Remembering John Fahey on his birthday

Remembering the great John Fahey with an interview, an hour-long 1978 performance in Hamburg and more.  

One For The Weekend: The Charities

Check out the video for The Charities new single "Fatal Attraction" featuring that sweet soul sound of Penrose Studio in Riverside. 

Here's the scoop from Colemine Records...

Colemine Records is excited to put out their first 45 with The Charities, a sweet-soul band out of sunny California. The group's sound is a melting pot of cultures, exhibiting a mix of soul, r&b, rock, and funk. 

The A-side of this 45, 'Fatal Attraction,' explores just that. In some relationships, the very qualities that draw you in can also lead to your destruction. She's captivating—beautiful, intelligent, and charming—but beneath the surface, she's narcissistic and self-centered, with no regard for the pain she causes. When you're lost in the intensity of love, it's easy to overlook these darker traits. But when the time comes for her to move on, she'll strike without hesitation, delivering a blow that cuts deep. Her words, sharp as a knife, tear through your heart with cold precision. As you bleed out, she offers nothing but a final, indifferent goodbye....

"It's Not Our Time," on the B, tells the story of two lovers who find themselves at a crossroads, torn apart by the struggles they face in this chapter of their lives. Perhaps in the future, they’ll rekindle their love and spark a new flame—one that burns even brighter then before. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, with the belief that the distance and time apart will only strengthen their bond when the moment is right.

The tracks are produced by Anthony Masino and were recorded at Penrose Recordings in Riverside, CA. You can get a copy of The Charities new "Fatal Attraction" single via Colemine Records right here here or Bandcamp over there .where you can find The Charities' prior releases. Check out Jo Anna Edmison's video treatment for "Fatal Attraction" below. 

Cheap Fix vs. The Beguiled

Cheap Fix – led by James Arthur (Fireworks) –  have a new single on the way. Check their update of The Beguiled's "Nightrider's Theme" and see 'em March 1.

Cheap Fix join Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees & They're Deadly at Austin's Aristocrat Lounge March 1.

Remembering saxophonist Dexter Gordon on his birthday

Celebrating the birthday of tenor titan Dexter Gordon with Don McGlynn's documentary "More Than You Know," and much more.  

Whaddya mean you don't know trumpeter Lasse Fernlöf

Check out Swedish jazz trumpeter/composer Lasse Fernlöf's classic 1969 album The Chameleon and more.  

Remembering Fats Domino on his birthday

We're celebrating R&B great Fats Domino today with a couple of his Imperial gems and a CBC interview from 1968.

Deja Voodoo's Gerard Van Herk joins Bloodshot Bill for "Shot Of Blood" EP

Those crazy Canucks Bloodshot Bill and Gerard Van Herk are together on on vinyl at last thanks to Voodoo Rhythm! 

Here's the scoop from Voodoo Rhythm Records...

We are super happy to announce this new collaboration between Bloodshot Bill and Deja Voodoo co-founder Gerard Van Herk… CANADA STRIKES BACK !!! Date of release of this 7-inch will be March 14th.  

BLOODSHOT BILL meets GERARD VAN HERK from the legendary DEJA VOODOO! The Canadian hick-up rockabilly Trash Lo-Fi King of One Man Bands getting mixed up with Deja Voodoo – it's like a childhood dream comes true! We pressed the 7-inch vinyl record with a European- style hard cardboard sleeve. You can pre-order directly from Voodoo Rhythm right here.

Writes Gerard Van Herk: "Bloodshot Bill and I recorded some tunes together last spring, and now they're coming out on record! My first time on vinyl in 35 years. The EP is on Switzerland's appropriately named Voodoo Rhythm label. I play lead/slide guitar and sing the two songs I wrote (Shot of Blood and Shish Taouk). Bloodshot plays drums, bass, and acoustic/chicken guitar and sings the two songs he wrote (She Said No and Crawl). And we both make a lot of random noises. Give it a listen! 

Listen to "Shot Of Blood" and get a copy via Bandcamp over here. Check out some fan-shot footage of Bloodshot Bill and Gerard Van Herk performing together, entirely unrelated to the forthcoming release. 

Happy Birthday John Doe!

Celebrating John Doe's birthday with a chat about donuts, a song and a shopping spree with Exene at Amoeba worth checking. 

Jessica Simpson wisely enlists guitarist JD McPherson to shape new recording

However unlikely, JD McPherson was a shrewd choice to produce Jessica Simpson's comeback track, "Use My Heart Against Me." Have a listen below. 

Writes JD McPherson...

"I’m not sure where to start. Today marks the first music Jessica Simpson has released in 15 or so years. I’ll just say that producing this project for Jess has been one of the most rewarding and F-U-N experiences making music I’ve ever had. I’m very proud to be a part of this story, a story of someone courageously seizing control of their life, agency, and creative output. 

"There’s a lot more music to come, but I just want to say THANK YOU to Jessica and her wonderful team for involving me in the craziest idea ever seen on paper." – JD McPherson

Writes Jessica Simpson on a recent Instagram posting, the song "Use My Heart Against Me" was inspired by "artists from the roots of Rock and Roll like Betty James, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry to name a few." 

For those who aren't as up on obscure female R&B belters from the early 60s as Jessica, Betty James is the nom-du-disc of Baltimore's Nadine Renaye who cut the hip-shakin' "I'm A Little Mixed Up" for Cee-Jay in 1961 (have a listen right here) and later "I Like The Way You Walk" (listen here) which were both picked up by Chess for wider distribution.

Check out Jessica Simpson's "Use My Heart Against Me" – the first track from her forthcoming two-part project "Nashville Canyon" (the first part of is due March 21 with the second part coming this summer) – following the preview clip below. 

LINKS

Rolling Stone Jessica Simpson says returning to music saved her life

R.I.P. Roberta Flack, 1937-2025

Sadly, soulful singer/pianist Roberta Flack has passed away after a battle with ALS. She'll be greatly missed. Check the clips.  

Happy Birthday Don Matsuo of Zoobombs!

Celebrating the birthday of Zoobombs' mainman Don Matsuo with performances of "Doo Bee," "Mo' Funky" and more.

Watch DEVO play a Tiny Desk Concert

Although Mark Mothersbaugh is nearly 75, his nutty hat game still has some surprises. Watch DEVO's performance below. 

Chris Houston's new Paranoid Bubble album boasts stellar support cast

Chris Houston's great new Paranoid Bubble album has contributions from Mary Margret O'Hara, Randy Bachman, Michael Fonfara, Herbie Spanier & other pals.

Chris Houston's latest album release Paranoid Bubble is a collection of recordings made over a period of years in various cities with an enormous cast of celebrated musicians including Guess Who and BTO guitar god Randy Bachman, Toronto vocalist extraordinaire Mary Margaret O'Hara, session keyboardist Michael Fonfara, jazz trumpeter Herbie Spanier and Sun Studios rockabilly guitar slinger deluxe Roland Janes! And how the heck does Chris Houston get all these credible singers and players to record his often unhinged experiments in unpopular song? Well, they each happen to be a close personal friend and have been for ages. And when Houston calls them for a session, they know it'll involve something they probably wouldn't try recording themselves and also that whatever goes on, it'll be a good time. Here are a few of Chris Houston's memories of recording with the people who helped create the music you'll encounter on Paranoid Bubble which follows below.   

Mary Margaret O'Hara 

 "When recording Mary Margaret I always do multiple takes so there's a Sea of Mary's voice. She naturally orchestrates the song in her mind as she goes so when all the takes are used – with no editing – it makes sense. You don't mess with genius from planet Mary Margaret – you're just grateful. She would do these crazy chicken sounds and created a barnyard of insanity. Once a week, my late father would ask me when are you going into studio with Mary Margaret. Daddy always had good taste in music." 

Michael Fonfara, Herbie Spanier and Terry Wilkins

"We recorded 'Hello Satan' at Elvis Monday downstairs at the Drake Hotel before renovations. The acoustics of the room were stunning. Terry Wilkins nailed all his parts on the first take. We were on the road so we were tight Herbie's horn really galvanized us. I think it was last time I played with him. Michael Fonfara did his dubs playing Curly Bridges' Hammond organ. Everything was very rushed. I can't believe the results. Thank you William New!"

Randy Bachman, Charlie Haas, Robbie King

"Recording with Randy Bachman is always fun. Trying to figure out different ways of tapping into his genius is challenging. Randy can send lighting bolts down your spine but to get that on tape can be a challenge. I usually try to set up series of accidents. For whatever reason, nobody showed up on time for this session so I had to reinvent everything. I ran some of my drum machine patterns and rolled the tape without giving Randy any direction. He thought we were on acid and wanted to check our eyeballs. But eventually he got into it and suddenly proclaimed, 'this is genius! This how Miles Davis works!' 

"When Charlie Haas came in, his hyperactive approach to steel guitar actually saved the day. Randy would pump out a lot of different melodies just to see how the Charlie would react and each note Randy played, Charlie would answer with his steel guitar. Robbie King showed up later on and overdubbed his organ parts on the tracks we had cut while Randy sat off by himself reading a magazine. As soon as Robbie King started tearing into the Hammond organ, all the jaded engineers jaws dropped. The Robbie demanded that I get Fonfara to play Hammond too. After we finished up for the day, I apologized to Randy for all the confusion early on, he said 'Chris, it doesn't get any better than this!'"

Happy Birthday Andrew Molloy of BUM and Budokhan!

Raising a glass to guitarist Andrew Molloy on his birthday with a few stand-out BUM bits you may have missed.

R.I.P. soulful disco great Gwen McCrae, 1943-2025

Sadly, often-sampled disco star Gwen McCrae – who hit big with "Rockin' Chair" in 1975 – has passed away at 81.

Peter Case & Sid Griffin hit the road together in March!

Peter Case and pal Sid Griffin are going out on tour together in March. No Toronto date but they're playing Buffalo on March 9th.

Here's the scoop...

Get ready for an unforgettable night of folk music as Peter Case and Sid Griffin hit the road for their "Sings Like Hell" tour! This tour showcases two legends of Americana and roots music bringing their rich histories and unparalleled artistry to the stage. 

With Peter Case’s Grammy-nominated songwriting and groundbreaking work in bands like The Plimsouls and The Nerves, and Sid Griffin’s trailblazing Americana legacy with The Long Ryders, audiences will be treated to an evening of raw, soulful performances steeped in tradition and innovation. From Case’s emotionally resonant piano melodies to Griffin’s bluegrass mandolin and clawhammer banjo stylings, this tour is a celebration of the enduring power of folk music. 

Don’t miss this rare chance to see two master storytellers share the stage! Here's a list of tour dates: https://www.sidgriffin.com/tour-dates/ So far there are no Canadian shows planned so Toronto-area fans of Peter & Sid might consider a road trip to Buffalo for the show at The 9th Ward in Buffalo. 

73 Questions with Philomena Cunk

Philomena Cunk's new book, The World According To Cunk could be available at a book store near you. Check the clips below. 

R.I.P. Jerry Butler aka The Ice Man, 1939-2025

Sadly, Windy City soul great and former Cook County Commissioner Jerry Butler has passed away at 85. He'll be greatly missed. 

Happy 65th Birthday Steve Wynn!

Raising a glass to Steve Wynn on his 65th birthday with a couple of entertaining covers performed with Linda Pitmon. 

One For The Weekend: Céline Dessberg

Céline Dessberg gets down koto-style on the Mongolian yatga for the entrancing "Selenge" out now via Colemine. Check the clip.  

Here's the scoop... 

Céline Dessberg is a singer, songwriter and harpist of mixed French and Mongolian heritage. She grew up between two distinct worlds—one shaped by the modern western lifestyle of France, the other by the ancient traditions of Buddhism and the pastoral customs of Mongolia. This unique blend shaped her musical style, which draws from a wide array of influences, including jazz legends like Chet Baker, the eclectic sounds of David Byrne, and the traditional melodies of the Mongolian steppes. 

 In the summer of 2024, Céline spent two weeks at Studio Zoe in New Jersey, working with producer Max Shrager (The Shacks, 54 Ultra). During this time, she composed and recorded a large body of new material, including collaborations with Sal Samano and Alex Garcia (Thee Sacred Souls). 

The single's A-side "Selenge" (watch the video below) is an enchanting instrumental in which Céline's yatga – a traditional Mongolian harp – takes the spotlight, weaving haunting melodies over a foundation of groovy soul instrumentation. While "Chintamani" on the flip evokes the spirit of the Mongolian countryside, as Céline’s vocals, sung in Mongolian, tell of ancient Buddhist treasure. The combination of soft guitar, jazzy drums, and shimmering yatga creates an ethereal atmosphere that transports the listener to a world of sacred beauty and reverence. 

Get a copy of Céline Dessberg's Selenge single from Colemine Records right here. Watch the video along with a recent performance below.

Happy Birthday Mark Arm!

Celebrating the birthday of Mudhoney's Mark Arm with a couple of interviews and performances with Ed Kuepper's Saints '73-78. 

LINKS

The Perlich Post  The Saints '72-'67 are playing The Phoenix on November 13th

Remembering jazz-funk keyboadist Charles Kynard on his birthday

Raising a glass to St. Louis-born keyboard great Charles Kynard with a couple of club cookers and his Woga album. 

John Ellison of Soul Brothers Six @ McMaster LIVELab in Hamilton, March 1

Hamilton-based R&B great John Ellison plays a rare local show as part of McMaster's LIVELab 10th Anniversary concert series. 

LIVELab presents John Ellison

McMaster University's LIVELab, PC 202A, Psychology Building (280 Main St. W), Hamilton)

Saturday, March 1st at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $30 General Admission | $20 Student/Artist | LIVE Stream: Free

John Ellison – who created the R&B standard “Some Kind of Wonderful” as the singer and guitar-playing frontman of Soul Brothers Six – will knock your socks off with his trademark energy, soulful voice and award-winning lyrics. 

Now 83, John Ellison is among the few still-active soul greats who has made an essential contribution to the development of blues, gospel, soul and funk music through a time of great social change. Ellison has a deep connection with Hamilton, having lived there for years and became a Canadian Citizen in 2006.

John received no fewer than seven lifetime BMI achievement awards and was inducted in the West Virginia and the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. Get tickets for LIVELab's 10th Anniversary Concert Series presentation of John Ellison at McMaster University via Showpass right here. Have a listen to a few of (Willie) John Ellison's classic recordings with Soul Brothers Six following a short documentary below.  

Happy Birthday Poison Ivy!

Celebrating the birthday of The Cramps founding guitarist Poison Ivy with a few interviews from the 90s. 

LINKS

Far Out Magazine When Lux & Ivy of The Cramps spun their fave lesser known tracks

The Saints '73-'78 w/ Ed Kuepper & Mark Arm are playing The Phoenix, November 13th!

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Feb 21) for The Saints '73-'78 show in Toronto at the Phoenix on November 13th!

Here's the scoop...

Unlikely as it seems, Ed Kuepper is bringing The Saints '73-'78 from Australia all the way to Toronto for a show at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on Novmeber 13th with Chimers opening. The founding Saints guitarist will be joined by original Saints drummer Ivor Hay along with Bad Seed Mick Harvey, Mudhoney singer Mark Arm and The Sunnboys bassist Peter Oxley who has played with Kuepper in The Aints for years. Tickets range from $55.78-$86.13 go on sale this Friday (February 21) at either 10 am Eastern (according to Craig Laskey of Collective Concerts) or 12 noon Eastern (sez the Phoenix page and the Dice site) right here. 

Incidentally, The Saints' I'm Stranded 4LP box set is available now via In The Red Records. 

Here's a Saints '73-'78 show in Wollongong from November. 

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Feb 21) for The Saints '73-'78 show in Toronto at the Phoenix on November 13th!

Montreal high school record "1001 est Crémazie" getting reissued in April

We Are Busy Bodies will be recirculating Montreal's sought-after Collège André-Grasset album "1001 est Crémazie" from 1975.

Here's the scoop from We Are Busy Bodies mainman Eric Warner...

I’m working backwards a bit on label release announcements, but here’s a really unique release that we’ve been working on for some time in partnership with the original Montreal high school that wrote and recorded the 1001 est Crémazie album…just 50 years later. 

This release took a lot of research to have come together, and will be celebrated in April with a special anniversary concert at the school on the re-release date (April 25).  The album now includes bilingual liner notes from the teacher behind the album, explaining how it all came to be. The reissue will be on streaming services in April, but for now, you can listen to the two originals and pre-order the album right here: https://1001estcremazie.bandcamp.com/album/1001-est-cr-mazie

Picture it: 1975, a concert imagined, produced and brought to the stage by a flock of middle-schoolers who wanted to make music to echo the sounds of jazz and rock, generally uninhibited - and deeply anchored in their time.

The “Rocking Grass” show created quite an event, filling the Collège André Grasset auditorium to capacity: “We had to squeeze everyone who didn't have room into the auditorium, into the corridors and right up to the main entrance!” A success as unexpected as it was resounding, under the stunned gaze of several hundred spectators, spellbound by the orchestra.

Fast forward a few weeks and the “Rocking Grass” becomes the “Phono Grass” as they team up with colleagues from Collège Edouard-Monpetit to invest in the college's studios and immortalize the aptly named 1001 est Crémazie.

“This record reflects the spirit of an era, the birth of modern Quebec, a renewed vitality,” recalls the producer, ‘the echoes of a Quiet Revolution, which was still rumbling and trying to be heard.’ It was therefore in phase with this pivotal moment in the Quebec ecosystem - which de-compartmentalized the school system and gave birth to the Cégeps - that 1001 est Crémazie was born.”

This album is a bit of a mishmash of amateur enthusiasm, of course, but even more so, a cultural and social effervescence that frees itself from standards and leaves room for experimentation and a hitherto unsuspected creative dazzle. This has certainly contributed to the professional development of almost half of the personnel who took part in the recording of the album.

The album includes two original compositions, “Le roi muffé” and the highly acclaimed “Bright Moments”, driven by an unusual combination of piano and conga, which found its way onto the Canadian Racer compilation, a jazz reference in the early 2000s. DJs and/or hip-hop aficionados were quick to appropriate and sample the percussive drum and conga solo into the skeletons of a few danceable tracks that set the mood on dance floors.

Now, fifty years and a few upside-down existences later, 1001 est Crémazie, originally printed in a run of 500 copies (now coveted by the most discerning collectors), has been given a facelift to offer itself to the public, much to the delight of the main man involved: “May you get all the pleasure out of this long game that they had recording it!” he says, just before interrupting the conversation to join a dinner party of friends in the company of former colleagues and students. “That's the power of music. Friendships that are nurtured and aged like fine wine!”

Thank you Stéfane Campbell for the liner notes and interviewing, Steve Lewin for the art restoration, Noah Mintz for remastering, and John Kong for the encouragement, and of course the school for being into the project. Check out "Bright Moments" below. 

Happy Birthday Nichol Robertson!

Raising a glass to Toronto guitar slinger Nichol Robertson with a few Layrite Boys performances you may have missed.

Dollar Bin Delights: Shadows In The Casbah by Artie Barsamian

Boston-born Artie Barsamian kept the Armenian music of their father alive with records like this 1959 cooker for Kapp Records.

Here's the scoop...

While flipping through dollar-bin cast offs in Toronto recently, I came across a generic looking budget line belly dance two-fer called Navel Maneuvers – geddit – put out by Audio-Fidelity in the mid 70s,  repackaging two of Mohammed El-Bakkar's 60s recordings as a 2LP set. 

The first album on paper-thin vinyl was scratched beyond playability although the second LP, on much heavier wax,  didn't seem to belong with the package. Although it was just as dusty, it had relatively few marks and upon closer examination, the KAPP Records label LP was "Shadows In The Casbah" by Boston's "King of Armenian Swing" Artie Barsamian and His Orchestra. Admittedly, it' s not the greatest record of the genre, and may not be Barsamian's most dazzling display but it's definitely a step up from another torched Mohammed El-Bakkar reissue. 

That the wrong LP jammed in the sleeve was another so-called "belly dance" record was fortuitous – hey, it could've easily been something really shlocky on KAPP by Roger Williams, Jack Jones or Hugo Winterhalter – but not entirely surprising.  For many folks with a passing interest in music from the Middle East, these belly dance records were interchangeable. The name of the fez-wearing character leading the band made no more difference than the nationality of the moustached character playing oud, as long as the music sounded vaguely exotic, that's all that really mattered. Well, that and the sleeve art of course. No doubt a good percentage of these records were sold in the 60s based primarily on cover appeal. 

Artie Barsamian

A Boston-area flooring magnate by day and musician at night, Antranig "Artie" Barsamian was the second-oldest of six children born in South Boston on August 23, 1928 to violinist father Mihran and Antaram Barsamian. Mihran played Armenian folk music exclusively and made sure Artie carried on his dream of keeping Armenian music alive in America with his siblings who performed in Artie's bands and regularly appeared on his recordings throughout his career, albeit uncredited. 

By the time he turned 20, Artie had formed his first six-piece band to perform traditional Armenian music and began releasing rootsy 78 rpm recordings on Gregart Records which he started with his best friend, Gregory Avedikian before switching to Mihran label named in honour of his father. A comprehensive retrospective of Barsamian's early 50s work seems long overdue. 

When Barsamian recorded Shadows In The Casbah, he was already deep into the late 50s exotica era and KAPP probably saw the potential for a relatively low-cost way to cash-in on the current belly-dance album craze circa 1959. 

While the overall after-hours vibe of the album is bit more subdued than Barsamian's self-released earlier recordings – it makes sense that KAPP were trying to appeal to the cocktail crowd – it's still an enjoyable listen showing off the considerable instrumental prowess that the family ensemble developed by playing together over the previous 10 years. 

Now an accomplished bandleader who understood both the requirements of his target audience and the commercial goals of the label execs who signed him, Artie crafted a well-paced set meant to provide a certain otherworldly background ambience for the bachelor pads of the home hi-fi enthusiast rather than to soundtrack a hand-clapping and hip-shaking celebratory event. Thankfully, Barsamian's Shadows In The Casbah eschews the cornball major label notion of adding a Middle Eastern-tweak to contemporary hits of the day and instead focuses primarily on updates of folkloric material in the public domain tastefully chosen and arranged by Artie himself. The resulting album is an entirely schmaltz-free affair which, for a KAPP release of the period, is an impressive achievement in itself. 

Perhaps most notable is Artie's oud-led rip through "Miserlou" which a young guitar-playing fellow South Bostonian of Lebanese descent named Richard Anthony Monsour would transform into a surf rock anthem just three years later after moving to California and changing his name to Dick Dale. While there's no proof that Dick Dale got the idea to rework "Miserlou" in 1962 from Barsamian's version, it's nevertheless possible that the aspiring musician heard it while growing up in the nearby suburb of Quincy, Massachusetts. In any case, Barsamian would go on release 15 albums (including "Minuteman Goes East" where he's decked out like an 18th Century New England militia man with holding a clarinet instead of a musket) as the "King of Armenian Swing" while Dick Dale would become known as the "King of the Surf Guitar" and enjoy international acclaim in 2003 when his version of "Miserlou" got pride of placement in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Vol. 1. 

You can check out both Artie Barsamian and Dick Dale's versions of "Miserlou" below followed by the complete Shadows In The Casbah and Caravan East albums and a couple of his self-released gems. For further listening, exotica fans should check out Numero Group's excellent Technicolor Paradise compilation from 2018 which features a couple of Barsamian's contributions to the genre. 

Those interested in hearing some vintage Belly Dance music on vinyl in a Toronto club setting should check out A Man Called Warwick's Belly Belly party at La Palette (492 Queen St. West) on Saturday (February 22). Doors open at 10 pm. The cover is $10  before 11 pm and $15 after. More info here. 

LINKS

Armenian Museum of America Artie Barsamian

R.I.P. Rick Buckler drummer of The Jam, 1955-2025

Sadly, Rick Buckler – hard hitting drummer of The Jam – has passed away at 69 following what's being called "a brief illness."  

Happy Birthday Irma Thomas!

Celebrating the birthday of Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, with a performance of some of her classics on WWOZ. 

Joe Ely comes back rockin' with Love & Freedom out now

Joe Ely's hot new album Love & Freedom is available wherever cool discs are sold including Waterloo Records or right here.

An update on Joe's health issues from Sharon Ely... 

"Sharon Ely here. I am Joe Ely’s wife and manager. A lot of people, friends, fans, relatives and strangers have been asking when is Joe going back on the road to tour. How is Joe doing? Why is Joe not doing many interviews? Joe has always been very private when discussing his health and we have kept his latest challenges limited to just a few people. But as his illness progresses we have decided to let people know what’s going on. 

"As I write this we are actually looking to find a specialist to give us a second opinion on Joe’s latest diagnosis. In August 2024, as Joe was actually healing from a bout of pneumonia, he experienced an episode of what seemed like a small stroke. To make a very long story short, the only neurologist we could find right away was in Austin. I drove Joe from Taos, NM to Austin. The neurologist looked at Joe’s MRI and diagnosed him with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Basically, this is a condition where protein deposits in the small blood vessels of the brain can weaken the blood vessel walls and can lead to bleeding in the brain. 

"He was put on medication and Joe’s General Practitioner began to oversee his health here in Taos. He is a very great, thorough doctor who Joe says is one of the best. But Joe’s GP and I feel that Joe needs a second opinion on his diagnosis. We are very lucky in that we just confirmed an appointment for that second opinion in Arizona next week. These appointments can book over a year out and it’s a miracle they were able to get Joe in so fast.

 

"Meanwhile, as we are working with Joe’s health, he and I have listened to files and files and files of music that he recorded in his studio in Austin over the years. We have discovered and unearthed treasures of brilliant recordings. Some are coming together as complete albums. 

"The latest album Joe wanted to release as soon as possible is Love & Freedom. As we listened to these recordings we discovered that they are related to the times we are living today. Joe wanted people to hear these songs and think about what they mean. For those asking, we are working to get CDs made of the new album and should have news on that shortly. 

"Working on his music keeps him focused and interested. Being the workaholic he has always been, to sit around and do nothing is ok now and then, but not all the time. This has been great for Joe as we both weave through this journey together in a meaningful way. It was so exciting to hear the news yesterday about Joe being named among the recipients of the 2025 edition of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music’s American Music Honors. The annual prize recognizes artists who’ve “demonstrated artistic excellence, creative integrity, and a longstanding commitment to the value of music in our national consciousness.”   

"Bruce called Joe earlier this week and they had a wonderful visit. I have always believed Joe – with so much work and touring and recording and writing under his belt  for 60 years – should be recognized as an important part of American Music History. Now my dream has come true as this is such a great honor, especially since he was chosen by his friend and brother Bruce Springsteen. 

"All in all, we continue to work daily to move forward and search to make things around us better and better for ourselves and everyone around us. We are grateful for the people who have helped Joe so far with this conundrum. I do especially feel hopeful for Joe to find a wonderful, genius neurologist to help him get better as well.  

 

"Thank you all for your continued support of Joe and our family!" – Sharon Ely