Sonny Boy Terry – image by kenne
As was noted a couple of entries back, the Sonny Boy Terry Band won the Houston International Blues Challenge this past Sunday. One of the tunes they performed was one of Terry’s own, “Miss Ann’s Playpen. The lighting at Dan Electro’s is not good for doing digital HD, so the video is a little grainy.
kenne
Image by kenne
Sonny Boy Terry Band
Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar was packed on a warm sunny fall Sunday afternoon in the old Heights area of Houston – the reason, the Houston finals of the International Blues Challenge, sponsored by the Houston Blues Society (HBS). The competition, which started two Sunday’s ago, involved the four finalists in each of the solo/duo and band categories.
SOLO DUO COMPETITION 
DuPREE
BYRON HUDSON
RORY JAGDEO
WILD BILL NELSON
BAND COMPETITION 
BOURBON STREET
BLUES MAFIA
CLAY MELTON BAND
SONNY BOY TERRY
It has been several years since we last attended the annual finals competition, this time encouraged by one of our Houston Blues favorites and friend, Sonny Boy Terry being a finalist. 
Not able to make it to Dan Electro’s in time to see but one of the solo/duo finalists, we eagerly waited to hear the band appearance order — learning that Terry was last, we were encouraged. Talent is important, but when musicians are performing at this level, the psychological edge of being last can make the difference. Having the edge or not, 
Sonny Boy Terry and his band were selected to be one of over 160 acts at the 26th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 20th – 23rd. DuPree was the winner in the solo/duo category. Congratulations to the winners!
Those attending the competition had an opportunity to experience some excellent musicians who perform regularly at venues throughout Houston and the gulf coast region. Everyone is encouraged to support live music, and the Blues, by attending local venues, such as Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, and by joining the Houston Blues Society.
kenne
Image by kenne
image by kenne
accomplishedBecause of my use of other social media venues, Myspace has almost been none. I happen to be here this morning because of some thoughts I was having on freedom and that something our greatest freedom may be to choose freedom from freedom, which lead me to Googleing “freedom from freedom.” 
One of the results was Freedom From Freedom – SUN RA’ MySpace Blog….which really got my attention since know enough about Sun Ra to know that he died in the early nineties — the Myspace blog shows his age as 95, which would be the case if he were still alive. But then, from what I know about Sun Ra, he’s probably still alive, only not here on earth.
So here I am, completely distracted from my original thought by the freedom the Internet allows, which actually does get me back to my original thought on freedom from freedom. What better example of our greatest freedom being that of choosing freedom from freedom than that of choosing to resist the temptation to seek a deeper knowledge through the freedom network, the Internet. My resistance is weak, like those of you who may read this posting. An image comes to mind in the form of a question: Will we become a sea of corpses at the feet of the Sirens in Ulysses? Get the picture of people bowing, others dead at the feet of social media icons — cause of death, “data overload.”
kenne
(Sun Ra photo source: allaboutjazz.com
Field at Dusk by kenne
The Joy In My Life – Image by kenne
Monica Marie & Mean Gene Kelton – image by kenne
If you were to use Gene Kelton as a “rule of thumb” to measure hard working musicians, few work harder than Gene. Not only does he work hard at the job he loves, but also if you are lucky enough to know Gene, he will always be there in your time of need.
Doing benefits for friends is not new for Gene, so it was not unusual a few years back when Gene organized a benefit for Tony Lee. Tony and his wife Monica Marie, along with their band The Blues Cruizers, were a driving force in the Houston music scene in the early 2000’s. During the time of Tony’s illness and since his death, Gene included Monica in many Die Hards shows. To quote Gene: “Monica Marie is a dynamic, little blues bombshell with a soulful voice that belies her petite frame. She is of the same star quality as Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. When she does her versions of Tina Turner and Janis Joplin hits… people go wild! Standing ovations and screamin’ and cryin’ and all that. It is an honor for us to be able to work with her.”
This Sunday (October 25th), Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards will be at the Texas Saloon (7337 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas), and guest what, their special guest will be Monica Marie. If you haven’t heard Monica Marie, when you do, she will blow you away.
kenne
Image by kenne
Image by kenne
kenne
