QuincyBlues.com

July 22, 2010 (From Bob Corritore)

RIP Phillip Walker, February 11th, 1937 – July 22, 2010. It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Phillip Walker this morning at 4:30 AM of heart failure. He was 73. Phillip was a great singer and guitarist who was considered legendary, though he never broke through to the success that his talent merited. He played guitar on the Specialty and Chess recordings of Clifton Chenier (Phillip once said that it was him and Etta James singing the backup on Clifton’s song “My Soul”). He moved from Louisiana to California in 1959, and released his first record “Hello My Darlin”, produced by J.R. Fulbright. Phillip’s first full album, produced by Bruce Bromberg and called Bottom Of The Top was released in 1973 on the Playboy Record Label (actually a business division of the magazine). He also made great recordings on Galaxy, Vault, Joliet, HighTone, JSP, Black Top, Rounder, Alligator, P-Vine, MC, and most recently on Delta Groove. Additionally, Phillip was a noted sideman who contributed to albums by Lonesome Sundown, Eddie Taylor, Percy Mayfield, and Johnny Shines. Phillip toured frequently with a great band that included his longtime partner, James “Broadway” Thomas, on bass. He was lovingly booked by Tom Radai of Blues Management Group. His passing highlights the loss of the few remaining blues artists of his generation. We salute Phillip for always delivering the true blues, for his kind and giving personality, and for his unique and awe inspiring blues style. To see Phillip Walker’s website click here , for an extensive bio click here. So long Phillip, we will miss you.

Ben Bumbry, Vice President of the MMMWBS has just made a $1000 donation to the QHS Jazz Band, on behalf of the MMMWBS. This is in conjunction with the same amount given to the QND Jazz Band that was made earlier this spring. These donations, and a $1000 Sponsorship to the final “Blues in the District” Concert in September, featuring Larry McCray, all are the results of the Blue Note Open. Normally, the funds made at the annual spring fundraiser go towards funding our annual Quincy Area Blues Fest. But, since the plans for this years festival were dropped, we wanted to both help local school music programs, and help to keep the local live blues thriving. So since we didn’t have time to pull off a “Blues in the School Program” this year, we made donations to both QHS and QND’s Jazz Bands, and sponsored the “Blues in the District” Concert.  And remaining funds from the Blue Note Open are going to be used towards funding a Blues in the School Program in the 2010-2011 school year.   

I’ve been swimming through the Blues e-mails, and online blues magazines, and I ran across a interesting story I thought I’d share with all of the hardcore Blues music fans, who know who Robert Johnson is, and what his music has meant to several genres of modern music. I was reading the Blues Festival e-guide,

(http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410332847?utm_medium=email&utm_source=MyNewsletterBuilder&utm_content=webmaster%40quincyblues.com&utm_campaign=Weekly+Blues+News+May+28+2010+1410332847&utm_term=View+as+Web+Page 

and ran across a story that states that “we’ve been listening to Robert Johnson’s music at the wrong speed”. (NOTE: You’ll have to scroll down that page a long way to get to the story, and there’s also some good info on the Davenport IA fest on the way down the page also). This, I have found intriguing, and had to read more of, and there’s a link on there to a ”guardianUK blog” that goes into this opinion, and here’s the link:

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/may/27/robert-johnson-blues

I can only say that at this time, I am fascinated, and am hoping to be able to hear Johnson’s music at this slower speed, and that we should “stay tuned” on this story, as it’s sure to stir up some great conversation…Jerry D