http://www.blues.org/ News form the Blues Foundation offices in Memphis http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=660 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=660 As many of you know, The Blues Machine, Koko Taylor’s band, was involved in a serious van accident near Black River Falls, Wisconsin early morning on Saturday, August 23. Some remain in the hospital and it will be awhile before they are able to return to performing. You may contribute to a fund set up for The Blues Machine members by making an online donation <a href="https://www.blues.org/members/hartdonate.php"target="_blank">here</a> and entering <b>Koko Taylor</b> in the "Referred" By bo... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=658 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=658 The annual election of one-third of The Blues Foundation’s Board of Directors and its officers for the coming year has been completed. The recently-elected members will begin three-year terms October 25 at the next Board meeting in Memphis, TN while the officers will serve for one-year. Three seats were filled by the vote of the membership and four were elected by the current Board. The membership elected: <b>Thomas Ruf</b>, founder of Ruf Record, an international Blues record company, Li... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=657 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=657 Ruf Records announces an October 7 release date for Rich Man’s War: New Blues & Roots Songs of Peace and Protest, a 12-song CD compilation of performances from a dozen artists that brings the protest song art form into the 21st century. Produced by Kenneth Bays, editor of the internationally celebrated magazine Blues Revue, the new CD includes performances from such established blues and roots artists as Bob Brozman, Guitar Shorty, Norman & Nancy Blake, Candye Kane, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwa... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=659 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=659 Bluzapalooza, the star-studded celebrity Blues concert tour, is heading back to Iraq and Kuwait for its second tour on October 26. Created by Blues producers Steve Simon and John Hahn and presented by Armed Forces Entertainment, this 12-day Bluzapalooza tour stars Blues icons Shemekia Copeland, Michael Burks, Deanna Bogart, Zac Harmon, Moreland & Arbuckle, and Tony Braunagel and The Bluzapalooza All-Star Band. “I am deeply honored to be going over there to entertain our troops, and Lord know... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=653 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=653 With the 2008 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) well under way, I wanted to give you an update on this year's prestigious judging panel, specifically pertaining to our Blues category. Each year ISC is privileged to assemble an outstanding judging panel, and the 2008 competition is no exception. John Mayall, James Cotton, and Bruce Iglauer among others, have all signed on as ISC judges; the panel consists of highly respected recording artists and some of the most influential executives... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=651 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=651 The Rock 'n' Soul Museum recently posted a list of songs with the word "Memphis" in the lyrics. The full list can be found at <a href="http://www.memphisrocknsoul.org"target="_blank"> www.memphisrocknsoul.org</a>. It includes some obvious ones with Memphis in the title like <i>Memphis in the Morning</i> by <b>Mem Shannon</b>, <i>Memphis Monday Morning</i> by <b>Bobby Blue Bland</b> and <i>My Heart's in Memphis</i> by <b>Irma Thomas</b>, among others, but we noted that it did not include the fo... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=652 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=652 In conjunction with the upcoming 25th International Blues Challenge, we are trying to fill some holes in what we know of its history. We do not have any information about the 1985, 1987 and 1991 contests and only the name of the winner for the 1984 and 1989 competitions. If there is someone in your organization that might know something from back in the day, contact Jay. http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=576 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=576 Video of 2008 Champion Trampled Under Foot a/k/a TUF can be found <a href="http://youtube.com/user/kb4iuj"target="_blank">here</a>. Here is a link to some of first photos of the 2008 International Blues Challenge from <a href="http://brsphoto.zenfolio.com/"target="_blank">Foundation member Barry R. Siegel Photography</a>. You can view the slideshow or purchase photos. You can see some of Dusty Scott's photos at <a href="http://www.modernguitars.com/"target="_blank">www.modernguitars.com</... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=642 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=642 The Blues Music Awards honor those professional artists and recordings that stand out within the eligibility period, which runs from November 1 through October 31. In addition to the awards for the past year’s top recordings, additional categories honor individual, actively touring artists for their overall excellence and accomplishment in that year. The Blues Foundation solicits from the labels--even the single artist label--a list of their eligible recordings. If you are a record label or b... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=434 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=434 Put an ad on The Blues Foundation website and reach up to 20,000 blues consumers each month. Rates start at only $50.00 per month for a side banner ad. The Blues Foundation offers 3 locations for ads on our website: 1. Welcome Page Top Banner - this appears at the top of the welcome page, which is the 1st page most visitors to our site see. The content is usually a photograph. Ads are in a random order rotation so that a different ad appears each time the page is accessed or refreshed. Only 5... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=365 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=365 It is a great help to us and helps cut expenses if members look at their membership card and renew online or send a check before the month of expiration. That will save The Blues Foundation the cost of printing and mailing renewal notices. http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=633 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=633 Mental Health America is proud to announce an alliance with the Blues Foundation in the development of their first national signature event: JAMMIN’ AWAY THE BLUES, a varied musical entertainment event to be launched in late 2008. Mental health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With over 300 Affiliate locations nationwide, they represent a growing movement of Am... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=457 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=457 It has taken us a while to add to the initial four episodes, but we now have ten of the thirteen episodes of The Blues Radio Series hosted by Keb' Mo available on The Blues Foundation's website under the <a href="http://www.blues.org/blues/radioshow.php">What is the Blues?</a> icon. The remaining three episodes will be added soon. The series will be permanently located here. The series was produced by the Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions for the presenting station WGBH ... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=388 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=388 Creating the Mississippi Blues Trail is one of the Mississippi Blues Commission's primary projects. The Mississippi Blues Trail will be composed of scores of historical markers and interpretive sites, and will include locations throughout the state. The Trail will be developed in phases as funding becomes available. "Phase 1" of the trail will consist of 11 markers that will focus on higher profile locations. For more information and a list of markers that have already been erected, click <a hr... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=39 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=39 Looking for Blues music on your radio dial. A very helpful website for finding Blues radio programs is <a href="http://www.mary4music.com/Radio.html"target="_blank">Mary4Music</a>. When you go to the Blewzzman's site, you might just find something more of bluesy interest to you. And check out <a href="http://mountainofblues.com"target="_blank">www.MountainofBlues</a> with host and producer Michael Cloeren. Then there is <a href="http://www.xmradio.com"target="_blank">Bluesville</a> on XM S... http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=32 http://www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=32 For information on summer blues festivals. Visit <a href="http://www.bluesfestivalguide.com"target="_blank">Blues Festival Guide</a> or check out the list at <a href=" http://www.bluesrevue.com"target="_blank">Blues Revue</a>. The Blues Festival Guide lists 530+ Blues Festivals in 2007. In case you are wondering. Here's how they breakdown by month. January = 12 February = 16 March = 12 April = 20 May = 58 June = 99 July = 105 August = 102 September = 69 October = 22 November = 1...