Living Blues #291 July/August 2024

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Deitra Farr

If You Know Something, Pass It On

By David Whiteis

Chicago vocalist Deitra Farr has taken her place as a luminary in the blues world. After recording more than 26 releases, both solo and with various bands, Farr has moved on to the work of promoting and preserving the blues and mentoring the next generation of blues artists. Her role as a journalist with LB and other outlets has allowed her voice to evolve into an important one for the future of the blues. 

Mizz Lowe

Gonna Dance My Blues Away

By David Whiteis

Loretta “Mizz Lowe” Harris-Wilson’s music career is expanding. One of Bobby Rush’s famous dancers for more than two decades, Lowe now performs as a vocalist in the show. Having released her first solo album in 2023, Lowe is making her own mark on the blues. 

Kat Riggins

Allowing True Believers to Bask in the Blues

By Lee Zimmerman

Florida-based Kat Riggins is a dynamo on stage. Her powerhouse performances and passion have been winning her fans wherever she plays. Riggins’ mission is to introduce young fans to the blues and encourage a mainstream appreciation for the genre.

Veronika Jackson

Touching Lives Through Folk Blues

By Frank Matheis

Decatur, Georgia–based acoustic guitarist Veronika Jackson has been playing blues and folk music for more than 50 years. Her mission is to help keep this music alive and use it to help people cope with life’s challenges. 

Let It Roll!

Ida Cox – Vocalion Records, New York City, October 31, 1939

By Jas Obrecht

Ida Cox signed to Paramount Records in 1923 and by 1939 was in her 50s, had been performing for nearly 40 years, and had been on a ten-year recording hiatus. Producer John Hammond ended that when he brought her back into the studio on October 31, 1939, before featuring her at his From Spirituals to Swing concert two months later. Hammond paired her with a crack band that included Lionel Hampton, Charlie Christian, and Hot Lips Page.

Record Reviews:

• New Releases: Toronzo Cannon, Sugaray Rayford, and Billy Price 
• Reissues: B.B. King, Muddy Waters,
  and Dr. John

Editorial

Blues News

LB Talks to Eden Brent

Book Reviews

Obituaries

Radio Charts

2024 Living Blues Awards Winners

Cover photo by Janet M. Takayama: Deitra Farr, Logan Center, Chicago, October 20, 2018.