Happy Birthday Large Professor & DJ Premier!

Celebrating the shared birthday of legendary hip hop producers Large Professor and DJ Premier with interviews and more.

Jimmy McDonough talks about his much anticipated Gary Stewart biography

Check out "Shakey" author Jimmy McDonough's chat about his new Gary Stewart biography, Neil Young and more on the Rock's Back Pages Podcast. 

Here's the scoop from Rock's Back Pages...

For this episode we invite the very entertaining Jimmy McDonough to join us — all the way from Portland, Oregon — and discuss his career as "the king of the crazy biographers."

Our guest explains how he moved (back) to New York from Indiana in the '80s and how he got his foot in the door at the Village Voice with a 1988 profile of country singer Gary Stewart, the subject of his new book. We then hear about the long and painful saga of his extraordinary Neil Young biography Shakey (2002) — and his singular approach to the biographical trade. 

Clips from Amy Linden's 1995 audio interview with Al Green give us the opportunity to ask Jimmy about his 2017 biography of the Reverend Green, after which we finally get to the 40-year gestation of I Am from the Honky Tonks and the story of his obsession with his doomed honky-tonk hero. He explains why the book felt like a mission and why Gary Stewart could and should have been a country superstar.

After Mark quotes from featured writer John Morthland's review of the Monterey Pop Festival (with a namecheck for the late Country Joe McDonald) and from a 1975 interview with Tammy Wynette – another of our guest's biographical subjects — Jasper wraps things up with remarks on the Australian Folk Bitch Trio and the man who manages Yungblud (and "eats challenges for breakfast").

Many thanks to special guest Jimmy McDonough. Gary Stewart: I Am from the Honky-Tonks is published by Wolf+Salmon on April 2 but it's available for pre-order here right now.  

Listen to Rock's Back Pages Podcast Episode 224 right here. 

The Hives & The Chats @ History, March 22 & 23

The hi-octane Hives and the un-hinged Chats should make for a ridiculously rippin' double bill at History this weekend! 

Get tickets for The Hives & The Chats show at History in Toronto on Monday right here.  

Watch Toody Cole and her band tear it up in Melbourne, Australia

Dead Moon's Toody Cole is still rockin' out on a nightly basis with her band as this PBS-FM's Studio 5 Live performance shows. 

Remembering Canadian composer/pianist/arranger Buster Harding on his birthday

Remembering Ontario-born Buster Harding who's songs and arrangements cut during the swing to bop era should be better known.

Canadian Ambassadors

Born in North Buxton (near Windsor), Ontario in 1912, Lavere "Buster" Harding grew up in Cleveland, Ohio took up piano early on and formed his first band as a teenager. Sometime after his return to Canada in 1932, he joined Myron "Mynie" Sutton's Canadian Ambassadors, considered to be the first all-black dance orchestra in Canada. 

Incidentally, the Canadian Ambassadors briefly included Harding's fellow North Buxtonite, pianist Lou Hooper who had similarly been raised outside of Canada in Ypsilanti, Michigan, studied at the Detroit Conservatory and had performed/recorded through the 20s with banjo player Elmer Snowden and clarinetist Bob Fuller under various handles like The Three Jolly Miners and The Three Monkey Chasers in Harlem before becoming the in-house pianist for Ajax Records and accompanying blues singers Lizzie Miles, Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith and others. As a music teacher in Montreal, Hooper taught the young Oscar Peterson – but back to Buster. 

In 1939, Harding took a job as a writer/arranger for popular bandleader Teddy Wilson where he created the blaring percussion-heavy whumper "Booly Ja Ja" very atypical of the sedate swing of the urbane pianist. Listen to "Booly Ja Ja" below. It's hard to believe something this crazy was recorded and released in 1939...  I can't think of any of any other jazz recording from that time that's nearly as explosive. The only orchestra that could come close to matching that intensity was Cab Calloway's band. And after Harding did a bit of writing and arranging for Coleman Hawkins, that's exactly where he went. In the flamboyant Calloway, Harding found a like-minded musical conspirator with a blasting horn section being driven by a suitably propulsive rhythm engine. Watch a Cab Calloway soundie for Harding's "Virginia, Georgia and Caroline" from 1942 temporarily available right here. After a productive few years (1944-46) with the hugely popular Calloway orchestra – co-writing  "We The Cats Shall Hep Ya," "I Want To Rock," "Tappin' Off," "The Hi De Ho Man (That's Me)" and many more – Harding began taking on freelance writing/arranging work for Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw ("Little Jazz," "Bedford Drive"), Jonah Jones ("B.H. Boogie," "Lust For Licks"), Count Basie ("The Mad Boogie," "Rails," "Hob-Nail Boogie") and Roy Eldridge ("Yard Dog," "Poor John," "Little Jazz Boogie"). 

In 1949, Harding was hired by Billie Holiday as her musical director for a Decca session which resulted in the recordings "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do" and "Baby, Get Lost"  as well as some compositional collaborations with Holiday on a few songs – including "Please Don't Do It In Here" and "You'd Do It Anyway." He continued working as Holiday's pianist on live dates through the early 50s although he soon took up with Dizzy Gillespie and the two worked closely together for the next few years before Harding connected with keybordist/bandleader Bill Doggett through the later 50s and early 60s, penning "Hometown Shout," "Birdie," "Blues For Handy." "High and Wide," "Bill Dogs It" during his stint. Among the last credited recording appearance of Harding is a 1963 budget-line Bossa Nova cash-in set for Pickwick involving drummer Osie Johnson, flautist/saxophonist Sam Most, bassist Jimmy Jones and trumpeter Louis Metcalf. Two years later, Harding passed away in New York at the age of 53. 

Perhaps due in part to the fact that Harding never released a recording under his own name and rarely had his photo taken with his more famous collaborators (other than the Jet Magazine snapshot with Dizzy Gillespie at Dizzy's home in Corona, Long Island from 1955), he is largely a forgotten figure today. 

Sadly, Harding's important writing and arranging contributions to jazz music during the transition from swing to bop have been largely overlooked, rarely even rating a mention in most attempts to document the era. Many self-styled jazz authorities remain blissfully unaware of Harding's accomplishments today. A much deeper study of Harding's life and work, along with a retrospective collection of his songs and arrangements recorded by more popular figures, is long overdue. For the moment, here's just a small sampling of Buster Harding's musical legacy.  

First Takes: Frankie Lee Sims

Frankie Lee Sims' "Married Woman" – covered by the Flamin' Groovies – had an earlier incarnation as "Single Man Blues" in '48.

Hieroglyphics hip hop crew w/ Del, Souls of Mischief, Casual, Domino @ Opera House, Wednesday

Here's a rare chance to see Oaktown's finest – Del the Funky Homosapien, Souls Of Mischief, Casual, Domino & Pep Love – together! Get tickets right here. 

Happy 75th Birthday Bill Frisell!

Celebrating guitarist Bill Frisell's 75th birthday with a timely performance of a Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn classic and more. 

Jon Lucien's "Search For The Inner Self" sessions from 1969 released by Kent/Ace

Championed by Paul Weller and Snowboy, Jon Lucien's 1969 recording session is being released as "Search For The Inner Self."   

Here's the scoop from Mark "Snowboy" Cotgrove...

"This work of beauty is finally out after nearly 60 years.

"I was fortunate to have played a series of concerts at the Jazz Café with the incredible Jon Lucien in 1995. I could hardly believe my luck. There’s no bigger fan of Jon than me. Along with his manager and the famous drummer, Kim Plainfield, was Jon’s wonderful wife, Delesa. We bonded immediately.  And with Jon, Kim and Nik Cohen on bass we had 3 or 4 incredible days playing music. I still have a fantastic recording of one of those shows.

"That week Jon gave me an unreleased album on cassette from 1969 and asked if I could try and get it released somehow. It was a beautiful folky kind of album, quite unlike his later albums, but typical of his early singles. However there was a potentially huge Soul bomb on there called ‘We Got Love’ of which I immediately cut on to acetate and played out everywhere these past 31 years (an anthem at my beloved ‘Good Foot’ residency). As promised, I tried all the Soul labels in the UK but to no interest.

"The next time I saw Jon a year or two later out of frustration he’d manufactured 100 himself on CD to sell at gigs.

"Anyway, I remained friends with Jon and Delesa until we lost them both. They were both wonderful, kind, warm and genuine people and I’m so proud to have known them.

"Funnily enough Jon told me once that he used to always take my current cd then to any house parties they went to, to get the party going! What a sweet thing to do.

"Here we are 31 years later and this beautiful album is finally out. I had considered releasing it myself in the past, but at last it’s found it’s perfect home now on the right label, ACE.

"Well done to Ady Croasdell and team on such an incredible job."

Jon Lucien – Search For The Inner Self

Jon Lucien’s ‘Search For The Inner Self’ was one of the highlights of Paul Weller’s recently complied Ace CD “That Sweet, Sweet Music”. When also issuing it as a single, we included ‘We Got Love’, a track from his self-financed CD “Precious Is Love”, which proved to be as feted a choice as the top side. 

Due to this and further encouragement from soul fans, DJs and the Lucien family, we licensed the rest of the Beau Ray Fleming produced 1969 recordings for LP and CD reissue. Here is the very start of Lucien’s songwriting creativity − ‘Precious Is My Love’, ‘A Heart In Love’, ‘Flower Garden’ and ‘The Season Of Spring’ are accomplished and captivating creations, equal to his later much-admired work.

The choice of cover songs was inspired. ‘Strawberries Don't Know Cherries’ was an unknown song that had yet to be covered, the reading of Barry and Robin Gibb’s ‘To Love Somebody’ is exemplary and the out-of-left-field ‘Only An Illusion’ is a number perfect for Lucien’s mystical approach to soul. Producer Fleming contributed ‘It’s Bigger Than I’ the previously undigitized flip to the ‘Search For The Inner Self’ 45, as well as the catchy dancer ‘We Got Love’, that DJ Snowboy has championed for years.

When Jon Lucien released the original CD in 1999, he only made about 100 copies; demand has rocketed for it ever since. It was never on vinyl originally. We have commissioned sleeve notes from acclaimed US scribe Kevin Goins to enhance the packaging of both formats. 

Get a copy of Jon Lucien's "Search For The Inner Self" album via Ace Records UK right here. Listen to the title track "Search For The Inner Self" and "We Got Love" below. 

Midweek Mixdown: Kogar's Jungle Juice Show #138

Kogar's last Jungle Juice show for March features a short tribute to Travis Wammack, King of the Scratchy Guitar!

Writes Kogar the Swingin' Ape...

My last show for the month of March! A 2 plus hour excursion into the depths of the 50’s and 60’s underground! Features a set of Women R&B for International Women’s Day and a tour of one of my favorite compilations from the “good ole” days of the late 80’s! Not to mention a short tribute to the King of the Scratchy Guitar, Travis Wammack! This show features artists like; Travis Wammack, Spike Jones, Vito and the Salutations, The Danderliers, The Delteens, Big Mama Thornton, Cora Woods, Robin Hood Brians, Hayden Thompson, Johnny Burnette, Eddie Kirk, Lonesome Sundown, The Swanks, Mackey Beers, Jim Boss and other MADNESS! 

Listen right here: https://www.bossradio66.com/2026/03/kogars-jungle-juice-show-138.html

Kogar's Jungle Juice Show #138 tracklisting:

01 Ken Williams - Trash Can RENAY

02 Travis Wammack - Night Train ATLANTIC

03 Travis Wammack - It's Karate Time ATLANTIC

04 Teddy and the Clockwatchers – Kinky WARNER BROTHERS

05 The Pat Holben Trio - Monkey Jerk FORTUNE

06 Spike Jones - Pimples and Braces   LIBERTY  60 Years Of "Music America Hates Best" LP

---------------------

01 The Ivy Tones - Oo Wee Baby RED TOP

02 Vito and the Salutations - Eenie Meenie HERALD

03 Marvin and Johnny - Sugar MODERN

04 The Danderliers - Shu Wop STATES

05 The Counts - Wailin Little Mama DOT

06 The Delteens with The Orbits - Listen to the Rain FORTUNE

-----------------------

01 Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton w/ The Johnny Otis Band - I Smell a Rat PEACOCK

02 Dolly Cooper - Big Rock Inn DOT

03 Cora Woods - Rocks In Your Head FEDERAL

04 Eunice Davis - Get Your Enjoys DELUXE

05 Rose Marie McCoy - Dippin in my Business CAT

06 LaVern Baker - Tiny Tim ATLANTIC

-------------------------

01 Hayden Thompson - Love My Baby PHILLIPS INTERNATIONAL

02 Curley Griffin - Got Rockin On My Mind ATOMIC

03 The Johnny Burnette Trio - Honey Hush CORAL

04 Edwin Bruce - Rock Boppin' Baby SUN

05 Robin Hood Brians - Dis A Itty Bit FRATERNITY

06 Eddy Seacrest - Shakin' With The Flavor KRC

07 Lee Bonds - Wild Cattin Woman TENNESSEE

08 Harmonica Frank - Howlin' Tomcat CHESS

---------------------------

01 Eddie Kirk - The Grunt   FORTUNE

02 Freddie Youngblood - Sould Strings SOULD SOUND

03 Floyd Dixon - The Late Freight Twist Part 2 SKEET

04 Eddie Boyd and His Chessmen - I've Been Deceived CHESS

05 Lonesome Sundown - Lonesome Whistler EXCELLO 

---------------------------

01 The Swanks - Ghost Train  GMG/ARA

02 The Tabbys - Hong Kong Baby

03 Mackey Beers & The Rockitts - That Jim

04 The In Crowd - Speed Queen

05 The Statesmen - Roo Buh Doo Buh Doo

06 Dale Wright - That's Show Biz

07 Jim Boss & The Sundowners - Your Love Is Stronger Than Dirt

08 Sonny Russel - Fifty Megatons

Outro: LaVerne Baker - Romance in the Dark

Remembering pianist/keyboardist Jessica Williams on her birthday

Raising a glass to composer/pianist Jessica Williams with a few stellar 80s recordings which should be better known.  

The Innards Brothers St. Paddy's Day Special @ Squirly's Bar, Tuesday

Col. Tom Parker & pal Tony Allen reunite as the Innards Brothers for St. Pat's at Squirly's (807 Queen St. W) at 5 pm & 7 pm. 

Dave Alvin's psych-rock collective Third Mind release Spellbinder!

The Third Mind's new four-track Spellbinder! LP is drawn from recordings made during the Right Now! sessions with remixes by Tchad Blake. 

Here's the scoop...

Psych-rock collective The Third Mind have just released Spellbinder!, a companion album to last year's critically praised Right Now! It returns the band to the free-flowing improvisational spirit at the heart of the concept that first brought the members together: spontaneous musical conversation. 

A companion piece to the album, Right Now!, this collection contains additional recordings from those sessions, as well as Tchad Blake remixes and reworkings of songs from Right Now! All recordings, except for “Reap What You Sow,” have never been released. The psychedelic supergroup featuring Dave Alvin, Victor Krummenacher, David Immerglück, Michael Jerome, and Jesse Sykes continues to defy expectations and genre.

Steam the Spellbinder! album and pick up your copy at thethirdmind.lnk.to/Spellbinder. The Third Mind are currently on tour – check their site https://www.thethirdmind.net/ for a show near you... if you happen to live in northern California or Reno, Nevada. 

The Third Mind - Spellbinder!

1. Spellbinder (Tchad Blake Mix) 8:39

2. Reap What You Sow 6:43

3. Before We Said Goodbye (with strings) 5:44

4. Darkness, Darkness/The Creator Has a Master Plan (Tchad Blake Remix) 14:50

Watch a Third Mind performance of "Darkness, Darkness/The Creator Has A Master Plan" shot at Garcia's in Chicago last year. 

Happy 75th Birthday Ray Benson!

Cheers to Asleep At The Wheel's Ray Benson on his 75th! Here are a few of Ray's memories and performances from over the years. 

The 26th Annual Banjo Special @ The Tranzac Club, March 22

Don't miss this chance to see four of Toronto's finest banjo pickers together on stage at the Tranzac on Sunday, March 22!

The 26th Annual Banjo Special

The banjo event of the season! Old-Time, Bluegrass, Folk banjo are showcased by four of Canada's top banjo pickers!

A fun night and a Toronto tradition! In its twenty-sixth year, The Banjo Special brings together four of Canada’s top players to celebrate this wonderful instrument at the Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Ave) on Sunday, March 22 at 7:30 pm. Come and join Chris Coole, Arnie Naiman, Brian Taheny, Chris Quinn, and a myriad of guests as they present an evening of songs and tunes - with banjos at the heart of it all. There will be breakdowns and marches, picks and bare fingers, songs new and old, tubaphones and flatheads, Vegas and Gibsons. And it will all be handled with flair, fun, and big style. This is a unique chance to hear the diverse voice of both the five-string and tenor banjo, and how the instrument has woven its way into Bluegrass, Old-Time, Americana, and Traditional Irish music. Tickets are $33.59 advance and selling fast. Get 'em right here.

Meet the banjo pickers...

Across Canada and the United States, Chris Coole has become as much of a household name on the claw-hammer banjo as one can become. As a teacher, composer, and performer, he has plied his trade professionally for more than 30 years. Apart from his own albums, Chris can be heard as a sideman and/or producer on over 150 recordings by artists such as Sylvia Tyson, Jim Cuddy, Natalie MacMaster, Cara Luft, John Reishman, April Verch, Justin Rutledge, The Slocan Ramblers, and David Francey. Chris Currently plays with The Lonesome Ace Stringband. www.chriscoole.com

Arnie Naiman is a unique banjo player for his claw-hammer and fingerpicking styles. He was influenced by folk music of the 60’s and 70’s as well as by the music of pre-war artists such as Uncle Dave Macon, Charlie Poole, and The Carter Family to name only a few: Arnie is a very fine interpreter of these old songs and tunes. Arnie’s own banjo compositions are various; some joyous and celebratory, others haunting and dark. Arnie currently performs with Hannah Shira Naiman, Ragged But Right, and also in the Virginia-based old-time String Band, Albemarle Ramblers. Arnie has recently released his solo CD, My Lucky Stars. http://arnienaiman.com/home

String guru Brian Taheny hails from the Irish music mecca of Sligo, Ireland.Brian plays Fiddle, Tenor Banjo, Guitar, Irish Bouzouki, Cittern, Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello, Dobro and Bass guitar, and is also known for his innovative arrangements of traditional tunes. Brian has built a solid reputation for himself as an extremely accomplished Celtic musician with strong and uniquely distinctive style. He has performed with many of the greats in traditional music all over Europe, Canada, America, and Asia. He has performed on well over 100 albums, has received two Juno nominations and is currently part of the well respected trio "North Atlantic Drift" based out of Toronto. http://www.merriweather.ca/brian-taheny.html

Chris Quinn began his Scruggs-style bluegrass odyssey in 1979. Having performed on over 100 CDs as a sideman or featured artist, Quinn is a central figure on the bluegrass scene in Canada and abroad. Chris has become renowned for his solid timing, his sense of taste and tone, and his creative backup playing. A sought-after teacher, Chris has taught hundreds of people at camps and workshops, from Quebec to Tennessee, from BC to Asia. As younger players have come along to join the professional scene, Chris has been a mentor to many of them. Today, some of Chris’ former students have gone on to professional careers in music too. https://chris-quinn.ca

Watch the 22nd Annual Banjo Special below. 

The Ettes return with "Dangerous Girl"

The Ettes' Coco Hames and Poni Silver just shared a new song "Dangerous Girl" – check it out. 

Happy 79th Birthday Ry Cooder!

Raising a glass to Ry Cooder on his birthday with a studio session accompanying guitarist Manuel Galbán and more.  

Michael Mulholland's Junkyard revisits The Saints first three LPs

The first three classic albums by The Saints are the subject of Junkyard with host Michael Mulholland. Check the link below. 

The Saints' Stranded, Eternally Yours, Prehistoric Sounds

This week on Junkyard, we are focusing on the first three albums from The Saints - the records (I'm) Stranded, Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds. These three albums capture the transition in musical styles from one of Australia's best ever bands, as well as highlighting their great musical vision at the time. Chris Bailey initially left the band after the UK's final tour, before he was convinced to rejoin the band to complete Prehistoric Sounds.The band then broke up, upon the day of it's release. Chris Bailey kept The Saints going, after his return to Australia. By this stage Ed Kuepper had already formed the band Laughing Clowns. We'll be playing many tracks from all three albums, as well as discussing them in detail. Should be good, looking forward to it! Listen to the March 12th episode of Junkyard on Melbourne, Australia's Progressive Broadcasting Service PBS 106.7 FM right here. 

Col. Tom's Swinging Door w/ mandolin marvel Andrew Collins @ Cameron House, Sunday

Creaking Tree Stringer and Tone Ranger Andrew Collins sits in with Col. Tom Parker and crew from 6 pm to 8 pm. 

Marcus & Mary Margaret O'Hara's Martian Awareness Ball @ the Horseshoe, March 14

Tonight's St. Paddy's Day bash will double as a celebration of life for Marcus & Mary Margret's beloved sister Catherine. 

Watch a clip of Mary Margaret O'Hara on stage at the 48th Martian Awareness Ball right here

The Rizdales' Tom Dunphy returns to the Cameron House, Saturday

The Rizdales' Steve Briggs will be singing tunes from "Everything Was New" with Burke Carroll, Victor Bateman & Steve Briggs.

Happy Birthday Kendra Smith of Opal, Clay Allison, Dream Syndicate

Cheers to the amazing Kendra Smith on her birthday! We're celebrating today with a few of her gems.

Celebrate Pie Day @ Eastend Pie & Mash, Saturday

Get a jump start on St. Patrick's Day with a steak & stout pie from Eastend Pie & Mash today – hey, it's Pie Day!

Writes chef/owner Davy Love...

Saturday.... Saturday... Saturday.. it's 3.14... pi day... and we will have our take on the classic Canadian poutine... with our semi legendary poutine pie . Golden fried potatoes with real Quebecois cheese curds and our deep, dark tangy onion gravy packed in our tender, flaky yet firm enough to hold in one hand pie crust. Have a look right here.

We're also celebrating our ☘️Irish☘️ friends with a few little additions to our weekend menu including this killer rich Steak and Stout pie served with buttery Colcannon loaded with braised kale and cabbage .  Swimming in black stout gravy.... 

We also have a delicious Smoked Irish bacon and Colcannon Pie plus our Cheddar and Onion pasty this week is made with Dubliner cheese,caramelised onion and Tayto cheese and onion crisps 🇮🇪

Eastend Pie & Mash (1031 Gerrard St E. near Jones) and is open for take-out at 11 am until the pies sell out. 

There will likely be a lineup out the door when you get there. 

India Ramey announces Villain Era officially begins May 8th

India Ramey's Villain Era album was shaped during her childhood spent watching reruns of Gunsmoke and The Rifleman on TV. 

Writes India Ramey...

"Who’s with me? My new album “Villain Era” comes out on May 8. It’s inspired by and grounded in the TV westerns I used to watch with my Grandaddy and still watch all the time like Gunsmoke and The Rifleman and by the #countrymusic trailblazers like Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins that guide me on my daily walks. This album is made of pure passion, joy and love and there is so much of the deepest parts of me woven into it. You can pre-order Villain Era now and get a discount through the weekend." Here's the link: https://indiaramey.lnk.to/get-villainera.

Listen to the first two songs from the album below. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Little Hudson Shower

Little Hudson Shower's Chicago-based Red Devil Trio originally had Henry Gray on piano, later replaced by Lazy Bill Lucas. 

Happy Birthday Candi Staton!

Celebrating Candi's birthday with her version of "Shine A Light" by the Stones off her Grammy-nominated album Back To My Roots and much more. 

Candi Staton - Back To My Roots

For Candi Staton’s latest album “Back To My Roots;” the soul legend has recorded a sensational set of songs that draw heavily upon her gospel roots.

It is best to let this great lady of soul speak for herself: “This album was recorded over several years. We took our time. I planned for it to be my last full album, so it was a labor of love and a family affair. My son Marcus produced, mixed and mastered it. My daughter Cassandra runs our label and kept all the business straight. My son Marcel came up with the bass line for ‘1963.’ My sister Maggie Peebles joined me for two songs we sang as kids. My British bandleader, Ernie McKone, cut ‘Shine A Light’ in London, which is only right considering it’s a Rolling Stones classic.

Mark Nevers, who produced some of my past Americana albums, stepped in to do some sweetening on certain tracks. Guitar great Jonathan DuBose Jr gave ‘I Missed the Target Again’ new life. Blues great Larry McCray added some zing to 'Hang on in There'.

My longtime friend William Bell was the perfect person to sing ‘My God Has A Telephone’ with me. I’d just like to thank my other sons, Terry and Clarence Jr for their support.”

Staton’s voice has always been a powerful and emotive instrument and on this album it has never sounded finer. No wonder “Back To My Roots” was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2026 Grammys, her first nomination in 40 years! 

Get a copy of Candi Staton's "Back To My Roots" album directly from Ace Records UK right here who've also collected her incredible FAME recordings for the brilliant Evidence 2CD compilation, available right here. 

Check out Candi's version of The Rolling Stones tune "Shine A Light" along with more clips and interviews followed by the documentary on the Alabama soul scene "I'll Take You There."  

 

LINKS

New York Times Candi Staton is a survivor

One For The Weekend: Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin' Hopkins' "War Is Starting Again" – which he originally cut for Ivory Records – seems like the right tune for the moment. 

The Boys (UK), Gene Champagne, Dany Laj @ The Horseshoe, Friday

Ground floor UK punk crew The Boys will be joined by Gene Champagne and Dany Laj & The Looks on Friday night.  

LINKS

Get tickets for The Boys show at The Horseshoe on Friday (March 13) right here. 

Tickets for The Boys gig on Saturday (March 14) at Hamilton's Corktown Pub are available here.  

Mozzy Dee, The Kewpie Dolls, The Shook Boys @ The Horseshoe, March 12

El Paso's Ameripolitan Awards crowned rockabilly queen Mozzy Dee tears it up at the Horseshoe with them Kewpie Dolls opening!

LINKS
Mozzy Dee site

Vintage Rock Soundtrack Of My Life: Mozzy Dee

Tickets for Mozzy Dee with the Kewpie Dolls & the Shook Boys at The Horseshoe available here 

R.I.P. Legendary reggae producer Phil Pratt, 1943-2026

Sadly, legendary Jamaican reggae producer and label owner Phil Pratt has passed away at the age of 82. He'll be greatly missed. 

From Trojan Records...

Legendary Jamaican music producer Phil Pratt has passed away, with the cause of his passing on 25th February yet to be confirmed.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica on 15th June 1943, and Christened George Phillips, Phil first made his mark on the local music scene as a singer and guitarist prior to producing his first recordings during the rock steady era.

By the early 70s, he was established as one of the island’s most accomplished record producers, releasing scores of Jamaican hits by some of reggae music’s premier talents, their number including John Holt, Ken Boothe, Pat Kelly and Dennis Brown.

Primarily utilising the facilities at Channel One and Lee Perry’s Black Ark studios, Phil continued to release popular singles, principally on his Sunshot and Terminal labels, prior to settling in London around the middle of the decade.

Thereafter, he continued to record and release new material, but in the mid-80s, eased off from his music-making career to concentrate on managing his kitchen in Harlesden, although he did still occasionally return to the studio to produce new reggae and r&b works, almost all of of which has yet to see issue.

A gentle and truly humble man whose importance within the sphere of Jamaican music cannot be overstated, Phil Pratt produced some of the most popular and influential reggae recordings of all time, with his passing a huge loss to both fans of his music and those lucky enough to have enjoyed his company.

Andy Maize & Aaron Comeau launch new Captains of Everything LP @ Cameron House, Wednesday

Andy & Aaron will be playing songs from their new Captains of Everything album "Avast and Belay" tonight from 6 pm to 8 pm.

LINKS
Captains of Everything Avast and Belay