Living Blues #276 features vocalist Sugaray Rayford on the cover. Texas-born former Marine Rayford stands 6’5” and has a commanding stage presence. His career has been ascending for the last 20 years and, with a new CD about to drop, he is ready to hit the ground running post-COVID. Eighty-two-year-old Alabama Slim has been part …
Living Blues #275 features Toronzo Cannon on the cover. After 20 years of grinding, South Side bluesman Toronzo Cannon has honed his stage act and is now one of the top proponents of modern Chicago blues. Alex Dixon was raised by his grandparents—his grandfather just happened to be the legendary Willie Dixon. The young Dixon …
Living Blues #274 (September/October 2021) is an Old School Southern Soul special. Mississippi bluesman Sam Mosley has spent his life making music. Now 75, Mosley looks back on his long career, which includes multiple bands with his partner, Bob Johnson, and their decades of successful songwriting for Malaco Records. Billy Ray Charles has been singing …
Living Blues #273 is the third in the history of LB that is dedicated to drummers—looking at the important roles played by blues drummers, including the first two female drummers ever covered by the magazine. The ten artists anchor the backbeat of the genre. Artists featured include Rodd Bland, Jamiesa Turner, Joe “Iceman” Williams, Greg Gordon, …
Bring your lawn chairs and picnics every Sunday in June Live music is back! After more than a year of canceled events, bands will return to the Grove stage for the annual Summer Sunset Series on Sunday afternoons throughout June. The series, which is free and open to the public at the University of Mississippi, …
Living Blues Issue #271 features California bluesman Kirk “Eli” Fletcher who fell in love with the guitar early and has spent his entire life following that passion. From the church to the blues stage, Fletcher is now one of the brightest lights in the blues. Phoenix-based Lucius Parr may not have followed a common path in the blues but …
In this issue: the list of SouthTalks events for spring, a Southern Studies alum puts his degree to work researching New Orleans street names, and Zaire Love interviews Brian Foster about his new book. Click here to access the full publication and read about news from the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. …
Living Blues #270 features Chicago bluesman Mike Wheeler. The guitarist has been building a career for himself for over 30 years. He plays his blues with ease and an obvious joy in what he is doing. Jackson, Mississippi–based Stevie J has been a go-to guitarist for gospel bands and blues acts in the City with …
Living Blues #269 (November /December 2020) concludes the 50th Anniversary celebration with a look forward at the future of the blues with the “Next Generation of the Blues” special issue. At age 38 multi-instrumentalist Dom Flemons has spent the last 15 years taking a deep dive into the roots of African American music eager to …
Living Blues #268 (September/October) continues our 50th anniversary celebration with a deep dive into the Mississippi Delta blues scene of today. Cover artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, at age 21, may be the most exciting artist in the blues right now. We profile another 24 Delta blues artists with a broad sweep across styles and instruments. …