Robert Johnson's first recording session at San Antonio hotel in 1936

Robert Johnson had his first recording session in room 414 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, TX this day in 1936.  One of the 8 sides he recorded that day was "Terraplane Blues".

Delta blues legend Son House passes away in 1988

Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. passed away this day in 1988 in Detroit, MI.  Son's music had a profound impact on artists as early as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Jack White in the current day.  Jack still claims his favorite song is Son's "Grinnin' In Your Face".  Here's some vintage clips of Son House, a White Stripes cover and a clip of Jack White talking about Son's influence here...

interview segment

"John The Revelator"

Son House speaks about Robert Johnson

"Levee Camp Blues"

Son House- "Grinnin' In Your Face"

"Death Letter Blues"

White Stripes- "Death Letter"

Jack White speaks on Son House

EMI announced this day in 1959 that they were halting production of 78's

EMI announces they have now stopped producing 78rpm records this day in 1959 giving way to the more popular 7" 45rpms.  Pictured above are a couple of my favorite 78's...Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" and Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line".

Elvis- "Mystery Train" 78 (on Sun)

Robert Johnson- "Sweet Home Chicago" 78

Johnny Burnette Trio- "Honey Hush" 78

Tank Full Of Blues review

What can you say about an artist that is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, been recording for 55 years and has over 30 studio albums to his credit?  Dion refuses to slow down on his most passionate project to date with Tank Full Of Blues.  That's saying quite a lot considering his career accomplishments.  This is the 3rd in a trilogy of Blues albums recorded by Dion starting with 2006's Bronx In Blue.  What makes this one different is that these tunes were almost entirely written by Dion.  The album kicks off with the title cut and clever lyrics like, "I've got a woman who really wants me, I've got another who wants me gone".  It sets the pace for the journey you're about to embark on.  Other standouts include "I Read It (In The Rolling Stone)" which pays tribute to the iconic magazine as well as a nice shout out to his friend, Robert Plant.  "Ride's Blues" is the center piece of the album detailing a fictional conversation with Robert Johnson as he's driven to the Crossroads.  Pay special attention to the lyrics and imagery in this and many of the tracks on this project.  Not only are the lyrics delivered passionately, it also describes Dion's guitar playing on this project.  You hear it in every note.  It's almost like this album has been welling up inside him for decades.  Listen to the slow blues burner "Two Train" and you'll see what I mean.  "I'm Ready To Go" has a bit of a Rockabilly shuffle that would make Carl Perkins proud.  He might even be channeling some of Carl's guitar mastery here too.  "Bronx Poem" is one of the more unique and refreshing ways to close out at an album.  It's a spoken word delivery over some tasty blues with Dion speaking from the heart.  If a generation needs a blueprint for "keeping it real", this is it.  Tank Full Of Blues not only will appeal to fans of Blues but also fans of current projects by the likes of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Gregg Allman and others.  Dion has a tank full of inspiration and we're all the better for it!
-James Riley/ www.rockabillynblues.com

Hear "I Read It (In The Rolling Stone)" from Rolling Stone magazine HERE

Vasti Jackson speaks on Robert Johnson, early influences and more

Vasti Jackson seems to do it all.  He's a renown guitarist, vocalist, producer, songwriter and arranger.  He's worked with B.B. King, Harry Connick Jr., Martin Scorsese, Cassandra Wilson, Z.Z. Hill, Johnnie Taylor and more.  Vasti (pronounced Vast-Eye) can move effortlessly from Blues to Soul to Jazz to Funk to Gospel and pretty much wherever else he wants to take you.  In concert, not only will he play his amazing originals but you may hear him cover Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Prince, etc.  We asked Vasti about his recent lead role in the play Robert Johnson- The Man, The Myth, The Music, his latest CD, touring and more.

You stay incredibly busy between studio production and session work, theater, film, recording your own solo projects and touring...how do you find time for it all?

I am so blessed to love music and related areas of art such as writing, acting, and video and audio science(s). These passions are my career and playground. When I am not on the road my work/play day starts at around 6:00 am and ends at about 9:00 pm. I have a small studio here at home, and with today's technology I do a lot more recording at home for clients all over the world.

Who were some of your early musical influences and who do you like to listen to today?

My earliest influence are my grandfather Samuel Jackson, and my grandmother Mary Jackson. My grandfather played guitar, harmonica, and sang. He was a deep down blues man who lived in Mississippi and New Orleans. He taught my grandmother to play guitar. She was the daughter of a preacher. I guess the saying that opposites attract is true. My mother (Josie Jackson), uncles, and aunt sang and played a variety of instruments. Outside of my family my early influences were Lighining Hopkins, and B B King. As a teenager it was Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and the great drummer Billy Cobham. Being that my grandmother was very religious, I heard gospel quartets a lot.  That rhythm guitar accompaniment stayed with me.

How was the experience being involved with the Martin Scorsese documentary The Blues?

It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I worked with Charles Burnett (To Sleep With Anger) on Warming By The Devils Fire, for which I wrote "Train Rollin' Blues", and with Wim Wender (Buena Vista Social Club) on The Soul Of A Man. We filmed in Vicksburg, Canton, and Jackson, Mississippi.

Claude Johnson and Vasti Jackson.
Copyright Vasti Jackson

You've recently played the lead role in the stage play Robert Johnson- The Man, The Myth, The Music. What was that like getting into the spirit of such of a blues icon like Robert Johnson?
Being from McComb, Mississippi (40 miles south of Hazlehurst), and the early mentoring of my grandfather gave me the cultural foundation. I met Claude Johnson (son of Robert Johnson) more than ten years ago while working on a the film Stop Breakin' Down, playing the role of Ike Zinnerman, one of Robert Johnson's mentors. I was the musical director for the film and had to do lots of research on Robert's music, deciphering various tunings, rhythmic approach, phrasing, and melodic choices for guitar and voice. Beyond the music it was important to get into what life might have been like for the average young black man in rural Mississippi during that time period. It was very important psychologically, spiritually, and physically to get into the stories of the songs without music being attached. Letting those stories dictate body language, speech inflection, facial expression, and then let music serve to bring greater emotional depth to the character on stage.  See a video excerpt of the play here:
http://www.vastijackson.com/robertjohnson/

Stimulus Man is your most recent studio project released in the fall of 2010.  One of the songs featured on there is "My Computer".  Tell us a little bit about that song.

"My computer" is about our relationship with digital technology and how it sometimes gives us the blues with the problems that commonly plague us such as hard drives crashing, slow internet speeds and online viruses. It is a funky, modern blues recorded with soft synths, live guitar, and vocals. I debuted this at the Chicago Blues Festival in an acoustic setting, and it was received wonderfully. The electric version was great fun recording, and experimenting with sound choices, and is fun to play with the band.

Looking at your concert schedule I see you have a lot of international dates coming up.  How is the blues received internationally?

I have been very fortunate in touring internationally since 1989. The international audience loves jazz, blues and gospel. This year alone I have toured France twice, Poland twice, Lithuania, Ukraine, Argentina, and Brazil.

What do you see happening for you in 2012?

More recording projects (gospel, Christmas, soul and blues) touring, and film.

Thank you Vasti for taking time with Rockabilly 'N Blues Records. For more updates, tour schedule, audio and video of Vasti Jackson, go to www.vastijackson.com. Here's some fun video footage of Vasti showing his acoustic side and blazing electric guitar side.:

2 important birthdays today in Blues and Rockabilly history- Robert Johnson & Ricky Nelson- check out the video tributes

Robert Johnson was born this day in 1911.  His influence on blues music and the folklore surrounding his life is legendary.  Here's his "Sweet Home Chicago Blues"...

Also Rockabilly legend Ricky Nelson was born this day in 1940.  With more than 50 Hot 100 hits, Nelson was second only to Elvis Presley as the most popular rock and roll artist of the 1950's and 60's.  Here's his "Believe What You Say" smash hit...featuring James Burton on guitar...