The Best Friend I Never Met

My wife, Bridget used to ask me, "Who's this guy who keeps sending you jokes on the email?" "Oh that's my buddy, Dennis from Memphis," I'd answer. We never met in person, but we emailed back and forth for more than 10 years. I guess that's the way things are done in these digital days in which we live. That's good and bad. Bad in the fact we never met. Good in the fact we never would have, if not for e-mail and message boards. Everytime I made it to one of the blues festivals nearby, Dennis had a conflict, and everytime he made it somewhere I might have gone, I had a schedule conflict, so we never got to shake hands and meet in person.

The other day, I sent Dennis an email, and received a response he had passed away suddenly of a heart attack. Needless to say, I was shocked, just like so many other blues music enthusiasts in the Mid South. There was a nice article in the Commercial Appeal.

For so many years, we emailed back and forth about his beloved Memphis Tigers and of course, the Blues. He was always trying to book me to play in Memphis, but I always had scheduling conflicts with clubs closer to home, which paid better than those on Beale Street, and other festivals. Of course, now, I wish I had taken him up on his offer, at least once. Nevermind the money. I wish I had done it for a friendship.

Maybe one day, we'll meet in the great Blues hereafter. In the meantime, I'll remember our friendship and will try not to put off any more opportunities to spend time with my friends. Friends and family are truly the most important things on this earth.

Feel like Jammin'

We've been blessed to jam with so many friends over the years, but I was thinking the other day, who would I love to have jam with us. Several came to mind, but many of whom you might not have heard. I guess I should, first of all, point out the etiquette of jamming. The unwritten rule is that a picker/singer should NEVER invite themselves. One should only do it if the band invites them. We have so many folks who invited themselves to jam with us. A few promised that they were "great" singers or players, and of course were either lying or thought they were so much greater than they were. Sooooooo....rule of thumb....if I don't know you or have heard you.....don't ask....it's in bad taste anyway. Here's a few who have an open invitation:

I thought of Paul Size of The Red Devils. Now the Red Devils flamed out a long time ago, but in their time, they were awesome. Size was "The Kid." The Red Devils go back to LA in the time of one of my favorite bands from that era, The Blasters. In fact, I think the drummer used to be in the Blasters.



There's always a place on our bandstand for Lou Ann Barton, and/or the great Derek O'Brien. I actually met O'Brien once and he was awesome. He told me, "any friend of Snooky's (Pryor) is a friend of mine!"



I've been blessed to play Eddie Pennington's festival in Princeton and have known him for years. He's such a dear person, but dang it, I've never hauled him up onstage with us, even though Alonzo, his son (another extremely talented picker) has jammed with us. Eddie's is at least 200% more talented than I'll ever be and such a dear soul. Several years ago, at the Chicago Blues festival, at Andy's Jazz Club, Dave Spector's drummer came up to me and started talking and when he found out I was from Western KY, the first thing he asked me was, "Do you know Eddie Pennington?" Whenever someone asks me, "Who's the beat guitar player in Western Kentucky, I don't hesitate...Eddie."



Also, Eddie's buddy, whom I've never had the pleasure to meet: Tommy Emmanuel.



I think jammin' with Nick Curran would be a hoot!



Gosh, I'd love to jam with Hubert Sumlin. I met him once and he's such a nice person, along with being a legendary player!



I can't leave out my fellow Gibson Countian, Scotty Moore. One of my biggest thrills was when he signed my guitar!



There are so many more. I love jamming and I love spontaneity. To me, that's what music is all about.

Protection Can Hurt Sometimes

We just had a gig cancel. Now I've had gigs cancel before for various reasons: sickness, groom backed out of wedding, plumbing problems at club, etc, but this one was a first. The person who hired us called me and told me was so sorry, but he had to cancel us because he was being threatened by the Performance Rights Organizations, including BMI, ASCAP & SESAC. They were demanding thousands of dollars for the rights to have music from their artists played at his venue. This is not something new which is happening, but it's the first time it's happened to me.

In these tough economic times, the performance rights organizations are more vigorously protecting their artists by trying to "go after" the places where music is played, be it by live band, DJ or even radio. I can understand that. On the other hand, they're choking off the chances that starving or lesser known artists have to play music, hone their craft and make a little pocket change.

I have to think this aggressive campaign is aimed more at getting additional revenue for Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks & The Rolling Stones (not to mention BMI, ASCAP & SESAC) than it is for Lew Jetton. Ironically, I'm SIGNED TO BMI, and they've helped me in the past, but by the same token, I have a house payment coming up, and I could have used that money. I know they're "protecting" me, but it hurts.....it hurts me.....in the pocketbook.

1 Wedding, & a Funeral, and a little Blues

I haven't been able to blog as much lately. It's my busy time of the year. Lot's of gigs and busy with my "day job" too. This time of year, I'm trying to make hay while the sun shines, so I'm usually working both jobs as hard as I can. Sometimes playing on Fridays and/or Saturdays. Sometimes working all day and then playing that night. It's tiring sometimes, but I love it.

I'm at the point of my life where I start going to more funerals than weddings. It's tough to say goodbye and realize that my time is getting nearer, but that's the reality. That's life. It's beautiful, but it's also fleeting. It makes me want to tell my wife, even more, how much I love her. It makes me want to tell my family, even more, how much I love them. Also, for some reason, it makes me want to create (music) more and more. I'm going to try to do just that. I know that eventually, my voice will be silenced.

I've been to several funerals/visitations this year to say goodbye, and to one wedding. This past weekend, my beautiful niece Jodi's wedding was really nice. I know it was tough in a way, because she lost her dad a few weeks ago. Her dad, Johnny, was a high school friend of mine, who was married to my sister for several years. He was only a couple of years older than me and growing up, I always thought Johnny was the coolest. He definately marched to his own beat. At the reception, Jodi asked my father to "step in" for her late dad for the father-daughter dance. I thought this was so perfect, as we almost lost my dad a few months ago. He fought and fought and rebounded, much to the astonishment of doctors who didn't know him as well as we did. For a long time, I've thought my dad was the coolest too. This just proved it one more time.

Weddings and funerals are symbolically, beginnings and endings, but in many ways, they are both times to celebrate life, and love. In between, we need to celebrate and appreciate life and love, too.

Playin & Workin

Played the Spring Into Summer Festival in Oak Grove, KY (near Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne!) Had great time. Beautiful amphitheater! Later, did an interview on WKDZ.





Afterward, ran into my old HS buddy, Ken Nance, a retired Screaming Eagle himself! We shared some BBQ and some memories! Great day!

(Photos courtesy WKDZ, Rachel Vickrey)

Rain, Rain Go Away

Rain played a big factor in the Lowertown Art and Music Festival as hard rains on Sunday really hurt attendance. In fact, we, along with several other bands were told we didn't have to play if we chose. Some bands packed it in and left town. Not me. I played on! I had driven up from Fulton and to be honest, wouldn't have felt right cashing the check if I had not held up my end of the contract. Also, we had two small groups who had driven up from Tennessee to Paducah, just to hear us play, so I didn't want to let them down.

Right before our set, I had a conversation with Nathan Blake Lynn, a very talented songwriter/singer who plays solo, and with the popular band "Bawn in the Mash." They had already taken down the stage on which he was to perform, so he asked if he could do a few tunes while we set up. I thought it was a great idea, plus I wanted to hear him play some of his songs, so it worked out great.

It's always tough with the weather this time of year. Kinda weird in that the culprit this time is a pesky low pressure center to our west which has been moving at a snail's pace and keeping us in relatively the same pattern for several days. Hopefully, it'll be out of the way by Friday, when we play at the Viceroy Amphitheater in Oak Grove, Kentucky for the Spring into Summer Festival.

Found out today, I'll be back at the Lion's Club Telethon of Stars in November. My 20th year there. Where does the time go!?! It's a super good time and a super cause. One of the beneficiaries of the Telethon is Easter Seals Western Kentucky, which we at PATS work with. They're fantastic folks and perform a fantastic service and I couldn't be happier than to play my heart out to help them.

Nice article on the 20th anniversary of Hot August Blues!

I keep getting hit up with the question of when I'm going to put out another CD. The answer is, as soon as I can. I just about have enough material to do it, however, the economy is pretty tight right now...as if I have to tell you that! I'm planning and hoping though. I still have some stories to tell.

I wish "Current" would ask me what's on MY Ipod! It might be surprising!

God Bless you all!

When I Need To Recharge, I Head To The Delta

I'm from West Tennessee. I remember the cotton fields from my childhood. When I need rejuvenation, that's where I go back to.

I seek out Junior:

I seek out R.L.:

I seek out Paul "Wine" Jones:

I seek out Big Jack Johnson:

And of course, my mentor in the blues, the late, great Snooky Pryor. God Bless you Snooky, I miss you so much.