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| Buy, Sell, Trade, Repair, eBay & Lessons. Guido's Hot Springs Music is a guitar shop owned, and operated by working musicians. Vintage, new, used and pro gear. A local musician's hang out in Central Arkansas. Call Guido: 501-655-6168 |
| FaceBook |
Visit Chris Dair's web
site to hear his latest
songs, and see his
videos.
http://www.chrisdairmu
sic.net
site to hear his latest
songs, and see his
videos.
http://www.chrisdairmu
sic.net
Sunshine Sonny Payne, the first ever All Blues DJ in the world,
in Helena, Arkansas on KFFA radio. King of the Blues DJ's.
http://sunshinesonnypayne.com/
in Helena, Arkansas on KFFA radio. King of the Blues DJ's.
http://sunshinesonnypayne.com/
Sonny with me holding our Cruize Brothers
CD that was voted #1 Arkansas Blues CD
for the IBC in 2008
CD that was voted #1 Arkansas Blues CD
for the IBC in 2008
Our email
| by Mike Dollins www.mikedollins.biz |
| Since 1988 Journalizing on Blues |
Blues Guitar News is read by 59,000 blues friends worldwide.
Click photos and graphics to visit corresponding link or web site.
Click photos and graphics to visit corresponding link or web site.
April 2011
The band and me took a little trip down the mighty muddy Mississippi. Actually, we just
followed the Arkansas River down the Mississippi River, sort of, and wound up in the World
Epic Blues Center, Helena, AR. For those of you that are thin on the Mississippi River delta
history, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to step foot on the
banks of the Mississippi River, at Helena, Arkansas May 8, 1541. De Soto died of fever a
year later in Arkansas, and is buried around Lake Village on the Louisiana border. His crew
returned to Spain. That was over four hundred years ago, and just the beginning of the
rich cultural heritage of Helena, Arkansas. Although steeped in history and folklore, today
the once bustling city on a major river network is depressed as many businesses,
manufactures and agricultural corporations have long since abandoned the area. NAFTA
at work here. Like so many other American enterprises, the lure of overseas cheap labor
and commodities took it's toll on Helena. With a population reduction of over 50% in recent
years driven by lack of jobs from companies leaving the area, the remaining folks are
turning the town into a worldwide tourist stop due to the famous "King Biscuit Blues
Festival." Hailed as the "mother" of all blues festivals, King Biscuit traces roots back
several decades and on name pops out; Sunshine Sonny Payne.
Sonny Payne is recognized by the Blues Foundation as the original all blues DJ, on historic
blues radio KFFA 1360 AM, Helena Arkansas. Sponsored by King Biscuit Flour, Sonny's
original "live" show was called "King Biscuit Time." The house band included Sonny Boy
Williamson (Rice Miller), Robert Lockwood Jr., Pine Top Perkins and James Curits.
Payne's blues broadcasting is considered the longest continuous running blues
programming in the world, ever. A legend in his own time, Mr. Payne has dedicated a
lifetime to promoting and preserving a National American Heritage, The Blues.
followed the Arkansas River down the Mississippi River, sort of, and wound up in the World
Epic Blues Center, Helena, AR. For those of you that are thin on the Mississippi River delta
history, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to step foot on the
banks of the Mississippi River, at Helena, Arkansas May 8, 1541. De Soto died of fever a
year later in Arkansas, and is buried around Lake Village on the Louisiana border. His crew
returned to Spain. That was over four hundred years ago, and just the beginning of the
rich cultural heritage of Helena, Arkansas. Although steeped in history and folklore, today
the once bustling city on a major river network is depressed as many businesses,
manufactures and agricultural corporations have long since abandoned the area. NAFTA
at work here. Like so many other American enterprises, the lure of overseas cheap labor
and commodities took it's toll on Helena. With a population reduction of over 50% in recent
years driven by lack of jobs from companies leaving the area, the remaining folks are
turning the town into a worldwide tourist stop due to the famous "King Biscuit Blues
Festival." Hailed as the "mother" of all blues festivals, King Biscuit traces roots back
several decades and on name pops out; Sunshine Sonny Payne.
Sonny Payne is recognized by the Blues Foundation as the original all blues DJ, on historic
blues radio KFFA 1360 AM, Helena Arkansas. Sponsored by King Biscuit Flour, Sonny's
original "live" show was called "King Biscuit Time." The house band included Sonny Boy
Williamson (Rice Miller), Robert Lockwood Jr., Pine Top Perkins and James Curits.
Payne's blues broadcasting is considered the longest continuous running blues
programming in the world, ever. A legend in his own time, Mr. Payne has dedicated a
lifetime to promoting and preserving a National American Heritage, The Blues.
| Click Here For Hot Links |
We spent the weekend playing at Big Red's, Blues
Bayou. A soul kitchen restruant and blues venue
club. No better combonation known in Delta Blues
Country. The band had a great Fri & Sat playing
our rhythm and blues, and Big Red and Mike
Taylor sitting in for a few sets. Great friends, times
and eats too. It don't get any better than that.
Big Red at: bigredandthesoulbenders.com
Blues Bayou at: www.facebook.com/BluesBayou
Check out Big Red (Kelley Taylor) on her web site
with band, bio and CD info.
Bayou. A soul kitchen restruant and blues venue
club. No better combonation known in Delta Blues
Country. The band had a great Fri & Sat playing
our rhythm and blues, and Big Red and Mike
Taylor sitting in for a few sets. Great friends, times
and eats too. It don't get any better than that.
Big Red at: bigredandthesoulbenders.com
Blues Bayou at: www.facebook.com/BluesBayou
Check out Big Red (Kelley Taylor) on her web site
with band, bio and CD info.
| Big Red with the Cruize Brothers |
| Mike, Ed, Brad & Guido The Cruize Brothers at Blues Bayou |
From Ferguson Bayou, along the Arkansas River Delta, Blues Guitar News reaches blues fans all around the
planet. Back Issues and Hot Links on above tabs will take you on an endless Blues Journey. Guaranteed.
planet. Back Issues and Hot Links on above tabs will take you on an endless Blues Journey. Guaranteed.
Bubba's Blues Corner
105 Cherry Street
Helena, AR 72342
870-338-3501
If you are into blues, well this is the place for
you. Bubba's features one of the best
selections of hard-to-find Blues music in the
nation. Below Bubba Sullivan holding a
drawing of Robert Johnson
105 Cherry Street
Helena, AR 72342
870-338-3501
If you are into blues, well this is the place for
you. Bubba's features one of the best
selections of hard-to-find Blues music in the
nation. Below Bubba Sullivan holding a
drawing of Robert Johnson
Burben "Bubba" Sullivan, owner of Bubba's Blues Corner, in Helena, Arkansas and
me have been pen pal buddies for over 25 years. We stopped in Buuba's amazing
blues record shop and blues archive on our stroll down Blues Street, in Helena.
After introducing myself, I asked if he remembered the hard paper copy of "Strictly
Nothing But The Blues," newsletter we published monthly over 20 years ago. He
remembered the blue paper blues news, and then we dove off into an endless sea
of blues history. Bubba was actually the contact years ago that linked me up with
Robert Lockwood Jr. I still have the interview on a cassette tape in my archives, and
someday will digitize it. Mr. Lockwood insisted we let our readers know to stop
calling him Robert Junior, and to please start calling him Robert Lockwood Jr. We
got that point across in our article that was sent to blues fans all around the world. It
was a blues historical event for us here a Blues Guitar News to help Robert clearify
his name in the blues community.
As Bubba and me babbled on about blues,
on top of blues, in walks legendary Rockabilly
Sonny Burgess. Sonny came over
in the middle of our blues gathering in Bubba's
shop, and right remembered the band playing
in his hometown of Newport, Arkansas last year.
He asked when we were coming back.
One of our many memories from the blues
weekend in Helena, Arkansas. Sonny is one of
original Sun Records Rockabilly cats.
me have been pen pal buddies for over 25 years. We stopped in Buuba's amazing
blues record shop and blues archive on our stroll down Blues Street, in Helena.
After introducing myself, I asked if he remembered the hard paper copy of "Strictly
Nothing But The Blues," newsletter we published monthly over 20 years ago. He
remembered the blue paper blues news, and then we dove off into an endless sea
of blues history. Bubba was actually the contact years ago that linked me up with
Robert Lockwood Jr. I still have the interview on a cassette tape in my archives, and
someday will digitize it. Mr. Lockwood insisted we let our readers know to stop
calling him Robert Junior, and to please start calling him Robert Lockwood Jr. We
got that point across in our article that was sent to blues fans all around the world. It
was a blues historical event for us here a Blues Guitar News to help Robert clearify
his name in the blues community.
As Bubba and me babbled on about blues,
on top of blues, in walks legendary Rockabilly
Sonny Burgess. Sonny came over
in the middle of our blues gathering in Bubba's
shop, and right remembered the band playing
in his hometown of Newport, Arkansas last year.
He asked when we were coming back.
One of our many memories from the blues
weekend in Helena, Arkansas. Sonny is one of
original Sun Records Rockabilly cats.
| Sonny Burgess & Mike Dollins |
Mike Taylor, Kelley Taylor (Red) & Mike Dollins
The Cruize Brothers and me, would like to thank Mike & Kelley Taylor (Big Red),
for the hospitality, great friendship, wonderful food and fantastic venue for us to
play at their Blues Bayou Restaurant and Blues Club on April 1 & 2. Red and Mike
sat in with the band, and I have to tell you we boogied all night long. The weekend
goes so fast when you are doing what you love to do, and that is play the blues.
On your blues tours around the USA, when you get to Blues City, Helena,
Arkansas, just across the Blues Street from the Delta Blues Museum, is the Blues
safe house, Blues Bayou. Blues musicians welcome and appreciated to the fullest
extent. Love y'all and look forward to our next visit.
for the hospitality, great friendship, wonderful food and fantastic venue for us to
play at their Blues Bayou Restaurant and Blues Club on April 1 & 2. Red and Mike
sat in with the band, and I have to tell you we boogied all night long. The weekend
goes so fast when you are doing what you love to do, and that is play the blues.
On your blues tours around the USA, when you get to Blues City, Helena,
Arkansas, just across the Blues Street from the Delta Blues Museum, is the Blues
safe house, Blues Bayou. Blues musicians welcome and appreciated to the fullest
extent. Love y'all and look forward to our next visit.
< - - Check out the years of blues back issues
| First Lady of San Diego, CA Blues Miss Lady Star. |
One thing great about
FaceBook is tagging
up with friends, and
finding long lost family
members. Before I
moved from San
Diego back to the
Arkansas Delta, I got
to do a few jams with
Lady Star, and it was
always a great time to
be on stage with her.
FaceBook is tagging
up with friends, and
finding long lost family
members. Before I
moved from San
Diego back to the
Arkansas Delta, I got
to do a few jams with
Lady Star, and it was
always a great time to
be on stage with her.
| Lady Star - Blues |