MAY 2021 Issue #410 interview with Arne SKAGe interview with LUCY PiPer LAwrenCe Lebo’S CoLUMn: teenY tUCKer reviewS viDeoS CONTACT:email: [email protected] Web: www.bluesinthesouth.com Twitter: IN THE MEAN TIME, DON’T GO TO GIGS IF YOU ARE NOT SURE THEY ARE COMPLETELY SAFE , MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE AND REMEMBER: CORONA VIRUS DOES NOT CIRCULATE PEOPLE CIRCULATE IT Paul Oscher (April 5, 1950 – April 18, 2021) Oscher was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He was married to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks from 2001 to 2011. He first began playing harmonica at the age of 12. His career as a musician began at the age of 15 when he played for the musician Little Jimmy Mae. Oscher played harmonica as a member of the Muddy Waters Blues Band from 1967 until 1972. He was the first Caucasian musician in Muddy's band and lived in Muddy's house on Chicago's South Side and shared the basement with the blues pianist Otis Spann. Oscher recorded with Muddy for Chess Records and in 1976 he toured Europe with Louisiana Red. They both appeared at the WDR-TV music show Rockpalast. In 1999, he played with Big Bill Morganfield on his debut album, “Rising Son”. In 2003 Oscher was featured on harmonica, guitar and vocals on Hubert Sumlin's album “About Them Shoes”, along with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Levon Helm. In 2006, Oscher collaborated with Mos Def and recorded the song ‘BedStuy Parade and Funeral March’ on Mos Def's album “The New Danger”. In 2008, he recorded with Keb' Mo' on the soundtrack of a film about the blues, “Who Do You Love?”. Paul Oscher, who moved to Austin, Texas eight years ago was 71. He had been hospitalised with COVID-19 for several weeks, his former manager, Nancy Coplin, confirmed Monday. Max Frost, a long time friend and in whose mother’s house Paul lived until his hospitalisation said, “He lived through a part of history that few people understand really happened the way it did. It was a rough life, and for Paul to have been that young and to have suddenly slipped into that world and survived it is pretty remarkable. He was a really great player, and Muddy obviously really respected him. It was a huge chapter of his life.” Paul Oscher toured the UK with Muddy in 1968, played gigs in Birmingham and Hull University and in recent years was a driving force in saving Muddy Waters’ old house from demolition, seeking to turn it into a museum. MARGIE EVANS ( July 17, 1939 – March 19, 2021) Margie Evans, a legendary, international Blues and Gospel entertainer, songwriter, music producer, actress, music historian, community activist and motivational spokeswoman, who broke barriers for African American female Blues performers with poise, dignity and sophistication, died on March 19, 2021. In addition to her musicianship, Evans is noted as an activist for parity in music education as well as a promoter of the legacy of Blues music. As she often said, “I’ve been around a long time and I’ve really paid my dues.” The lengthy career of the unsung, effervescent entertainer is chronicled in her first biographical memoir, “Margie Evans: The Classy, Sophisticated Queen of the Blues”, due for release on Amazon in two weeks. Marjorie Ann Johnson was born in 1939 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She chose to be known as Margie. Raised as a devout Christian, Margie Evans’ early exposure to music was through gospel, inspired by her mother, Mrs. Veva Williams, who taught Latin and piano. After graduating from Grambling College, majoring in elementary education, in 1958, Margie moved to Los Angeles, where she later married her longtime friend and neighbour, Rev. Jim Evans. Always very intelligent, well read, talented and articulate, she gained the position of a background vocalist with Billy Ward, with whom she sang between 1958 and 1964, before joining the Ron Marshall Orchestra between 1964 and 1969, singing in Monterey, California. She then successfully auditioned to join the Johnny Otis Band. During her four-year stay there, she performed on The Johnny Otis Show Live at Monterey and Cuttin' Up albums. In addition to her recording and performing duties, Margie used her powerfully positive influence to help set up the Southern California Blues Society to help promote the art form through education and sponsorship. Evans then commenced her solo career in 1973, and found almost immediate chart success. Her single track "Good Feeling" (United Artists 246) entered the R&B chart on June 30, 1973 for four weeks, reaching number 55. However, it was another four years before her single, "Good Thing Queen - Part 1" (ICA 002) entered the same chart-listing on July 9, 1977 for eight weeks, peaking at number 47. Also, in 1975, Margie supplied the background vocals on Donald Byrd’s album, “Stepping into Tomorrow”. She was always jovial, effervescent and full of life. When resting or preparing for a performance, she could often be heard praising God, praying and singing Gospel hymns in her hotel room and dressing room. Also sandwiched between these hits, in November 1975, Evans appeared on German television filmed at the Berlin-based Jazz Tage concert with Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Bo Diddley and James Booker. Using Bobby Bland as her record producer and part-time song writing partner, Margie co-wrote the song "Soon As the Weather Breaks”, which reached number 76 (R&B) for Mr. Bland in 1980. She variously worked with Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson, Joe Liggins, Lloyd Glenn, Willie Dixon, Al Bell, and Monk Higgins. Her main influences were Mahalia Jackson, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thornton. Ever moving forward, in 1980, Margie performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival and the Long Beach Blues Festival, repeating the feat at the latter a year later. During her international touring, she took part in the American Folk Blues Festivals, sponsored by L+R Records in 1981, 1982 and 1985. As the momentum continued, in 1983, Evans was granted the Keepin' the Blues Alive Award by the Blues Foundation at the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Performing into the early 1990’s, Margie Evans toured the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe, in addition, participating in the DuMaurier Jazz Festival and appearing with Jay McShann at the Toronto Jazz Festival. The CD and DVD, “Unplugged” was recorded in 2016 with her dear friend, Swiss Blues singer Philip Fankhauser, with whom she also recorded other albums, “Thun: San Francisco” and “Blues for the Lady” in 1989, 1994 respectively. In 2015 and 2016, Evans returned to the stage, guesting with Fankhauser in front of sold-out venues throughout Switzerland. I WANNA TELL YOU A STORY…. By Bob Pearce I guess it’s best to start at the beginning. After watching a rather good movie, the music used as the credits rolled was so impressive it had me searching Google to find out more about the artist. There have been many great acts to emerge from Canada. The first to grab my attention were the McKenna Mendelson Mainline, a blues band from Toronto who I’d see reasonably regularly at Southampton’s Concorde Club around 1968. Since then, others who’ve impressed me include the brilliant guitarist/vocalist Colin Linden, singer/songwriter Wyckham Porteous, and the wonderful and much missed Leon Redbone. O.K., not all of these artists perform blues exclusively, but hey, neither did Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell or many of the ‘blues’ acts in Chicago. Now, here’s a man originally from St. Louis who relocated to Canada in the mid seventies. He sings, he plays, he acts. He’s Jim Byrnes and it was him being played over the credits to that film, a song co-written with Steve Dawson, ‘I Need A Change’ (more on Dawson later). The album with that track just had to be purchased of course and it wasn’t long before ‘St. Louis Times’ was in the cd player, volume at max!!! Oh, what a revelation. You’ve heard the expression ‘where have you been all my life?’ Well, Vancouver apparently. This album contains influences ranging from old time New Orleans jazz, sixties soul, blues, and even a little Chuck Berry. The production and overall sound is superb. ‘I Get Evil’, ‘Nadine’, ‘Cake Alley’, ‘The Duck’s Yas Yas’ and more. ‘You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone’ features a vocal collaboration with Colleen Rennison. Other guests include John Hammond and Colin James. Yep, you’ve guessed it, I bought more of his releases. Next up was the gospel based ‘House Of Refuge’. Why Jim Byrnes is not more well known is a complete mystery to me. Although there are many gospel songs on here, including his own truly superb ‘Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?’ You’ll also find ‘Big Bill’s Blues’, ‘Last Fair Deal Gone Down’ and somewhat amazingly, ‘Stardust’. Once again, musicianship, production and sound are all first class. The Sojourners deserve a special mention for their backing vocals. There appears to be no musical style this man can’t handle, his album ‘I Hear The Wind In The Wires’ is, on the surface, country. But don’t take much notice of that, he makes each of his recordings uniquely his own and records whatever he feels like recording. On this release you’ll find ‘Pickin’ Wild Mountain Berries’, another fabulous duet with Colleen Rennison (originally recorded by Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson in 1968), along with ‘Big Blue Diamonds’, ‘I’m Movin’ On’, ‘Big Iran’ plus a great version of Nick Lowe’s ‘Sensitive Man’.