BRI With Jesse Finkelstein & Audrey Michelle Blues Radio International Blues Radio International with Jesse Finkelstein & Audrey Michelle

John Primer, recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, performs live at the 2023 Blues Music Awards on Edition 636 of Blues Radio International, with music from James Cotton, Dawn Tyler Watson, Bruce Katz and Champion Jack DuPree.

Photograph by Laura Carbone.
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Joe Waters performs at the Orpheum Memphis in the 2024 International Blues Challenge Finals. The IBC is coordinated & hosted by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN. Each year, blues societies from around the globe send challengers to compete against one another for a chance to win the big prizes at the finals in Memphis. Out of 140 acts, Joe made it & won! Congratulations Joe!

Joe took home the 1st place prize in the Solo/Duo Category. Hailing from the Columbus Blues Alliance, he amazes & entertains with his dynamic multi-instrument solo performance.

Thank you to The Blues Foundation for their continued support of our efforts to document blues music, it's musicians & community. Thank you to Dawn Hopkins for the house mix, Joe Whitmer for his unwavering support of our work & to Kimberly Horton for her understanding of our passion for blues music. 

PLEASE JOIN THE BLUES FOUNDATION TODAY AT: WWW.BLUES.ORG

Audio Production by Audrey Michelle & Jesse Finkelstein for Blues Radio International. Audience recording by Audrey Michelle for BRI. 2024

IBC Master Mix by Dawn Hopkins of Ardent Studios, Memphis. You're amazing Dawn!

#JoeWaters #BluesFoundation #TheBluesFoundation #Internationalblueschallenge2024 #internationalblueschallenge #bluesmusic #blues #acoustic #acoustic #ibc #orpheummemphis
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Get ready for an unforgettable musical journey as we dive deep into the heart and soul of the blues! In this special edition of Blues Radio International's Memphis Sessions, we are thrilled to bring you an exclusive musical interview with none other than the 2022 Blues Music Award nominee for Best Acoustic Guitarist and Grammy Award-nominated acoustic virtuoso, Catfish Keith!

Join your hosts Jesse Finkelstein and Audrey Michelle as we sit down with the one and only Catfish Keith to explore his incredible musical journey, influences, and his unique approach to the blues. With roots that run deep in the rich soil of American blues, Catfish Keith has crafted a distinctive style that's both authentic and innovative.

Prepare to be spellbound by Catfish Keith's masterful guitar work, storytelling, and profound insights into the world of blues music. From Delta blues to Piedmont fingerpicking, he's a true connoisseur of acoustic blues, and this session promises to be a captivating showcase of his talents.

This is a must-listen for all blues aficionados and music lovers alike. Catfish Keith's performances are nothing short of mesmerizing, and his stories will transport you to the heart of the blues tradition.

Don't miss out on this exceptional episode of Memphis Sessions with Catfish Keith, exclusively on Blues Radio International. Hit that subscribe button, turn on your notifications, and be ready to experience the blues in its purest, most authentic form.

Thank you to The Blues Foundation for supporting us in our mission to bring blues music, it's musicians & culture to the people who need it most. 

Podcast Engineering & Post Production by Audrey Michelle for Blues Radio International
Audio Recording by Jack Gauthier of Lakewest Recording 
Audio Mixing & Mastering by Michael Wolf of Datflys Concert Videos 


Stay connected with us:
Website: www.bluesradiointernational.net
Facebook: facebook.com/bluesradiointernational
Instagram: @bluesradiointernational
Twitter: @bluesbri

#CatfishKeith #BluesMusic #AcousticGuitar #BluesRadioInternational #MemphisSessions #bri #blues foundation #MusicInterview #BluesMusicAwards #GrammyNominee
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Kimberly Horton The Blues Foundation President & CEO on The Blues Radio International Podcast 2023 Blues Music Awards Memphis Session with your hosts, Jesse Finkelstein & Audrey Michelle

Let us give Kimberly a big round of congratulations for her acceptance of this prestigious position. She will carry us forward into a new, dynamic reality for blues music & it's community. We cannot wait to see what you do next! Congratulations Kim!
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Part II - Blues Music Performance - In this part 2 of 2 Luther treats us to some deep blues including his original tune, "Hard Times."

Blues Music legend, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson (1939-2022) in a special in-home musical interview. You will hear some blues music, some jokes & lots of jovial laughter (which were always in abundance when Luther was in the house.)

In January 2020, we were blessed to spend some time with Luther, who was always a gracious & honored guest at the home of BRI's Audrey Michelle & Michael Wolf. 

Luther Johnson, who hails from Itta Bena Mississippi (also the birthplace of B.B. King.) A West Side Chicago guitarist,  had a storied career, including a stint with The Muddy Waters Band. He had 21 albums, appeared in countless music videos, made hundreds of recordings & appeared with John Lee Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Pinetop Perkins, Calvin Jones & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith in the original 1980 Blues Brothers Movie.

His passing on Christmas Day 2022 was a deep loss for us & the blues community. His life & legacy are treasures & his presence on this Earth was a gift to all. He leaves behind his memory & music which will be cherished forever.

We give our love & sincere thanks to the late Michael Shivvers of The Blues Roots Digital Archive, our dear friend, & fellow blues music documentarian who passed suddenly in 2020. Mike & Luther traveled The United States together by car with their gear in tow from gig to gig promoting, 'Won’t Be Back No More,’ Luthers new acoustic album. Luther & Michael had recorded this final album together, at Luther’s home in Wildwood, Florida.  They both stayed with Audrey & Michael on this trip & it was an honor to host these two incredible, talented humans.  @MichaelShivvers_BluesArchive

You may notice that Luther is playing an electric custom guitar by Delaney Guitars.  This guitar was originally designed for & owned by, blues man, Mike Zito. It is an honor to have Luther play & to have signed this one of a kind instrument made by Mr. Michael Delaney in Texas, USA.  @ValDelaneyGuitars  @MikeZitoOfficial

Your Host: Jesse Finkelstein
Audio mix-down & video production by Audrey Michelle for BRI
Videography & audio recording by Audrey Michelle & Michael Wolf  @audreymichelle6436 &  @datflys  

#LutherGuitarJuniorJohnson #LutherGuitarJrJohnson #bluesradiointernational  #datflysconcertvideos #datflys #GuitarJr #GuitarJunior #bluesradiointernational #bluesmusic #chicagoblues #blues #delaneyguitars #bluesbrothers #mikezito #audreymichelle #jessefinkelstein
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Part I - Talk Interview - The Life & Musical Career of Blues Music legend, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson (1939-2022)  In January 2020, we were blessed to spend some time with Luther, who was always a gracious & honored guest at the home of BRI's Audrey Michelle & Michael Wolf.

In this part 1 of 2 Luther tells us about his life, starting from the beginning in Mississippi. At the age of 13 he received his first guitar from his parents who were fans of Muddy Waters, not knowing that later in his life he would go on to play guitar in the Muddy Waters Band. He learned how to play guitar from his uncle, who he paid 15 cents for lessons. Making his way to Chicago in the 1950's where he played in pop up basement juke joints with players like, Robert Nighthawk, Howlin' Wolf, Lil' Walter, Elmore James & many others. (You can only imagine what that scene was like!) The story goes on from there so, you will just have to listen to hear the rest of Luther's incredible life story. You will hear jokes & lots of playful laughter which was always in abundance when you were in Luther's company.

Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, who hails from Itta Bena Mississippi (also the birthplace  of B.B. King)  A West Side Chicago guitarist,  had a storied career, including a stint with The Muddy Waters Band. He had 21 albums, was in countless music videos, made hundreds of recordings & appeared with John Lee Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Pinetop Perkins, Calvin Jones & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith in the original 1980 Blues Brothers Movie.  @thebluesbrothers7474  

In part 2 of this interview, the musical portion, you may notice that Luther is playing an electric custom guitar by Delaney Guitars.  This guitar was originally designed for & owned by, blues man, Mike Zito. It is an honor to have Luther play & to have signed this one of a kind instrument made by Mr. Michael Delaney in Texas, USA.   @ValDelaneyGuitars

We give our love & sincere thanks to the late Michael Shivvers of The Blues Roots Digital Archive, our dear friend, & fellow blues music documentarian who passed suddenly in 2020. Mike & Luther traveled The United States together by car with their gear in tow from gig to gig promoting, 'Won’t Be Back No More,’ Luthers newest & final album. An acoustic recording with with a whopping 17 tracks & 8 new original tunes. Luther & Michael recorded the album, at Luther’s home in Wildwood, Florida. They both stayed with Audrey & Michael on this trip, it was an honor to host these two incredible, talented humans.  @MichaelShivvers_BluesArchive

Your Host: Jesse Finkelstein
Audio mix-down & video production by Audrey Michelle for BRI
Videography & audio recording by Audrey Michelle & Michael Wolf   @datflys &  @audreymichelle6436  

#LutherGuitarJuniorJohnson #LutherGuitarJrJohnson #GuitarJr #GuitarJunior #bluesradiointernational #bluesmusic #chicagoblues #blues #bluesandrootsdigitalarchive #muddywaters
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