All our shows, BITS, membership, events and other information is up there. We hope that you will use and enjoy that.
We maintain a separate page for our festival at:
Monday, December 19, 2016
Retirement Time for This Blog
Our new web site has been up for a few months now and this blog has become a duplication of effort. It served us well for many years, but now all our good information is available at:
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
Blues Blast Music Awards
Monday, August 1, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Bryan Lee in Rockford July 16th!
Opening for Bryan at 5 PM
Justin "Boots" Gates
Justin “Boots” Gates is a 16 year old blues guitar and harmonica player. He started playing the blues when he was 8, and since then he's had the opportunity to play with some of the best musicians the blues has to offer. Justin can be seen performing his one-man traveling blues show (a mixture of old-time blues and new-school technology), as well as appearing as a guest musician with bands and artists both regional and touring. You can find more information, including tour dates, videos, and music at www.reverbnation.com/justinbootsgates.
6 PM Bryan Lee
Born on March 16, 1943 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Bryan Lee lost his eye sight and was legally blind by the age of eight.
Bryan Lee had an avid interest in early Rock and Roll and Blues Music which was fostered through the 1950’s late night listening sessions from the Nashville Music radio stations such as WLAC. This is where Lee was first introduced to the sounds of Elmore James, T-Bone Walker and many other influential bluesmen.
The man now known as “Braille Blues Daddy” started out playing for Midwest crowds at the early age of 15. In the late 1950’s, Bryan Lee opened for Bill Haley & The Comets with his band "The Glaciers" performing cover music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
By the early 1960’s and throughout the 1970’s, Bryan Lee’s musical interest turned to the sound of Chicago Blues while touring throughout the Midwest. He was heavily influenced by Chicago Bluesmen Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Hubert Sumlin and Freddie King.
While on tour in the 1980’s Bryan opened for one of his hero’s Muddy Water’s. After the show Muddy told Bryan: “Bryan, stay with this, one day you will be a living legend.” – “I went home and I cried” says Lee. Although his acceptance in the Chicago Blues Scene didn’t come until later in his career, Bryan has the respect of his friends and peers such as Buddy Guy and Lonnie Brooks. Bryan Lee and his band frequently pack the Legend’s house performing authentic blues.
In the late 1970’s Bryan fell in love with the city of New Orleans and eventually moved to the Crescent City on Jan 6, 1982. Bryan Lee has been a fixture of the French Quarter music scene ever since. His guitar brings the Chicago styled blues of Luther Allison, as well as Albert King and Albert Collins down to the Crescent City. Bryan Lee made his stand, performing 5 nights a week for over 14 years at the Old Absinthe House. Bryan gained the nickname “New Orleans Blues Institution” from Quint Davis, producer of NOLa Jazz and Heritage Festival, of which Bryan has performed at for 26 years now.
During the 1990’s Bryan and the Jump Street Five Band initiated a long recording deal with Justin Time Records from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The collaboration and Lee’s individual sets would take him to recording 13 albums over two decades.
2009 My Lady Don't Love My Lady
2007 Katrina Was Her Name
Nominated for BMA Best Contemporary Blues CD 2008
Won German Critics Award for Outstanding Blues CD of 2008
2006 Live and Dangerous DVD
2005 Live and Dangerous CD
2003 Greatest Hits
2002 Six String Therapy
2000 Crawfish Lady
1998 Friday Night at the Old Absinthe House
1998 Saturday Night Live at the Old Absinthe House
1995 Blues Is
1995 Heat Seeking Missile
1994 Braille Blues Daddy
1993 Memphis Bound
1991 Bryan Lee and the Jump Street Five
In 1995, Bryan shared his stage with a then 13 year old, Kenny Wayne Sheppard. Bryan was so blown away by Kenny’s guitar playing that he invited Kenny to be on his “Friday Night – Saturday Night Live from The Old Absinthe House “recording along with the great James Cotton and Frank Marino. Kenny also made a special guest appearance on Bryan’s l2009 CD "My Lady Don’t Love My Lady," along with Buddy Guy.
After the closing of The Old Absinthe House and the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans, Bryan formed a new band and hit the road. Starting over with Brent Johnson on guitar and John Perkins on drums, Bryan Lee and The Blues Power Band started touring all over the world.
One of many highlights of Bryan Lee’s career would be performing at BB King’s 80th Birthday in 2005, as well as being a special guest on the Kenny Wayne Sheppard “Blues from the Backroads, 10 Days Out” Documentary and album(2007). During this 6 week tour Bryan was able to connect with the late great musicians such as Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Summlin, Eddie Kirkland and Willie Big Eye Smith along with Buddy Flett, among many others. Bryan Lee performed hit original hit tune” Tina Marie” with KWS and friends on the Jay Leno Show in 2007 as well as on the Tavis Smiley Show.
In 2010; Bryan was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on “Live! In Chicago” with Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Friends and won a BMA for Best Rock Blues Album for the same album. In 2012 Bryan played his 26th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and along The Blues Power Band to a packed tent.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Monday, March 14, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Friday, February 19, 2016
Monday, February 1, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
John Primer with Rockford's Steve Ditzell at the Hope and Anchor
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
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