Preston Lauterbachs new book, The Chitlin Circuit and the Road to Rock N Roll explores the electrifying & colorful origins of the famous Chitlin Circuit, a loose trail of small town venues hosting black entertainers.

This time in our Behind The Keys series, we’ll take a look at the life of Memphis Slim. Slim brought his unique blues piano to the masses and helped to pioneer the popular sound of the blues in it’s 1950’s heyday.

Listen to the first track of the new album Here I Am from Nick Moss!

Eddie Turner, the dynamic guitarist and one-time Otis Taylor band member, doesn’t so much as play the instrument — he glides across the notes, creating an unmatched otherworldly mysticism.

Samantha Fish, a relative newcomer to the blues, has recently released a top quality, guitar-driven album, produced by Mike Zito, that touches on a number of styles and boasts several memorable tracks.

Today’s video features three famous Chess artists, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bo Diddley in a fantastic, slow-simmering version of “Goin Down Slow”.

On their latest album, the Kingsnakes are largely doing what they’ve done best for nearly two decades: Chicago Blues

We are deeply saddened to report that Willie “Big Eyes” Smith passed away early the morning of September 16, 2011 at his home in Chicago from a stroke. All arrangements are pending and information will be forthcoming.

The Blues Foundation is moving forward with plans to utilize some of their new space to create the Blues Hall of Fame.

Today in September 16, 1925, B.B. King was born in the rural Mississippi Delta. The king of the blues is 86 years young today, and still touring and entertaining crowds across the world.