Photo: Larry McCray performing at the 2011 Monterey Blues Festival Usage: CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikipedia Larry McCray is a talented blues guitarist who stands out for his unique sound. He draws inspiration from various styles, especially the classic Delta blues, which is known for its raw emotion and depth. You can hear hints of the legendary B.B. King in McCray's music. Just like King, McCray’s guitar playing is expressive, and his singing is filled with emotion, bringing that deep, soulful vibe that t...
Oct 10, 2025•2 min
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles Photo: Spotify Promo Story by: Gail Nobles Well, gather ‘round, folks, because we’re diving into the soulful sounds of Bobby King and Terry Evans —a duo that set the stage ablaze in the early ‘70s and continued to captivate hearts well into the ‘90s! Now, we’re talking about a special kind of magic, blending gospel fervor with that irresistible R&B groove, a blend that made them not just singers but true purveyors of soul! Their album, *Live and Let Live!* , came out...
Sep 04, 2025•2 min
Story: B57 Blues Melodies in the Sky Story by: Gail Nobles © 2025 Cover Illus. By Gail Nobles Missles: Pixabay.com Willie and Rosco helped many independent blues artists gain recognition. They received numerous requests to play their records on the radio. They stored records in Rosco’s old shed for sale and traveled from county to county, promoting and performing shows. They even owned their own airplane, which had "Blues 57” written on it. After some time, their airplane was spotted by someone....
Aug 20, 2025•3 min
Spotify Promo Card Story by: Gail Nobles Intro music by: Gail Nobles Straight out of Mississippi, hotter than a summer sidewalk, it's the bluesman with the soul, the man with the raspy vocals, it's... Grady Champion. He’s got a new single droppin' ! It's called If The Price Is Right! Now, folks, Grady's tellin' it like it is! He's singin' about how you can get just about anything you want in this world, but you gotta be ready to *pay the price!* He's belting out the truth! He's got that down-hom...
Jun 12, 2025•2 min
Photo: David Carrol https://flic.kr/p/oi7VFt Usage: CC BY-SA 2.0 Intro: Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles I wanna tell ya about a blues lady who's got the blues in her bones and the soul in her voice. Her name's Thornetta Davis, and she's a Detroit blues and rhythm and blues singer. This ain't no fly-by-night singer, see? This woman's paid her dues in the Motor City and beyond. She's opened for legends like Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, and the queen herself, Etta James! Yeah, she's been rollin' ...
May 29, 2025•4 min
Photo: Dave https://flic.kr/p/XSyn9q Usage: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ We’re going into the deep, soulful sounds of a band that's been making waves on the blues scene since 2002—give it up for the Altered Five Blues Band! Originally known simply as Altered Five, this five-piece powerhouse hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving up a hot plate of blues that’s as fresh as it is electrifying! These talented gentlemen have been around the block, releasing six albums since th...
Mar 10, 2025•2 min
Intro: Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles Photo: Florian Stangl from Bayern Usage: Wikipedia CC BY 2.0 Tune in and lend me your ears because we're about to dive into the world of none other than Joe Bonamassa! This American blues rock titan not only strums the strings of his vintage guitars but also the very strings of our hearts. Can you believe he kicked off his career at just twelve years young? Opening for the legendary B.B. King – that’s like being a baseball rookie hitting a home run off Ba...
Feb 17, 2025•3 min
Photo: Nesster: https://flic.kr/p/4KFdAK Usage Usage : Flicker CC BY-SA 2.0 Today's topic: Big Mama Thornton 🎶Ball and Chain🎶 Big Mama Thornton and her song, "Ball and Chain,” tells a story. Big Mama, sitting by her window, watching the rain fall. You can feel the weight of her thoughts. She’s looking out, lost in the moment, and then BAM! Something hits her. It’s heavy, it’s inescapable—like a ball and chain! That’s the story of blues. It’s about life’s struggles and the weight we carry. Even...
Jan 31, 2025•2 min
Photo: Patrickdenoreaz Patrick Denoréaz - Own work by uploader Patrick Denoréaz Usage: CC BY-SA 3.0 Actor: Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles Background keyboardist: Gail Nobles Let’s take a moment to shine the spotlight on the legendary big Joe Williams a true Titan of the Delta blues, whose nine-string guitar unleashed a sound as deep as the Mississippi River itself. Now, if you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to his music, you know he was all about the raw emotional vibe that pulls at yo...
Dec 24, 2024•2 min
Photo: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 2.0 Story by: Gail Nobles We’re diving deep into the smooth, soulful sounds of "Bobby Blue Bland: Members Only." This album is a true treasure, bursting with the intensity and emotion that only Bobby Blue Bland can deliver. Bobby Blue Bland, a master of his craft, pours every ounce of passion into his music. The way he sings each lyric feels personal. The “Members Only" album is packed with tracks that showcase not just his vocal skills but the soulful arrangements that...
Dec 09, 2024•2 min
Promo Card : Spotify Permission Story by: Gail Nobles Keyboardist: Gail Nobles Big Rob is a powerhouse in the southern soul scene bringing that feel goodbye vibe that gets your feet moving in your heart grooving. “Cuttin Up” is a perfect blend of tasty guitar licks, infectious rhythms, and lyrics that celebrate good times. Bigg Robb’s voice shines through as he invites everyone to cut loose, let go of their worries, and just enjoy the moment! It’s a call to the dance floor, where the spirit of j...
Nov 09, 2024•2 min
Music intro: Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles Ladies and gentlemen, tune in because we’re about to dive into a musical gem that deserves all the spotlight it can get. Today we’re going to discuss Lee Moses and his sensational track, You Are My Adorable One! Oh, what a tune. You can feel that rich soul oozing from Moses magnetic voice. He sings with such passion. It’s like you can taste the love and longing in every line. “You are a dream beyond compare,” he sings, and oh, doesn’t that go deep i...
Nov 02, 2024•3 min
Keyboardist : Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles Hello, I’m Gail Nobles. Today on Podcast and Blues we’re going to talk about soul man Alex Harris. Yes, we’re going to dive head first into the soulful sound and heartfelt story of Alex Harris. Alex’s rich voice weaves through a medley of dreams to be remembered reaching us all. We all have dreams to remember and can relate to Alex Harris. The song that Alex sings is a cover of one of Otis Redding‘s ballads. It seems Alex is inspired by the legenda...
Oct 08, 2024•2 min
Intro by: Gail Nobles Photo: Sumori - Own work Usage: CC BY-SA 3.0 If You Got A Heartache is the fifth track on Koko Taylor's 1981 blues album entitled From The Heart of a Woman. She let you know that when you've got a headache, a headache powder will ease the pain, but when you've got a heartache, there ain't nothing you can do. Koko Taylor was a singer whose style encompassed Chicago blues, electric blues, rhythm and blues and soul blues. Sometimes called "The Queen of the Blues", she was know...
Jul 14, 2024•2 min
Intro by: Gail Nobles Photo: Wikipedia Usage: Copyrighted free use Katie Webster has a single from her 1989 album Katie Webster Two-Fisted Mama. The single is entitled Stood Up Again. The lyrics tell the story of someone who has been let down and disappointed in relationship. Katie gets stood up, but in the end her man gets stood up. She repays him. Katie Webster was a boogie-woogie pianist. Her genres are Boogie-woogie,, soul, and swamp blues. She played piano with Otis Redding in the 1960s, bu...
Jul 12, 2024•2 min
Story by: Gail Nobles 'Now whoever said a man was hard to find Positively absolutely sure was lying Cause I just found the best man that ever was And here's just a few things that he does He shakes my ashes Greases my grittle' Hello, I’m Gail Nobles. Welcome to Podcast and Blues. Today’s topic is Alberta Hunter. The words that you have heard me say from the beginning comes from Alberta’s track My Handyman Ain't Handy Man No More. She's singing about how her man takes care of her household chores...
Jul 11, 2024•2 min
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles Photo: Lioneldecoster - Own work Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Lower Fulson was a blues guitarist and songwriter in the West Coast blues tradition after T-bone Walker. He was the most important figure in West Coast blues in the 1940s and 1950s. On January 13, 1955, he recorded a single titled Do Me Right. The song was written by Willie Dixon. It was released July 1955. Folsom recorded for swing Time records in the 1940s, Chess Records in the 1950s, Kent Records in the 19...
Jul 11, 2024•2 min
SEE FILM AT DAILYMOTION Story, Podcast, and Film by: Gail Nobles copyright ©️ 2024 Story: Memorial Day Blues 57 Festival Beginning Theme song by: Gail Nobles Theme song: Blues 57 Characters by: Gail Nobles Characters: Rosco and Willie Characters made with Haiper app: https://haiper.ai/ All voices by: Gail Nobles Background music: Pixabay.com Roscoe and Willie had a big crowd down to the Memorial Day blues 57 festival. Roscoe and Willie had everyone dancing and singing the blues. Some of the most...
Jun 02, 2024•3 min
Intro by: Gail Nobles Photo: Jayron32 - Own work Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0 Hello! I'm Gail Nobles. Welcome to apodcast and Blues. Today we're going to talk about old-time blues in today's blues through the talent of Hubby Jenkins. Hubby Jenkins is a multi instrumentalist who studies and performs old American music. He is a former member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Rhiannon Giddens band, and has been nominated for Grammy and Americana awards. Hubby Jenkins was born and raised in B...
May 15, 2024•3 min
Intro and podcast vocals by: Gail Nobles Song by: Aretha Franklin Song: Today I Sing the Blues Today I Sing the Blues" is a song written by Curtis Lewis and performed by Aretha Franklin. The song reached number 10 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1960.The song appeared on her 1961 album, Aretha. The lyrics say: Without a word of warning The blues walked in this morning And circled around my lonely room I didn't know why I had that sad and lonely feeling Until my baby called and said we we're through...
Apr 28, 2024•2 min
Photo : Sumori Usage : Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Welcome to Podcast & Blues .I'm Gail Nobles. Today's topic is Syl Johnson Anyway the Wind Blows. Syl Johnson is a blues and soul singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969) and "Take Me to the River" (1975). He has a song from his album Back for a Taste of Your Love titled Anyway The Wind Blows. The album was released in 1973 the album was re-i...
Mar 29, 2024•2 min
Intro: Gail Nobles Here Today and Gone Tomorrow sounds like an early recording from the group the Ohio Players from their 1969 debut album Observations in Time. The group is known by their hit songs like fire and Love Rollercoaster. The song Here Today and Gone Tomorrow sounds like soul blues. It's the first track on the album their lyrics say Here today, gone tomorrow, Each time you come, you leave a little sorrow. The Ohio Players is a fun band and most popular in the 1970s. Like I said, they ...
Mar 03, 2024•2 min
Story by: Gail Nobles Intro by: Gail Nobles Little Milton was expressing pain. He was talking about a flow of tears if his lover ever left him. It's bad to hurt like that over someone. Little Milton’s single Cry Me a River was released in 1972. The style of the song is sold on the Stax label. Little Milton’s records are still being sold because he's that soulful kind of blues we don't hear today. Little Milton’s single Cry Me a River is found on the very best of little Milton compilation album r...
Feb 19, 2024•2 min
Intro: Gail Nobles Photo credit: Mykal Burns - Arthur Adams at Sunset Junction Usage: CC BY 2.0 Arthur Adams is another great blues man to listen to. In the early 1960s, he produced several singles, including "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another"/"Willin' To Die" on Philadelphia-based Jamie Records. During the latter 1970s, Adams changed style and played soul.[3] In 1981 he had a surprise hit called "You Got the Floor" which reached number 1 in the UK disco chart that year and 38 in the UK single...
Jan 19, 2024•2 min
Music intro by: Gail Nobles Story by: Gail Nobles Next on Podcast and Blues is Carlin Taylor. Carlin Taylor, the man that brought us the song Keep It 100, Bet Yo Mama Like It, and Let's Have a Barbecue. His music is fun to hear. You can hear the singer and actor in him when he's telling his story in his blues. It’s fun to watch Carlin Taylor in videos and live on stage. He is a multi-talented singer and songwriter and also we dancer. I don't know what it is about his song Keep it 100, but I love...
Dec 07, 2023•2 min
Ed Cook - WVON, Chicago - January 29, 1966 Downloaded from: archive.org Usage: Puplic Domain Cover Art by: Gail Nobles Good evening everyone. Today I'm going to talk about Ed “Nassau Daddy” Cook. Ed Cook was a beloved DJ for WVON -one of Chicago's first major black radio stations. Ed Cook played rhythm and blues. He played Sonny Boy Williamson's Bring It On Home. Sometimes he was a little upset while doing his job because things weren't quite turning out the way he wanted. I can truly understand...
Nov 17, 2023•5 min
Alan Freed Clip: archives.org Usage: Public Domain Story by: Gail Nobles Welcome again to Podcast and Blues. I am your host Gail Nobles. I want to talk about the sound of B.B. King from the 1950s. A much different sounding style of blues than when he was singing The Thrill Is Gone from the 1970s. Alan Freed would play BB King’s music. (Alan Freed Introduces B.B. King's song) B.B. King song Lonely and Blue reminds me of a song that Fats Domino would sing. Lonely and Blue is a song that you would ...
Nov 16, 2023•1 min
Intro by: Gail Nobles Photo credit: Victor Diaz Lamich Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 Here we go with today's topic Ben Harper.Welcome toPodcast and Blues. I'm Gail Nobles. In the next few minutes we're going to talk about singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Ben Harper who plays and ecletic mixer blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances, and activism. He has released twelve studio albums, mostly through Virgin Records,...
Nov 10, 2023•2 min
Music Intro by: Gail Nobles Cover Art by: Gail Nobles You listening to the Podcast and Blues Show. I’m bringing to you today a topic on James Carr. You listen to podcast and blues show I am bringing to you today a topic on James Carr after being turned down by stacks records he made his first recordings for Goldwax Records, a small Memphis-based independent record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee iin 1964 by Quinton Claunch and Rudolph V. “Doc” Russell. He released several singles for the lab...
Oct 26, 2023•3 min
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles Photo: Wikipedia Usage: Public Domain Hello! You’re listening to Podcast and Blues. Today's topic is Bobby Bland Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City. Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh, and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the album Dreamer. While it is ostensibly a love song, some critics and fans have also heard it as a lament on urban poverty and hopelessness, also as a lament upon the strug...
Oct 25, 2023•2 min
