“Get Ready for Blues Festivals”

Walla Walla Blues Society’s

Volume 23 Issue 2 February 2016

Free

Inside: Marcia ball Blues quiz

The Walla Walla Blues Society Blues News

The Blues News is the official publication of the Walla Walla Blues Society. Any articles, advertising, etc. must be submitted to the Editor no later than the 15th of each month. All submissions become the property of the Walla Walla Blues Society. Views and opinions expressed by individuals represented in the Blues News are not necessarily those of the WWBS. Permission to reprint any material herein should be obtained from the Editor. The Walla Walla Blues Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are therefore tax deductible.

WWBS Officers President: Mike Hammond Treasurer: Verna Reesman Secretary: Kim Ruchert IFK Coord: Mike Hammond BITS Coord: Torch Davis Webmaster: Rich Smith Blues News Editor: Rand Bishop Board of Directors George Copeland Donna Copeland Rich Smith Laura Hall Torch Davis Audrey Renaud

Advertising The Blues News wants to advertise your business, event or promotion. Email: reesmanv@my180.net Rates : Full Page : 8 1/2 x 11 $80.00 Half Page : 5 1/2 x 8 ½ $65.00 1/4 Page : 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 $55.00 Bus. Card : 2 x 3 1/2 $45.00 (10% discount on ads that run 6 months or more)

Membership Blues Society Members will receive a cool membership card, the Blues News newsletter, various perks and discounts from time to time (including the Blues Lottery), and the satisfaction of knowing you have helped to promote this unique American art form known as The Blues in Walla Walla and the surrounding area. Annual dues : Single Membership : $ 20.00 Family Membership : $ 30.00 Supporting Membership : $ 50.00 Corporate Sponsor : $100.00

The Walla Walla Blues Society 8237 Mill Creek Rd.

Walla Walla, WA 99362 wwbs@ bmi.net

2012 Walla Walla Blues Society

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Walla Walla Blues Society hold meetings monthly. The next meetings are Tuesday March 1st at Pacific Express. Come on down and have some great food and beverages.

8237 Mill Creek Rd. Walla Walla WA 99362

Whats Happening Wednesdays – Open mic and recording club, call Nick 200-1795 for info. 7-10pm. Thursday - Jam Night 8-11pm. Every Day – Taste Wine/Have Lunch 11-4pm

Live @

15 E. Main Walla Walla, Wa Check our music schedule

www.sapolilcellars.com/events

207 West Main, Walla Walla, WA

Check us out on Facebook ! http://mainstreetstudios.co/

Marcia ball

Like her fingers that rove so energetically over her piano keys, Marcia Ball seldom stays still. As with other brilliant musicians, Ball constantly searches to find that new sound, to entertain an audience, to write a kind of song she's never written before. She's a tireless performer, delivering her rousing blend of blues, country, rock, jazz, and ragtime night after night. Last year she played between 100 and 120 gigs—"that helps keep the lights on," she laughs. On New Year's Eve 2015, she headlined the show re-opening Antone's, Austin's premier blues club, and she's just returned from a little over a week on Delbert McClinton's annual blues cruise in the Caribbean, where, according to McClinton, she's a staple. Marcia Ball's musical influences run very deep—her father was a composer, her grandmother played ragtime and Tin Pan Alley songs—"she always had a lot of sheet music"—and her aunt played Gershwin and the pop music of the '50s—she heard her true calling when she was 13 and went with her aunt and

cousin to New Orleans and saw Irma Thomas. "She just blew me away and caught me totally unaware," Ball recalls, "and once I started my own band, the first stuff I did was Irma's." "I grew up at a great time for rock and roll," she recalls, "and when I was in high school, soul music was big. Plus, I'm from south Louisiana where people like to dance to Cajun and zydeco." All of these ingredients Ball poured into her music, mixing up a steaming pot of musical gumbo that nourished and sustained her and to which she added even more spices when she left home for college in Baton Rouge at LSU. In 1975, Ball reached what she calls one of her turning points. "I could join a band, start a band, or go do something else," she laughs, "so I started my own band. For the first time it was up to me what musical direction I'd take; I knew I was going to go back to my roots." While the blues have been good to Ball, she recognizes that "it's always been a subgenre. But, I tell you," she says, "blues fans are the most loyal ones out there; we have blues societies and festivals that keep the music alive. However,

we've lost that first generation of bluesmen and blueswomen, and we need to continue give our nod to the original players. It's important to carry that style forward." Ball shares that among her greatest influences are Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Etta James, Mickey Newbury—"a fabulous songwriter"—Dan Penn, and Ray Charles—"I could sell my soul to the devil to get Ray Charles' voice," she laughs. "I've been very fortunate in the people I've worked with, and I've been able to figure out how to put the right people together to play music with. I hope I've been able to add to the lexicon of this music we listen to."

(Blues Blast Magazine)

Test your blues knowledge: Blues Quiz 1. Sonny Boy Williamson II’s real name. John Lee Williamson Aleck Rice Miller Robert Johnson Walter Horton 2. He made it big with a Big Mama Thornton song. John Lennon Charlie Musselwhite Junior Wells Elvis Presley 3. The Rolling Stones named themselves after one of his songs. Charles Brown Lowell Fulson Muddy Waters Son House 4. Who was the guitar player in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (before Mike Bloomfield joined in and they had two guitar players)? Elvin Bishop Duane Allman Roy Buchanan Al Kooper 5. What guitar player played with the Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers? Jimmy Page Eric Clapton Jeff Beck Tinsley Ellis 6. What jump blues artist had big hits with the songs, “Caldonia” and “Five Guys Named Moe”? Wynonie Harris Roy Brown Louis Prima Louis Jordan 7. Who did bandleader, Johnny Otis, discover at age 15, in 1954, and used her as the star performer in the Johnny Otis R&B Review? Little Esther Phillips Sugar Pie Desanto Big Mama Thornton Etta James 8. Who was the first white guitar player to be in the Muddy Waters Band from 1973-1980? Bob Margolin

Hollywood Fats Johnny Winter Tinsley Ellis 9. What piano player/singer had a #1 hit in 1951 with “Black Night Is Falling” and a #2 hit with “Driftin Blues” in 1946? Lowell Fulson Charles Brown Ivory Joe Hunter Johnny Otis 10. What female Blues artist had her first hit in 1966, with Willie Dixon’s “Wang Dang Doodle”? Big Mama Thornton Little Esther Phillips Koko Taylor Victoria Spivey 11. Who was the driving force behind most of Jimmy Reed’s great recordings in the 50’s, with his solid guitar work and a downhome sensibility, and solid sense of groove? Hound Dog Taylor Little Johnny Taylor Ted Taylor Eddie Taylor 12. Who was the founder, guitarist, and vocalist of Roomful of Blues? Ronnie Earl Duke Robillard Jimmie Vaughn Kim Wilson 13. How many dollars does Paul DeLay have in the bank? $18 $13 $14 None 14. In the song, “Little Red Rooster”, why is there no peace in the barnyard? There’s two roosters in the barnyard The little red rooster is gone We ate the little red rooster There’s no chickens in the barnyard 15. Who sold his soul at the Crossroad? Little Walter Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Mississippi John Hurt

The Patty Party !

Test Your Blues Knowledge Answers: 1. Aleck Rice Miller 2. Elvis Presley 3. Muddy Waters 4. Elvin Bishop 5. Eric Clapton 6. Louis Jordan 7. Etta Jam 8. Bob Margolin 9. Charles Brown 10. Koko Taylor 11. Eddie Taylor 12. Duke Robillard 13. $14 14. The little red rooster is gone 15. Robert Johnson

Since Patty Keyes has been such a big part of the Walla Walla Blues Society we brought the award winning Robin Barrett & The Coyote Kings w/Tiffany Dames. It was a packed house and many of the long time blues members showed up to say hi. Notice how I say long time not old time, thinking of myself of course! Mike Hammond

I met my wife Verna at a Walla Walla Blues Society concert over 20 years ago and asked her to dance. We have been dancing ever since. I am now current President and Verna is Treasure. We enjoy going to Blues concerts and Blues Cruises. We are both proud of what the Walla Walla Blues Society does for the Instruments for kids and are big part of the local Rock Camp for kids. Mike Hammond

This year, the Downtown Foundation and FEAST Walla Walla are partnering with the Walla Walla Guitar Festival to bring the valley a great weekend full of music, food and splendid libations. Details are still developing, but make sure and mark your calendars for April 8-10. For more information please visit www.downtownwallawalla.com

Thursday Jam night at Sapolil With “mondo” hosting

Walla Walla Blues Society thanks our sponsors:

Walla Walla Blues Society Membership Application Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________

Address: _______________________________________ Email: _________________________________

City: ___________________________ State: ________________________Zip:______________________

Where did you pick up this copy of the Blues News? ___________________________________________

New Member Renewing Member I would like to become a WWBS Volunteer

MEMBERSHIPS $20 Single $30 Family $50 Supporting $100 Corporate Sponsor

Please make checks payable to The Walla Walla Blues Society and mail to :

Walla Walla Blues Society

8237 Mill Creek Rd. Walla Walla, WA 99362

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