
Singer-Songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard at The Rhythm Room (10/30/14)– Image by kenne
Blues Musician, Sherman Robertson at the Old Rhythm Room in Houston (July 2004) — Digital Painting by kenne
— kenne
Tommie Lee Bradley with the New Jack Hippies at Houston’s Rhythm Room (March 8, 2003) — Computer art by kenne
“Shadows at the Backdoor” (09/13/03) — Image by kenne
Blues Legend, Jimmy “T99” Nelson is shadowed by James “Blues Hound” Nagel and Smokin’ Joe Montes
off-stage at the back entrance of the old Washington Street Rhythm Room.
Jimmy “T99” Nelson (10/01/01) — Image by kenne
Posting from November 28, 2005 on 360.yahoo.com/kenneturner.
Mark May & “T-99″ Nelson Collage at Houston’s Rhythm Room by kenne
The Rhythm Room
There was a place
Near downtown
Always rock’n
Embracing the sound
Echoing in time
Without a 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.
Music recorded live
By Smoke’n Joe
For everyone to hear
From far and wide —
Blues lovers know
The music lives on
Down in old H-Town.
The room’s now gone
Replaced by condos
So too the sound
Losing out to big doe —
Rhythm in the blues
Forever to be found
Down in old H-Town.
— kenne
The late Mean Gene Kelton — May 3, 2008 Image by kenne
— 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.”
kenne
Diunna with Blue Mercy lead guitarist, Jonn Richardson — Images by kenne
Friends of The Blues: Charlie Parker, AJ Murphy, Kenne Turner, Diunna Greenleaf & Dale Armet
Diunna & Joy
This weekend Diunna Greenleaf and her band, Blue Mercy will be in Tucson and Bisbee — Friday night as part of the Rhythm & Roots Series in Tucson, then Saturday she will be headlining the Bisbee Blues Festival. Diunna is a popular Houston blues singer that Joy and I have known since 1999, when she worked with some Montgomery County blues lovers to form the Friends of The Blues – Montgomery County and start an educational blues series at Montgomery College.
Diunna’s blues style is her own, developed from the legendary male & female Texas blues singers. Diunna and Blue Mercy have performed throughout the United States and Internationally.
This year Diunna has been nominated for the “Koko Taylor Award-Traditional Blues Female” and “Traditional Blues Album-Trying To Hold On” at the 2012 Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN on May 5th, 2012. Her new CD “Trying To Hold On” s #1 on XM/Sirius Radio Bluesville Chart, #1 on French Blues charts, #1 on Living Blues charts for December, and is at the top of Blues charts in UK, Australia and USA.
If you are in the Tucson area this weekend, I urge you to go see Diunna — you will witness some of the best blues anywhere. We are looking forward to seeing Diunna and the band.
If you are into Arizona blues, then you know Bob Corritore. He will be Diunna’s special guest, both in Tucson and Bisbee.
kenne
Diunna Greenleaf with Bob Corritore at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix
Patrick Skog and “Mighty” Joe Milsap — Image by kenne
If you love the sound and beat of Gulf Coast R&B, you will love The Fremonts. This band features “Mighty” Joe Milsap, and the Tucson Rhythm & Roots Series included special guest, Bob Corritore of the Phoenix Rhythm Room fame. This event was also supported by The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation.
We are all about supporting live music! Whatever the genre, live music is what feeling the joy is all about — EXPERIENCE THE FEELING!
kenne
The Fremonts with Special Guest, Bob Corritore — Image by kenne
Bob Corritore & Dave Riley — Image by kenne
If you follow my blog, you have seen several videos from the 20th Anniversary of Bob Corritore’s The Rhythm Room. One of Bob’s regulars with him at The Rhythm Room is Dave Riley. They did several songs before bringing on some of the evenings special guest, two of which were spiritual.
kenne
Rhythm Room All-Stars at the 2010 Bisbee Blues Festival – Image by kenne
(Image to the right: Diunna & Joy — by kenne)
Video by kenne
If you are looking for some great Chicago Blues, you might want to look by way of Phoenix and the Rhythm Room All Stars.
Founded by harmonica player, bandleader and owner of the Phoenix Blues Club, The Rhythm Room, A Chicago native,
Bob Corritore was introduced to the blues at an early age and took up the harmonica after being inspired by legendary
blues harmonica player, Little Walter.
Since 2005, Chris James and bassist Patrick Rynn, known by Blues fans as longtime leaders of their own band, the Blue Four,
have been a part of the All Stars. I was pleased to photo them at the 2010 Bisbee Blues Festival. In the following clip the
All Stars are performing Chris James and Patrick Rynn’s original song “Mister Coffee”.
Kenne
(Click on errors in lower right corner to see full screen HD)
The Rhythm Room — Image by kenne
The Rhythm Room
There was a place
Somewhere near downtown
Always rock’n
Embracing the sound
Echoing in time
Without a 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 too the sound
Losing out to money
Rhythm in the blues
Forever to be found
Down in old H-town.
kenne
Sometimes, it just doesn’t get better. The three-day celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Rhythm Room included the blues great, Bob Margolin. Many of the musicians at this event knew the legendary Willy “Big Eyes” Smith who passed away the day before Bob’s gig at the Rhythm Room, so his performance was in memory of Smith.
kenne
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