Het lijkt bijna een eeuwigheid geleden dat de in Pittsburgh, Pa geboren en getogen Barbara Blue met het album "Out Of The Blue" onder de arm haar opwachting maakte in de historische Beale Street,Memphis Tennesee.  De vermaarde (blues) locatie Silky O' Sullivan's verwelkomde het volslanke dametje met open armen en het zou niet lang duren of Barbara werd met haar mix van Memphis soul & smooth funky blues beschouwd als the "Queen of Beale Street".

Het album "Sell my Jewelry" dat onlangs terug is uitgebracht door Shout Records onder de titel "By Popular Demand" opnieuw onder  de belangstelling verscheen (zie recensie '07) werd in Los Angeles opgenomen en niemand minder dan Taj Mahal's Phantom Blues Band (Bass: Larry Fulcher , Keyboards: Mike Finnigan, Guitars: Johnny Lee Schell,  Drums and Percussion: Tony Braunagel ) , de Texicali Horns : Joe Subblett, tenor sax & Darrell Leonard, trumpet en guest John "Juke" Logan / harmonica waren destijds van de partij in de opnamestudio's. Natuurlijk ontbrak Nancy Apple "the Queen of Country in Mempis & Princes of Twang" niet op het appel.

Een leuke combinatie van zelfgepende songs  "Road Blues", "From The Delta To The Golden Gates",  die het gezelschap kregen van prima covers, Lucinda Williams' "Drunken Angel",  Janis Joplin's "Turtle Blues" en "Brought Together By the Blues" (Honey & Rod Piazza)  Vertrouwde namen die ook op de opvolger " Memphis 3rd & Beale" opduiken en een album dat ondermeer  met Charlie Rich's "Don't Put No Headstone on My Grave", "Lie No Better" (Gary Nicholson / Delbert Mc Clinton), Bobby Boyd's "I Don't Need no Man like That" en een sublieme cover van Lucinda Williams "Lake Charles" geschiedenis schreef. Upbeat tunes & soulful ballads, the songwriting, the singing, the style, the music,the everything ...het is en blijft nog steeds, volgens mijn bescheiden mening, het parade - album van BB. "The Human Jukebox" op haar best en het album "Love, Money Can't Buy" stond , ondanks opnieuw the bereidwilligheid van the Phantom Blues band, dan ook voor een schier onmogelijke opdracht. Maar met zelf gepende songs als " Low Down Dirty Dog", "Daddy's Love" en leentje buur bij Denise LaSalle (" Man Size Job"), Rob Mc Nurlin's "Bag o' Bones", Brenda Burn's "Broken Hearts Row", Jessie Mae Hemphill's "Standin' in My Doorway Cry'in" en Nancy Apple's "Moonlight over Memphis" scheelde het echt niet veel of het huzarenstukje werd overgedaan.

Met haar nominatie voor "Female Blues Artist of the Year 2007", het schitterende "live" album ( zie cd recensies) en het op stapel staand project met 'the one en only' Willie Mitchell ziet de toekomst er voor Barbara Blue erg gunstig uit ....If you like Etta James, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Koko Taylor, Bessie Smith  .......Barbara Blue !!!!!

 

 

 

 

Biography:

Born and raised in Pittsburgh Pa, Barbara has had the blues since the day she was born. She has performed with various top notch artists such as: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Jeff Healey, Marcia Ball, Delbert McClinton, Maceo Parker, Al Jackson, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Tab Benoit, The Nighthawks and Big Mike Griffin to name a few, from Pittsburgh to Detroit to Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, LA and Memphis. Since forming her own band in 1989, Barbara has been progressing right up blues alley. With the release of her Debut CD "OUT OF THE BLUE", Barbara has reached a wider audience of blues lovers world wide. Now residing in Memphis Tennessee and performing nightly (See Schedule) on historical Beale Street for the past ten years, Barbara's understanding and cultivation of the Blues is deeper and richer than ever. Barbara has also accomplished studio recordings for Sony Records Nickelodeon project "Peanutbutter and Jam" (Many thanks to the late great Tom Pompesello) and the theme song for "Lucille's Car Care Clinic" a national cable TV show. Ripete Records is preparing to release a compilation CD containing Barbara's cover of Denise LaSalle's "MAN SIZE JOB" July '06.

Ripete caters to the R&B DJ's of America, Beach & Dance clubs. The 14th Annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash - Jan. 20, 2001 What an honor it was to be chosen as the tribute singer for this wild weekend bash in Janis' home town of Port Arthur, Texas. There in the Civic Center of Port Arthur, 2000 fans from around the world, fellow classmates and locals with claim to fame stories about Janis and this very historic time in the 60's gathered to remember their precious star who thought they didn't care. There was also an induction ceremony for the Museum of the Gulf coast. And to my surprise it was a very cool place tucked away in this tiny Texas town (learn more at Port Arthur Attractions). Janis' Porsche rests here along with other memorabilia of days gone by. This year there were a few new inductees, such as Lonnie Brooks (Guitar Jr.) and The Fabulous Boogie Kings. I had the great pleasure to meet Barbara Lynn, a Beaumont native and Hall of Fame inductee, who is most famous for her song "You'll Lose a Good Thing", which I am known to sing every once in awhile. Also in attendance were Long John Hunter, another prior Hall of Fame inductee, and Jerry LaCroix, a local Beaumont performer who has been associated with Johnny Winter and The White Trash Band; Blood, Sweat and Tears and also The Fabulous Boogie Kings. It was a great night of music.

There were five other bands performing throughout the evening. I was backed by The Beat Daddys, a band out of Mobile, Alabama. I went on about 10:30, though I was scheduled around 9:15. But what a production schedule! :) Anyhooooo, Many thanks to Terry my bartender at BB Kings for his GREAT advice, "Don't forget to pull a bottle of Southern Comfort out on the stage!" WOW, as soon as I did everyone in the crowd who had their bottle concealed just pulled it out and we had a big ol' toast to Pearl. I also want to thank all of my friends and associates for their undying encouragement, "You're gonna blow them away!" They were right. It was reported to me several times by folks who boasted being there for all 14 Birthday Bashes, "You're the best we've ever seen!" Music to my ears... Barbara Down Under Barbara has ventured down under to Australia delighting crowds of all ages. She completed her first official Australian Tour (Sep. 25 - Nov. 13, 2000). What a wonderful success and adventure. From Sydney to Port Hedland, the music energized and mesmerized the "Land of Oz". Special thanks for a job well done goes out to: Neil Mumme (Instep Productions), Bob Patient (Extraordinary Keyboards; Tour Manager; & Nullabor Navigator), "Bubba" Roy Daniel ( Bass & Comedian Exceptionale); Jeff Maxwell ( Drums & All Around Nice Guy); & Russell Smith (Guitar). Also thanks to ALL of Barbara's wonderful Aussie Mates & Muso's along the way. I couldn't have done it without your love & Support, especially the Humann family on the West Coast..... Sharon, Henry, James, Matthew, Scott & Miss Jema...... Thanks you for sharing your hearts and your home and making ME feel at home..... and to the rest of "OUR" Blues family in Perth. Thank you for taking such good care of me, you know who you are! In the year 2006..... Barbara released her 3rd CD with Taj Mahal's Phantom Blues Band, titled: LOVE Money Can't Buy.

The reviewers claim it to be her best work to date. We here at BIG Blue Records are VERY excited about this. 2007 Blues Awards..... Barbara Blue has been nominated for her first Blues Award in the category of: Contemporary Female Artist of the Year!! The winners are to be announced Thursday May 10th in Memphis TN. Please check out www.barbarablue.com or make a trip to 3rd & Beale in Memphis Tennessee and check Barbara out live.... Enjoy!! NOW NEW in 2008.... Barbara's first every "LIVE" @ Silky O'Sullivan's CD check it out ..... YOU GONNA LIKE IT!!!