WHAT'S INSIDE:

The Underground Blues Scene of South Los Angeles

By Allen Larman · Photographs by Julia LaRiva

Like many large cities across the United States, Los Angeles has an active blues scene. Unlike many big cities though, the Los Angeles blues scene has for several decades thrived in near anonymity. With a steady supply of local gigs and a solid fan base many of the local artists have decided to remain just that—local. But that doesn’t mean their music or the scene is any less vibrant or interesting than others in places like Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans or a host of other cities. With this issue we shine the spotlight on some of the many artists and clubs that make up the underground blues scene of South Los Angeles.

Featured artists include Sonny Green, Barbara Morrison, Sir Stan and the Counts featuring Jackie Jackson, Joe Kincaid and the Soul Brothers Band, Bobby Warren, Terry “Big” DeRouen, Lester Lands, South Side Slim and Ray Brooks.

Quinton Claunch

It Was in My System—I Couldn’t Shake It – Pt. 2

By David Whiteis

Musician, songwriter, producer and label owner Quinton Claunch has seen it all. In this, the second part of a two-part feature, the 93-year-old looks back at his later career with Spencer Wiggins and James Carr, a revived Goldwax label and his latest venture, Soultrax Records.

The Peterson Brothers

Breaking Out

Bobby “Guitar” Bennett

Lost Blues Files

Record Reviews

New Releases by: Charlie Musselwhite, Trudy Lynn and Tommy Castro.

Reissues: Acoustic Blues: The Roots of It All, Blues, Blues Christmas and Wynonie Harris.

Editorial

Blues News

In the Groove

Book Reviews

DVD Reviews

Obituaries: Eddie Cusic, Smokey Wilson, Mel Waiters, Henry Stone, Peggy Jones and others

Radio Charts

Cover and contents photos by Julia LaRiva