.Andy Bean and Fuller Condon form the
Two Man Gentklemen Band.
They started as "buskers" in the NY subways.
They now appear in venues all over the US.
Here Andy bought a Murob "Hell on Wheels"

Our DJ friend CURT BROWN of  WSND 88.9 FM
had us make these for his Chicago friends
BOB KOESTER founder of Delmark Records and
BRUCE IGLAUER founder of Alligator Records

Our friend Vickie Darnell
is a writer for the
Big City Rhythm & Blues
Magazine. She had me
make this for the Editor and Publisher Robert Jr.Whitall

Louisville Bluesman
PORKPIE JAMES.
Vocalist & Guitarman
Get his latest CD "Crystal Balls and Voodoo Dolls" 
at CD Baby

GREAT NEWS!
two of our friends have been nominated by the
BLUES  FOUNDATION for the 2008 Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C.Handy awards) to be awarded May 8, 2008. HONEY PIAZZA (left) for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Award and DEANNA BOGART for Instrumentalist - Horn.
EVEN BETTER NEWS...THEY BOTH WON!

The GREAT NICK MOSS and the FLIPTOPS
a CLASSIC CHICAGO BLUES BAND
It was another GREAT evening (Jan 12-08) at the MIDWAY TAVERN in Mishawaka (our favorite blues venue).  You'll never find a band where the members switch instruments so often.  Nick sings, plays lead guitar, bass, and harp. Gerry Hundt plays guitar, harp, keyboards, bass, and a mean BLUES MANDOLIN ...that's right "mandolin". Piano Willie is on piano, organ and bass guitar.
Ed Kobek drives the whole band on drums. (sorry no pix of Ed)

It was such a treat to meet and spend some time with
Nick Moss.  We've enjoyed his music for so long and I wanted to pay him back in
a small way.  Here I present Nick with a Custom
MUROB signpost.

Multi-talented GERRY HUNDT is the band's "Utility Man" ....playing everything but the triangle and wood blocks.
You should pick up his latest CD "Since Way Back" on the Blue Bella label.

Previously Nick and the Band had
received 8 Blues Music Awards nominations.
4 MORE NOMINATIONS THIS YEAR
for the 2008 Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C.Handy awards) to be awarded May 8, 2008 given by the
BLUES  FOUNDATION .
ALBUM of the YEAR........"PLAY IT TIL TOMORROW"
BAND of the YEAR ....NICK MOSS and the FLIPTOPS
Instrumentalist-Guitar...............NICK MOSS
Instrumentalist-Other..........GERRY HUNDT

Check out Nick's BLUE BELLA RECORDS website

Master keyboardist
"PIANO WILLIE" Oshawny also sings and plays guitar & bass.  A great veteran boogie woogie piano bluesman.  A great talent and one of the good guys.

Nick with our friend VICKY DARNELL.  She's a regular contributor to  BIG CITY BLUES MAGAZINE I don't know if she's patting his belly or trying to grab the handfull of CD sales cash.

Our DJ friend CURT BROWN presenting a MUROB Signpost to legendary record producer BOB KOESTER of DELMARK RECORDS

A snowy Feb 1, 2008 we traveled to Kalamazoo, MI for the Budweiser
LEGENDARY RHYTHM and BLUES REVUE.  A land based version of the Legendary Blues Cruise featuring the fabulous TOMMY CASTRO BAND with our friend
DEANNA BOGART,  RONNIE BAKER BROOKS  and harp player MAGIC DICK. A fantastic high energy show. Sheila and I were happy to spend some time with Deanna and here's Ronnie signing a MUROB guitar cutout for Sheila's music room. 

Another great evening at the MIDWAY TAVERN Mishawaka, IN...Sun 10 Feb 08...zero degrees ...wind chill of 20 below.   With the fantastic KIM WILSON BLUES REVIEW with
Barrelhouse Chuck, Billy Flynn, Little Frank, Randy Bermudes (bass) & Richard Innes (drums).

It was a thrill meeting the founder of the Fabulous Thunderbirds Kim Wilson

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK on the keys and BILLY FLYNN on lead guitar.

LITTLE FRANK
fronts a popular local band.
Little Frank and the Premiers

Legendary Chicago pianoman BARRELHOUSE CHUCK
  Here I presented Chuck with a Murob signpost and he signed Sheila's Piano that hangs in her music room.  He's her HERO!

I presented a Murob signpost to Kim in appreciation for a fabulous evening of real blues.

Blues DJ CURT BROWN & rockability JUNIOR COMBS of JUNIOR and the Ignitors  one of the area favorites.

If  BILLY FLYNN comes to your town....Don't Miss him! Check his web site for his touring schedule.

In the crowd was bassist KATE MOSS...the better half of NICK MOSS.  Nick set in a few numbers with the band.

BRUCE KATZ BAND at the Midway Tavern....30-Mar-08
In addition to leading the BRUCE KATZ BAND,       Bruce also tours with GREGG ALLMAN
and FRIENDS BAND,  as well as playing with Levon Helm and John Hammond and dozens more.

BRUCE, ONE OF THE ACKNOWLEDGED MASTERS OF THE HAMMOND B-3
ORGAN WAS RECENTLY HONORED BY BECOMING A HAMMOND ENDORSEE,
JOINING A VERY SELECT GROUP OF ORGANISTS. He's also nominated for the
PINETOP PERKINS BLUES MUSIC AWARD PIANO PLAYER of the YEAR
The award ceremonies will be May 8, 2008.

The Legend BRUCE KATZ
in action on the Roland Piano

Bassist ROD CAREY and guitar
man CHRIS VITARELLO

I made this signpost for Bruce.
We love you, Bruce!

Bruce seemed to be pleased with
his first piece of MUROB folk art

Sheila and another one
of  her keyboard heros

Drummer RALPH ROSEN
is simply.....AMAZING!!!

CHRIS  VITARELLO
Guitar Wizard in action!

How come Sheila always catches
me with my mouth open???

<<<<<<<<<<<<
These youngers have a great future ahead of them. Check 'em out!

New friend
STEVE SLOAN
Steve is the Marketing Manager and co-owner of BLUES REVUE Magazine and editor of BLUESWAX

I presented this sign to Little Frank and Tom Moore...(the big guy ain't Little Frank... that's Tom). Check their website and order a CD or two. Frank regularly records and appears with Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eye" Smith, Kim Wilson and many others.

Guitar Wizard "Little Frank" Krakowski here with drummer Greg "Smokey" Campbell and Tom Moore....front man, vocalist, harp master and songwriter for the group.  If they come to your town
DON'T MISS THEM!! They're great!

The group's new bass man is Chicagoian Brad Ber.
A GREAT bass player clowns around while never missing a beat.   If he ever loses his shyness he'll be OK!

Please note the new stage sign
that I made for Albertina

Our Blues DJ friend CURT BROWN
& Rockabilly master JUNIOR COMBS

Dear friend Beth Carr
shares a laugh with Sheila

The Midway Tavern has a great dance floor and attracts dancers
of all stripes.....here's a couple of GREAT SWING DANCERS

BEAN BLOSSOM INDIANA BLUES, BREWS and BBQ FEST.....4-6 SEPT 2008
The day was to begin with the great drummer SAM LAY...unfortunately he was rushed to the hospital and could not attend...we pray for a complete recovery.
We had really looked forward to seeing Sam...he has played drums for Little Walter and played and recorded with Muddy Waters,
Howlin’ Wolf,  Lightnin’ Hopkins, James Cotton and was a founding member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Here Kris & Danielle receive a
"MUROB" folk art signpost

Indianapolis' favorite blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and Slippery Noodle recording artist
GENE DEER did double duty
filling both his AND Sam's time slots.
Gene is a great entertainer...we loved him!

TUF...."Trampled Under Foot Blues Band"
This is the band we "discovered" at the "Simply the Blues Festival" in Ft. Madison, Iowa
last May. This great family band is composed of three left handed siblings: Nick Schnebelen
on Guitar and Vocals......Danielle on Bass & Vocals.........Kris on Drums & Vocals
These kids have a great future ahead....check their web site and BUY SOME ALBUMS!
The band was the 2008 International Blues Challenge winner
Nick won the Albert King Award for the Most Promising Guitarist of 2008

What can we say about our friends ROD and HONEY PIAZZA and the MIGHTY FLYERS QUARTET
Rod on harp, Honey on the keys, "Henry C" (Carvajal) on Guitar and Dave Kida on drums. The band just gets better and better!
Go their website ....buy some albums....and check their schedule....if they come anywhere within driving distance...DON'T MISS EM!

We were overjoyed in May when it was announced that
our friend HONEY PIAZZA was named the
"PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER of the YEAR"
by the Blues Foundation .  The award formerly was called
the W.C. Handy Blues Award and is the
blues equivalent of a Hollywood "Oscar".

The honor is well deserved and long overdue!

DENNIS GRUELING and the JUMP TIME BAND
MIDWAY TAVERN - Mishawaka, IN  -  14 Sept 08

Doug and Dennis in action

The joint was jumpin'!

Steve & Dennis...a great team

Mookey slappin' the bass

Swinging Jump Blues Harp Man
DENNIS GRUENLING

The one and only....
STEVE GUYGER Harp Master

Detroit's finest guitar man
DOUG DEMING

One of the finest Bass players
"MOOKIE" BRILL

DENNIS GRUENLING has been
named Best Modern
Blues Harmonica Player
3 years in a row by Real Blues Magazine

Sunday nite was a
TRIBUTE to the GREAT
LITTLE WALTER
"I Just Keep Loving Him"

Little Walter Jacobs was the
greatest and most influential
harmonica player in blues history.

Go to Dennis' web site
and purchase the tribute album

New Jersey Drummer
TOM PAPADATOS
was great....but I don't have
a picture of him in action.
Drummers are always hidden in the back

It was ALBERTINA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
We really appreciate her efforts to "keep the blues alive"
here at the Midway Tavern

Notre Dame Professor & Musician
"JUMPING  GENE" HALTON
is a harp man fronting the
"OFF THE WALL BAND"
Check his web site...you'll like it!