The album, This Is My Memphis, features 12 songs by current Memphis bands and performers interpreting Memphis classics.  The release party at CVB headquarters in downtown Memphis will be followed by a special June 14 concert to celebrate the release of the album at the Hard Rock Café on legendary Beale Street.

“We wanted to call attention to a central truth,” said Tourism Foundation head and CVB vice-president Calvin Taylor.  “Great Memphis music is not just a historical footnote.  It is happening here every day right now.”  Besides calling attention to current musicians, he said that the Tourism Foundation produced the album in partnership with Electric Room’s Matt Timberlake and Jeremy Shrader as part of the foundation’s positive self-image agenda for Memphis.

Members of the bands on the album were joined by dozens of music supporters that included Dean Deyo, president of Memphis Music Foundation; members of the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission; Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery; Memphis philanthropist Pat Kerr Tigrett; and WMC reporter Kontji Anthony.

The album release concert at 8 p.m. on June 14 at the Hard Rock Café on legendary Beale Street will feature three bands on the album as part of the iconic restaurant’s Founders Day – Groundspeak (jazz-tinted R&B), Soul Enforcers (reggae), and Joecephus and the Georgejonestown Massacre (Southern punk rock and roll).    

Other Memphis performers who contributed songs to the album included William Lee Ellis, Eric Gales, Rind Stars, New Memphis Hepcats, Noise Choir, Rabid Villain, Johnny Lowebow, Sean Murphy with Jason Northcutt, and Amy Levere.  Their interpretations included songs by Bukka White, Albert King, Big Star, The Dramatics, Booker T and the M.G.’s, Elvis Presley, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Charlie Feathers.

CVB President Kevin Kane said that the Memphis Tourism Foundation has undertaken a number of important projects in the past year, but that he was especially proud of this salute to current Memphis bands.  “Memphis Music: No matter where you are on the globe, those two words are all you have to say to explain the special place you are from,” he said. “That's because no city in the world has a more storied musical heritage.  Music is our most famous international export, and these current bands continue a tradition that deserves to be honored and supported.  We’re proud to help make it happen.”

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The Latin Spring Festival is always a highlight for Memphis and a special event for the whole family.  Admission is free, and if you need more information, call Latino Memphis at 901-366-5882.

Celebrando la cultural hispanolatina.  Danza, musica, comida, juegos para ninos.  Y recursos.  "Vivamos en salud!"

The buffet by Wade & Company Catering begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Playhouse Scene Shop.  Admission to the auction is free and there are free beverages.

The live auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and features a special guest appearance by the cast of "Purlie." 

This is the 31st edition of the annual auction, and it's always a great way to support Playhouse and to take home the works by Memphis' leading artists.

This special concert performance will feature the Stax Music Academy Artist-in-Residence Kirk Whalum along with guest Music Directors Winston Maccow and Nichelle Mungo from the Berklee College of Music.

Tickets to the SoulSchool: Spring Break concert are $5 each and may be purchased at the Stax Museum Gift Shop or by calling 901-946-2535.

SoulSchool: Spring Break is one of the Stax Music Academy's major programs, designed to target exceptionally-dedicated young musicans. Every year, a small group of students are selected to spend three days in master classes with career musicians, getting the inspiration and knowledge they need to take their own careers to the next level. This concert is the culminating event staged by the students and their master class instructors.

So the final day began with the gathering of the blues masses at the Orpheum.  The finals orientation meeting was at noon to go over what was expected and what was about to happen.

After the orientation meeting, the Orpheum backstage began to take shape as the bands were bringing in gear and staking out a location to wait.  The band competition would be first and the solo/duo later in the evening.  Just before 2 p.m., the Orpheum was near capacity with only a few seats left in the upper level.  The lobby was buzzing and CD’s from the artists were being sold in the lobby.

Honestly, I had not seen any of the bands who made it to the finals so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  There were 10 bands to compete and at 2:05 p.m., the first band, Little Rodger & The Cheap Thrills, hit their first note and the stop watch began for a 20-minute set.  The Laurie Morvan Band, Lil’ Ray Neal Blues Band, Delta Wires finished at 3:20 p.m. and Trampled Under Foot began at 3:44 p.m.  Immediately it was obvious the three siblings had something different. 

Danielle Schnebelen, was the bass player and brothers Nick and Chris were behind her.  When Danielle began to sing, there was a soulful raspy combination of Reba Russell and Susan Marshall.  Their set ended with “Hard Headed Woman” and a standing ovation. 

Backstage, the Doghouse Daddies were already on stage, and there was a call from the front of house as Trampled Under Foot CD’s were sold out.  The seventh band in the line-up sparked interest as a tall lanky lady entered the stage with a long white coat on a voice that definitely turned everyone around.  Shakura S’ Aida with her band, which included a female guitar player she referred to as “firecracker.”  Awek, from France, played in the eight spot.  They were the only international finalist and probably knew more about blues that any of the other bands. 

Finally after a short break, it was time for the solo/duo challenge finals to begin.  Six acts with 2blu starting off followed by the duo Dan Stevens and Chris D’Amato.  I was familiar with Dan Stevens because he had participated in previous years.  The fourth band in the line-up was Ben Prestage with whom I had worked Wednesday night at the Grizzlies game.  Of the six, I thought he had the best chance.  His music was more of a North Mississippi All-Stars-style similar to Richard Johnston that won back in 2001.  The Lionel Young started his violin blues, which were reminiscent of Gatemouth Brown and gave him a little more uniqueness than the others. 

Without question, the 24th annual International Blues Challenge was a huge success and well-attended by blues lovers outside of Memphis.  I can honestly say there is the beginning of locals understanding what the IBC is and how popular it has become.  However, we are a long way away from gaining any form of support from our home base.  There’s always good talk, but the walk has a long dirt road ahead.

Finally, the winners were announced and just as expected, Trampled Under Foot was voted best band and Lionel Young and his violin were picked as the top solo/duo.  They received prizes ranging from recording time to festival bookings and of course bragging rights.  For most of the bands, just playing in Memphis on Beale Street was the best winning package they could receive. 

It’s been another fun year.  The daily blog has been a blast, and I hope that the insight about The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge will help spread an understanding about the dedication that it takes to stage this event.  Blues is not necessarily about sitting on the front porch listening to someone sing the same tune 20 times and only the words change with each tune.  More accurately, it’s a vibrant form of music that gave us rock and roll and soul. 

In an earlier post, I mentioned the young lady outside the club the other night saying: “I never liked the blues before but now I love it.”  It’s always been there.  She just had it presented to her in a different form.

Stayed tuned to the Blues Foundation.  It’s next event will be the Blues Music Awards  around the end of April in Tunica.  I’ll be there and maybe you will be too.

Here's the latest as the Blues Challenge is poised to begin in earnest:

We’re are on our last venues for the semi-finals for Friday.  We all need sleep but thank goodness, it has really been smooth tonight. 

The day consisted of lots of meeting new people, seeing more friends and exchanging cards for the next event.  I received a bunch of CD’s today - one including the new Barbara Blue CD and an Albert Collins’ “Live at Montreuax.”  My radio show, “Blues Today” on WEVL, was loads of fun this morning as I usually play local blues to “show them how it’s done.”  I played Reba Russell, Ollie Nightingale, Blind Mississippi Morris and the Pocket Rockets, Billy Gibson, Barbara Blue, Dr. Feelgood Potts, Daddy Mack, Robert Nighthawk and “I’ve Been Dipped In the Water” by Syl Johnson and the Hi Rhythm Section.

When I arrived at the hotel after the show, I met some new friends that were outside the hotel on a break.  They were from Houston with one of the two having a spouse in the competition.  Like always, I said hello and I started telling my stories of Memphis -  Rufus Thomas stories, stories about the Lorraine Motel and who “Lorraine” was, Albert King and the fact that I obtained his king-sized bed at auction on Beale Street (another story entirely), B.B. King and his recording of “3 O’Clock Blues” at the YMCA on Pontotoc St. and the Dorsey Brothers (The Rock & Roll Trio) being born South of Linden Avenue on Cynthia and Pontotoc just down from the YMCA.  We also discussed the reason why all streets running east and west from the Mississippi are named Avenue except for Beale.  

I enjoy telling the Memphis stories as much as working with the Competition.

At 3:00 pm in the Doubletree Hotel lobby, I sat up my Bose PAS L1 (seems too fancy for the blues) but it’s a new PA system.  (Disclosure: I am one of the local representatives of Bose for this incredible system.)  To spare the details, it made the lobby of the hotel sound good. 

I wasn’t familiar with the individual that was going to perform - Spencer Bohren, an artist from New Orleans.  He was asked by Jay Sieleman, Blues Foundation Executive Director, to perform on the behalf of the Foundation for “Blues In the Schools” around Memphis during the competition.  The talents of Mr. Bohren by far captivated me as much as anything else I have seen in some time.  I am a teacher at heart and he is one of the best. 

He started out by lining instruments up around him starting with a banjo, a guitar that dated into the 1880’s, a metal guitar, a 1950’s Gibson and an electric guitar.  Mr. Bohren began with a story of a black sharecropper walking down a road watching Maggie all the time describing the hot sweaty picture of this man.  The song, “Down the Dirt Road Blues,” was taken through history using the instruments and the lyrics.  He took it through Kentucky, Appalachian blues, into country of Georgia and Hank Williams, then Elvis, then Carl Perkins, then Bob Dylan then the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.  This was an educational experience that every American should know about their music. 

By 4:00 p.m., our HQ is the Handy Bar on Beale.  Judges are missing from a club, a volunteer has not shown up and Joe is beginning to stress.  As always, everything works out and the buzz on the street starts with whom to go see.   

At 10:48 p.m., the radio tells us that B.B. Kings is at capacity and the fire marshal will not let anyone else in, including our runners.  It’s now 11:45pm and the winners are about to be announced in the clubs that are having blues jams with the bands that were in the competition.  The word on the street is that several winners from past contests and big names from the blues world are participating in the jams. 

Final orientation is at noon today, and I’ll be there alongside Joe for moral support.  The solo and duo first in the early afternoon and the finals will be around 8 p.m.  The talent is the best it’s ever been.  It should be an incredible show. 

If you have to miss the Challenge this year, please make plans for next year.  The results of the semi-finalists can be found at www.blues.org. 

I’ll be back with the final day and the final results on Saturday.  Then I’m going to sleep and get up to watch the Super Bowl.  Nothing else!

January 31 – 11 p.m.

We are off and jamming with the 24th Annual International Blues Challenge. 

It’s a much different atmosphere today as I stepped into the Doubletree Hotel lobby.  Blues fans and bands everywhere.  The rest of the volunteers are here and checking in bands, selling merchandise, manning the silent auction and catching up with friends they haven’t seen since the last event. 

Band orientation at 2:00 pm is when the competition starts to get real.  Each band is required to have a representative in the room.  What an interesting group of people in that room.  I saw every kind of hat from cowboy to fedora.  With all the sunglasses in the room, you would have thought that the stage lights were already on.  There were sear sucker suits and ties and tennis shoes. 

Joe Whitmer, event producer for The Blues Foundation, began the greeting as he always does every year with his “everybody’s smiling today but feelings usually get hurt when you don’t win” speech.  Contest rules are rehashed as it’s inevitable that someone will say they didn’t know they had to check in or didn’t know they only has 25 minutes or didn’t know they had to bring cymbals. 

After orientation it was back to the Adler Suite on the 8th floor to gather what we needed and make our plans to move over to Beale Street.  At 4:15 p.m., we were on our way with radios, venue coordinator packets and extra clothes, because our new home for two days is the  Handy Bar in Handy Park. 

When we arrived, our yearly crew of venue coordinators, time keepers, runners and judge’s assistants were waiting.  Each checked in and got their pass with the venue coordinators getting their radios.  First clubs - Blues City and Rum Boogie - at 5:00pm started without a hitch.  The two-way radios begin to rattle for equipment with a club needing a bass rig, another club didn’t have its keyboard and another needed a high hat stand clutch. 

Then there was the group that had wheeled their piano down the street to play on at Pat O’Briens.  How weird is that?  The most interesting encounter might have been the young lady who came into Handy Bar to make a suggestion about Beale Street - seems she wasn’t happy that there weren’t restrooms along the street and she really thought the buildings could look nicer because they were old looking, couldn’t they make them look little nice?  They may not all look pretty, but they all sure sounded good tonight. 

I’ve seen some incredible talent already as I ride Beale on the golf cart in a 30 degree rain.  It’s now 7:30pm and the radio has been silent now for about and hour and a half.  Let’s hope it stays that way.  The clubs are packed so tight there’s very little room to move much less sit. 

Now going on 10:30 p.m. and the golf cart is getting colder.  It’s been a fun night with a couple of the Beale Street regulars, Dr. Feelgood Potts and Fred Sanders hanging around.  The Dr. called his wife and we chatted for a few minutes, but she really was much more excited to talk to national XM Satellite blues host Bill Wax.

I’ll be heading home about 12:30 a.m. and back to downtown Memphis to do “Blues Today” on WEVL 89.9 Friday morning from 8-10 a.m..  Then back to the Doubletree Hotel for a short while and back to Beale by 4:30 p.m. to do it all over again. 

Here’s the quote of the night.  A young lady leaving a club after the last band finished said: “I’ve never like the blues before, but I’m in love with them now.”  We have converted another non believer.  I’ll be back tomorrow.  

January 29, 7:30 p.m.

Today the atmosphere around the Blues Foundation offices at 49 Union Avenue began to take on a lot more action as the International Blues Challenge ramps up. 

The volunteer side of the event is nothing more than taking the puzzle pieces and placing them where they belong.   If any of the hundreds of pieces are out of place, there’s a big problem.

Executive Director Jay Sieleman and International Blues Challenge Producer Joe Whitmer have been working on this year’s event since the middle of last summer.  Jenn Ocken from Baton Rouge arrived yesterday and began taking over the Silent Auction that Jay had been organizing prior to this week.  One of the Blues Foundations part-time employees, Glenda Mace, began to wrap up the online ticket sales before lunch this morning and printing any checks that Jay will need to take care of business before the weekend is over. 

In other words, today is like the day before you go on vacation.  You’re trying to remember things you’ll need while you’re away and know there are things you’re going to forget.  Today is also the day that Joe begins to get a little more nervous about things, not to mention his new wife, Sarah Negri–Whitmer who received her credentials(green card) to begin her journey as an American citizen this morning. 

Sarah is from a blues family in Italy that is very familiar with the workings of world blues festivals and the world blues community.  She stepped in the office today and immediately began working the graphics program needed to make signs and badges and anything else Joe needed. 

Also arriving today was Greg Johnson from Portland, Oregon, who worked with Joe on printing passes needed for performers, judges, staff and volunteers.  Greg also worked with Sarah and Jenn to get the merchandise in order.  Greg will be in charge of any merchandise during this year’s event. 

For me, today was making sure the specifics for Wednesday night’s artists, who are performing at the Grizzlies game, had their credentials and that their load-in and necessary equipment was taken care of.  I also spent today working on each packet that each Venue Coordinator will receive.  As a producer of previous events, preparing packets is not much more than making sure everything is there that may answer questions that have been brought up at past events. 

We’re looking good!  Tomorrow the bands begin to arrive, more volunteers become involved and things begin to happen.  Stay tuned…  

Jan. 30, 8:30 p.m.

The Blues Foundation office was successfully relocated.  We have taken over a big suite in the Doubletree Hotel in preparation for the big day tomorrow. 

More volunteers arrived today from Eureka Springs, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and Chattanooga.  Speaking with the out-of-towners, they all said that the Doubletree had sold out of rooms in two hours when they were released last fall.

It seems the major work for the contest itself has been taken care of.  We had a lot of people folding shirts today.  This was the first year that I can remember that we all had time to take lunch and grab a burger. 

I have to admit that with any of these events, the stories that are told in a circle are the most fun.  Everyone either runs a festival or volunteers at the festivals in their area.  Today the talk focused on the various people that had been in past International Blues Competitions and where they were today. 

Then THE question was mentioned:  What is blues?  The table got quiet and everybody asked for the tab.  We don’t talk religion, politics or “What is blues.”   

Tonight, the Grizzlies hosted sets with Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz playing in the arena.  Matt Wigler (13 years old) and Matt Aubin played the Lexus Lounge and Ben Prestage’s one man band played in the lobby. 

We received incredible feedback from the FedExForum staff and the staff of the Grizzlies.  If these artist are any indication of what’s in store, WOW!

On my walk back to the parking garage, I stopped in a few places on Beale.  Several clubs were featuring various blues showcases but other than that a fairly slow night on the street. 

By this time tomorrow night, there will be more blues on Beale Street than anytime in its history.  There’s only been mention of a couple of ‘no shows’ so we’re talking 158 bands.

We, the blues people, are ready.  I hope that we get as much respect from the “Home of the Blues” as we are getting from the world of blues.  Stay tuned!  

       Aimed at identifying the best workers in Memphis’ tourism industry, the  program is looking for the men and women who represent the true spirit and attitude of Memphis, said Calvin Taylor, executive director of Memphis Tourism Foundation, an arm of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau where Taylor is a vice-president.

       Nomination forms can be found in area hotels, attractions, and restaurants, said Foundation Chairman Jerry Klein.  “This is a chance to pay tribute to the 50,000 people who are the backbone of our $2.5 billion tourism industry,” he said.  “They are the people who influence whether visitors decide if Memphis is the kind of place they want to visit again or recommend to their friends.  ‘I’ve Met Memphis’ Best!’ is simply our way of spotlighting the contributions that they make every day.”

       In addition to the forms, nominations can be made on this website at http://www.memphistourismfoundation.org/working/memphis-best.  “We’re looking for special people who have shown exemplary service to visitors and been powerful ambassadors for our city,” said Taylor.

       From the nominations, quarterly winners will be selected, and at the 2008 annual meeting of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, the winner for the year will be announced.  That person will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to Orlando, Florida, and $500 in spending money.

       The program caps an active and successful year for the Tourism Foundation, said Kevin Kane, CVB President.  “This is the first full calendar year for the Foundation, and we’re excited by the programs that it has developed to support our industry, honor its workers, train future workers, and increase public understanding of the importance that the tourism industry is to the economic growth of Memphis.”

       Pointing out that tourism is a priority area for the Memphis Fast Forward plan, Kane predicts that the economic impact can be expanded with a renewed communitywide emphasis on its importance to the future.  “There is no city that has more to offer than Memphis, but chief among our assets is a commitment to serve our customers,” he said.  “That’s why we are so excited about ‘I’ve Met Memphis’ Best!’ and we look forward to honoring the people who do so much for our industry.”

With items on loan from the legendary singer's widow and daughter, there are never-been-seen photos taken at the family's 300-acre ranch outside Macon, GA, and reveals that Otis was much more than a singer.  He's shown with his cattle, pitching hay, and holding his son Otis III.

The exhibit also includes condolence telegrams sent to the family and Stax Museum has added some special artifacts from its archives. 

The exhibit continues until April 30.  It's a must-see destination for anyone who loves Memphis music, especially the special voice silenced way too early.

The show features performances from the best indie bands on the scene, live from Memphis' own Ardent Studios, where the likes of Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Isaac Hayes, ZZ Top, R.E.M., James Taylor, and the White Stripes have recorded.

Meanwhile, Rachel soldiers on in her quest to report on the comings and goings of Memphis music, and her reports are must-reading at Rachelandthecity. Despite her modest description of her work - "I live in Memphis. I go out. - she's been brilliant in her ability to transform what's she's passionate about into a calling, and Memphis is the better for it.

Opening act is popular local act, Will Graves and Soul. 

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 on the day of the show. 

Since the early 1950s, he's worked out of Chicago and more recently, Jackson, MS, but it all started in tiny Homer, LA.  As a young performer, he played across the South in bands with acoustic country blues sounds, and his current "folk funk" sound is notable for its down-home sensibilities. 

On RAW, he plays off themes by Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson II, but most songs are his own compositions.  Only recently did Rush debut as a solo performer on guitar and harmonica, and it's a special chance to hear a legendary performer in a legendary music city.

And, unbelievably, there's no cover, reminding us once again to say a prayer in thanks for Huey's longtime support of our music. 

While Stax is reason enough to keep up with the blog, the chance to read anything written by Tim Sampson makes it really special. 

Check out the blog soon and leave your comments. 

The concert will feature the Academy's extraordinary artist-in-residence Kirk Whalum, Memphis jazz saxphone legend, along with soul sensation Glenn Jones.