Listen to Blues

Born in the Mississippi Delta, B.B. King learned about the blues from his great-grandmother, who had been enslaved. She told him, “Singing about your sadness unburdens your soul.” ∙ A local church leader taught him how to play his first chord progression on a Silvertone guitar that King dreamed of owning one day. ∙ King earned the nickname Beale Street Blues Boy—or B.B. for short—while working as a DJ and singer at Memphis radio station WDIA. ∙ His breakthrough single, 1951’s “Three O’Clock Blues,” sparked a string of classics, including “Everyday I Have the Blues,” “Sweet Little Angel,” and “You Know I Love You” (featuring Ike Turner on piano). ∙ A tireless performer, King played an incredible 342 shows in 1956 and continued to perform more than 200 concerts a year until he was in his seventies. ∙ He broadened his audience by playing rock clubs, supporting The Rolling Stones, and recording music with Big K.R.I.T., U2, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and Bonnie Raitt. ∙ Beginning with his classic “The Thrill Is Gone,” King won 15 Grammy Awards, including honors for his 2000 collaboration with Eric Clapton, Riding With the King, and his final studio release, One Kind Favor. ∙ King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Though his public profile ebbed and flowed over the course of his career, Louisiana-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tony Joe White was revered by his peers and recognized by fans as the King of Swamp Rock. White's gritty, soulful music wove together elements of blues, country, and rock and was a unique, powerful reflection of his Southern roots, and his songs were richly detailed stories of life in the Mississippi Delta. Elvis Presley, Brook Benton, and Tina Turner all covered his songs, and he was a hero to roots music fans in Europe even when his career at home was overlooked. The best of his '60s and '70s work can be sampled on 2006's Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings and 1993's The Best of Tony Joe White, and 2010's The Shine was a superior effort recorded after a long period under the radar.

“The California Honeydrops...evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone.” -Rolling Stone Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They’ve become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B.B. King, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. Led by the enigmatic and energetic frontman, Lech Wierzynski, and drummer Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own rite — Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, Beaumont Beaullieu on bass, and regularly accompanied by Oliver Tuttle on trombone, Leon Cotter on saxophone/clarinet, and Miles Lyons on trombone/sousaphone — navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night. But what truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation - a skill so finely honed that they have completely abandoned the use of set lists and no two shows are ever the same. Off stage, their music has been streamed more than 200 million times, and placed in a variety of TV and films, including “Dead To Me,” “Alaska Daily,” “Black-ish” and more. They are currently touring North America in support of their new deluxe album, 'Soft Spot'.

For nearly four decades Donavon Frankenreiter has been travelling the globe, first as a professional surfer and now as a musician. Born in Southern California, Donavon spent most of his youth chasing waves, turning pro at the age of 16. These days instead of surf competitions, it’s concert halls that brings Frankenreiter to town, where he entertains audiences with his unique blend of laid-back grooves, philosophical lyrics and soulful delivery. You can find him touring the world with his three-piece band and still catching waves anytime he can.

🎵 Outlaw Blues & Western Soul For us who don’t give up! Follow me on instagram, Youtube, Tik Tok and Facebook for more exclusive content.

He who controls the spice controls the algorithm.

Born Garrett Dutton in Philadelphia, PA, G. Love first broke out in the early ’90s with his band, Special Sauce, on the strength of their Gold-selling self-titled debut. Over the next three decades, he would go on to release seven more critically acclaimed albums with G. Love And Special Sauce (plus five on his own), become a fixture on festival lineups from Bonnaroo to Lollapalooza, and collaborate on the road and in the studio with artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams, Dave Matthews, The Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, Keb' Mo', and DJ Logic.

Bobby Bland earned his enduring blues superstar status the hard way: without a guitar, harmonica, or any other instrument to fall back upon. All Bland had to offer was his magnificent voice, a tremendously powerful instrument injected with charisma and melisma to spare. Just ask his legion of female fans, who deemed him a sex symbol late into his career. Most of Bland's savage Texas blues sides during the mid- to late '50s featured the slashing guitar of Clarence Hollimon. Later, Wayne Bennett took over on guitar, his elegant fretwork prominent on Bland's Duke waxings throughout much of the '60s. ~ Bill Dahl

Winner of Jazz FM's 'Soul Act of The Year 2022' and gracing the covers of Blues & Soul Magazine and Echoes Magazine, Mica Millar has firmly established herself of one of the UK's brightest new Soul stars. Mica Millar's debut album 'Heaven Knows' was released 10th June 2022. The self-written, arranged and produced 14 track debut draws inspiration from a plethora of vintage soundscapes; most notably soul, blues, gospel and jazz with respectful nods paid to girl groups of the 60's and 70's, giving her songs a timelessness quality that is both reassuringly familiar yet distinctively Mica Millar. Those fortunate enough to have witnessed Mica on stage will have a clear idea of who she is: a bold, authentic talent with an ageless tone to her voice. 'Heaven Knows' finds Mica exploring themes of human nature, spirituality, love, inequality and empowerment. 'Heaven Knows' is available on Limited Edition, Signed 12" Vinyl and CD at https://ffm.to/heavenknowsmerch For UK & European Tour Dates Visit: www.micamillar.co.uk/tickets

Canadian rocker Jesse Roper is back with his new album, ‘Horizons’. Working closely with famed Juno nominated producer Gus van Go (The Stills, Whitehorse, Arkells, The Trews, Sam Roberts) on this new collection of songs has pushed Roper into creating some of his best work, “Recording with Gus and Werner F was on a whole new level. They really cared where the songs were headed and that they ended up just right”, Roper confides. “Everything was broken down to the finest details and nothing was allowed to sit at just “ok”. It was all about getting the vibe right.” And the vibe is certainly right. There’s a depth, a vulnerability, to this new body of work that hasn’t necessarily been at the forefront of Roper’s previous offerings. With a richer infusion of vintage rhythm and blues as background, Roper’s unique, soulful vocals are given space to soar. The result brings to mind sun-baked, dusty roads and hot, sticky nights on crowded dance floors. Like contemporaries Nathaniel Rateliff and Jack White, Roper tells his story with heart. The heart of 'Horizons' is propelled forward by pulsing percussion and undulating guitar, with Roper’s expansive vocals taking centre stage. The layered production style lends to a mysterious, almost seductive, edge to Roper’s soulful refrains; it tantalizes and charms, hooking the listener in.

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. I vividly remember the emotional melodies of artists like Los Hermanos Amaya, Ángela Carrasco, and Lolita, among others, playing at home on vinyl LPs and EPs. That era of music has a unique warmth that truly shaped my taste and my poetry writing. What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? Danny Daniel, Juan Erasmo Mochi, El Gran Encuentro Lolita, Amor, Amor / Espérame These albums are my favorites because they touch my soul. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. Viviana García, Kintsugi - Single This song is mine and is very important to me; that’s why I love it. The lyrics show my internal change, my resilience, and the truth of many women. What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far? Having started only this past March, my most memorable moment was the day I decided to be vulnerable and share my truth through my songs. Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band? My main goal is to continue using technology to give a voice to my poetry. On my bucket list is reaching a global audience where my lyrics about internal change and resilience can resonate with and empower women from all walks of life.

It’s almost impossible to overstate Johnnie Taylor’s importance to southern soul music and for that matter popular music. His career, which extended back to the very birth of soul music and to gospel before that, exemplified both the music’s staying power and its stylistic flexibility. He spanned multiple genres and generations while never relinquishing the masterful vocal technique—passionate, deeply soulful, yet meticulously crafted—that was his calling card from the beginning.

The sound track to your wanderlust.

Born & raised in Memphis,TN, self-proclaimed Vibe King, Anthony Q is an artist that cares about substance and delivering a message through his highly relatable music. Doing so with multiple hits such as Og Advice, Cut Ties ,NohandOuts and newly released single Fake Shit he can guarantee to always give you something to vibe to. Follow his journey on AnthonyQdaSinger https://www.instagram.com/official_anthonyq?igsh=MTViNGVyd25oNTQzdg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Deep-voiced Latimore's sultry mid-'70s output for Miami's Glades label was a steamy marriage of soul and blues. Initially billed as Benny Latimore, the Tennessean began recording for Miami mogul Henry Stone in 1965, and his late-'60s Dade singles are solid deep soul. Dropping his first name on Glades, Latimore finally found stardom in 1973 with a jazzy reading of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday." He topped the soul lists in 1974 with the anguished "Let's Straighten It Out," a simmering soul/blues hybrid, and encored with the incendiary "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" the next year. Most of Latimore's Glades sides were produced in Miami by Steve "Every Day I Have to Cry" Alaimo, and when he wasn't cutting his own hits, Latimore acted as a house pianist for parent TK Records. Latimore moved to Malaco during the '80s, his appeal undiminished. Malaco remained Latimore's home until 2000; You're Welcome to Ride is the last record he released for the label. In 2007, Latimore established the Latstone imprint, releasing the Back 'Atcha album that year. He continued to record for the label and perform regularly into the late 2010s. ~ Bill Dahl

Best remembered for the smash "Groove Me," New Orleans soul singer King Floyd was born in the Crescent City on February 13, 1945, and raised in nearby Kenner, LA. He began singing on street corners while in his early teens, befriending local musicians like Earl King and Willie Tee. With the aid of New Orleans blues legend Mr. Google Eyes, Floyd landed his first paying gig at the Bourbon Street club Sho-Bar in 1961, although his fledgling career was soon put on hold by military duty. Following his army discharge in late 1963, Floyd migrated to New York City, signing with booking agents Shaw Artists and regularly performing throughout Manhattan. He also began writing songs, encouraged by the likes of Don Covay and J.J. Jackson. After about a year he resettled in Los Angeles, befriending another New Orleans expatriate, composer/arranger Harold Battiste. Through Battiste, Floyd met DJ Buddy Keleen, who in turn brought him to the Original Sound label, which in 1965 issued his debut single, "Walkin' and Talkin'." Floyd's debut LP, the Battiste-arranged King Floyd: A Man in Love, followed on the Mercury subsidiary Pulsar in 1967; the album went nowhere, and as he was barely making ends meet as a songwriter, he finally returned to New Orleans in 1969. Now a family man, Floyd accepted a post office job upon returning home, but within a month he ran into producer Wardell Quezerque, then a staffer at Malaco Records. On May 17, 1970, they traveled to Malaco's Jackson, MS, studios to cut "Groove Me," recorded in just one take at the same session that would also yield another Quezerque-produced blockbuster, Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff." Floyd wrote "Groove Me" while working in an East L.A. box factory in honor of a young college girl on staff. He was set to give her the lyrics on the morning she abruptly quit, and he never saw her again. With Quezerque's assistance, he transformed the song into a deeply funky, percolating jam somewhere between the best of James Brown and Otis Redding, but ironically, the song first appeared on the Malaco subsidiary Chimneyville as merely the B-side of Floyd's soulful "What Our Love Needs." Only when New Orleans DJ George Vinnett flipped the record over did "Groove Me" begin meriting the attention it deserved, and as the record emerged as a local smash, Atlantic scooped up national distribution rights. "Groove Me" went on to top the Billboard R&B charts and hit number six on the pop charts, going gold on Christmas Day of 1970. Needless to say, Floyd quit his civil service gig and went on a national tour, returning to the R&B Top Ten early in 1971 with the follow-up "Got to Have Your Love," culled from his self-titled Atlantic LP. Creative differences quickly undermined Floyd's relationship with Quezerque, however, and subsequent efforts, including the fine 1973 LP Think About It, attracted little attention. In a surprise move, Atlantic then issued as a single "Woman Don't Go Away" from the 1971 King Floyd album, earning a gold record three years after the song's original appearance. But Atlantic's agreement with Malaco soon ended, and the latter signed a new distribution deal with Miami-based TK, which also assumed Floyd's production reins for 1975's Well Done, which featured the minor hit "I Feel Like Dynamite." He split with Malaco soon after, landing with Mercury's Dial subsidiary for a one-off single titled "Can You Dig It?"; at the same time, Malaco issued Body Language, a collection of his unreleased recordings for the label. The emergence of disco left few outlets for Floyd's staunchly Southern brand of soul, and in 1978 he returned to L.A. in an attempt to reignite his career and battle some personal demons; upon coming back to Kenner three years later, he mustered up a few local gigs, and in 1982 spent a month touring South Africa. Floyd spent the remainder of the next two decades drifting in and out of the music industry, finally releasing a new Malaco effort, Old Skool Funk, in 2000. ~ Jason Ankeny

Award-winning Quebec singer/songwriter Marjolène Morin, stage name Marjo, performed in a pair of musicals before joining popular rock group Corbeau in 1979. She left the group shortly thereafter to pursue a solo career, winning a Genie award for the theme song for the film La Femme Lhôtel. She released her debut album, Celle Qui Va, in 1986, followed by Tant Qu'il y Aura des Enfants (1990), Bohémienne (1995), Bootleg Blues (1998), Sans Retour (2001), and Turquoise (2005). ~ James Christopher Monger