluesmen. Michael Burks is the real deal
brothers and sisters. He used my Fender Tweed, Blues
Deluxe, and he sounds like Albert King with a Freddy King
tone using his Les Paul Standard, Honeyburst. Don’t let me
pull your leg on this, as go on over to his web site, and get a
free guitar lesson. Click his photo above, and place him up
there with the three kings, and tell them Wisherfish said so.
We wrap up the summer as the honored guest band at Joe
Pitts’ CD Release party at Cornerstone in North Little Rock,
on August 9th. Folks, it don’t get any better than this, and
like Bro Rabbit, “Don’t toss me in the brier patch.” I’m in hog
blues heaven this summer jammin’ my socks off. I just hope
half our readers had as much blues times this summer as we
have, and if not here’s wishing y’all that it perks up, and gets
fuzzy all over for ya’. Keep on jammin’ them blues.
Grip of the month. You know we really love MySpace, as it
has opened an international networking of blues minded people
from the four corners of the globe. But, like anything in cyber
space, the hackers and spammers tried infiltrating their crap
into MySpace. Now every time you try to do anything, you
get Chaptcha codes, you now those crazy Ar3Zs7fA codes
you have to enter before a function occurs. What a PITA. I’
ve seen bands that won’t allow other bands to join their
MySpace site, and you get, “We do not accept friends from
other bands.” Jo Ann won’t let me print what I say when I
read those. Also, I’ve seen guys on motorcycles, colors on,
rough and tough, and when you try to send them a message,
you get the Chapthca codes, and all this weird stuff. It’s like,
wow your image sure went in the toilet. What are they afraid
of, someone going to their site? Most of the big names in
MySpace like BB King, etc., don’t use 8th grade glee club
mentality on their MySpace sites. And, who came up with the
social club, “I bought you junk.” Wow, that is really high
school tag your it garbage. Anyway, like my good friend
Terry Knott, we agree even as some of the quick, easy
conveniences disappear on MySpace, and even with Google
owning it now, the venue is the greatest thing to come along
for Blues networking we’ve ever seen. Our blues friends are
in the tens of thousands now, and we love you all. Keep the
faith brother, and jam the blues until those tubes melt into little
pools of red glowing glass. Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins
the 4th of July is still a legal event whereas consumers can buy
their cardboard box full of pyrotechnics at the numerous fire
works stands all over the state. Just another freedom many
states in our union have done away with, as understandably in
larger high population dense cities, fireworks in the hands of
the populous could start street warfare. My boys and me look
forward to this event every year, and on the lake my daughter
lives on, we set up our launching site, and from dusk to mid-
night, we relive the part of our national anthem, “ . . . and the
rockets red glare.” Of course, we do our skyrocket madness
to a large selection of blues discs I bring to blare out on my
Jeep’s CD Player. Now it doesn’t get any better than that,
Blues, BBQ and Fire Works. I love shooting off the 2” & 3”
mortars that have multiple bursts, called rapports.
Man, ol’ man, June was an all blues get on down to the count
of ten for the old blues picker here. At my age and condition,
those moments in time where you have to pinch yourself to
make sure it isn’t a wonderful dream, come too few and far
between. We went into the month with my band’s CD release
party at Studio Joe’s, with Essie Neal and Joe Pitts sitting in
with us. The house was a rockin’ until the place closed. Then
Len Rainey, my former band mate from California stopped by
Arkansas, where we put a local group of Joe Pitts, David
Bishop and me to back Len. This was off the charts jammn’
you just don’t get much of these days. Then, the band played
at the Arkansas River Blues Societies 24th Anniversary
celebration at Juanita’s in Little Rock. Photos above on the
slide show. Michael Burks, on Alligator Records, a local
Arkansas bluesman, came by to close out the show, and all I
got to say is WOW. I’ve opened for Albert King, seen Freddy
King live and BB King, numerous times besides many of the
other great American bluesmen. Michael Burks is the real deal
brothers and sisters. He used my Fender Tweed, Blues
Deluxe, and he sounds like Albert King with a Freddy King
tone using his Les Paul Standard, Honeyburst. Don’t let me
pull your leg on this, as go on over to his web site, and get a
free guitar lesson. Click his photo above, and place him up
there with the three kings, and tell them Wisherfish said so.
We wrap up the summer as the honored guest band at Joe
Pitts’ CD Release party at Cornerstone in North Little Rock,
on August 9th. Folks, it don’t get any better than this, and
like Bro Rabbit, “Don’t toss me in the brier patch.” I’m in hog
blues heaven this summer jammin’ my socks off. I just hope
half our readers had as much blues times this summer as we
have, and if not here’s wishing y’all that it perks up, and gets
fuzzy all over for ya’. Keep on jammin’ them blues.
Grip of the month. You know we really love MySpace, as it
has opened an international networking of blues minded people
from the four corners of the globe. But, like anything in cyber
space, the hackers and spammers tried infiltrating their crap
into MySpace. Now every time you try to do anything, you
get Chaptcha codes, you now those crazy Ar3Zs7fA codes
you have to enter before a function occurs. What a PITA. I’
ve seen bands that won’t allow other bands to join their
MySpace site, and you get, “We do not accept friends from
other bands.” Jo Ann won’t let me print what I say when I
read those. Also, I’ve seen guys on motorcycles, colors on,
rough and tough, and when you try to send them a message,
you get the Chapthca codes, and all this weird stuff. It’s like,
wow your image sure went in the toilet. What are they afraid
of, someone going to their site? Most of the big names in
MySpace like BB King, etc., don’t use 8th grade glee club
mentality on their MySpace sites. And, who came up with the
social club, “I bought you junk.” Wow, that is really high
school tag your it garbage. Anyway, like my good friend
Terry Knott, we agree even as some of the quick, easy
conveniences disappear on MySpace, and even with Google
owning it now, the venue is the greatest thing to come along
for Blues networking we’ve ever seen. Our blues friends are
in the tens of thousands now, and we love you all. Keep the
faith brother, and jam the blues until those tubes melt into little
pools of red glowing glass. Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins
Michael Burks Band, with Whisker Fish
in the middle.
in the middle.
Michael Burks on Alligator Records.
Arkansas River Blues Society 24th
Anniversary celebration June 24th
Anniversary celebration June 24th
Photos by Jo Ann Dollins
| Joe Pitts CD Release Party, Cornerstone, N. Little Rock Aug 9th |
A Rocking Birthday Party
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Parties and Nightlife
DEB's MySpace Blog
KABF 88.3 FM
Last night was the AR River
Blues Society's 24th anniversary
birthday party. It was held at
Juanita's and had a packed house. I had a fabulous time,
way fabulous. The music was awesome and it was so
great to see everyone. Some of the old timers were
absent and I missed them, but it was still a rocking,
wonderful night.
I enjoyed all the music. The stage was busy all night and
the sounds coming from the stage were phenomenal; Mike
Dollins Band with Essie the Blues Lady, Mike Dollins Band
with Ginny Becton singing (wow - she blows me away),
Michael Burks, Big John, Charlotte, Brian Detherow, Cecil
Parker, Scooter Mitchell, Jason Greenlaw, Chicken,
Cosmic Biscuit and more...all so awesome.
I posted some pics in an album and, sadly, did not get
enough photos. Go check them out.
You know you had a great time when you wake up on your
couch at 10 a.m. wearing the same clothes you went out in
the night before! Wow! I blame John Roach. One shot of
Patron and I was zoooooomed. I realize that I did not eat
anything before going out and that probably contributed to
the effects.
Happy Birthday ARBS. Look forward to many more years
of bluesin. www.myspace.com/yakyaktalkback
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Parties and Nightlife
DEB's MySpace Blog
KABF 88.3 FM
Last night was the AR River
Blues Society's 24th anniversary
birthday party. It was held at
Juanita's and had a packed house. I had a fabulous time,
way fabulous. The music was awesome and it was so
great to see everyone. Some of the old timers were
absent and I missed them, but it was still a rocking,
wonderful night.
I enjoyed all the music. The stage was busy all night and
the sounds coming from the stage were phenomenal; Mike
Dollins Band with Essie the Blues Lady, Mike Dollins Band
with Ginny Becton singing (wow - she blows me away),
Michael Burks, Big John, Charlotte, Brian Detherow, Cecil
Parker, Scooter Mitchell, Jason Greenlaw, Chicken,
Cosmic Biscuit and more...all so awesome.
I posted some pics in an album and, sadly, did not get
enough photos. Go check them out.
You know you had a great time when you wake up on your
couch at 10 a.m. wearing the same clothes you went out in
the night before! Wow! I blame John Roach. One shot of
Patron and I was zoooooomed. I realize that I did not eat
anything before going out and that probably contributed to
the effects.
Happy Birthday ARBS. Look forward to many more years
of bluesin. www.myspace.com/yakyaktalkback
| Blues Friends from MySpace for July |
| Advertise & Support the blues, and pass the word around to thousands of worldwide blues fans about your blues adventure. Cheap affordable rates, and safe, convenient PayPal, Visa, Master Card, Discover, Amex payment. This site receives up to 8,000 hits on good days and averages 3,000 hits per day. Get known, exposed and passed around in the blues network. One Month Six Months One Year Banners, graphics, or photos with link to your web site or MySpace Inquiries: Blues Guitar News POB 2077, Benton, AR 72018 mike@bluesguitarnews.com Mike Dollins Blues Guitar CD www.mikedollins.biz $10 per CD: Donations to Blues Guitar News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -> Hey, I've played gigs all my life. This is our tip Jar. Thank you |
Famous Quotes:
"Put the candle back!" Gene Wilder
"Four fried chickens & a coke." Jake Blues
"You haven't an ounce of brains, do you son?" Mr. Krabs
"Like crap through a goose." George C. Scott
"He don't start fights, he finishes them." Robert Duvall
"The fall will probably kill ya' Paul Newman
"Telegram for Mongol" Cleavon Little
"Taint nothin' but the blues" Lighten' Hopkins
"Missed it by this much" Don Adams
"You're Incorrigible" Madeline Kahn
"38, 39 what ever it takes" Teri Garr
"I'm gonna' miss the stuff" Bernadete Peters
"They're used to seeing me with a turtle" Dudley Moore
"She looks great" Dudley Moore's friend
"I traded the caddy for a microphone" Elwood Blues
"Why you whities have such tight asses?" Richard Pryor
"She tastes like cigarettes" Forrest, Forrest Gump
"What a nice guy" Madeline Kahn
"To Be . . . . or not to be" Mel Brooks - Jack Benny
"22 huh, I have socks older than that" Bob Hope
"I'm not as dumb as I used to be" Stan Laural
"This is another fine mess you got me into" Oliver Hardy
"Lovey Cravesit huh?" Dean Martin
"I'm votin' for you two fellers" Delmar - Tim Blake Nelson
"It's a blessing and a curse" Monk
"Thank youuuuuu" The Closer
"Who ever did this" Tony Soprano
"Samsonite - I was way off" Jim Carrey
"Do me some well digging" Tommy Lee Jones
"With quiet and dignity huh?" Marty Feldman
"Put the candle back!" Gene Wilder
"Four fried chickens & a coke." Jake Blues
"You haven't an ounce of brains, do you son?" Mr. Krabs
"Like crap through a goose." George C. Scott
"He don't start fights, he finishes them." Robert Duvall
"The fall will probably kill ya' Paul Newman
"Telegram for Mongol" Cleavon Little
"Taint nothin' but the blues" Lighten' Hopkins
"Missed it by this much" Don Adams
"You're Incorrigible" Madeline Kahn
"38, 39 what ever it takes" Teri Garr
"I'm gonna' miss the stuff" Bernadete Peters
"They're used to seeing me with a turtle" Dudley Moore
"She looks great" Dudley Moore's friend
"I traded the caddy for a microphone" Elwood Blues
"Why you whities have such tight asses?" Richard Pryor
"She tastes like cigarettes" Forrest, Forrest Gump
"What a nice guy" Madeline Kahn
"To Be . . . . or not to be" Mel Brooks - Jack Benny
"22 huh, I have socks older than that" Bob Hope
"I'm not as dumb as I used to be" Stan Laural
"This is another fine mess you got me into" Oliver Hardy
"Lovey Cravesit huh?" Dean Martin
"I'm votin' for you two fellers" Delmar - Tim Blake Nelson
"It's a blessing and a curse" Monk
"Thank youuuuuu" The Closer
"Who ever did this" Tony Soprano
"Samsonite - I was way off" Jim Carrey
"Do me some well digging" Tommy Lee Jones
"With quiet and dignity huh?" Marty Feldman
B l u e s N e t w o r k i n g L i n k s
www.myspace.com/bluesguitarnews
www.myspace.com/graywolfbluesband
www.myspace.com/ginnybecton
www.myspace.com/blueshalloffame
www.myspace.com/markkerrbluesrockjazz
www.myspace.com/berniepearl
www.myspace.com/bluesguitargang
www.myspace.com/bensonroad
www.myspace.com/unclehenrybluesman
www.deltaboogie.com
www.myspace.com/chetandthecommittee
www.chriscain.cc
www.mikebloomfield.com
www.myspace.com/bluesguitarnews
www.myspace.com/graywolfbluesband
www.myspace.com/ginnybecton
www.myspace.com/blueshalloffame
www.myspace.com/markkerrbluesrockjazz
www.myspace.com/berniepearl
www.myspace.com/bluesguitargang
www.myspace.com/bensonroad
www.myspace.com/unclehenrybluesman
www.deltaboogie.com
www.myspace.com/chetandthecommittee
www.chriscain.cc
www.mikebloomfield.com
| Nickle & Nail By the Joe Pitts Band |
Just after we went to press, and uploaded our July issue
of Blues Guitar News, my good blues buddy in the UK,
made this art decoupage for me from my old photos
dating back to 1963. Wow, what a surprise. Below are
Terry Knott's links, and you can't find a better blues
networking person in cyber space than Terry. If you're
into blues, Terry has probably seen and heard you
already. A wealth of blues knowledge, stop by Big Boy
Terry's site, and tell them Whisker Fish sent ya'
Terry Knott: Blues Hall of Fame Inductee
& Ambassador for the Blues to the City of
London.
http://www.myspace.com/britpackblues
"Official Blues Hall Of Fame Now on
Myspace"
http://www.myspace.com/blueshalloffame
Terry Knott's Blues Club!
Where the music comes 1st!
http://groups.myspace.com/britpackbluescl
ub
of Blues Guitar News, my good blues buddy in the UK,
made this art decoupage for me from my old photos
dating back to 1963. Wow, what a surprise. Below are
Terry Knott's links, and you can't find a better blues
networking person in cyber space than Terry. If you're
into blues, Terry has probably seen and heard you
already. A wealth of blues knowledge, stop by Big Boy
Terry's site, and tell them Whisker Fish sent ya'
Terry Knott: Blues Hall of Fame Inductee
& Ambassador for the Blues to the City of
London.
http://www.myspace.com/britpackblues
"Official Blues Hall Of Fame Now on
Myspace"
http://www.myspace.com/blueshalloffame
Terry Knott's Blues Club!
Where the music comes 1st!
http://groups.myspace.com/britpackbluescl
ub
Buy, Sell, Trade,
Lessons,
Repair & Vintage
Insturments
812 Higdon Ferry Rd
Hot Springs, AR 71913
WE BUY GUITARS
TOP DOLLAR
FOR VINTAGE
GUITARS.
501-655-6168
Vintage Guitar Guru
vintageguitarguru@yahoo.com
Lessons,
Repair & Vintage
Insturments
812 Higdon Ferry Rd
Hot Springs, AR 71913
WE BUY GUITARS
TOP DOLLAR
FOR VINTAGE
GUITARS.
501-655-6168
Vintage Guitar Guru
vintageguitarguru@yahoo.com
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| Click on our past issues of Blues Guitar News and blues network all over the world |
We’ve been
journalizing
about blues
since 1988, but
our history
goes back a
few more
decades. Not
enough time or
room on this
web site to
thank all our
worldwide
blues friends.
If you visit the
past issues of
Blues Guitar
News above,
you will travel
down a blues
highway for
days on end,
and still not get
to the end.
The blues trip
is endless, and
circumvents all
other elements
of art. Alive
and well, no
matter what
corporate
music
machines dish
out in their
endless quest
to sell top pop,
the blues will
always survive
and live on.
We do list folks
in Blues Guitar
News that we
catch sharing
the hog, and
passing the
biscuits. This
blues endeavor
is generated
from the middle
of the
Arkansas
Delta, in the
Mississippi
River Valley of
the world; you
know the hot
bed birthplace
of the blues.
We have a
beans and
cornbread
point of view,
with a ham
hocks, turnip
greens, black-
eyed peas and
sweet tea
philosophy of
life. No tofu,
Brie and
sprouts blues
around here,
as this is all
fried catfish,
and BBQ
pulled pork
with extra
napkins
country. If you
are not into
blues
networking,
then this isn’t
the place for
you. But, if
you like
meeting blues
fans from all
over the world
jump in - the
water is fine,
and later we’ll
go down to the
river and catch
some black
bass and blue
channel cats
for supper.
Thanks, Mike
“Whisker Fish”
Dollins.
Check out our
new Guitar
Shop, and
meet Guido the
Vintage Guitar
Guru of
Arkansas. On
line sales,
vintage
instruments
and the old
time guitar
shop that you
love to hang
out in telling
blues guitar
stories.
journalizing
about blues
since 1988, but
our history
goes back a
few more
decades. Not
enough time or
room on this
web site to
thank all our
worldwide
blues friends.
If you visit the
past issues of
Blues Guitar
News above,
you will travel
down a blues
highway for
days on end,
and still not get
to the end.
The blues trip
is endless, and
circumvents all
other elements
of art. Alive
and well, no
matter what
corporate
music
machines dish
out in their
endless quest
to sell top pop,
the blues will
always survive
and live on.
We do list folks
in Blues Guitar
News that we
catch sharing
the hog, and
passing the
biscuits. This
blues endeavor
is generated
from the middle
of the
Arkansas
Delta, in the
Mississippi
River Valley of
the world; you
know the hot
bed birthplace
of the blues.
We have a
beans and
cornbread
point of view,
with a ham
hocks, turnip
greens, black-
eyed peas and
sweet tea
philosophy of
life. No tofu,
Brie and
sprouts blues
around here,
as this is all
fried catfish,
and BBQ
pulled pork
with extra
napkins
country. If you
are not into
blues
networking,
then this isn’t
the place for
you. But, if
you like
meeting blues
fans from all
over the world
jump in - the
water is fine,
and later we’ll
go down to the
river and catch
some black
bass and blue
channel cats
for supper.
Thanks, Mike
“Whisker Fish”
Dollins.
Check out our
new Guitar
Shop, and
meet Guido the
Vintage Guitar
Guru of
Arkansas. On
line sales,
vintage
instruments
and the old
time guitar
shop that you
love to hang
out in telling
blues guitar
stories.
The Blues Grapevine by Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins
Len Rainey - West Coast Chicago Bluesman
Len Rainey walked into the guitar shop I had in
California one bright Southern California summer
day back in 1985. In a land filled with
wall-to-wall Strat-Rock players, I always sought
out anyone claiming to play blues. Out of my
office window, I noticed this tall, thin attractive
African-American man wearing a cowboy hat
signing our guest book. Busy with busy stuff I
dove back into the paperwork. I later checked the
guest book just before closing shop. Len’s entry
simply read, “Len Rainey, just moved from
Chicago, bass guitar player, and BLUES.” Like
Pavlov’s dog, my eyes focused on three mental
triggers simultaneously; Chicago, Bass Guitar and Blues. I immediately
grabbed the phone, and begin a twenty-year musical history with one of the
finest musicians I have ever been honored to play with in my lifetime. Len
rocks.
Blues is a hard sell in many of the club gig levels all across the United
States, as most venue owners feel it attracts the wrong crowd, and the music
is too antiquated for high buying customers to hang all night keeping the cash
register ringing. Southern California though has a barefoot beach crowd
social setting where blues is always welcome. Up and down the West
Coast, all along Pacific Coast Highway 101, from San Diego to Seattle, you
can find hundreds of beach clubs willing to host blues. Len has made a good
living playing blues on the West Coast, and is just now starting to receive
national and international attention.
Len has Arkansas roots, with family in Pine Bluff. Like so many families, a
migration to larger industrialized northern cities found Len growing up in
Illinois. As a young lad he walked Maxwell Street hearing the real deal
original bluesmen first hand live. As he developed his playing skills as a
teenager, top pop R&B and soul music was what the younger set was deep
into during the 60’s and 70’s. His first bands in his youth developed a
sound of blues, rock, jazz and rhythm & blues all combined into a finger
popping, toe tapping and tail feather shaking groove. All of Mr. Rainey’s
material even to this day has a blues origin, even if pushed to the outer
limits, but maintaining a boogie on down feel. You can’t sit still during a
Len Rainey show.
We formed a band taking some members of the renowned King Biscuit Blues
Band, when blues harp wizard Ken Schoppmeyer went solo, and started
sitting in with different West Coast blues bands. Just as we were
developing our sound, I had to bail out due to some serious life events. Len
went on taking my high school guitar playing buddy Victor Marquez, like a
brother he is, Tony Matoian “Mr. Tough” on tenor sax, and Danny
“Fatback” Marteniz on Drums to form, “The Midnight Players.”
During the 80’s, Ingrid Croce, the widow of the late Jim Croce, just opened
a club in downtown San Diego’s Gas Lamp District, which is kind of a
scaled down “French Quarter.” I knew Ingrid, and did a couple write-ups
in local San Diego publications on her new club that was hosting blues and
jazz. Len became the weekly host house band all during the late 80’s.
Some of the hottest blues jam sessions heard in California were at the last
set with the Midnight Players were Len would allow anyone willing to get
on stage to jam. I always had a “Get out of jail free pass” to sit in, and play
anytime I could make the scene. Too bad these sets were not recorded, as
they were off the charts in jamming grooves.
The Midnight Players started making noise with the in-crowd music sets in
Southern California, and became favorites at blues festivals and Street
Scenes from San Diego to San Francisco. Len Rainey and his crew have
been repeat performers at major clubs in the Southern California area, and
Las Vegas including BB King's Hollywood, Harvelle's in Santa Monica, and
LJ's in San Francisco. Nearly all of the Southern California blues clubs
have hosted Len Rainey & the Midnight Players many times. The band has
opened for world class acts such as: Bobby Blue Bland, John Mayall, Chaka
Khan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray for the short list.
An unassuming man, Len is not pretentious, has a quiet friendly demeanor,
and every time you talk to him he is always so upbeat. On a personal note,
and as a blues musician, I can sense his frustration like so many blues
performers whereas the general public does not easily detect the decades of
dedication. Once anyone sees him live, and in action they know that they’ve
witnessed the real deal. Even his one night appearance in Arkansas on his
Chicago blues tour, his presence in Little Rock, didn’t cause much of stir
with local media where the same week “The Eagles” got all the front-page
ink.
The underground blues folks though did buzz the blues news all through the
Arkansas blues grapevine that Len was in town, and was the act to catch this
year. Thank you to Ozark Blues Society, Arkansas River Blues Society and
Deb at KABF 88.3 FM, for running with the news that Len was in Little
Rock.
I guess it boils down to respect, as blues musicians search to find a little
piece of that where they can. In European countries American bluesmen on
all levels are held in high esteem, and in the United States, the birthplace of
the blues, working blues musicians fight for scrapes of media attention. I
guess this inward aggravation helps fuel the fire for live performances. In
my 20 years of playing with Len off and on, we never had a rehearsal. We
opened for major blues acts, and headlined blues festivals without even a
song list. Len plugs in his vintage sunburst P. Bass, causally walks up to the
microphone, turns around to the band, and says, “B-flat, shuffle. . 2, 3, 4 . .
.” You can either play or you can’t when on stage with Len. Hang on to
your hat, as Len’s bass style will shake a drummer off his stool. Always
pushing and driving on top of the beat, bass players get a free lesson every
time they see Len play.
Len was buddies with Ike Turner, who lived out his remaining days in La
Jolla, California. Many recognizable names in the music business know
Len. In underground inner blues circle settings from coast to coast, Len is
highly respected by bluesmen for his baritone voice, and his driving blues
oriented music. His first CD under the JAM Record label, “Better Love
Somebody,” is still heard on many blues stations worldwide. His web site
www.lenrainey.com has MP3 sound bites, and on-line CD purchasing
availability. You don’t have to believe what I’ve been dishing out. Please
go on to his web site, and form your own opinion. If you know anything
about rhythm and blues you’ll feel the vibes in his songs. Remember the
name Len Rainey, as for working street level blues musicians, it takes a
lifetime of sweating it out in the chittlin’ circuit before the just due.
Len Rainey - West Coast Chicago Bluesman
Len Rainey walked into the guitar shop I had in
California one bright Southern California summer
day back in 1985. In a land filled with
wall-to-wall Strat-Rock players, I always sought
out anyone claiming to play blues. Out of my
office window, I noticed this tall, thin attractive
African-American man wearing a cowboy hat
signing our guest book. Busy with busy stuff I
dove back into the paperwork. I later checked the
guest book just before closing shop. Len’s entry
simply read, “Len Rainey, just moved from
Chicago, bass guitar player, and BLUES.” Like
Pavlov’s dog, my eyes focused on three mental
triggers simultaneously; Chicago, Bass Guitar and Blues. I immediately
grabbed the phone, and begin a twenty-year musical history with one of the
finest musicians I have ever been honored to play with in my lifetime. Len
rocks.
Blues is a hard sell in many of the club gig levels all across the United
States, as most venue owners feel it attracts the wrong crowd, and the music
is too antiquated for high buying customers to hang all night keeping the cash
register ringing. Southern California though has a barefoot beach crowd
social setting where blues is always welcome. Up and down the West
Coast, all along Pacific Coast Highway 101, from San Diego to Seattle, you
can find hundreds of beach clubs willing to host blues. Len has made a good
living playing blues on the West Coast, and is just now starting to receive
national and international attention.
Len has Arkansas roots, with family in Pine Bluff. Like so many families, a
migration to larger industrialized northern cities found Len growing up in
Illinois. As a young lad he walked Maxwell Street hearing the real deal
original bluesmen first hand live. As he developed his playing skills as a
teenager, top pop R&B and soul music was what the younger set was deep
into during the 60’s and 70’s. His first bands in his youth developed a
sound of blues, rock, jazz and rhythm & blues all combined into a finger
popping, toe tapping and tail feather shaking groove. All of Mr. Rainey’s
material even to this day has a blues origin, even if pushed to the outer
limits, but maintaining a boogie on down feel. You can’t sit still during a
Len Rainey show.
We formed a band taking some members of the renowned King Biscuit Blues
Band, when blues harp wizard Ken Schoppmeyer went solo, and started
sitting in with different West Coast blues bands. Just as we were
developing our sound, I had to bail out due to some serious life events. Len
went on taking my high school guitar playing buddy Victor Marquez, like a
brother he is, Tony Matoian “Mr. Tough” on tenor sax, and Danny
“Fatback” Marteniz on Drums to form, “The Midnight Players.”
During the 80’s, Ingrid Croce, the widow of the late Jim Croce, just opened
a club in downtown San Diego’s Gas Lamp District, which is kind of a
scaled down “French Quarter.” I knew Ingrid, and did a couple write-ups
in local San Diego publications on her new club that was hosting blues and
jazz. Len became the weekly host house band all during the late 80’s.
Some of the hottest blues jam sessions heard in California were at the last
set with the Midnight Players were Len would allow anyone willing to get
on stage to jam. I always had a “Get out of jail free pass” to sit in, and play
anytime I could make the scene. Too bad these sets were not recorded, as
they were off the charts in jamming grooves.
The Midnight Players started making noise with the in-crowd music sets in
Southern California, and became favorites at blues festivals and Street
Scenes from San Diego to San Francisco. Len Rainey and his crew have
been repeat performers at major clubs in the Southern California area, and
Las Vegas including BB King's Hollywood, Harvelle's in Santa Monica, and
LJ's in San Francisco. Nearly all of the Southern California blues clubs
have hosted Len Rainey & the Midnight Players many times. The band has
opened for world class acts such as: Bobby Blue Bland, John Mayall, Chaka
Khan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray for the short list.
An unassuming man, Len is not pretentious, has a quiet friendly demeanor,
and every time you talk to him he is always so upbeat. On a personal note,
and as a blues musician, I can sense his frustration like so many blues
performers whereas the general public does not easily detect the decades of
dedication. Once anyone sees him live, and in action they know that they’ve
witnessed the real deal. Even his one night appearance in Arkansas on his
Chicago blues tour, his presence in Little Rock, didn’t cause much of stir
with local media where the same week “The Eagles” got all the front-page
ink.
The underground blues folks though did buzz the blues news all through the
Arkansas blues grapevine that Len was in town, and was the act to catch this
year. Thank you to Ozark Blues Society, Arkansas River Blues Society and
Deb at KABF 88.3 FM, for running with the news that Len was in Little
Rock.
I guess it boils down to respect, as blues musicians search to find a little
piece of that where they can. In European countries American bluesmen on
all levels are held in high esteem, and in the United States, the birthplace of
the blues, working blues musicians fight for scrapes of media attention. I
guess this inward aggravation helps fuel the fire for live performances. In
my 20 years of playing with Len off and on, we never had a rehearsal. We
opened for major blues acts, and headlined blues festivals without even a
song list. Len plugs in his vintage sunburst P. Bass, causally walks up to the
microphone, turns around to the band, and says, “B-flat, shuffle. . 2, 3, 4 . .
.” You can either play or you can’t when on stage with Len. Hang on to
your hat, as Len’s bass style will shake a drummer off his stool. Always
pushing and driving on top of the beat, bass players get a free lesson every
time they see Len play.
Len was buddies with Ike Turner, who lived out his remaining days in La
Jolla, California. Many recognizable names in the music business know
Len. In underground inner blues circle settings from coast to coast, Len is
highly respected by bluesmen for his baritone voice, and his driving blues
oriented music. His first CD under the JAM Record label, “Better Love
Somebody,” is still heard on many blues stations worldwide. His web site
www.lenrainey.com has MP3 sound bites, and on-line CD purchasing
availability. You don’t have to believe what I’ve been dishing out. Please
go on to his web site, and form your own opinion. If you know anything
about rhythm and blues you’ll feel the vibes in his songs. Remember the
name Len Rainey, as for working street level blues musicians, it takes a
lifetime of sweating it out in the chittlin’ circuit before the just due.
Len Rainey Show, in Little Rock, AR June 2008
Mike Dollins, Len Rainey, David Bishop & Joe Pitts.
Mike Dollins, Len Rainey, David Bishop & Joe Pitts.
| Guitar Porn Center Fold For July: A few blues guitar buddies started sharing what we call guitar porn. You have to be a guitar player to understand it. Anyway, here is the pin-up, centerfold guitar of the month. If you have guitar-mania in your blood, this photo will make you drool out of one corner of your mouth, unless you put a level on your head, then it will dribble out both sides. Click photo for more guitar porn photos. Send in your guitar photo, and get posted and linked with your name as the owner. Twangzone www.myspace.com/twangzone sends us a photo of Roy Buchanan's 1953 Telecaster. Check out their site for tons of great guitar photos you won't believe. |
Roy Buchanan's 1953 Telecaster Rare Blonde Tolex Showman
Musicians, add your press to this page; photo
& link to your site for $5.00. You can charge it
anyway you want on the button here - - - - - >
& link to your site for $5.00. You can charge it
anyway you want on the button here - - - - - >
| The underground working blues musician's on line ezine with a readership of 12,000. Focusing on undiscovered, and working blues artists that can't get a break in the big time media market. A networking tool to meet blues friends from all over the world. |
July 2008
| The Len Rainey Story, as it appeared in the Arkansas Free Press |
Since 1988
By Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins