By the time Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso were finishing their set at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project on the 17th of October, darkness, along with the stage lighting behind them created a silhouette, making for an image fitting for their last song, “Amazing Grace.” (See video below.)
The song was also their last in their recent gig at Babin’s Seafood House in The Woodlands, where we had an enjoyable evening of the Blues with Sonny and Rich.
Reminder: We encourage all our friends in the Houston area to attend this Sunday’s 20th Food for Blues — the following is from Sonny.
Hey kind folks, Here is the line up for our Umpteenth Annual Blues For Food festival ’09 at Shakespeare’s Pub located at 14128 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079 . The official date is Sunday, November 15th, 2009. Music begins at 1PM and runs for 13 hours. Please be advised some time slots may change. More details to follow. Any non-perishable food items and cash donations are accepted. There will also be raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Houston Food Bank. A free Texas style BBQ plate comes to all those who donate. With 12 acts and numerous special guests, NEARLY FIFTY musicians and a total of one hundred volunteers are donating their time and energy to this great Houston tradition.
20 years running now with over 24 Blues For Food events under our belt (Big Roger Collins was doing them twice a year at first), Blues For Food, a precursor to the development of the Houston Blues Society, has set the bar for charities on the local Houston music scene raising close to 100 Thousand Dollars and 150 thousand pounds of food in it’s long history.
Please visit www.myspace.com/houstonbluesforfood or www.shakespearepub.net for continuous updates as more details develop. Feel free to pass the word and promote it within your social groups, businesses, organizations and/or church activities. For more information, call Sonny Boy Terry at 713.869.7746 or 713.822.0437.
Two Saturday’s ago, before PorterDavis entertained Ken & Mary’s friends in Porter, TX, Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso provided some great Blues. What more can you ask for — (1) a beautiful east Texas fall evening; (2) Sonny and Rich; (3) PorterDavis. It just can’t get better!
If you love the Blues and you want to help support the Houston Blues Bank, then mark you calendar for November 15th and attend the Blues For Food Festival 2009 – Shakespeare’s Pub For several years now, Sonny Boy Terry has coordinated this event, following in the (big) foot-steps of Big Roger Collins.
As was noted a couple of entries back, the Sonny Boy Terry Band won the Houston International Blues Challenge this past Sunday. One of the tunes they performed was one of Terry’s own, “Miss Ann’s Playpen. The lighting at Dan Electro’s is not good for doing digital HD, so the video is a little grainy.
Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar was packed on a warm sunny fall Sunday afternoon in the old Heights area of Houston – the reason, the Houston finals of the International Blues Challenge, sponsored by the Houston Blues Society (HBS). The competition, which started two Sunday’s ago, involved the four finalists in each of the solo/duo and band categories.
SOLO DUO COMPETITION
DuPREE
BYRON HUDSON
RORY JAGDEO
WILD BILL NELSON
BAND COMPETITION
BOURBON STREET
BLUES MAFIA
CLAY MELTON BAND
SONNY BOY TERRY
It has been several years since we last attended the annual finals competition, this time encouraged by one of our Houston Blues favorites and friend, Sonny Boy Terry being a finalist. Not able to make it to Dan Electro’s in time to see but one of the solo/duo finalists, we eagerly waited to hear the band appearance order — learning that Terry was last, we were encouraged. Talent is important, but when musicians are performing at this level, the psychological edge of being last can make the difference. Having the edge or not, Sonny Boy Terry and his band were selected to be one of over 160 acts at the 26th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 20th – 23rd. DuPree was the winner in the solo/duo category. Congratulations to the winners!
Those attending the competition had an opportunity to experience some excellent musicians who perform regularly at venues throughout Houston and the gulf coast region. Everyone is encouraged to support live music, and the Blues, by attending local venues, such as Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, and by joining the Houston Blues Society.
PorterDavis at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project – photo by kenne
Blessed with beautiful fall east Texas weather, many blues fans and friends from all around the Houston area gathered in the east Montgomery county woods at Ken & Mary’s house party (Ken & Mary’s Blues Project). In recent years, house parties have become a popular way to enjoy live music and celebrate the joy of good camaraderie. Those who know Ken and Mary know there are few blues lovers that work as hard to share their love of the great American music genre.
Over the years I have been able to photograph and recently video the many artists that continue to make Ken & Mary’s Blues Project a very special experience. This past Saturday was no exception, but exceptional. The evening began early with local favorites and past performers at the Project, Sonny Boy Terry and Rick DelGrosso, who demonstrated their friendship by being a last-minute replacement, even though they would be performing at Shakespeare’s Pub later in the evening. As noted in an earlier posting today, Sonny Boy Terry will be performing in the Houston IBC final’s next Sunday at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar. We hope all of Houston’s many blues lovers will be out to support Terry.
After Terry and Rich’s set, it was time for another past Project performers, PorterDavis to take the stage. It was Ken & Mary that introduced us to this dynamic Austin-based American Roots/Blues band, recently performing on each coast after the release of their new CD, “PorterDavis.” The CD demonstrates their singer-songwriter talents, with two great covers of William U. Davis and Muddy Waters songs. This is group that continues to get better and better. If you don’t believe me, buy their CD.
I’m currently working on a video I will be posting with other photos later this week.
Sonny Boy Terry & Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project – 10.16.09 photo by kenne
This past weekend was a busy one for Sonny Boy, starting with a 6:00 p.m. gig with Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project in Porter, Texas, then driving to Shakespeare’s Pub in the Houston Memorial area. I’m not sure if he had a gig Saturday, but if not, I’m sure he was preparing for Sunday’s IBC competition at the Big Easy. The on Sunday, Sonny Boy Terry advance to the Houston Finals for the (IBCs) International Blues Competition. Everyone is encouraged to come out next Sunday at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar (2 p.m.) to see a great show competing to go to Memphis in January. Way to go Sonny Boy Terry!
kenne
Sonny Boy Terry with kenne at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project – photo by joy
I finally have edited several clips into one video of Sonny Boy Terry, Rich DelGrosso & Mike Durbin’s acoustic blues, recorded at Ken’s birthday party, November 8th. I keep learning to do this video thing and may learn to use more light in the future. At least it’s authentic!
As noted in an earlier posting, Ken & Mary’s Blues Project fall gathering had a great line-up, with the Moe Hansum Band, Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso. For Rich, this October 25, 2008, Project event was his first time at Ken and Mary’s blues house party, and what a collaboration! One of the evening’s songs was Rich’s, “Get Your Nose Outta My Bizness.” Sonny Boy Terry and the band take the lead from Mr. “Blues Mandolin” delivering a classic country blues sound, proving once again, the more you see it, the more you like it.
Reminder: We encourage all our friends in the Houston area to attend this Sunday’s 20th Food for Blues — the following is from Sonny.
