You inspired me so much. Your talent and strength to overcome so many obstacles. So powerful. So beautiful. You’re simply the BEST. R.I.P. Tina Turner 🎶💜🎤
Man. Tina Turner. My heart is heavy to know she is no longer earthside. I never got the chance to see her live but she has been the single biggest influence for me musically, vocally and performance wise. I binge watch live footage regularly just hoping to feel the magic that was the Queen of Rock & Roll. RIP Tina - shine on.
Today (May 25, 2023) is that day that the Grand River Blues Society turns 20 years old. We here at HBL salute this amazing organization that has helped keep the Blues alive in our area.
Here are few comments about the anniversary:
Bruce Hall (President, GRBS)
The Grand River Blues Society is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week on Thursday May 25th. We have indeed come a long way from the grass roots launch in Cambridge where in fact about 80 blues fans joined us then for a twenty dollar fee. We are proud that that annual membership is still only twenty dollars.
We would like to celebrate our success by honoring all our members, volunteers, venues, musicians and directors past and present who have helped make this feat possible. The GRBS has committed to making 2023 a year long celebration with more exciting shows and announcements to come. I invite you to check us out on Facebook and our website
Keep Shufflin'
Lou (HBL blogger and founder)
As a member and volunteer for the GRBS, I get to see first hand the dedication the board members and the volunteers have to local music. Blues is in their blood and they work hard to support local artists. Cheers!
Congratulations to the Grand River Blues society for turning 20! The best thing about the GRBS is the fact that it feels more like a Blues family then a society. We've been honored to represent the Grand River blues society in Memphis at the Memphis Blues challenge and to have performed at their 10th anniversary which seems like yesterday! They are an inspiration to how a blues society should be run with genuine passion and love for preserving the Blues and we look forward to many more years of continued success with our Blues family.
The GRBS has been at the forefront of creating a love & appreciation for Blues amongst the youth in our community via the Blues in the Schools program, The Grand River Blues Camp and The Youth Legacy Contest. I have personally witnessed its growth & impact over many years.
The mission of the Josie Music Awards is to honor, recognize and reward excellence, outstanding talents, and remain focused on the creativity across the independent music industry. Every submission is carefully reviewed for consideration by an all-pro-panel of judges since 2015. We acknowledge all music genres, and each are celebrated through one winner in each genre in many of the categories.
Rolling Black Clouds – Midwest Thick (Cindy Roge, Jill Chase, Ron Madore)
I Work Too Hard (To Be This Broke) – Southern Country Outlaws
Blueridge – Mark Mckinney & Co (Mark Mckinney, Jonathan Locklear, Koal Marley)
Honky Tonk Phd – Bobby Lane Band (Bobby Lane Band)
Song (Country/Multiple Writers)
Old Photograph – Travis Reigh (Travis Reigh, Jason Roller, Justin Emmert)
Best I Could Do – Bobby Ocean (Bobby Ocean, Rob Mcfarland, Jason Murphy)
Who I Am – Sarah Hardwig (Sarah Hardwig, Julian Sundby)
Momma’s Man – Jessie Ritter (Jessie Toups, Davis Corley, Mark Chandler)
No End In Sight – Jason Byrd (Jason Byrd, Jim Mcbride, Jerry Salley)
Showed Ya Son – Josh Courson (Josh Courson, Jasob Hamor, Chance Carter)
What Lonely Will Do – Dawson Mitchell (Mike Hilliard, Dawson Mitchell)
In A Little While – Danny Terrell (David Wagner, Michael Ingerson)
If The Shoe Fits – Mackynsie Mckedy (Curt Ryle, John Castleberry, Laurie Lace)
Country By Birthright – Hollis Dorian (Hollis Dorian, Wes Protich)
Neon Tan – Anna Marie (Tommy Lee Crosslin, Teresa Crosslin, Anna Marie)
Wasted Man – Lia Caton (Lia Caton, Benji Harris)
Ride With Your Ghost – Joey Ferris (Joey Ferris, Caressa Justice)
Song (Country/Single Writer)
It’s All Part Of Being Southern – Caleb Kelly
You Are My God Thing – Jerry Maynard (Vic Quintin)
When You Love Someone - John Pemberton (Nathan Woodard)
Blame It On The Booze – Peanut Click (Peanut Click)
The Old Man – Martyn Cosgrave (Martyn Cosgrave)
95 – Jake Mach (Jacob Mach)
Whiskey Train – Kish Moody (Rickey Treat)
What I’ve Done – Shane Masters (Shane Masters)
Old And Grey – Roger Adams (Roger Adams)
Texas, Tennessee – Macy Dot (Karleigh Paige)
Crooked County Two Step – John Pops Dennie (John Pops Dennie)
Prove You Right – Sam Roark (Sam Roark)
Numb – Jay Tighe (Jay Tighe)
When Life Happens – Robert Eskridge (Robert Eskridge)
No Seas Left To Sail – John Johnson (Don Johnson)
Song (Folk/Americana)
What Happens Now – Bernice Marsala (Bernice R.M. Batt)
In My Mind – Wil Van Winkle & The Sixpins (Wil Van Winkle)
Red Bull And Cigarettes – Bobby Ray (Bobby Ray)
Traveler – Dave Adkins (Jeff Partin)
Johanna – Jackie Therrien (Jackie Therrien)
Chop Wood Carry Water – Judy Paster (Judy Paster, Boo Ray)
Squirrel Train – Dave Lenahan (Dave Lenahan, Scott Barrier, Pamela Hopkins)
Right Here With You (Right Here With Me) – Shawn Benfield (Shawn Benfield)
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May – Clare Cunningham (Clare Cunningham, Wood Newton)
Can’t Let Go – Mick Fury (Mick Fury, Adam James Deiboldt)
10:43 - Jayna Jennings (Jayna Jennings)
Carry Me Away – Fran Pitre (Fran Pitre, Kenny Levine)
Better Man – Rocky Michaels (Rocky Michaels)
Song (Gospel/Multiple Songwriters)
Keep Your Eyes On Me – Kathryn Shipley (Patrick Dodge, James Rocian, Keesy Timmer)
God Must Be Laughing – Steve Bridgmon (Fost Daniel, Leslie Mcdaniel, Nick Hall, Jesse Daniel, Elizabeth Daniel)
Breaking Free – Jimmy Reno (James Walter Reno, Phillip David Harris)
The Gospel Truth – Billy Walker (Jason Cox, Kenna Turner West)
That Was You – Briana Domenica (Steve Peters, Brandon Chase)
Lord, I Don’t Understand – Rita Faye Tanner (Rita Faye Tanner, Connie Cassell Tuck, Bob Mcgilpin)
I’ll Be There – Kathryn Shipley/Lee Newton (Tery Wayne Wilkins, Corey Lee Barker, Randy Barnette)
The Way Of Jesus – Chapel Rock Worship(Kyle Bellinger, Cathy Butler, Jillian Hicks, Abigail Yoder, Scott Kirkpatrick, Cindy Galloway, Springer Daugherty)
Finally Home – Liz Tay Mulkey (Liz Tay Mulkey, Corey Lee Barker)
Song (Gospel/Single Songwriter)
Just Like That – Don Stiles (Jerry Don Stiles)
When I Look In Your Eyes – Dennise Nichole Dittman (Benjamin Blankenship)
That’s Why I Wanna Go – Rebecca & Jamey (Mike Oldham)
Dear God – Luanne Hunt (Luanne Hunt)
Revival – Ben Byers (Ben Myers)
Living In The Moment Of Miracles – Tammy Castleberry (Tammy Castleberry)
Almost Home – Ruth Manning (Ruth Manning)
Healing Waters – Kezia Alford (Kezia Alford)
The Question – Gentry Brown (Gentry Brown)
Speak Your Name – Brenda Best (Brenda Best)
Song (Instrumental)
Southern Sunday - Blackie Beverly (Kelly Ned Beverly, Kelly Beverly)
Movin On – Evan Carydakis (Evangelos Carydakis, Stephan Carydakis)
Firecracker – Taylor Sanders (Taylor Sanders, T-Ran Gilbert, Cash Callaway, Maria Christensen)
Sunday Confession – Lisa Richard (Lisa Richard, Rick Tiger, Jeff Wanex)
Rockabilly Queen - King & Queen Of Hearts (Ronald Banckaert, Debra Banckaert)
Pump – Dmc Duo (Darrell Adams, Marisa Dawson)
Wisdom Of Goddes – Nita Perez (Nita Perez, Phillip Kanakis)
I Knew Your Name – Emily Drennan (Emily Drennan, Adrian Mann, Rachel Fogarty, Gregory Lopez)
Songwriter
Kate Hasting
Kenny Day
Trace Thompson
Corey Lee Barker
Brandon Maddox
Songwriter’s Thread
Connie Cassell Tuck
Jason Hamor
Rick Lang
Edgar Loudermilk
Curt Ryle
Troy Castellano
Tery Wayne
Anthony Black
Braeden Counts
Mike Greenly
Patrick Dodge
Joe Brian Harrison
Songwriter (Personal Portfolio - Female)
Rose Angelica
Jackie Therrien
Sarah Hardwig
Gina Glidewell
Sheila Clark Fox
Shimmer Johnson
Jennifer Alvarado
Mallory Johnson
Wendy Knudsen
Hailey Newman
Jayna Jennings
Rachel Crowe
Mel Simmonds
Lady Redneck (Stephanie Lee Lowry)
Songwriter (Personal Portfolio - Male)
Roger Adams
Mike Sands
Aaron LaCombe
Kenny Day
Carl Wayne Meekins
Alan Fox
Fritz Frye
Keith Leahy
Scott Blackmon
Acton Chisoni
Aaron Carter
Rodney Wilson
Terry Douglas
Craig Hendricks
Robert Eskridge
Rick Revel
Kevin Mahoney
Caleb Kelley
John Dennie
Stage Entertainment
BFnD – Black Frog n Diva
Good Clean Fun
JP & Jenny
The Chicago Hitmen (Rocking the House for St. Jude 2023 Band)
John Truncali
Tribute Band
Lone Star Skynyrd – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sandy Hall – Kick it Out a Tribute to Heart
Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival & John Fogerty
Ocean’s Rat Pack – Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., & Frank Sinatra
Kid Kentucky & The American BadAss Band – Kid Rock
Sons of Bocephus – Hank Williams Jr.
Venue
The Arcada Theatre – Ron Onesti
Bobby Mackey’s
Roosters Country, Mesa, AZ
Hub City Brewing
The Coyote Store
Video (JMA Alum - Female)
Just A Great Guy – Marinna Andriopoulos Director: Mike Walker
Chop Wood Carry Water – Judy Paster Director: Dalton Smith
Amor Condicional – Hilda Lamas Director: Pedro Marroquin
Firecracker – Taylor Sanders Director: T-Ran Gilbert
Clovers – Clare Cunningham Director: Drac Gibson
I’m Yours – Lady Leah Oduro-Kwarten Director: Julian Baptiste Du Buclet
Ain’t A Little Girl No More – Mackynsie Mckedy Director: Lace Goodman
Too Pretty To Be Home – Robbie Harte Director: Dave Doobinin
News You Can Use – Lisa Richard Director: Scott Ferguson
Hell Or High Water – Lia Caton Director: Greg Bizzaro
I’m Done Playing Cinderella – Keely Brennan Director: Casey Pope
Coming Home – Macartney Reinhardt Director: Justin Hammond
Video Production
Torrent Cinemas
Listen Locally, LLC.
Sharp Video Productions
Vocal Event
Pine Box – Michelle Leigh & Barry Lee Harwood
Angel Without Wings – Jimmy Parker & Rita Faye Tanner
Who’ll Buy My Memories – Randy Carson & Willie Nelson
What I Want – Stace & Cassie Shook
Who Am I Gonna Love Kirstie Kraus & Thomas Kavanagh
Never Get Away – Justine Blazer & Natalie Jean
Country No Matter What – Vocalists From 7 Different Countries Including Scott Southworth, Glen Mitchell, Kevin Greaves, Johnny Brody, Jerome “Mr. Jay” Desoteux, Sivert Bjordal, And Andrea Benz
I’ll Be There – Kathryn Shipley & Lee Newton
Beneath These Tears – Ameri Shaye & Jackson Snelling
Where Love Has Never Been – Rebecca Bagwell & Jamey Bagwell
The Yodeling Cowgirl - Phoebe White & Riders In The Sky
Burnin’ Boats – Dale Houston & Lee Newton
Fire And Brimstone – Michael Wayne Dill & Kristie Mayberry
Lonesome 77203 – Wes Shipp & Billy Don Burns
Memories – Russell Lynch & Dennis Scott
If You Ever Wanna Fool Around – Leigh Pollari & Ronnie Mcdowell
Lullaby For The Prairie – Revele & Gio
Family Thing – Dustin Chapman & Ryleigh Madison
Tryin’ To Figure Out & Understand – Larissa & Chad Wilson
Love And Peace – Prem Murti & Natalie Ai Kamauu Feat. Annemarie Picerno, Tess Remy Schumacher, An Vedi, And Russ Hewitt
Love Just Flashed - Jadyn Rylee & Brayden Ryle
Empty As My Arms – Tommy Moffat & Dixie Lang
Vocalist (Bluegrass)
Chase Bush
Edgar Loudermilk
Vocalist (Country Female)
Allison Asarch
Vicki Lynn Maxwell
Sarah Hardwig
Tiffany Nesbeth
Pamela Hopkins
Tara Clance
Caitlin Quisenberry
Cheyenne Mclvain
Melissa Deaton
Alesha Bondy
Tammy Lee
Janie Balderas
Eliana Weston
Sam Roark
Brenda Loomis
Vocalist (Country Male)
Blake Esse
James Paul Lynch
Steve Smith
Aaron Lacombe
Jay Tighe
Scott Owens
Shawn Adkins
Bruce Boudreau
Charles Elliott
Chad Wooten
Kish Moody
Clay Avery
Michael Austin
Jake Mach
D. Boone Pittman
Blane Howard
Vocalist (Country Rock/Southern Rock)
Brent Atwood
Charlie Bonnet Iii
Jennie Angel
Allison Cipris
Ali Randolph
Jane Sowerby
Jess Zimmerman
Jay Jones
Jeremy Noble
Michelle Leigh
Matt Lomax
Ethan Vincil
Vocalist (Folk/Americana/Roots)
Cory M Coons
Randy Carson
Jimmy Bowen
Shaun Tobar
Madison Mueller
Judy Paster
Jayna Jennings
Holly Forbes
Vocalist (Gospel/Christian/Inspirational)
Kristie Nicole
Dennise Nichole Dittman
Kathryn Shipley
Angel Sessions
Kezia Alford
Becca Williams
Taria Jaybre
Leah Oduro-Kwarten
Melissa Pettignano
Whitley Brown
Tony Alan Bates
Billy Walker
Randall Franks
Gentry Brown
Mike Wellman
JD Walker
Reviving Dayvid
Vocalist (Jazz/Blues)
Travis Bowlin
John Ne'meth
Melissa Ellis
Laura Ainsworth
Stephanie Adlington
Katelyn Gravel
Vocalist (JMA Alum Country Male)
Cody Ikerd
Laurie Leblanc
Donnie Lee Strickland
Josh Courson
Mark Mckinney
Dustin Burchett
Jackson Snelling
Chad Wilson
Dustin Chapman
John Pemberton
Lloyd Carter
Vocalist (JMA Alum) Multi-Genre
Ronald Banckaert
Heather Nikole Harper
Kristen Morgenstern
Sheila Clark Fox
Lia Caton
Michelle Leigh
Jonelle Carter
Justine Blazer
Hilda Lamas
Clare Cunningham
Rebecca Bagwell
Adam Webb
Megan Paullet
Lisa Polizzi
Taylor Hughes
Vocalist (Junior 6-12 Years Old)
Ariel Franz
Azalia Davidson
Blair Kudelka
Vocalist (Modern Country - Male)
Brad Morgan
Daniel Jordan
Robert Abernathy
DC Music (Denzel Crabtree)
Aaron Carter
Caleb Kelley
Justin Keith
Noah Hunton
Dan Lepien
Rob Cole
Carl Wayne Meekins
Jake Bradley
Trey Knepp
Ryan Mundy
Brandon Lorenzo
Trey Knepp
Vocalist (Modern Country JMA Alum - Male)
Landon Heights
Sam Schmidthuber
Danny Kensy
Mark Blomsteel
Adam Calvert
Trey Calloway
Tommy Wood
Ryan Keown
Hutcheson Brothers
Chad Bushnell
Steven Cade
Nate Venturelli
Andy Davis
Joshua Michael
Shane Thornton
Vocalist (Multi-Genre)
Scott Webster
John Dennie
Todd Campbell
Robert Cristain Jordan
Zemira Israel
Maddie Rean
Lola Blu
Emily Drennan
Danni Stefanetti
Christina Gaudet
Brenda Best
Keely Leblanc
Charlie Pace
Vocalist (Outlaw)
Russell Lynch
Billy Payne
Darrell Davis
Brandon Lee
Lisa Richard
Trace Thompson
Vocalist (Pop)
Jack Austin
Austin Sands
Grant Shed
Grayson
Madi (Madison Hamilton-Greener)
Marvilla Marzan
Ada Leann
Katie Belle
Marisa Dawson
Mariel
Vocalist (R&B/Soul)
Deshon
Shardella Sessions
Charm
Jessie Laine
Cerissa Mcqueen
Alyssa Ruffin
Vocalist (Rock)
Ronda Ray
Caleb Lake
Tyler Gilbert
Kris Anders
Tommy Tea
Tim Henry
Pedro Espada
Robert Trosino
Danielle Bloom
Autumn Davis
Keely Brennan
Stefanie Jo
Vocalist (Traditional Country Female)
Deidre Bentley
Kristyn Harris
Lily Comer
Ruth Manning
Cleopatra Methula
Lee Newton
Leigh Pollari
Mackynsie Mckedy
Ja’net Eastman
Charlene Keyes
Tammy Kendrick
Donna Cunningham
Tina Patterson-White
Rachel Harris
Jessie Lyn Fisher
Vocalist (Traditional Country Male)
William Rigdon
Sean Poole
Sammy Sadler
Scott Dawson
Roger Adams
Brody Caster
Tyler Dozier
Jackson Truluck
Dalton Webb
Lonnie Bartmess
Lonnie Spiker
Vocalist (Young Adult 13-17 Years Old)
Cormac Thompson
Robert Levey Ii
Austin Mckedy
Ameri Shaye
Faith Parle
Sienna Rose
Cara Bishop
Gio
Macartney Reinhardt
Taylor Alyne
Mary Clare
Ashlyn Greene
Jadyn Rylee
Brayden Ryle
Phoebe White
Sofie Tabesh
World Artist
Prakash Slim – Nepali
Zemira Israel – Spanish, Haitian, Creole
Mike Hernandez – Spanish
Amanda Abizaid – Arabic
Laurie LeBlanc – French
Asta – Taiwan
Stone Age UG – Luganda & Swahili
Prem Murti – India
Pedro Espada – Spanish
Dimitris Nezis – Greece
Hilda Lamas – Spanish
C.C. Tennisen – German
Prana Kishore – Multiple Languages
Roerta Scime’ – Italian
Ban Brothers – Hindi
Cormac Thompson – Italian, German, Latin, Hebrew, Japanese
Hamilton's premiere Blues Party is back for another glorious year! The annual fundraiser (proceeds go the Bob Pedler Fund) in honour of Blues giant King Biscuit Boy (aka Richard Newell) is always the highlight of the season.
Sue Foley, an Ottawa Blueswoman signed to Waterdown's Stony Plain Records was the only Canadian to take home a Blues Music Award (specifically The Koko Taylor Award) at the ceremony on May 11, 2023in Memphis.
This was her reaction on Facebook:
Thank you to The Blues Foundation and to blues fans everywhere for your continued love and support. I am proud to be known as a traditional blues artist, and any way I can have my name associated with the great Koko Taylor is good for me.
