OBBS E-NEWSLETTER April– June 2015

2015 Central Florida Challenge

Sunday August 9th Starting @ 2

Preserve Promote and Present the Blues

1 Inside this issue:

Karen Stott –Editor

We need volunteers for the OBBS booth at :

Letter from August 9 Central Florida Blues Challenge the President 3 Please contact OBBS at [email protected]

Central Florida Blues 4 Challenge We are looking to the membership to assist with these committees – Tampa Bay Blues 5 Tour Bus Trip  Publicity/Press - Marketing/Promotions

 Newsletter OBBS Events Blues in School / 6  Membership Ladies of the Blues

______ Entertainment Spot light 7  Blues In School—BITS Don’t Scare the Dog  Sponsorships and Volunteers.

Please contact OBBS at [email protected] Lakehouse 8 Records ______Around Town 9 Mt Dora Blues Fest E Newsletter Single Issue Rates

______10 Business card 3.35” x 3.8 $10 The Alley Blues Bar

Quarter page 3.5 “x 7.875” $20 BB KIng 11

______Half page 6.125” x 7.875” $30 RBM Productions 12

Bo Diddley 13 Full page 11.25” x 7.875” $70

Band Listings 14

About OBBS Back page 11.25” x 7.875” $80 Your BOD 15

Business 2 Memberships 16 Hey Blues Lovers, Fans, and BANDS!!!!

It's that time of the year for the Central Florida Blues Challenge!!!! Get the word out to all of your favorite Blues bands in the area and point them to www.obbs.org to get signed up! The date of the CFBC is Sunday, August 9th. This year we are very excited to be holding the event at the ONLY pure Blues music venue in Central FL - The Alley Blues Club in Downtown Sanford!! As you all know and have heard, the Alley is now non-smoking and will soon include a full service restaurant just to the immediate left of the current building. In the past we have held the event at McWells and The Plaza both in Orlando, and at Timmy Mac's/Trizzy's (now Cooter Brown's) located in the Altamonte/Longwood area. All the venues had one great thing in common - THE FANS!! The details for the bands . . .

Sign up can be done at http://obbs.org/cfbc.html and needs to be complete by JULY 10th 11:59pm!

Access to the application, the official rules, and payment (via PayPal) can be done at the link above. Applications should be scanned and emailed back to us. We encourage all participants to contact us with any questions regard- ing the event, the application process, or the official CFBC and IBC rules at [email protected]. We are available to answer any questions about the logistics and details of the event. This year we are pushing to have another great mix of talent from around Central Florida. The bands are encour- aged to play original music and showcase their stage presence and audience appeal. There will be two awards in the "group" category - First Place Winner and The Peoples' Choice Award Win- ner. The five (5) appointed judges will be selecting the CFBC 1st Place Winner and the Fans will be selecting the Peo- ple's Choice Award Winner. In past years we have seen this occasionally be one in the same!! We will also have a Solo/Duo category again this year and would like to see the participation in this category increased! The same rules apply with major emphasis on originality of material. We support both 1st Place Winners of each category on the trip to Memphis . . . oh wait, I didn't tell you that, did I? The first place winners of both the Group and Solo/Duo categories are automatically entered as the OBBS representatives in the International Blues Challenge in Mem- phis in January 2016!!!

The IBC includes over 200 participants from around the world and it is the premier showcase and springboard for acts to get themselves on the international Blues map!! Past winners such as Selwyn Birchwood, Mr. Sipp, Grady Champion, Trampled Under Foot, JP Soars & The Red Hots, Sean Carney, Joey Gil- more, Zac Harmon, and Delta Moon have all gone on to garner both national and international recognition. The winners receive support in the areas of agent representation and management, automatic festival slots at events both stateside and around the Blues world. Many of our national and international Blues publications provide expo- sure for the artists in the form of advertising and interviews throughout the year following their win in Memphis.

To get more info the the IBC, go to http://www.blues.org/international-blues-challenge/. Let's get the word out and let all of our local bands know this is their opportunity to aim for the top and showcase their amazing talent to the masses!

Did I mention that one of our past winners, Selwyn Birchwood, who ultimately took 1st Place at the IBC, won the 2015 for the Best New Artist Album?? That's right!! The BMAs are the Grammy of Blues music worldwide!! How cool is that??

We are looking to make this an event that is more than just memorable, but one which showcases our Central Flori- da talent and the outstanding Fan base we have here in the area supporting LIVE Blues Music! This is our premier event of the year and we are looking for support in the form of SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARTICI- PANTS!!! As Mr. Sipp says, "Let's knock a hole in it!!!"

Board of Directors

Orange Blossom Blues Society www.obbs.org www.blues.org 3

4 5 email Poppa D if you would like to volunteer. EMAIL PappaD at [email protected] As part of our ongoing dedication to community service, the OBBS sponsors Blues In The Schools (BITS) programs on the local level. Based on The Blues Founda- tion's Blues in the Schools program, BITS is designed to introduce students to the blues and educate them about the origins, styles and history of the music through exciting, interactive presentations at elementary, middle & high schools levels.

OBBS is looking for musicians and volunteers to help out with the BITS program.

This entails volunteers receiving training on the BITS program and attending the school programs throughout the school year. (Our goal is once a month). The programs are during the school day, so you will need to be available at those times.

Review our website to see the impact this is making on students in the community and the fun the musicians are having with this program. www.obbs.org/blues-in- schools.html

For more information or volunteering, please contact the OBBS at [email protected].

Preserve Promote and Present the Blues

The Gary Ingber Memorial Fund was created by the Orange Blossom Blues Society in April 2008 in honor of our dear friend, Gary Ingber, who passed away in February 2008. The mission of the fund is to offer modest financial aide in a timely and practical manner to any deserving area musician (or their immediate survivors.). The range of assistance is from $100 - $500 and the types of assistance that will be considered are medical, prescriptions due to illness, accident, emergency needs and burial/final expenses.

The fund is available to active, professional musicians (or an immediate survivor) in the Central Florida area. A recipient does not have to be an OBBS member to receive funds, but requests for assistance must come from an OBBS member. Assistance is limited to one application per person each six months, or a one-time request for funeral expenses. Please click on the below email link to email the board for further details. All inquiries are confidential. Please email us at [email protected] for more information

OBBS holds fundraisers featuring the Ladies of the Blues a few times a year. Please email or check our calendar for updates to these events.

Order your copy of the Ladies of the Blues—[email protected]

6 By Lonnie G

Don’t Scare The Dog Band To Celebrate 20 Years of Rockin’ The Blues!

The Central Florida blues scene continues to experience a resurgence. Local musicians, venues that embrace the music, and OBBS volunteers continue to pull together to preserve, promote, and present the blues. From live local shows, numerous weekly jam sessions, and festivals that include national acts, to the Biscuit, Bacon n Blues radio show Sundays on WPRK (91.5FM), the area serves up a variety of “blues plate specials” to satisfy the appetite of blues fans. On Saturday, July 26th local blues- rock band Don’t Scare The Dog will serve up their brand of electric blues at The Abbey, in Downtown Orlando’s Thornton Park District [100 S. Eola Drive 32801]. The band has been rockin’ the blues since 1994 and will perform at this special music event 20 years in the making!

From a humble beginning in the pubs and parties of the 1990’s, through countless shows throughout Florida, Don’t Scare The Dog has weathered the storm of the evolving Central Florida music scene. The band specializes in drivin' blues-rock. Their shows feature - centric versions of traditional, classic, and modern blues along with a few originals. The band puts their own spin on traditional artists like , Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson, JD Loudermilk, and the Downchild Blues Band while also embracing the modern blues of artists such as Joe Bonamassa. The band’s sound simmers from the heat and influence of , , Kim Simmonds/Savoy Brown, Robin Trower, and the late Alvin Lee of Ten Years After. In addition to the current lineup of founding member Lonnie G (bass, vocals), Luke Elliot (guitar), and Frank Filipo (drums), the 20 Years of Don’t Scare The Dog con- cert will include guests and former members including original “Magic” Mike Sinacola who will trav- el from Ft. Wayne, Indiana for the show. The release of a feature length DVD, recorded this year at GRP Studios in Altamonte Springs, is also planned as part of the celebration.

7 Lakehouse Records & Publishing was started in 2011 when Drummer/Singer/ Songwriter Reno Mussatto affiliated with the Performance Rights Organization (PRO) S.E.S.A.C. and be- gan receiving royalty checks for the live performance and ra- dio airplay of his original songs. Realizing that there were many good songwriters out there who were not being properly compensated for their works, he became a licensed publisher and has been signing great songwriters and making and producing their records ever since.

All music on the Lakehouse Records label can be purchased as CDs or downloaded from CD Baby, i- Tunes, Amazon MP3 and dozens of other online sites. Please visit our website at www.Lakehouserecords.com and “Fan” us at www.facebook.com/LakehousePublishing

Raised in Osage City, Kansas (small town USA), began playing trumpet in 3rd Grade but always dreamed of becoming a "Rock Star". So, at age 10, bought an old Ludwig drum set and began awkwardly thrashing away and hollering with his own band and others through High School and College.

Went on to study music at the University of Kansas under Dr. George Boberg and performed with the KU Symphony Or- chestra and the KU Marching Band.

Moved to Austin, Texas in the mid 70's and played in dance halls, night clubs and dives. Learning from the "Greats", by performing with country artists: Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Gimbal and Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys. During this time he also toured with the Geezinslaw Brothers and recorded at Willie's Pedernales Studio, Riverside Studios and Ruff Cedar Studio for Lone Star Beer and Hormel Companies.

Then as the Austin Blues scene became prominent, he performed with Stevie Ray Vaughn, and W.C. Clark Rhythm & Blues Review.

Reno has appeared on Austin City Limits with both the Geezenslaw Brothers and W.C. Clark.

More recently, he has recorded five television shows at NBC Studios on Pennsylvania Avenue in New York City for AT&T, Completed 6 World Tours with Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, performed with the Smokin' Torpedoes, Bird Dog Bobby Band, Big Rick & the Troublemakers, Joe "Survival" Caruso, Stoney & the House Rockers and many others.

As former Chairman of the Orange Blossom Blues Society's "Blues in the Schools" program and a five-year former mem- ber of the OBBS Board of Directors, Reno continues to work bringing great artists, original music and music fans together.

8 Around Town

9 The Alley Blues Bar OBBS business member the Alley Blues has been owned and operated by Richard Boogart, Chris and Michelle Johnson and Tom Johnson for the last 5 years. They have supported our local music scene since the beginning by presenting great local, regional and na- tional performers. They also host blues jams to support the up and coming local talent . They host the Paul Stott Group and the best Thursday night jam every 2nd Thursday at Alive After 5 They are THE PREMIER BLUES BAR in Central Florida—come out and enjoy some of the best BLUES at the ALLEY BLUES!

Sign up for news from the Alley Blues Bar! 10 FAREWELL MR. KING

The blues world lost it's greatest ambassador on May 14, 2015, with the passing of Mr. Riley "BB" King. Through his life, music, and deeds, Mr. King showed us how a musician of enormous talent, could live with humility, respect and love for his fans.

I had the true privilege of playing three concerts, as the opening act for Mr. King, and our bass player actually toured with Mr. King's band years ago. We all know that his kindness and respect for others was both legendary and real. No musician ever cared more for his fans than BB King. I've personally watched him repeatedly sit for over an hour, after each long show , meeting with and signing au- tographs for his fans. Always sincere and cordial, BB defines the meaning of " professional musician" .

A huge chapter in the history of the blues has been closed forever, and the loss to blues music is enormous and irreplaceable . This one hurts beyond words.

Thank you , Mr. King , for sharing the best blues music ever played , for 89 years , and for showing us all how to treat and respect others throughout a lifetime of exceptional creativity and greatness. God bless you! —Tampa Bay Blues Festival

http://www.tomnoll.com/b-b-king/

Our beloved namesake BB King passed away tonight at the age of 89. BB touched the lives of millions of people across the world as the King of the Blues. He was a world class entertainer and a wonderful, kind man. I am very fortunate to be able to call him my friend. BB King was truly one of a kind rising from extreme poverty in the Mississippi Delta to become a musical icon and world wide legend. He was proud to represent the State of Mississippi and Memphis Music around the World.

While we at BB King's Blues Clubs are deeply saddened by BB's passing and are mourning our loss we know that he is now at pea

Our mission going forward will be to strive to continue the Spirit of BB King by entertaining and bringing happiness to peopl

To our wonderful friend and namesake Riley B King we love you BB ! Thank you for sharing your life with us. May you rest in p

With tremendous Love and Respect

Your Friend,

Tommy Peters President

11 http://rbmproductionsllc

RBM Productions specializes in producing authentic, exceptional live music entertainment tailored for hometown events and venues.

RBM Productions, LLC is a professional concert, festival, tour, and special event production company. RBM produces quality crowd- pleasing shows in local theaters, festivals, community events, and theme parks, entertaining crowds of 50 to 50,000. Throughout the South- east, our

RBM Productions provides a full line of services in the music and entertainment industry:

RBM Event Production provides professional live event production services, from planning to execution, including stage management, sound and lights.

RBM Artist Management has cultivated a diverse lineup of talent that covers a wide array of entertainment. From musi- cal comedy acts and impressionists to pop, soul and western,

RBM Music Publishing continues to build a library of original music for use in film, television and radio productions. RBM focuses on quality talent in all genres of entertainment.

RBM Recording Studio provides full professional recording studio services.

RBM Performing Arts Education is an outreach arm of RBM that focuses on community investment in the arts.

Jim Rast, Executive Producer, has over 47 years experience in the Steve Barley toured Florida and South Georgia playing guitar world of entertainment, performing in and managing bands all over in rock bands with his lifelong friend Jim Rast. Central Florida.

Steve went on to study jazz and classical guitar and played in His convention band, The Malones, performed for 17 years at the several venues in Central Florida. Steve took a hiatus from the Cheyenne Saloon in Church Street Station, downtown Orlando. Jim music business until a serendipitous meeting with his old friend was a staff writer for Power House Music Library and has written and Jim many years later. They found they still shared the same sung radio jingles and television commercials for clients such as Pizza interests in music and formed RBM Productions. Reunited, Hut, Advanced Discount Auto Parts, and Fox TV Network. As well as these ex-bandmates have allied to bring the very best in enter- performing, Rast also records, mixes and produces albums for Cen- tainment to the Southeast. After 30 years Steve decided to tral Florida artists. pick up the guitar again and is now playing classical and jazz guitar for select audiences only. 12

Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008)

known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American R&B and Chicago Blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and music producer (usually as Ellas McDaniel). He was also known as The Originator because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll, and rock, influencing a host of acts, including The Animals, Buddy Holly, , The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Parliament Funkadelic, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Yardbirds, The Jesus and Mary Chain, , Elvis Presley,[and The Beatles,among others.

Bo and Willey Dixon He introduced insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged electric guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs, along with African rhythms and a signature beat (a simple five-accent clave rhythm) that remains a cornerstone of hip hop, rock and pop. In recognition, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foun- dation and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was also known for his technical innovations, includ- ing his trademark rectangular guitar.-Wikipedia

Les Paul and Bo Bo, Johnny Be Good Johnson & Billy F Gibbons

My friend, Mark Bell had the pleasure to play in Bo Diddleys band for 22 years . Below is his remembrance on June 2, 2015 of Bo Diddley. Karen Stott– Editor

In 1981 Bo was scheduled to meet and play with a C/W Band at then C/W Bar, "Shotgun Willie's" I was helping set up the P.A.system and while they rehearsed I played along behind the speakers. Bo peaked around the speakers and said, "C'mon up here and do that. That is how we met. Bo liked what I played and was asked by him to travel with him and do 3 other dates on his Colorado Tour. An auspi- cious meeting. A year or so later my Ex and I were in NYC for me to meet the future in-laws.. I had booked us a room overlooking Central Park and I said to her, "What if Bo was in town"? She said , "No Way".. So I ran outside and bought a Village Voice mag.Sure enough he was scheduled to play at "The Bitter End " A few days later my Ex and I got dressed up and went to the Legendary Bitter End. There I was 2000 miles from home and he immediately spotted me and brought me onstage . Wound up doing 2 nights there and was held over for a third. Met some musical luminaries such as The Chambers Brothers, Irene Cara and Steve Forbert. Steve asked to sing one and Bo not knowing who Steve was left it up to me. Steve sang, "Hoochie Coochie Man". That weekend solidified a long friendship with Bo. On many occasions when Bo came through Denver he stayed at my house And on this day 7 years ago I helped lay him to rest. R.I.P Bo ! I miss you - Mark Bell

13 Support Live Music! Band Listings If you are interested in having your band listed email [email protected]. List your gigs on our calendar. obbs.org/calendar. Joe Caruso Blues Band www.reverbnation.com/joesurvivalcaruso Bird Dog Bobby Band http://www.birddogbobby.com/ Black Top Blues Band FL www.facebook.com/.../Blacktop-Blues-Band/ Daniel Heitz Band www.facebook.com/pages/...Daniel-Heitz-Band Paul Stott Group www.paulstottgroup.com The Smokin Torpedoes www.orlando-blues.com Nightly Blues Band www.nightlyblues.com/ RJ Harmon & Co. www.rjharmanmusic.com Mike Quick Band www.mikequickband.com/ Black Dust Revival www.facebook.com/BlackDustRevivalfl Bobby Blackman www.facebook.com/.../Beautiful-Bobby-Blackmon Robert Top Thomas www.wildrootsrecords.com/RobertTopThomas Selwyn Birchwood www.selwynbirchwood.com

Shaun Rounds Blues Band https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaun-Rounds-Blues-Band/163840504448 Domino Effect www.facebook.com/domino.effect Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl www.jdandthehowl.com Pitbulls of the Blues www.thepitbullofblues.com Matt Sams Band www.facebook.com/pages/The-Matt-Sams-Band Albert Castiglia albertcastiglia.net Damon Fowler www.damonfowler.com JP Soar www.jpsoars.com Victor Wainwright www.wildrootsrecords.com Sean Chambers Band www.seanchambers.com Doc Williamson www.facebook.com/doc.williamson. Big Rick https://www.facebook.com/BigRickandtroublemakers Mud Rooster www.reverbnation.com/mudrooster Betty Fox Band www.bettyfox.net Josh Miller Band www.joshmillerblues.com Marty Stokes Band www.reverbnation.com/martystokesband Kronics https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kronics/277901695583917 Don’t Scare the Dog www.dontscarethedog.com

Preserve Promote and Present the Blues Preserve Promote and Present the Blues Preserve Promote and Present the Present and Promote the BluesPreserve Present and Promote the BluesPreserve Present and Promote Preserve

14 The Orange Blossom Blues Society Board of Directors

Board Title Email

Herb Ransburg President [email protected]

Daryl Davis Secretary [email protected]

Karen Stott Treasurer [email protected]

Rick Burr Membership committee [email protected]

Michael Pappademos Vice President [email protected]

The Orange Blossom Blues Society (OBBS) was founded in 2004 and is com- prised of volunteers including board and committee members and a paid membership devoted to the preservation, promotion and presentation of the blues. This organization has been established for it's membership and the advance- ment of education and charities related to blues music, by the distribution of its funds for such purposes and particularly to preserve, cultivate, nurture and promote one of America's indigenous artistic cultures in support of the blues in Central Florida and throughout the State of Florida. This society provides a forum for exchange of current blues news and events while increasing awareness of and appreciation for the blues through educa- tional efforts, sanctioned by the OBBS, while providing a network of associa- tion for Florida blues lovers and it's supporters.

15 Orange Blossom Blues Society is a proud sponsor of to WPRK for the Biscuit Bacon and BLUES Show.

Sundays at 10 am

16