Living Blues #274 September/October 2021

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sam Mosley 

I’m Not Ashamed to Sing the Blues

By Scott Barretta

Mississippi bluesman Sam Mosley has spent his life making music. Now 75, Mosley looks back on his long career, which includes multiple bands with his partner, Bob Johnson, and their decades of successful songwriting for Malaco Records.

Billy Ray Charles 

The Billy Ray Charles Story

By Dave Williams

Billy Ray Charles has been singing the blues for over 50 years. Often flying under the radar, this songwriting powerhouse tells LB his life story.

R.L. Griffin 

The Righteous Reverend of the Blues

By Mike Haralambos

R.L. Griffin has been a central figure of the Dallas blues scene for over 60 years. Singer, songwriter, label owner, promoter, and owner of the famous Blues Palace, Griffin has done it all.

Remembering Bob Koester 

1932–2021

By Jim O’Neal and others

Bob Koester, owner of Delmark Records and the Jazz Record Mart in Chicago, was for more than 60 years a mentor and friend to many in the blues world, and he leaves a lasting legacy as one of the genre’s most important figures. We take a look back at his career and influence on the music we love.

Let It Roll 

Blind Willie McTell, Library of Congress, Atlanta, November 5, 1940

By Jas Obrecht

Blind Willie McTell was a powerhouse guitarist from Atlanta. By 1940, he was a blues star when John Lomax spent a day capturing a wide range of songs and spoken comments from him at the Robert Fulton Hotel.

Record Reviews:

• New Releases: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram,
  Muddy Waters, and Mr. Sipp
• Reissues: Chicago/The Blues/Today!, Jerry McCain,
  and Matchbox Bluesmaster Series: Set 4 

Books

Editorial

Blues News

Radio Charts

Cover photo by Bill Steber, Sam Mosley, July 2021.