Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you The songs of the past bring back memories of you I always remember the first night we met The songs they were playing I never will forget
I always will treasure them so close to my heart They always will haunt me although we’re apart Each time that I hear them a tear’s bound to fall For I love those memories that I, I-I recall
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you The songs of the past bring back memories of you Forever they will haunt me but what can I do
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you (Oldies but goodies reminds me of you)
[Spoken:] Yes, dear, they are playin’ our songs And they will always remain our songs And each time you hear them I hope you, too, will cherish The wonderful memories that our love once knew For these songs are just a symbol of the love that I had for you
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you The songs of the past bring back memories of you Forever they will haunt me but what can I do
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you (Oldies but goodies reminds me of you)
The Zydeco Dots at The Continental Club, Houston, Texas — (09/24/06)
Roger Wood and James Fraher
Roger Wood writes in the Introduction to his 2006 book, Texas Zydeco:
“No matter where you may have lived or traveled or what your tastes in music might be, somewhere along the way you have likely encountered the uncanny sound of zydeco. For many people it is but a fleeting moment of exposure, leaving them slightly confused but somehow enthused by their sudden involuntary foot-tapping. For certain others it is an even more visceral awakening, the start of an ongoing relationship with a potent force. For some, there is no memory of their first encounter, for they have known it all their lives — the phrase ‘Texas zydeco’ is not an oxymoron but a cultural fact.”
kenne
Bar at Houston’s Continental Club — Images by kenne
Lone Star College – Montgomery Library, Writers In Performance Series. — Images and video by kenne
September 17, 2009, poet Rich Levy was the presenter at the first fall 2009 Writers In Performance at Lone Star College – Montgomery. As I had done for about a year, I recorded his reading, which took place in the college library. Levy earned his MFA at the Iowa Writers Workshop and has been the executive director of Inprint, a nonprofit literary arts organization in Houston, Texas, since 1995.
Several of the poem he read were from his 2009 book of poems, “Why Me?” One of the poems that impressed me was titled, “Body and Soul” after Coleman Hawkins’ recording — “. . . the hurling way in which their talk moves, the way his nostrils flare as he tries with an occasional false shyness to avert his glance makes me think of Coleman Hawkins’ 1939 recording of Body and Soul, the one that took the world’s breath away, . . . “
This is poetry that possesses the feelings that makes Blues and Jazz the most human of all music, therefore existential.
The late Mean Gene Kelton — May 3, 2008 Image by kenne
“If this guitar could talk – don’t you think you might hear
How the road goes on forever, just follow the trail of tears”
— from “If This Guitar Could Talk” by Mean Gene Kelton
*****
Mean Gene Kelton was one hell of a rockin’ bluesman. He was also that down home Mississippi boy who loved sitting around picking, playing the harp and telling stories — never a moment to write about in “Gigs from Hell.”
I recall Gene telling me that he was getting tired of the “regular gig thing,” which is one of the reasons he started his weekly acoustic “Rooster Jam” at Rooster’s in Baytown.
In May of 2008, Ken & Mary’s Blues Project provided one of those perfect “under the stars” venues for the “unplugged” Gene.
And yes, we are still following “. . . the trail of tears.”
This is one my favorite photos of Diunna, which captures one her classic looks — it’s so Diunna. Here, 17 year old Gary Clark Jr. is getting the “evil eye.”
Earlier in 2001, when he was 16, Gary represented Houston in the International Blues Competition.
It’s because of musicians like Diunna and Gary that the blues is alive and well –if you think not, you need to check out this KCRW, “Live In Studio” set.
This is one jamming live set by the best Texas has to offer.
Yesterday was 420 Day and with a posting on the Houston Blues Society’s Facebook page by Guy Schwartz (The New Jack Hippies), it brought back memories of Houston’s Rhythm Room.
Tommie Lee Bradley, Guy Schwartz & The New Jack Hippies at The Rhythm Room,– Image by kenne March 8, 2003
The Rhythm Room
There was a place Somewhere near downtown Always rock’n Embracing the sound Echoing in time Without an hour clock. Down in old H-town.
More than a room, The grandest of joints Rhythm was its fame So no need to point For people all knew Blues was its claim Down in old H-town.
The Room now gone Replaced by many So to the sound Losing out to money Rhythm in the blues Forever to be found Down in old H-town.
kenne
(First Posted Jun 13, 2010)
The following images were taken March 2003 at one of KPFT‘s Joe’s Roadhouse live shows from the Rhythm Room; followed by the Guy Schwartz and The New Jack Hippies video, “Roll My Own.”
kenne
Joe Montes Introducing Guy Schwartz and The New Jack Hippies
Guy Schwartz and The New Jack Hippies
Tommy Lee Bradley & Guy Schwartz
Guy Schwartz & The New Jack Hippies
Gloria (Soul Queen of Texas) Edwards & Guy Schwartz
February 22, 2003, Blues lovers and legends in Houston gathered at Houston’s Mr. Gino’s Lounge in the memory of blues/jazz great, Kinney Abair. Now that it’s almost the 10th anniversary of Kinney’s death, I’m sharing my images of the Mr. Gino’s event. Some of the musicians in the photos are Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes, I.J. Gosey, Ashton Savoy, Mike Stone, Pee Wee Stevens, Sonny Boy Terry and Texas Johnny Brown. Many other legends were in attendance, but not necessarily in my photos.
That evening we were also remembering AJ Murphy, who had a heart attach and passed away after giving a eulogy for his close friend, Kinney.
AJ Murphy
kenne
(To review other Blues posting on the blog, use the search function for “blues” on the home page, left column.
One year ago today, our very good friend, Mean Gene Kelton died in an auto accident. I first met Gene at a Houston Blues Society (HBS) board meeting we were attending to explore how a group we were forming, Friends of the Blues — Montgomery County, might work with HBS. The focus of our group was an educational series on the Blues, which would be offered through the continuing education department at Montgomery College. Gene expressed an interest in being a part of our new project, and for the next year he and Joni would drive from Baytown to The Woodlands once a week — to say the least, we were impressed and appreciative of their involvement. That kind of support and commitment says more than words as to the kind of man Mean Gene Kelton was.
Over the past decade I had plenty of opportunity to photograph Gene, and in recent years to also video some of his gigs. (See links below.) As fate would have it, Joy and I were in Houston over the holidays last year and were planning on being at his New Years day matinée at Rowdy Bucks in Crosby, Texas, which we had also attended two-years earlier. The video on this post contains clips from the events that followed Gene’s tragic death.
Some people are hard to live with, the source for many a blues song. But the blues is easy to live with, especially in the woods of east Texas.
Ken & Mary know that for sure, attracting friends and their guests, year after year to their Blues Project, sharing the best blues anywhere.
Returning again this year, Rich DelGrosso sang, “Hard To Live With,” with Jonn Del Tero Richardson. Their latest CD, nominated by “Blues Blast” magazine for “Best Traditional Blues CD of The Year!”
Nominated among blues legends, very deserving of the honor, with new songs taking traditional blues to a new creative level.
Joy and I are on a special trip to Houston to spend time with family and friends and we are being blessed with great fall weather — the folks here need it after the summer they have experienced. (We brought it with us from Tucson!)
One of the things we will be doing while here, which will include both family and friends, is attending our great friends “Ken & Mary’s Fall Music Festival” — for over fifteen years called “Ken & Mary’s Blues Project.” As announced in a previous posting, this year’s music will be provided by two friends and super blues musicians, Rich DelGrosso and Jonn Del Toro Richardson. Their latest album (Time Slips By) deputed #4 on The Living Blues Radio Chart back in February. As always, there will be other musicians sitting in as the evening goes on.
Last year in September we were at the Bisbee Blues Festival where one of the groups was Bob Corritore’s Rhythm Room All Stars. This year, we miss the Bisbee Blues Festival so we could be at the Rhythm Room’s 20th Anniversary in Phoenix, where one of the performers was our good friend from Houston, Diunna Greenleaf. The anniversary event was Friday through Sunday, with Diunna appearing Saturday night. So, Joy and I were there for some great Blues and to see Diunna. On the stage with Diunna was Bob Corritore,Bob Margolin, Mookie Brill and Brain Fahey. As one might expect, the room was SRO, making it more challenging to get some good photos and video. Here’s some of what I was able to get. Enjoy!
Edward Hirsch Reading at Lone Star College – Montgomery, Writers In Performance Series (April, 2010) — Images and Video by kenne
and stored it in my in-laws’ basement in Bethesda,
Texas Live Music — Image by kenne
The Zydeco Dots at The Continental Club, Houston, Texas — (09/24/06)
Bar at Houston’s Continental Club — Images by kenne
Lone Star College – Montgomery Library, Writers In Performance Series. — Images and video by kenne
September 17, 2009, poet Rich Levy was the presenter at the first fall 2009 Writers In Performance at Lone Star College – Montgomery. As I had done for about a year, I recorded his reading, which took place in the college library. Levy earned his MFA at the Iowa Writers Workshop and has been the executive director of Inprint, a nonprofit literary arts organization in Houston, Texas, since 1995.
The late Mean Gene Kelton — May 3, 2008 Image by kenne
