Title: Something Within Me Artist: Theotis Taylor Label: Big Legal Mess Formats: LP, Digital Release date: June 29, 2018 Gospel singer and pianist Theotis Taylor was born in 1920 in Fitzgerald, Georgia and grew up singing in the … Continue reading
Title: Fantasizing About Being Black Artist: Otis Taylor Label: Trance Blues Festival Records Formats: CD, LP, MP3 Release date: February 17, 2017 Building upon 20 years of recording and 15 albums, Otis Taylor presents his latest project, Fantasizing About … Continue reading
Title: Hey Joe Opus/Red Meat Artist: Otis Taylor Label: Trance Blues Festival Records Formats: CD, LP, MP3 Release date: May 5, 2015 Visionary roots music songwriter and “trance blues” originator Otis Taylor has released a string of albums in … Continue reading
Title: My World Is Gone Artist: Otis Taylor Formats: CD, MP3 Label: Telarc Release date: February 12, 2013 As a young man, Otis Taylor mastered the banjo, harmonica and guitar; he also performed with guitar virtuoso Tommy … Continue reading
Title: Otis Taylor’s Contraband Artist: Otis Taylor Label: Telarc Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: February 14, 2012 With a seamless mix of jazz and blues, along with a complementary helping of folk, Otis Taylor continues to showcase his … Continue reading
Title: Blue Artist: Cassie Taylor Label: PID Formats: CD, MP3 Release Date: April 12, 2011 Like father, like daughter may not be a commonly used phrase, but in the case of Cassie Taylor, daughter of musician Otis Taylor, … Continue reading
Welcome to the May 2013 issue of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Archives of African American Music and Culture. This May Day we celebrate the school semester wrapping up with sizzlin’ new rap releases including 12 Reasons to Die, the … Continue reading
This month we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the world’s biggest selling album of all time, by featuring Legacy’s CD/DVD compilation Thriller 25. We’re also taking a look at the history of the banjo through the new … Continue reading
Title: The Real McCoy Artist: Alex Dixon Label: Dixon Landing Music Formats: CD, LP, Digital Release date: March 24, 2020 If electric Chicago blues is your bag, Alex Dixon’s The Real McCoy offers the real deal. The grandson of Willie Dixon, Alex represents the younger generation of Chicago blues royalty and carries on … Continue reading
Title: Light of Day Artist: Vince Agwada Label: Rocketnoodle Music/dist. CD Baby Formats: CD, Digital Release date: July 15, 2019 Blues singer/guitarist Vince Agwada got his start in music playing in bars like the historic Checkerboard Lounge on … Continue reading
Title: Time is Tight: My Life, Note by Note Author: Booker T. Jones Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Formats: Hardcover, Kindle Release date: October 29, 2019 Anyone familiar with the history of Memphis music and Stax Records will … Continue reading
Welcome to the December 2018 Holiday Edition of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Indiana University Archives of African American Music and Culture. In keeping with the season, we’re starting off with our list of the Best New Holiday Albums, featuring releases … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during June 2018—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Angelique Francis: Kissed by the Blues (digital) Charles Lloyd & The Marvels & Lucinda Williams: Vanished Gardens (Capitol/Blue Note) John … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during April 2018—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country B.B. King: Many Faces of (3 CDs) (Music Brokers) Bernard Allison: Born With the Blues (Ruf) Eric & Ulrika Bibb: … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during December 2017—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Doctor Ross: Memphis Breakdown (ORG Music) Robert Finley: Goin’ Platinum! (Easy Eye Sound) Vance Kelly: How Can I Miss You … Continue reading
Just in time for Black Music Month, Concord Music Group announces its Stax Records 60th Anniversary celebration. The year long celebration will include new hits compiliations as well as remastered vinyl offerings and brand new box sets with rare deep … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during May 2017—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Harrison Kennedy: Who U Tellin’? (Electro-Fi) Lindsay Alexander: Two Cats (Delmark) Tony Jackson: S/T (DDS Ent.) Various: Rough Guide to … Continue reading
Welcome to the February 2017 edition of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Indiana University Archives of African American Music and Culture. This month we’re not only celebrating Black History Month, but also our 10th anniversary and 2000th post! Many thanks … Continue reading
Title: Memphis Rock and Soul Artist: Melissa Etheridge Label: Stax Formats: CD, LP, MP3 Release date: October 7, 2016 I love Stax Records. When I see that distinctive logo, you know, the one with the finger snapping, I never … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during July 2016—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Big Maybelle: Complete King, Okeh And Savoy Releases 1947-59 (Acrobat) Charles Wilson: Troubled Child (Severn) Chicago Beau: Black Names Ringing … Continue reading
Welcome to the August 2015 “summer rocks” issue of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Indiana University Archives of African American Music and Culture. As a tie-in to the annual AfroPunk Festival, we’re focusing on rock-oriented releases from bands across the … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during July 2015—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country B.B. King: Complete Recordings 1949-1962 (Enlightenment) Blinddog Smokin’: High Steppin’ Buddy Guy: Born to Play Guitar (RCA) Freddie King: Going … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during May 2015—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Earl Duke: Keep the Faith (Music Access Inc.) Gangstagrass: American Music (Rench Audio) Junior Wells: Blues Is Alright (Rockbeat) Madisen … Continue reading
Following are additional albums released during March 2015—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves. Blues, Folk, Country Blind Boy Fuller: Rough Guide To Blind Boy Fuller (World Music Network) Buster Brown: I’m Going But I’ll Be Back … Continue reading