BIGBLUES CITY SUGAR MAE

All photos by Shirley Mae Owens unless otherwise credited.

Gotcha! Marcia Ball spots Sugar in the photo pit at The On The Fox, 2008

Blues” as its theme with the King Anne Harris , fiddler and dancer, with of the Blues –BB King headlining "The Six Of Us", performing in the Circle Of Gospel at Clearwater, 2008 Otis Taylor's Black Banjo Project 2008 and opening for him was Karen Carroll, Charlie Love, , , Magic Slim and the Teardrops, and . Saturday’s “Let Little Willie Littlefield. Before BB And I Ain’t Lyin’! The Good Times Roll” kicked off began he thanked , with Chick Rogers at the Koko Taylor and ou Can’t Mess With another fabulous show with Crossroads Stage and then the for all the doors that they have Mama!” — Marie Pinetop and band—Big Eyes, Banjo Project with Otis Taylor, opened for the blues. It was a “Y Knight, IH Mississippi Steady Rollin’, and Don Vappie and Guy Davis. beautiful evening and afterwards Valley Blues Festival 2008 Kenny Smith plus what a joy to Sugar, Junior & hundreds of blues BB joined Buddy at his club So many blues fests and too see Little Willie Littlefield back in fans loved dancing to Cedric Legends before taking off down much fun! At the 25th Annual town on the Louisiana stage. For Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm that long blues highway. Blues Festival it was big- the evening Louis Jordan’s tribute at the Jukejoint Stage. Later that Next up was Blues on the ger and better than ever in beauti- featuring who else but the blues night they followed the Koko Fox—downtown Aurora, IL, was ful Grant Park on the shores of jumper Duke Robillard and Red Taylor Celebrity Foundation next with a picture perfect week- Lake Michigan. Thursday’s theme Holloway was out of this world. Blues Club Crawl Bus to three dif- end featuring Eddy Clearwater, “Catfish Blues” was a day with The closer was Johnny Winter ferent clubs with Koko on board as Elvin Bishop, Corey Harris, Jimmy Burns and his blues at the wsg James Cotton. The next day’s well as her older sister Aunt Vi! Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball, Mississippi Juke Joint stage and theme - “Sweet Home Chicago” Needless to say it was a “Wang Kenny Wayne Shepherd wsg over on the Front Porch Sugar saw with the Queen of the Blues— Dang Doodle!” But boy didn’t it Hubert Sumlin and Willie Big Delta groove recording artist, Ana Koko Taylor headlining the fest rain on Sunday – after a gospel Eyes Smith. It was wall to wall Popovic heats up the July night in and opening up for her was blues opening with the Victory people with nowhere to move and Windsor, Canada, BluesFest legends Cicero Blake Sugar Pie Travelers and Marie Knight & obviously a larger venue is needed International DeSanto, Eddy Clearwater, Dave Keyes, Sugar had to take to accommodate all those hungry Lonnie Brooks, Jimmy Johnson, cover. It was “Everyday I Have the blues fans. Thank-you Paula Welcome Home! Little Willie Littlefield returns to the 2008 Festival "Old" Pete Seeger and his grandson, Tao Rodrequez-Seeger blessing the Hudson River at the 2008 Clearwater Festival

60 Big City Blues • Aug.-Sept. 2008 The hardest working sweetheart of the blues, Blues Sister Jeannie making Little #1 Soul Sister, Detroit's Bettye LaVette has earned her crown, Blues On The Fox, 2008 Smokey Smothers feel at home at The Blues On The Fox, 2008 Steiger for all your hard work! It happened in 1993 and again Sugar Mae witnessed another awe- Thornetta Davis. And Ana Sugar & Junior then slipped into in 2008 the Big Muddy, the mighty some performance by Jimmy Popovic blew everyone away and NYC after stopping by Minisink Mississippi River rose and left Thackery and then caught up with is truly amazing as she proudly Hills to visit their good Doctor behind a mud filled inoperable Le the Queen of the Blues – Koko showed off her baby backstage to Eric Cassell and Mother Owens. Clair Park in Davenport, IA but Taylor who told Sugar how excited Junior and then this young mama The next morning they found the have no fear the IH Mississippi she is about sailin’ on the high picked up her guitar and got down Clearwater Festival – Great Valley Blues Festival tackled the seas—the Legendary Rhythm & to business rocking out the grateful Hudson River Revival going huge job of moving two blocks Blues Cruise with Etta James this crowd. Plus Larry McCray at the strong in its 42nd year along the away and the fest did go on! October. “Etta was the first woman top of his game blew the blues scenic Hudson in Croton Park in Although they didn’t break even singer I met. Etta was already fans away. Thanks to Ted & Westchester County. They got their hopes are high to find more there (Chess Studios) with a hit. Louise Boomer for all your hard there just in time for the Blessing sponsors to present their 25th They thought Etta was a white work and hospitality. of the River and saw Pete Seeger Annual Mississippi Blues Festival girl. It’s been awhile since I have Before Sugar Mae & Junior get and his grandson Tao perform in 2009. Join the MVBS today at seen Etta,” smiled Koko who has back to work at the next round of together. This year Pete Seeger www.mvbs.org! Highlights at the been working as a consultant for blues fests they especially give developed a new venue called the IH MVBS Fest for Sugar Mae was the new film about Chess entitled thanks to Brother Ed Owens for Circle of Song and Sugar enjoyed just being there again celebrating “Cadillac Blues.” his visit celebrating Sugar’s birth- two acappella gospel groups as the her 20th year and emceeing at the Sugar’s fourth festival in six day and when 30 years ago Ed & beautiful Woody Guthrie Beacon historic Adler Theatre with the weeks was across the border to Sugar met Koko Taylor & The Sloop hoisted its sail and nearby Carolina Chocolate Drops where Windsor, Canada’s Bluesfest Blues Machine. Thanks Ed for get- was the Clearwater Sloop. It’s all the audience was so thrilled and International. Sugar loved seeing ting Sugar & Junior Up North for a about the river and Mother Earth. amazed by their performance that Taj Mahal as well as thousands of long cool swim in North Bar & Thank-you Pete Seeger for your they begged for more. Also at the blues fans who went absolutely Lake Michigan. amazing vision! A fun filled eco- Adler Sugar caught up with Dave nuts over him. Richie Havens was Love & Happiness! friendly family summer solstice Keyes accompanying Marie in fine form too and spoke about Sugar Mae annual festival. Visit www.clear- Knight who warned Sugar that those Greenwich Village days PS Happy Birthday to the Good water.org. you can’t mess with Mama when it was no longer necessary Doctor Eric Cassell! (Mississippi River)! Marie opened to write down a song when the River Road reciepient Denise LaSalle at the up for George Brock and her old cassette tape arrived. Pazman’s 2008 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival Larry McCray is serious about his guitar and friends—The Holmes Brothers. Supersession was tight wsg his blues, 2008 BluesFest International Queen Koko Taylor celebrates the 25TH ,2008, with a hardy set!

Aug.-Sept. 2008 • Big City Blues 61