I miss Willie Dixon. I had the tremendous good fortune to sit and talk with him on several occasions during the 1980’s, and he never failed to amaze, entertain and enlighten me. During those years you couldn’t go into a Southern California club, blues venue or attend a music festival without seeing the man surrounded by an entourage of adoring friends and fans. He was finally acknowledging his role as blues ambassador and accepting it with his natural ease and grace. Willie Dixon had become everybody’s favorite uncle; the elder statesman whose dues had all been paid.

Since the Blues Music Awards happened last Thursday night in Memphis…I'll start with the Blues Music Award Winners. We've written about these folks 'afore! Not to mention a bunch of the nominees!

Who do I call in the middle of the night to help me solve this riddle? Who else but the smartest guy I could think of --  Grok 3 --- Twitter’s Artificial Intelligent helper. If you need a professional opinion about almost anything, Grok will reach its vast database of knowledge and deliver an intelligent and well structured response in any language.

Marquise Knox seemed to discover early what musical direction he wanted his life to take. The bigger challenge was how to make it happen. Growing up, the blues tradition flowed directly through the family roots and Marquise credits his grandmother Lillie, and his Uncle Clifford for his introduction to the guitar. But it was while living in St. Louis and …

When you dig into the musical background of Nick Moss you notice immediately his appreciation and understanding of the blues comes directly from the artists and players that helped create them. Born and raised in Chicago Moss grew up in a city known for its electrified and amplified urban style of blues. You know the ones; those gritty, 50s era …

OerYw’rGwr (Nos Galan); translated into English as Soon The Hoar Old Year Will Leave Us for New Year’s Eve, is now a traditional Christmas carol, based on a Welsh melody, dating back to the sixteenth century. The repeated “fa la la” also goes back to the earlier Welsh and may originate from medieval ballads. The old Welsh air, was first found in a musical manuscript by Welsh harpist John Parry dating back to the 1700s. The tune soon spread widely, with Mozart allegedly using it in his 18th violin sonata (1778) and later arranged by Haydn with the original Welsh title, Nos Galan (1803).

Forget Kevin Bacon; let’s play six degrees of Kenny Neal. As a 21st Century performing artist, Neal is your direct connect with all things blues; starting with family, friends and the early masters through juke joints, bars and clubs from Moscow to Madagascar…oh, and let’s not forget his award-winning theater debut on Broadway. Kenny Neal is a proven, renewable energy …

Story by Sarah Wyatt. Photographs by Darrell Scattergood. Two unlikely contenders enter the ring: Gaylord Opryland in Nashville and Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida. Who will prevail in the smackdown of holiday awesomeness this year? Freezing in Florida Representing the Sunshine State is Gaylord Palms in Orlando. The resort honors its ice artisans every November with a standing ovation and …

When you think of the blues; Fresno, California isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind. But after attending just one soul-stirring, high-energy John Clifton show, I can assure you your perspective will change. Clifton grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, which is sometimes known as the food basket of the world. He spent his formative years working …

Director Lara Slife on “Our City Tonight” TV Lara Slife made her directing debut with “Born To Lead: The Sal Aunese Story: ”The First Samoan quarterback, who enters a down and out football team and takes it to the National Championship.” CLICK ON IMAGE TO PLAY VIDEO CLICK HERE for the website.