Fats Domino vs. Bessie Smith

Fats Domino's 1950 update of Buddy Bolden's "Carleess Love" was cut 25 years after Bessie Smith did it with Louis Armstrong. 

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.

Remembering New Orleans bandleader Dave Bartholomew on his birthday

Remembering the great New Orleans trumpeter Dave Bartholomew who co-wrote and produced many of Fats Domino's hits. 

That time Richard Hawley stopped by Snooper's Paradise in Brighton

When trying to assess the suitability of a promising junk shop acoustic,  Richard likes to try it out with Velvet Underground tune.  

Richard Hawley's 2LP collection Now Then is out now on coloured vinyl. Get it right here. Check the tracks.  

Now Then: The Very Best of Richard Hawley

Side A

1. ‘Open Up Your Door’

2. ‘Midnight Train’

3. ‘Tonight The Streets Are Ours’

4. ‘Coles Corner’

5. ‘Ballad Of A Thin Man’

6. ‘Baby, You’re My Light’

Side B

1. ‘Not The Only Road’

2. ‘My Little Treasures’

3. ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge’

4. ‘Heart of Oak’

5. ‘The Ocean’

Side C

1. ‘Seek It’

2. ‘Off My Mind’

3. ‘Coming Home’

4. ‘I Still Want You’

5. ‘Just Like The Rain’

6. ‘Run For Me’

Side D

1. ‘Alone’

2. ‘For Your Lover Give Some Time’

3. ‘Serious’

4. ‘Don’t Stare At The Sun’

5. ‘There’s A Storm A’Comin’

Midweek Mixdown: Frontera Colletion salutes Fats Domino

Here's a swingin' set of vintage Hispanic recordings of songs penned by Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew.  

Jay Douglas & Robin Banks @ Lula Lounge, Wednesday

The soulful Jay Douglas will be singing blues and R&B songs from his Confession album tonight at Lula Lounge. Doors at 7 pm.

Here's the scoop...

Drawing inspiration from his roots in Jamaica and Canada, Jay Douglas has developed a wide-ranging repertoire of American blues, West Indian rhythms, and jazz standards.  Over the past 10 years, Jay Douglas has performed around the world and at annual Toronto events such as the Beaches Jazz Festival, Jerk Fest, Yonge and Dundas Square, and a Taste of Lawrence. Some of his major hits include tracks like “Messengers”, “Man to Man”, “What Will My Mary Say”, “I Don't Wanna Cry”, and “Lovers Paradise.”

In 2006, Jay Douglas was proclaimed the winner of NOW Magazine's Toronto's "Best R&B Act" and in 2007, he won the "Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year" at the Annual Toronto Reggae Awards. Recently, his album “Lover’s Paradise” won "Reggae Recording of the Year" at the 2012 JUNO Awards and was the recipient of the "G98.7 FM Entertainment Award" at the Harry Jarome Awards as well!

SPECIAL GUEST ROBIN BANKS

Just a country girl with big city ways", is how Robin Banks describes herself. An electrifying performer, a sultry and powerful vocalist best known for her blues and jazz depth and authenticity. Banks is an artist, a songwriter, a music producer and band leader who dug up her Canadian roots and transplanted them into a spicy music life in Texas but also in Jamaica performing in tourism entertainment. She writes catchy, clever songs of life and love and records them with some of America's most prominent musicians and producers. Don't miss this opportunity to catch her live -- she is the real deal!

The Lula Reggae & Blues Revue

with Jay Douglas & His All-Star Band and guest Robin Banks

Wednesday, November 16th

Doors at 7 PM, Show at 8 PM 

LULA LOUNGE  - 1585 Dundas Street West

Get Tickets here.

Listen to Jay Douglas discuss his latest blues and R&B covers album Confession followed by a recent performance at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Fest. 

R.I.P. Fats Domino, 1928-2017

New Orleans R&B great Antoine "Fats" Domino passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89.

One For The Weekend: Herb Hardesty

Here's a swank swinger from New Orleans tenor saxophone great Herb Hardesty, a sideman for Fats Domino, Dr. John and Tom Waits.

RIP Cosimo Matassa, 1926-2014

Iconic New Orleans studio owner and engineer Cosimo Matassa died Thursday at the age of 88.