Basement Blues Band to Play the Adriatic Cafe and Bar January 7th

Illinois Food Bank Benefit with Bobby Messano Dec 30 in Mt Morris

Bobby Messano
Dec 30, 2011 8:30 pm to 12:30 am 
Bring canned/dry good donations to get in 
Venue: Moose Family Fun Center
Mount Morris, IL 61054

Eastland MS Got The Blues

Eastland MS Got the Blues

Story, photos and video of BITS with Paul Rishell and Annie Raines at Eastland MS 11/1/11.

RIP Ernie "Sugarlips" Brown

Ernie “Sugar Lips” Brown

On December 11^th 2011,  we lost a true treasure of the blues community.  Ernie “Sugar Lips” Brown passed away at his home in Freeport, IL.  Sad as it is, this was only about a week after Carol Coleman, his long time companion and caregiver passed away.

We all will miss his unique style of harmonica playing  which truly came from the depth of his heart.  Ernie played with great feeling and ventured outside the box to create his own sound and mood.  He was capable of playing all genre of music including country, rock and his beloved blues.  Over the years, Ernie played with many musicians and bands.  Besides playing with the Mississippi Band and Port Bluez, Ernie was well known for being with his namesake band, Ernie and the Po’ Boys.

Ernie Brown was the most kind, gentle, soft-spoken person that I have ever met.  He never complained about the fact he could not see you or said bad things about people that he had dealings with.  He also had a great love for his family members and Carol.  He will be missed by all of them.

The past few years, “Sugar Lips” was unable to perform on stage or even play his beloved harmonicas. This had to be hard for him to bear after all the years of music in his life. He even had me get a harmonica rack for him to try which did not work out well. One day Ernie told me “I’ve had my time in the sun and other musicians will carry on.”  I think that he was okay with that.

I want to give a special thanks to Ernie for putting up with me in my endeavor to learn how to play the harmonica.  This truly had to be a challenge for him.  We had many hours together playing harmonica and talking.  Thank you Ernie, you will be truly missed by me and all the people that got to know you.  

Harmonica Joe Poluyanskis-Crossroads Blues Society

Ernest “Sugarlips” Brown Home Going Celebration

December 20^th 2011  - 4:00PM till 9:PM

Stephenson County Farm Bureau - 210 West Spring St. Freeport, IL

Catered food will be served, live music and many pictures and memories of “Sugarlips”

No smoking or alcohol allowed

Dishes to pass would be appreciated also.

Contact Kaitlyn Peters 1-815-656-0392