Suncoast Blues Society proudly announces its new website at Suncoastblues.org

Suncoast Blues Society proudly announces its new website at Suncoastblues.org

Suncoast Blues Society proudly announces its new website at Suncoastblues.org

On August 16, 2020 the Suncoast Blues Society proudly announces its new website at Suncoastblues.org

The Board of Directors has been aware of the need to update its social media presence and manage its membership list for quite some time.

The board also recognized that redesigning and managing a website that includes an eCommerce system (Memberships) was necessary but beyond the board’s ability.

Thus, began the search to identify a technology partner within the Tampa Bay community that would work with us to accomplish this. We chose to partner with West Bay Media Group (WBMG) for this huge undertaking. WBGM’s CEO and founder is none other than local blues bass man Tom “T-Bone” Hamilton and he has been working with us non-stop for the past 5 months!

Our Content Committee, which includes Terri O’Brien, Lafayette Reid, Bill Hubbard, Robert D’Angelo and our tech guru and fearless leader Scott Morris, spent too many hours to count, designing and testing the new site – it has been a crash course in technology for many of us!

And we are not stopping here – additional enhancements are in the works that include an updated local band list, CD-reviews, Community Outreach programs, more blues interviews, and a refresh of the Facebook site.

The Board wishes to thank other folks that helped along the way – we could not have accomplished this without you!!

  • Rick Hart for getting us started on this project
  • Franc Robert for his creative and timely graphic work
  • Local blues front man Dooner Manross for graciously agreeing to share his image with the blues world (check out “The Dooner Banner”)
  • Karl Hastings for his precision email migration
  • William Tillis for consulting with us along the way
  • Ken Torvik for helping us with historical background
  • George Willett, our beloved retired board member, for helping with the transition

This has been, and continues to be, a HUGE project that has been in the works for the past 2 years, so we hope that you are as pleased as we are!

We would love your feedback – if you have suggestions, ideas or questions send an email to BluesNews@suncoastblues.org, and show your support thru your membership at https://suncoastblues.org/membership

Stay safe.

We sincerely hope our Blues Fans will enjoy our efforts and join our group that believes in the healing power of the Blues.

 

Suncoast Blues News Update

Suncoast Blues News Update

Suncoast Blues News Update

2021 International Blues Challenge

Greetings Blues Fans, your Blues Society needs to update our membership on some recent decisions.

As you are aware the current situation with the pandemic has just about shut down our live music scene in the Tampa Bay area.  The SBS board reviewed the new rules and guidelines the 2021 International Blues Challenge competition, which were set up to use virtual submissions from contestants.

SBS Logo

 

Sadly, we decided that we will not be able to hold a competition this year, or send contestants to Memphis, if the competition even happens. 

Without the ability for the Society or the bands to hold fundraising activities, we are uncomfortable with the financial commitment to send competitors to Memphis.  This was a painful decision for us, but under the current circumstances, we feel it is the best one for us this year.

 

 

 

 

Arrived!

Arrived!

Arrived!

Arrived!

by Monte Adkison aka “The Blues Stalker”

Introduction

When I first interviewed Costa Rican guitarist Jose Ramirez about eighteen months ago, he was in the middle of a European tour. Since that time, his life has been a whirlwind of career changing events and accomplishments.

After moving from Florida to Washington, D.C., and forming his own band, they were sponsored by the D.C.Blues Society to compete in the 2020 International Blues Challenge and won second place and embarked on a heavy touring schedule in the United States. His long-standing desire to release a debut album of original music came to fruition with Here I Come recorded at Wire Studios in Austin, Texas and produced by Anson Funderburgh.

Jose recently relocated back to Florida and released Here I Come officially on May 29. The first week after release has seen his debut disc catapult to the top spots on major U.S. and Florida Blues music charts and recently also in the U.K.  The viral pandemic postponed a third European and Canadian tour booked for the summer. Jose is rescheduling the tour to promote the new album. As the title song says, get ready because “Here I Come!”

 

International Blues Challenge

BS:          Wowza! What a difference a year makes. Fresh off your second European tour in 2019, you moved to Washington, D.C., formed your own band and the D.C. Blues Society sponsored you in the 2020 International Blues Challenge. There in Memphis, you competed against 230 bands from all over the world and received second place. How did this validate your sacrifices to pursue your dream as a blues musician?

JR: Going to Memphis and competing against 230 of the best blues bands in the world really validates a long time of hard work and sacrifice. I had no expectations about the competition but once we got there and we figured out how rough the competition was, we just did our best and hoped for the best as well. It comes to show that the band had been working hard for quite some time.

Also, it really shows that it was a great band mixed with seasoned musicians and great people. We worked on my songs. We came to the competition with original music, my compositions, and that helped a lot.  Things started to look up right after the competition and even though the pandemic has affected tours a lot the competition has given me a status it might have taken years for me to accomplish. Taking second place in this competition really helped to elevate my profile in the blues industry.

Anson Funderburgh

 

BS:          How and where did you connect with Anson Funderburgh and make the decision for him to produce your debut album? Working with Anson, Jim Pugh (Robert Cray keyboardist) and the Texas Horns had to be an amazing experience.

JR:          I met Anson the first time about 3 or 4 years ago, when I first came to America, when I met you and everybody here in Tampa. Anson was touring through the Tampa area because he was playing the Bradenton Blues Festival and he did a show at Aces, when Aces was still up and running, and I wanted to go and see him. It was my first time seeing him live but I already knew about him. He has always been one of my favorite guitar players ever. That night I got there, and I introduced myself and he and the guys decided they wanted to call me up on the stage and do a few songs with them and that is how the friendship started.

We stayed in touch all these years and last year we decided to sit down and have a formal meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. We met there around October of last year and we decided we wanted to work together. Anson seemed interested in my original songs and he thought it was a good choice to work together. So, we made it happen.

This past December, December 2019, I was still living in D.C., so I drove down to Austin and spent 10 days in the studio working in the studio with Anson as a producer.  What an honor to have my favorite Texas guitar player producing my album and playing on a couple of tracks. It was great to have Jim Pugh with his experience with Robert Cray, and of course the Texas horns who had played with Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin at some point. It was special as well to have Nate Rowe on bass and Wes Starr on drums and to have Stuart Sullivan the sound engineer to do all the sound and the mixing. Stuart has Grammy Awards for work that he did for Jimmie Vaughan and Willie Nelson—so a Grammy Award engineer.

It was amazing to work with the crew that Anson put together for me for my original songs and it’s showing right now on charts all over the world. This album is a serious production and we are all excited and proud.

Deep Down in Florida

 

BS:          After a successful time living in D.C. with a great band there, why was the decision made to relocate back to Florida?

JR:          The pandemic influenced my decision to move back to Florida. My shows scheduled in D.C cancelled, and I do have some family and friends here in the Tampa Bay area. it just seemed right. I wanted to move closer to a place where I would know more people, given the actual circumstances of the pandemic. That was the main reason. I already knew a good number of musicians here and I do have a good following and fan base in Tampa Bay, so it seemed like a good decision and the right time to relocate to the Tampa Bay area.

Here I Come

 

BS:          The official release of your debut disc Here I Come came on May 29 and has received excellent reviews from all over Florida, U.S., and the world. All but two cuts are original compositions. You managed to really capture a soulful side of the blues which is difficult for most artists. What was the inspiration behind Here I Come?

JR:          It is just a large list of personal experiences that I have lived through since I was a kid basically. I have been writing all these songs for all this time and arranging them and rearranging them and fixing lyrics and stuff like this for all this time. It just felt like it was the right time to put them all together and have someone like Anson work on them and really shape them up and he took them to different level completely. The inspiration, it is just really the absorbing all those years of experiences and stories and it is just a very personal and intimate album.

BS:          I have always been a fan of your guitar work but because of this new material I am impressed by your talent as a songwriter. As a very accomplished bilingual speaker, I have always been curious, do you think in Spanish and then translate to English or do the lyrics just come naturally for you in English?

JR:          When I’m writing songs like blues songs I never think in Spanish because I’ve never really worked on blues in Spanish, not even in Costa Rica when I started when as a teenager I was writing songs and playing in my country. I never sing in Spanish, so it just comes to me naturally in English although English is not my first language. When I am writing a blues song, I just hear the rhymes that I hear when listening to songs by B.B. King or John Lee Hooker. My lyrics come naturally in English.

Join the Band

 

BS:          Due to your move back to Florida, you had to find new bandmates. Please introduce us to your new band.

JR:          The two guys on drums and keyboards—it is an interesting story because I met these two guys – they are brothers. I met them this past January at the IBC in Memphis while we were competing. They were representing the Kansas City Blues Society with their band, young guys but very soulful and experienced and we stayed in touch. We became friends while we were sharing the same quarter final venue and we started to talk.

When the pandemic hit and I started making plans to move down to Florida, they actually reached out and said “Jose, we actually have family in Florida so if you are moving to Florida we might be interested in relocating.” I said, “that’s awesome, we need a drummer and a keyboard player, and I’ve already seen you guys perform at the IBC.” Their names are Andre Reyes, Jr., and Antonio Reyes.  I am currently talking to bass players to fill that position in the band as dates are rapidly filling up. (Note: after this interview Jose hired Kansas City bass player Kenny Watson, Jr).

BS:          Talk about the blues…..just as you had booked a full summer and fall tour of Europe, Canada and the U.S. to promote your new release, the viral pandemic shut down venues and countries and resulted in cancellations and postponements. Are you currently rescheduling Europe and when can we expect touring to begin again to promote your new release?

JR:          I now have a booking agency behind me after all these years booking myself. And this came because of winning second place in the IBC. It gave me a good amount of exposure and now I am working with Road Dog Booking Agency. We are working together to try and reschedule some of those dates, if possible, for the remainder of the 2020. We are also trying to reschedule the whole tour for 2021, the American tour and the European tour. It’s gonna take patience because the clubs don’t really know what’s going on and they don’t know when they are going to be able to reopen so it’s taken quite some time for me and my booking agent to really figure it out, but we are working really hard to make it happen.

 

Virtual CD Release Party

 

BS:          You just had a virtual CD release party and performance on Can’t Stop the Blues Facebook page live. Care to give a shoutout to Karen Gottheimer and Crafton Barnes for providing a virtual “venue” for blues artists to perform and receive some compensation because of canceled concerts worldwide? It was an excellent performance by you.

JR:          It was great being a part of Can’t Stop the Blues and I would like to thank Karen, Samantha, and Crafton for having me. We have been trying to put together a date for me since the pandemic hit almost two months ago but I was in the process of moving from D.C. down to Tampa so we could not make it work. It took some time, but I think that it was worth it. I had a great time recording the show for Can’t Stop the Blues and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. It was special.

 

Life’s Simple Treasures

 

BS:          I have visited your native country many times and felt that it is truly paradise and love the Costa Rican pace of living and the philosophy of pura vida. Do you get homesick, especially now with the lockdowns in travel and current turmoil in the United States?  Are you able to put those feelings into your music? I know that you have recently written a song about the pandemic, After All This Time. Can you tell us about that?

JR:          That’s something that never goes away when your family is in our native country. It’s a feeling that you never lose, and, in some ways, I always want to be back. I always want to be in touch with my family and visit as much as possible, especially during times when a global pandemic hits and things get more sensitive. Now, with things going on with the racial situation here in the states, it makes me think a lot about back home. Because I come from a country where we do not have these kinds of issues. So, it is really complicated but I do talk to my family every day and I stay in touch with them. As soon as the pandemic is over, I plan on visiting, of course.

Yes, I recently wrote a song inspired by current events, talking about the pandemic and we have all learned in this time that we have no idea. We have been taking a lot of things for granted in our lives; seeing how the world is struggling and seeing all the suffering we are going through and just misery. I wanted to write a song that could bring some hope to blues fans all over the world.  I hope to record After All This Time and hopefully it will be on my next EP or next album.

The Future

 

BS:          Besides getting back out there with a new band and promoting your new release, what perhaps can we expect to see or hear in the future? Any projects in the works?

JR:          It is difficult to say because we musicians depend on clubs and club owners and buyers. So, at this point my focus is to promote the release of my new album Here I Come as much as I can, via internet, social media, and my website, As soon as clubs start reopening, I will work very hard with my booking agent so we can start rescheduling the U.S. tour, the European tour, and hopefully our first tour to Canada as well. I keep constantly writing new songs, and I am excited to be putting together my new band as well.

Fans in Florida will want to mark their calendars for a Florida CD release party On October 3rd featuring special guest Anson Funderburgh at the Palladium Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Anson will also be joining me on October 10 at the King Biscuit Blues Festival on October 10.   I will be performing at the Camping with the Blues Festival on October 17 in Brooksville, Florida,

BS:          How can fans acquire your music and connect with you on social media? Website?

JR:          My new album is on many digital platforms. But I want to direct everyone to my website because if they purchase the album straight from my website, they will be directly supporting me as an artist. If people purchase the album there, I will make sure they get an autographed copy and receive an 8-page booklet. These bonuses are not available if they buy online from another site. I also have a Facebook and Instagram page.

 

Welcome back Jose. You have arrived!

Links

For more information on artists and topics mentioned within this interview please click the link

Jose Ramirez web site

Jose Ramirez Facebook

Jose Ramirez Instagram

Anson Funderburgh website

Jim Pugh

The Texas Horns

Can’t Stop the Blues Facebook

Palladium Theatre St. Petersburg FL

Camping with the Blues

King Biscuit Blues Festival

 

 

 

Suncoast Blues Society Event Update

Suncoast Blues Society Event Update

Suncoast Blues Society Event Update

 

Your Suncoast Blues Society wishes to thank everyone who is reading this right now – we genuinely appreciate you hanging in with us during these difficult times.

Events

The Covid 19 virus continues to disrupt the festivals and concert venues we all love to attend.

Due to the current restrictions on the size of gatherings allowed we find it impossible to plan our normal annual events. Until restrictions loosen up, your society is considering hosting smaller, typically outdoor, events using our local artists in venues where we can practice proper social distancing.

SBS Logo

We hope to be planning events and having fun as soon as it is appropriate, until then please stay safe and healthy. We miss you.

Memberships

The Society recognize that many of you renew your memberships at the events that have cancelled. We still need your support, so we encourage you to renew online.

New email address

Do you have any ideas for a blog post? Do you wish to contribute an interview for consideration? Your Suncoast Blues Society Content Committee has a new email address. Please send your ideas, submissions, and comments to bluesnews@suncoastblues.org

 

Lafayette Reid
President
Suncoast Blues Society

New Membership Benefit! The Phoenix Radio

New Membership Benefit! The Phoenix Radio

Your Suncoast Blues Society proudly announces a members-only benefit from The Phoenix Radio internet radio.

The Phoenix Radio shows provide a 15% discount to Suncoast Blues Society members!

Log onto https://the-phoenix-radio-broadcasting.ticketleap.com/ and enter code SBS at checkout.

Be sure to bring your membership card to the show to guarantee the discount.

The Phoenix Radio live stream broadcast can be heard at http://188.165.240.90:8442/stream

Big Al and the Heavyweights Interview

Big Al and the Heavyweights Interview

Big Al and the Heavyweights Interview

Big Al and the Heavyweights
By Blues Stalker

Blues Artist Al Lauro

Al Lauro was born and grew up in the Crescent City and as a percussionist. Al’s musical influences include the rhythms and grooves that only a city like New Orleans can produce. Al spend his early years touring in Europe and the United States as the drummer for David Allan Coe where he shared the stage with many of the greats in the outlaw country music scene.

In 1993 he fortuitously met guitarist Warren Haynes and discovered their mutual love of blues and Southern rock. In 1996 they formed the Unknown Blues Band with Rick Gergen and opened for many stellar acts in Nashville as well as performing at festivals throughout the U.S. Warren went on to play with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule and Al founded Big Al and the Heavyweights.

The recently toured Florida hitting all the major venues promoting their 7th CD entitled World Full of Trouble featuring guitarists Bob Margolin and John Lisi, and harmonica ace and former Heavyweight band member Jason Ricci. Their set list includes a mixture of zydeco, blues, funk, rock, with something to please everyone. Gumbo Heads should be ready to party another quarter century with these guys once the virus clears.  Get ready to boogie!

David Allan Coe

BS:  Al, what was it like to tour back in the 80’s with David Allan Coe?

AL: It was a BLAST! A rolling circus full of drugs, sex, and Outlaw Country!  I could write a great book. I appeared on Austin City Limits, The Grand Old Opry and numerous TV shows with him. We toured all over Europe in 1983. David was then based in Big Key, FL. This is near Key West which was then still full of hippies and smugglers (not so many t-shirt shops). David did a free street concert there and we backed up his special guests Greg Allman and Bertie Higgins. David is one of the most underrated true country artist and songwriters. Hopefully one day he will be in the Country Music Hall of Fame

 

Warren Haynes

BS: How did you meet Warren Haynes and discover your mutual musical tastes?

AL: We met in Baton Rouge. David’s then girlfriend Meme Broussard’s family was from Gonzales, LA. She and David were there to spend Christmas with her family. David had shows scheduled on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. Wendel Atkins band was from Texas and they were David’s backing band. They wanted to be home during Christmas, so they left in the middle of the night before the shows. David had to put a band together.

Meanwhile, Meme and I had a mutual friend Harold Mator who drove one of David’s semi-trucks. Mator called me and said David needed a drummer and would I be interested so I auditioned and joined up. I was wondering who the guitar player was going to be and they said he is flying in from Asheville, NC and that was Warren Haynes!

Most important, through spending countless hours on the bus together listening to music, Warren and I discovered a mutual love for roots music especially blues, southern rock, and soul. We had both moved to Nashville so we formed a band the Unknown Blues Band and we performed when David would take some time off from the road.

Big Al and The Heavyweights

BS: Who currently makes up the Heavyweights when touring?

AL: Currently, Wayne Lohr who has been with me for 10 plus years and is in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame plays keys.  Mark Parsons on Bass guitar, and Marcel Anton on guitar. Sometimes my long-time friend and harmonica player, “Roguie” Ray Lamontagne (Ray Lamontagne’s Dad) joins us on the road. It is hard to make money as a 5-piece band so unfortunately; I do not always have a harp player.

BS: Not too many bands have a drummer as a band leader. You perform with many exceptionally talented guitar and harp players who are front and center in talent and ego and command a lot of attention. Is that ever a problem for you as a bandleader?

AL:Not really. I am blunt and make sure everyone understands their role. We are a band FIRST!

Above all, we are not about one guy and his ego so one guy does not make or break Big Al & the Heavyweights. I have has blessed to play with some incredible harp players.  Roguie Ray who I mentioned before who is in his seventies and he will still play with me. Harmonica Red who also played with David Allan Coe and is freaking amazingly talented. He is on several of my CDs including Nothin’ But Good Lovin which Bruce Iglauer, president of Alligator Records, produced for me.

Presently, Red now lives in Kentucky. William Howse from Nashville one of my favorites. Of course, my long-time friend and a guy who has been in the band twice the incredible Jason Ricci. I am so proud of him.

Blues Touring Florida

BS:  You recently toured Florida before the music scene shut down due to the corona virus. I was fortunate enough to see you perform at Skipper’s. Care to share your thoughts and memories of that last touring adventure? Let us pray that those venues that have been loyal supporters of live music for years can survive this economic fiasco.

AL: Well I have been playing Skipper’s for over 10 years. The late great Rock Bottom got me in there. Tom White the owner of Skipper’s has been a supporter of the band and a forever friend. We just played there with Unknown Hinson.

It was a great Florida tour, as always. We played the Villages for the first time. Marcia and Mark are great hosts and it is an incredible gig. We also played The Barrel House in Ft Myers for the first time and for my great friend Vince at the Double Roads in Jupiter. We had a tour coming that way the 2nd week of May, but that did not happen. I have never been home this long, and I am so ready to get back on the road. That is what we LOVE and what we DO. I do not get how they can just shut it all down.

World Full of Trouble

BS:The title of your latest release, World Full of Trouble now seems very prophetic. Your home, New Orleans, is a city that thrives on its music and entertainment as well as its culinary reputation and eating establishments. What is it like now living there and how are artists such as yourself coping and surviving?

AL:It is like a ghost town. Like Florida, all the restaurants and bars shut down and lots of people are out of work. I keep hearing about this virus all over ‘Nola but it’s actually confined to a certain very unfortunate segment of the population. It is obviously very contagious especially to the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions. I live 60 miles North of ‘Nola in Hammond, LA. I work on the side for a storage container company and have now for many years. Consequently, old guys like me must have health insurance plus I am a single parent with a 16 yr. old son. I am not coping well at all. I am very restless, but I farm and raise chickens, so it keeps me occupied.

Keeping the Blues Alive

BS:  When this pandemic is all over, life as well as the music scene will certainly change. Any thoughts of what may emerge as a result?

AL: Jesus, hopefully people will not be scared to get out and there will be some venues left. I mean how long can these places hang on. I think people will realize and hopefully appreciate life much more because you can see how quick they can take it all away from us. Pretty freaking scary to me. Do not even get me going.

BS:  How can we as fans best help keep alive the music we love?

AL: Come to live music shows, support the venues, bands, buy a CD, T-shirt, put something in the tip bucket, tip the bartenders and waitresses. Do not complain about a 5-dollar cover. People spend 5 dollars eating at McDonalds or in a Walmart, but heaven forbid a venue is charging 5 dollars to see a band. Pay it and smile!

BS: In isolation, can you tell us what you have been working on? Have you taken this opportunity to write new material?

AL: Yes. Specifically, we have been working on songs for a new CD that Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars will be producing for us. Always something to look forward to in the Heavyweight World!

Thanks, Al, for touring in Florida and sharing your talents with us. Wishing you and your band the best and hope to see you back on the road soon.

Links

For more information on artists and venues mentioned within this interview please click the link

Big Al and The Heavyweights

Video: Big Al – Key to The Highway

David Allan Coe

Warren Haynes

Jason Ricci

Skipper’s Smokehouse

 

 

Inn Between Goodwill Blues Show

Inn Between Goodwill Blues Show

Inn Between Goodwill Blues Show

This is part 5 of our 6 part series bringing you the community outreach performance put on by Ronnie Earl, Sue Foley, Dave Clark & Chris ‘Kid’ Royal, with the help of The Utah Blues Society to entertain the residents and staff of The Inn-Between Hospice in Salt Lake City. Part 5 features some nice guitar work between Ronnie and Chris. For more info on the fine work this hospice does to help the homeless who are mostly terminal with no one to care for or about them, visit – www.tibhospice.org or their social media pages

My Babe Interview with Tom TBone Hamilton and Mike Shivvers

My Babe Interview with Tom TBone Hamilton and Mike Shivvers

My Babe Interview with Tom TBone Hamilton and Mike Shivvers

Scott Morris’ Interview bass-man Tom “T-Bone” Hamilton and videographer Mike Shivvers about their “My Babe” Video


On January 8, 2020, Tampa Bay blues bass-man Tom “T-Bone” Hamilton premiered a video to support his version of the Willie Dixon classic, “My Babe”. Tom made this video in collaboration with Tampa Bay area videographer Mike Shivvers, owner and curator of the blues web site Blues & Roots Digital Archive

This interview began during a conversation between Tom, Mike, and Scott during Anika Chambers’ show at Bradenton Women’s Club

“My Babe” Interview
Scott: Tom, tell us a bit about yourself, and your recent project that celebrates the music of Willie Dixon

Tom: People know me around the Tampa Bay area as T-Bone Hamilton. I have been a Blues bass player in this community for over 30 years. One of the music projects that I currently lead is T-Bone Hamilton & the Blues All Stars. I started the band in 2013 to work with my friends who are also fantastic Blues musicians.

From that start I decided that I wanted to record these excellent musicians. After I gave it some thought, I felt the music of Willie Dixon would be the perfect vehicle for accomplishing this goal. Willie is one of my bass heroes, who also is arguably one of the best post World War II blues songwriters. This led to the release of my 2019 EP T-Bone Hamilton & the Blues All Stars: A Tribute to Willie Dixon. The EP consists of live concert recordings and in studio. It is my fourth as a Producer.

Scott: How did you acquire the nickname “T-Bone”?

Tom: I gave myself the stage name T-Bone. As a kid, my friends would refer to me as hambone. When I started playing Blues, I wanted to have a nickname that stood out. Since I was a fan of Aaron “T-Bone” Walker, I thought T-Bone would be cool since my first name is Tom. The nickname stuck and is my stage name.

Scott: I’ve been a fan of your videography work for some time. Mike, tell us about your site Blues & Roots Digital Archive

Mike: The idea is to have a permanent online archive for Blues preservation. It began almost 7 years ago when I went to see John Mayall’s 80th birthday concert in Sarasota. Since I considered this to be a significant musical milestone, I brought a single camera with me to capture some the show. As there were no objections to the use of cameras, I shot most of the show and offered it to John’s people. Consequently, this began a relationship that continues to this day!

Besides, I became turned off by all the cell phone video that was becoming more and more common. Between shaky video and lousy sound, I didn’t feel it did these bands justice. Furthermore, that is not how I’d want my legacy preserved. I’m also somewhat of a history person and felt there were so many great and untold stories to go with the music.

Scott: Every video tells a story?

Mike: This was so evident to me when seeing John Hammond perform that it really hit home. Hearing him talk about opening for Howlin’ Wolf in 1964 or deciding to finally play ‘My Time Awhile’ at a festival. John introduced it as a Buddy Guy tune. In the audience was Robert Geddins, the song’s real author, who promptly corrected John! These moments are as special as the songs themselves.

To hear him tell these stories with really the passion of a fan, makes you want to hear and learn more. Preserving these types of stories and memories of our blues artists became another facet of what I envision for the Archive. There’s quite a bit more to it, and it’s still in the early stages of development. But I see it becoming a very useful resource for blues fans worldwide over the next several years.

Scott: How did you come together to collaborate the video shoot for “My Babe”?

Tom: I met Mike Shivvers when my band opened for “Braille Blues Daddy” Bryan Lee at Skipper’s Smokehouse. Mike videotaped the whole show and we became friends that night. From that time, we decided to work together to promote Blues nationally. Mike spends a lot of time on the road videotaping modern touring Blues musicians. My web Company West Bay Media Group developed Mike’s current website “Blues Archive.org”. The website is dedicated to preserving the performances of the modern blues artists. Since I wanted to do a standalone music video, I thought the song “My Babe”, which I recorded in studio for my EP would be the perfect soundtrack.

Scott: Why did you choose downtown St Petersburg as the location for the video?

Tom: St Pete was chosen since I have played a lot of music in the city, and because of the cool landmarks. I was kicking around the idea of recording my band on video at a set location in St Pete. Once that fell through, I thought of the idea of rolling the bass past different well-known landmarks in St Petersburg Florida. Mike and I picked the day, which of course turned out to be super-hot, and we shot on location in St Petersburg.

Scott: What are some of those “cool spots” in St. Petersburg where the video was shot?

Tom: The video includes spots such as The Princess Martha Hotel, St. Petersburg’s Historic Open Air Post Office, and Williams Park. Al Capone’s underground Tunnel was an experience. Also we shot at Snell Arcade, Crislip’s Arcade and Central Avenue. The Vinoy Hotel and Vinoy Park, “Brew D Licious” Coffee Shop, Tropicana Field, Ferg’s, and Billy’s Corner Barber Shop.

Scott: Al Capone’s Tunnel? What an interesting fact about St. Petersburg

Tom: In the video I’m walking through this little tunnel in the video. That tunnel is under a sidewalk on Central Avenue. Legend is that Al Capone used that tunnel during the prohibition era.

Scott: Tell us about the challenges with shooting video’s Mike.

Mike: I use between 3 and 5 cameras for a shoot. Each video shoot is different. The biggest challenge is getting good angles and location without interfering with the patrons. Fans are paying to be there and support the venue, the staff, and especially the artist.

For the most part the house lighting is adequate. If I’m doing a specific project for someone rather than only for the Archive, the artists and I might address a lighting issue if it’s bad. My job is to capture the performance as accurately possible, not to be a part of it or in everyone’s way.

I always have the permission of the artist. And with the venue, in case there are certain restrictions on where and how to set up. If I haven’t had a chance to get the artists approval, I’ll still shoot it. However, only after I’ve spoken with them will I post the video. It’s just common courtesy and respectful of the artists, promoter, and venues.

Scott: How about post-production. After the film shoot what happens?

Mike: A 90-minute show might take 8 to 10 hours to edit. I use 3 to 5 cameras depending on the logistics of the shooting location. A 5-camera shoot with soundboard audio can take several days to a week to properly put together, that’s with no distractions.

Scott: Talk about “Our Babe” in the “My Babe” video, who long time Tampa Bay residence will recognize as Nancy Alexander. How did Nancy come to appear in the video?

Tom: That was totally by accident. I was stopping by “Brew D Licious” coffee shop to get a coffee and this blond lady came up to me and stated, “An upright bass, that’s something you don’t see every day”. Since I am a longtime radio fan geek, I asked: “Are you Nancy Alexander?” She replied: “Yes”. I retorted something to effect of – “The fact you know to call this thing an “Upright” and not a cello – makes me even more of fan than I already am!” She replies: “I’m a music chick”.

When we explained what we are doing, Mike asked her if she wanted to be in the video. Nancy enthusiastically said “Yes!”. When we were setting up the shot, she told me not to worry as she is known as “one take Nancy”. We shot the video in one take and gained a new friend! Without her being there in the right place at the right time – I don’t think we would have had such a nice close!!!

Scott: Mike and Tom, thank you for your time and for producing a video that highlights St Petersburg and the blues standard My Babe. Where can readers find out more about T-Bone Hamilton and your projects?

Tom: They can go to my website I also have two Facebook pages that also provide information on my projects.

Scott: What is coming next to Blues and Roots Digital Archive, and how can readers find out more about your work?

Mike: Now I am taking advantage of the unexpected down time to catch up on a backlog of editing. Presently Tom and I are working on a documentary about blues legend AND local resident Bryan Lee. I’m also working on adding content and building both the Archive web site and our social media outlets. These include The Blues & Roots Digital Archive Facebook page and our YouTube channel. Tom and I are also constantly working on new ideas to further promote the blues.

Links:
My Babe Video Link: My Babe Video

Mike Shivvers Archive YouTube: Blues Archive Video’s

Blues & Roots Digital Archive: https://bluesarchive.org/

Blues and Roots Facebook Page: Blues Roots Archive Facebook

Tom Hamilton website: T-Bone Hamilton Website

T-Bone Hamilton Facebook Page: T-Bone Hamilton Music Facebook

T-Bone Hamilton’s Big Easy Review: T-Bone Hamiltons Big Easy Revue

Greetings to the best blues fans in the world!

Greetings to the best blues fans in the world!

Greetings to the best blues fans in the world!

As we all continue to struggle through this current healthcare crisis, your Suncoast Blues Society (SBS) is facing some tough decisions. Due to COVID-19 your society lost several of our income producing events. Consequently, the cost of printing and mailing our next issue of the Twelve Bar Rag is not in the budget. As an alternative, we are using our weekly email blasts to post content. Typically, if you renew your membership at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, please consider going to our website to renew.


Regarding budgets, our very capable fundraiser James Randolph has once again enrolled the Suncoast Blues Society into the “Giving Challenge”. This event takes place from noon April 28th to noon April 29th – 24 hours total. Donations from $25 (minimum) up to $100 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Giving Challenge benefactor. Your donation must come through our website (www.suncoastblues.org). We will have a link set up that will ensure SBS gets credit for your donation. Additional Giving Challenge info will be forthcoming.

So please mark your calendar, set you reminder, and consider investing in your Blues Society.

On an optimistic note, our Community Outreach Program board member James Randolph, and new Board member Scott Morris, are busy working with the Manatee Film Society and the State College of Florida (SCF). Planned is a multi-media event that will include a film presentation of Side Men: Long Road to Glory, live music, and a photographic display of Blues Artists from our local photographers. This exciting event will occur at the SCF campus in Bradenton as soon as it is safe to schedule.

The most important message that I can send out today is that we need everyone reading this note to take every precaution to stay safe and healthy during one of the most difficult times that many of us have faced.

Thanks – we love you and remember the Blues can be healing for your spirit.

Lafayette Reid