THE VICKSBURG BLUES SOCIETY CONGRATULATES OUR 2007 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE REPRESENTATIVES
SHERMAN LEE DILLON-(SOLO catagory)& CROSSTHREADS-(BAND catagory)
THANK YOU SHERMAN LEE DILLION (solo) and CROSSTHREAD (band) for representing the VICKSBURG BLUES SOCIETY at THE IBC 2007. WE ALL WATCHED FLAWLESS PERFORMANCES FROM BOTH OF OUR ACTS. In the eyes of all members of the VBS plus your own supporters, new fans and new connections CROSSTHREAD AND SHERMAN LEE DILLON were the real Winners in TALENT, PROFESSIONALISM, ENTERTAINMENT AND DIGNITY. SHERMAN LEE DILLON (soloist) and CROSSTHREAD (band) represented what Mississippi Blues is at it finest.
Watch out for their new CD's on the horizon.
SHERMAN LEE DILLON----SOLO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
http://www.shermanleedillon.com/
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CROSSTHREAD------BAND BAY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI |
ARTICLES & ARCHIVES
DETAILS! DETAILS! DETAILS!
THE WANG DANG DOODLE FESTIVAL IS ONE OF SEVERAL EVENINGS OF MUSIC TAKING PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND OF OCT 13-14-15. VISIT www.MSMUSIC.ORG FOR DETAILS OF THE COUNTRY/ROCK NIGHT OCT 13, HALL OF FAME CEREMONY EVENING OF OCT 14, GOSPEL AFTERNOON SUNDAY OCT.15,
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ACCOMMODATIONS in Vicksburg, Ms. -, BED & BREAKFAST in historic mansions & inns, HOTELS and CAMPGROUNDS and other interesting information about our beautiful town visit this link Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau DIRECTIONS---Vicksburg, Mississippi is located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Going West on I-20, take the Washington Street exit. This exit is the last one before you cross the Mississippi River Bridge. If you are traveling east on I-20 towards Mississippi from Louisiana, Washington Street exit is the first quick exit right after you cross the Bridge into Mississippi. From either West or East exit, take a right onto Washington Street and drive spit'in distance past the Amerstar Casino. There is no way you can miss it! Use Ameristar parking lots and shuttles. TICKET INFO---2 for the price of one was the original advertised ticket deal. However if you are at the gate and are alone, gatekeepers will allow you to buy only one ticket should the person/stranger in line behind you agree to buying ticket #2. Thus 2 for the price of one making "The Powers That Be" happy and we sincerely hope this makes our ticket buyers happier. (We didn't make up the rules but we managed to work around them so that everyone can get in and pay $9 per ticket instead of 2 for $18.) Yes it cost extra to use ticketmasters and then there's that pesky tax on every dollar. So expect your total to be $9.oo which is still a incredible price for the acts and the view you will be enjoying. Bring the little ones. If they are under 12 years old, they get in FREE! VENDERS----There will be T-SHIRTS & ARTIST CD's for sale; BEVERAGES (beer & sodas) FOOD (hot dogs $2; burgers $3) SEATING---Bring something to sit on and don't forget your parasols or sun hats. No Containers Please! THE FESTIVAL BACKDROP- ---DELTA POINT OVERLOOK is a picturesque view from a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and its bridges with the river beaches and wilderness of the Louisiana swampy delta as its background. The sunsets over the river can be magnificent changing the muddy Mississippi river into a satin ribbon of monochromatic hues of blues pinks silver and gold. |
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WANG DANG DOODLE Performers LINKS DOROTHY MOORE-R & B legend, 2000 Hall of Fame inductee VASTI JACKSON-"The Mississippi Burner" PINETOP PERKINS -2005 Hall of Fame Blues inductee legendary bluesman JAMES "SUPER CHIKAN" JOHNSON (traditional blues and gutsy R & B) KENNY BROWN- North Mississippi Hill Country Blues-accoustic DOUG DEMING featuring FINGERS TAYLOR (straight ahead blues) LARRY TAYLOR BAND (blues & soul band) LUZ INGRAM-Rockin Blues THE VICKSBURG BLUES SOCIETY ALL STAR ORCHESTRA featuring LUCILLE- Guitar/musical director; RICK LEWIS-Drums; BEN SHAW-Keys; JULIUS RHODES-Bass guitar ********************************** With all the great players in town, sounds like the makings of a dynamite jam to close the festival with. THE WANG DANG DOODLE FESTIVAL IS ONE OF SEVERAL EVENINGS OF MUSIC TAKING PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND OF OCT 13,14,15. For a detail list of all concerts, events and workshops please visit THE MS. MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME WEBSITE @ If your computer does not support frames, then click here www.VICKSBURGBLUES.org
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2004 REGIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE Oct 3 & 4 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
BAND--PATRICK SMITH BAND
SOLO/DUO--VIRGIL BRAWLEY
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Vicksburg, Ms.
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Jackon, Ms. |
We wish to thank EVENT COORDINATORS:
SUZIE ETHRIDGES AND TRY ROSSOR
CHIEF BOTTLE WASHERS-John and Lu Ridges
EXTREME SUPPORTERS -Mike & Janet Davis
CORPORATE SPONSORS
The Ameristar Casino, The Rainbow Casino, P.L. Hennesey Century 21 Realty,
HotJam Records/Cajun Lady Music Publishing
Ramos+Rosser Architects, PA
Robert Mugge for filming the Solo/Duo event Sunday Oct 3rd.
Channel 23 for filming the Band event Monday Oct 4th.
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SOLO/DUO 1.BOBBY RUTLEDGE-Leland 2.JIMMIE LEE-Jackson 3.OSGOOD & BLAQUE -Vicksburg 4.STEVE CHESEBOROUGH-Greenwood 5.VIRGIL BRAWLEY-Jackson click on links for artist info, pics & audio
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click on underlined for band info, pics & audio. Some links are white some blue..whatever! BANDS 1.COURSEY STREET BLUES BAND-Raleigh 2.THE ELECTRIC COMPANY -Jackson 3.THE JUVENATORS-Jackson 4.LIGHTIN TOM-Vicksburg 5.PATRICK SMITH BAND-Vicksburg 6. SCOTT ALBERT JOHNSON BAND-Jackson 7.THUNDER CREEK-Vicksburg
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THE BLUES CHALLENGE JUDGES (click on their links)
ROBERT 'BOB' MUGGE- (Oct 3,& 4,) Renowned blues documentary film maker, directed & produced "LAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUKES" plus many more click on his link!
DOROTHY MOORE-(Oct 4,)Grammy nominated songwriter and singer. From her hit single "Misty Blue" to her latest single "Lie To Me," Dorothy Moore has warmed the hearts of millions with her songs.
DEBORAH COLEMAN -(Oct 3,)one of the most talented and prolific female blues artists of the last decade, makes her move to Telarc with the release of her new album, What About Love?
KENNY
BROWN-(Oct 3,& 4,)As a 10 year old, he learned to play guitar from his
neighbor Joe Callicott, and has played with Mississippi Blues Masters ever
since. He has played with R.L.
Burnside for the last 26 years, and over the last few years he has traveled
all over the world spreading the North Mississippi Hill Country Blues.His
new CD, "Stingray" was released in February on Fat
Possum/Epitaph Records.
SONYA
KIMBRELL- (Oct 3,& 4,)Features editor at The Vicksburg Post. She
is a Mississippi Delta native who can't sing, dance or play an instrument, but
her grandfather played blues harmonica in the yard, and her uncle is an
accomplished singer and guitarist, so good music is in her blood. She writes a
weekly personal column that appears in the Sunday edition of The Vicksburg Post.
JIMMY KING-(Oct 4,)Owner of the Subway and star of "LAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUKES" . Been in the business of supporting the blues since 1953.
JARBO WALL- (Oct 3,)Thirty years in the music business managing clubs and touring with acts such as ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to name a couple. He is currently writing his memoirs.
We were fortunate to have Robert Mugge (http://www.robertmugge.com/, filmmaker of "Last of the Mississippi Jukes") as a judge but he will also be filming our Blues Challenge. He, in association with PBS, is making a documentary chronicling the International Blues Challenge and as part of that he has chosen Vicksburg in order to show how a typical local competition feeds into the larger international competition in Memphis. Although our part in the movie will be small, it will be great publicity for the bands, the Blues Society, and Vicksburg.
PARTICIPATES SCORING CRITERIA (click on link)
Acts will be judged on 1.Blues Content 2. Talent 3. Originality 4.Stage Presence 5. Overall impression:
The acts will perform in alphabetical order and are listed in the order they will perform.
THE V'BURG BLUES SOCIETY JAM BAND
L to R.. Mr. B-guitar; Greg Osgood-keys; Billy Winston-Vocals; Daniel Boone-Drums; Cee Cee Blaque-Vocals & Jam Leader; Tommy Warren-Bass
2002
Fund-raisers for the Blues Dudes The VBS first representative band at the IBC!
Jack Cuthrell, bass; Calvin"Dr. Who" Carson, harp/vocals; Louis Caldwell, sax/keys; Mark Doyle, guitar; Michael Brown, drums
THE BLUES DUDES, Winners of the Willie Dixon-Vicksburg Blues Society's blues competition 2002 will perform Sat. Jan 18 2003 10pm-2pm at the New Orleans Cafe (The Bisquit Co.)
and at
The Vicksburg Blues Museum, 821 Clay St. (formally the old YMCA) Sat. Jan. 25. Show times are from 8-11pm. The Blues Lounge in the Museum will be redecorated with much more emphasis on comfort and ambiance. Admission is free. Food and Alcohol beverages will be served. Blues memorabilia will be on sale.
The Blues Dudes are competing against blues bands from across the world. They will be representing The Willie Dixon-Vicksburg Blues Society and our community. As with any team, they need our support, mentally, physically and financially. Please try to attend these two fundraiser shows and dance. These fundraisers are to help ease the cost of expenses the band will incur during their competition at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2003. If you wish to attend go to the Blues Foundation website for details.
THE BLUES DUDES
Louis Caldwell, Mark Doyle, Jack Cuthrell, Michael Brown,
Sunday, Oct 14th, a free concert was held at the Vicksburg Convention Center. People were generous with their donations but we still have a long way to go financially before we can erect the statue of Willie Dixon. Click here for more concert photos and videos.
Opening Ceremonies Oct. 13th 2002
Monday Oct 14, WILLIE DIXON WAY was officially dedicated. WILLIE DIXON WAY is located across a lovely hill to the right of the Convention Center.
6. 2004 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
By Bill Ellis
February 2, 2004
Three nights of contests produced one overall winner
at the 20th annual International Blues Challenge on Beale Street: Zac Harmon
& Midsouth Blues Revue.
The Los Angeles area sextet's win, announced early Sunday at a packed New
Daisy Theatre, makes it the best unsigned blues band of the year, an honor
that bears a prize package worth thousands of dollars.
Moved by the win, guitarist member Dennis Jones told how he had reached a
crossroads of whether to stick it out in the struggling band. The first-place
finish sealed it for him. He would stay.
"Zac and I and everybody in the band are not just players," he
said. "When we play, it's family, it's love."
Produced by the Memphis-based Blues Foundation, the IBC drew nearly 1,000
people to town, mostly contestants who vied for the amateur contest's top
honors.
In Friday night's finals for the solo/duo category, Hot Springs, Ark.,
acoustic act Lightnin' Lee & the Upright Rooster won.
Originally from Jackson, Miss., leader Zac Harmon and his Midsouth Blues
Revue beat out eight other national acts in the band category Saturday night
with an entertaining, authentic combination of edgy juke blues and urban
finesse that wowed the seven-judge panel and the audience, who gave a standing
ovation.
"Don't bring Oprah Winfrey/She lost too much weight for me," sang
Harmon in the night's funniest tune, an homage to full-figured women.
Alligator Records president and IBC judge Bruce Iglauer said that Harmon's
group fulfilled everything he was looking for in a winner, from blues content
and originality to communication with the audience.
"They were spontaneous and honest," he said. "It felt more
like real blues than anything else that I heard."
As first-place winner, Zac Harmon & Midsouth Blues Revue won $1,000
plus numerous professional perks including recording time, airplay, booking
and publicity consultation, Web site design, CD production, and plenty of gig
opportunities, notably a spot on the April 29 W. C. Handy Blues Awards.
Como, Miss.-based blues guitarist Daniel 'Slick' Ballinger won second place
and $500 performing as Rev. Slick & the Soul Blues Boyz with the late
Junior Kimbrough's son, drummer Kinney Kimbrough, and harmonica player Terry
Bean.
Ballinger also took home the Albert King Award for most promising
guitarist, a prize that came with a Gibson "Flying V" guitar.
"I know I ain't the best guitarist in this place, but I'm glad you
like Mississippi-style blues," he said.
Third place and $250 went to Boston jump-blues act the Matthew Stubbs Band.
- Bill Ellis:
BLUES ARTICLES ABOUT VICKSBURG
| Entertainment - AP Music | ||
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Musicians to Honor Bluesman Dixon
By The Associated Press VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - About 30 Mississippi musicians will pay homage to bluesman Willie Dixon, a Vicksburg native who was called "the poet laureate of the blues."
The free concert will be held
Sunday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Donations will be accepted
for a statue of Dixon, who died in 1992 at 76.
On Monday, a downtown street will be dedicated as Willie Dixon Way.
Mayor Laurence Leyens said the concert and dedication is a way for
the city to associate itself with the blues.
"We're where the Delta begins and we're trying to re-establish
our roots in the blues," Leyens said.
Dixon, who was born in Vicksburg in 1915, wrote hundreds of songs,
including "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man," "Wang Dang
Doodle" and "Spoonful."
He played with Chuck Berry (news),
Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson (news),
said blues musician and historian David Hughes, who helped organize the
concert and street dedication.
Dixon's 1988 album, "Hidden Charms," won a Grammy for best
traditional blues recording. |
Vicksburg Post Articles
To read click on links
| Free
concert Sunday a tribute to native son - Date: 10/9/2002 3:00:00 PM |
| [10/9/02]He’s
been called “the poet laureate of the blues” and “the father of
modern Chicago blues,” and he was from right here in Vicksburg. About 30 Mississippi musicians will perform beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Vicksburg Convention Ce... |
| 300
turn out to celebrate Dixon, the blues - Date: 10/14/2002 3:00:00 PM |
| Vasti Jackson gets the crowd to participate in Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man” during the “I Am The Blues” celebration jam Sunday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. (The Vicksburg Post/Melanie Duncan) |
| Next
step is a statue to honor city native, organizers say - Date: 10/15/2002 3:00:00 PM |
| Local musician Lucille Ridges, left, speaks with the wife of the late Willie Dixon, Marie Dixon, second from left, while Craig Gibson, right, looks over a CD boxed set insert booklet about Willie Dixon after Monday’s ceremony dedicating a Vicksb... |
| Shawn Newman with the Keystone Ministries removes vines from the gate surrounding the grassy area behind the old Junius Ward Johnson YMCA building on Monroe Street Wednesday. Mike Dunaway with Keystone Ministries said the building’s owner, Micha... |
| Blues
museum organizers want to display small exhibit - Date: 10/18/2002 3:00:00 PM |
| [10/18/02]A
group seeking to establish a blues museum in Vicksburg says it is about
halfway to the $250,000 it needs for the project and wants to put a small
exhibit here now to help generate more interest. Gregg Wilcox, director of the former... |
| Blues
exhibit adorns convention center walls - Date: 11/11/2002 3:00:00 PM |
| Gregg Wilcox speaks about a portrait of Joe McCoy holding a 1927 National Triolian guitar, one of about 50 photographs on display in the hallway of the Vicksburg Convention Center Thursday. Wilcox said once the Vicksburg Gospel and Blues Museum ... |
- November 17, - Local blues entertainers perform at the Denver Film Festival. They were there to promote their movie performances in THE LAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUKES which premiered at the Film Fest. For pictures and more information click here
- December 1, - Local band, THE BLUES DUDES, were chosen to represent The Willie Dixon-Vicksburg Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge to be held in Memphis Jan30-Feb 2, 2003. Blues acts from all over the world will converge on Memphis with hopes of beating out the competition and bringing home the bacon.
- December 4, - VICKSBURG POST HEADLINE
- B.B. KING, LUCILLE ENTERTAIN HUNDREDS (click to read Post article)
- December 17, - The Vicksburg Blues Museum will host its FUND-RAISER OPEN-HOUSE at the old YMCA building, future home of the Blues Museum, 821 Clay Street, downtown. Times are 6pm-9pm. There will be lectures and stories by local blues historians, Ms Davenport and Louis Spencer. Music by blues artists Lillian B. Almond, The Red Hot Blues Mamas, David Hughes, The Blues Dudes plus other blues musicians who happen to drop by. Blues memorabilia will be on sale. Admission is free.
- December 21, - McB's in Jackson will host its annual Holiday Jam. All musicians are invited to play.
THE LAST OF THE MISSISSPPI JUKES was filmed at the Subway Lounge in Jackson, Ms. with local and national blues acts performing in it. For those who missed the airing of the docu/movie on Starz in Feb. 2003 and couldn't make it to the screening, you can now buy the DVD and Soundtrack which went on sale March 18th 2003 at all internet record stores and major chains. It is on the Sanctuary Records label distributed by BMG. Go to Google and do a search for LAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUKES for more information.
For those of you who couldn't attend The LAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUKES record release party April 5th, you missed one heck of a blues show! Pics will be posted in the near future.
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