Our programs are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama , the National Endowment for the Arts , Alabama State Council on the Arts , Mercedes-Benz USA , Bonnie Raitt , First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa , Guitar Center Music Foundation , Crooks Foundation, Harrison Foundation, First Federal Bank of Tuscaloosa , the Law Offices of Turner, Webb & Roberts, P.C. , Nick's Kids Fund , Fender , Zildjian , dbTech , Peavey , Manna Grocery , OZ Records AND many generous individuals! Click here to see how you or your business can help support the Alabama Blues Project!
Music:
In recent years, national and international interest in blues has dramatically increased, and we hear about the blues from Chicago, Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi and other places, but when was the last time you heard any news about Alabama blues? Can you name a well known Alabama-based blues artist? Check out our links to Alabama artists to refresh your memory and learn about some new ones. Let us know if you can add to our list.
Mississippi, a state right next door to Alabama, is rich in blues history and talent but guess what . . .
The Blues didn't stop at the Alabama state line!
In fact, Alabamians have always been at the crossroads of popular music. W. C. Handy, the Father Of The Blues , was born in Florence, Alabama, as was Sam Phillips of Sun Records , the man who first recorded many of the early blues men such as Howlin' Wolf , and also went on to record Elvis Presley , Jerry Lee Lewis , Carl Perkins , and many more. Big Mama Thornton , born in Ariton, Alabama, first recorded the Leiber and Stoller song "Hound Dog" three years before the great Elvis Presley made that song into an early rock and roll classic. She jammed in the streets of Montgomery with Autaugaville native blues harmonica legend Wild Child Butler.
Mamie Smith's rendition of Crazy Blues, generally recognized as the first blues song ever recorded, was written by Mobile native Perry Bradford and was only recorded because of the efforts of Bradford and publisher and composer W. C. Handy. There is also a rich early piano playing tradition by Alabama musicians such as Walter Rolland and Cow Cow Davenport. These musicians backed many of the 1920s blues queens like Birmingham-based blues diva Lucille Bogan.
Well known Alabamians have played many important roles in the making of American music as we know it, but Alabama blues culture has sadly not yet been well documented. There is still not one book on Alabama blues, but we hope that with continued research and interest it will be possible to bring the recognition and attention that the Alabama Blues truly deserves.
Movies:
As part of Black History Month celebrations, on Monday, February 4th, 2008, Tuscaloosa’s beautiful and historic Bama Theater will be hosting the Tuscaloosa Honeydripper premier and the proceeds of the evening will go to benefit the Alabama Blues Project! A reception will be held prior to the screening and a blues band will entertain, including Henderson Huggins , Stephan Hundley and Carroline Shines , plus guest spots by some of our best blues camp students! The very big attraction of the evening is that the film's director, the great John Sayles and the talented producer Maggie Renzi will be present for a panel Q and A session with the public!
In 2006, the ABP was very excited to hear that director John Sayles ( Lone Star , Eight Men Out , Matewan ) and producer Maggie Renzi had chosen Alabama as the location of their new film, Honeydripper . The blues and the deep south are the themes of this thought-provoking movie, which includes lots of great music. Featured musicians include Keb' Mo' , Dr. Mable John , Eddie Shaw and Jerry Portnoy among many others.
The ABP is thankful that more and more people are realizing that Alabama has a rich blues culture and now Honeydripper can only help to spread the word. The film was shot in the southern Alabama towns of Greenville, Georgiana, Anniston and Midway in the late summer and early fall of 2006. It is interesting to note that part of Greenville's blues history includes being the home of 1920/30s blues harmonica player and recording artist Ed Bell, who was also known as “Barefoot Bill.â€
We were very happy to be asked to assist in finding possible musician extras for the film and Tuscaloosa-based veteran keyboard player Henderson Huggins and young Birmingham based drummer Stephan Hudley got parts!
Honeydripper takes us back to the genesis of rock 'n' roll - namely the '50s rural blues of the Deep South. The story depicts a second chance for an aging bluesman, a kickoff to a young guitar turk's career and the rise of rock 'n' roll itself.
The movie features an all-star cast including Danny Glover , Charles S. Dutton , Lisa Gay Hamilton , Stacy Keach , Mary Steenburgen , Yaya DeCosta and Sean Patrick Thomas . Featured musicians include Keb' Mo' , Dr. Mable John , Eddie Shaw and Jerry Portnoy among many others. The music supervisor was Tim Bernett , with original music composed by Mason Daring .
