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Winthrop

The Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival

About Me

Winthrop R & B Festival has been run by our Winthrop Music Association a non-profit organization for the past three years now. Held on the fifty acres of the Blues Ranch near the banks of the cool methow River at the foothills of the majestic North Cascades Mountain Range. The Blues festival is 1 mile from the western styled town of Winthrop. Stroll from the festival into town and browse the colorful shops and cafes. The Winthrop R & B Festival was conceived in 1987 during a late night conversation between Tim 'Too Slim" Langford and Jimmy 'The Blues" Smith in the infamous band room of the Winthrop Palace. Prior to this the shows had been at the Winthrop Barn with such acts as Paul Butterfield, Robert Cray, Elvin Bishop, Savoy Brown and Bo Diddley. As the attendance grew, a larger venue was needed spurring the late night conversation between Jim & Tim. This conversation blossomed into reality with the help of Producers; Jimmy & Fran Smith, Dale & Lucinda Fasse and Teri & Alan Parker. The first festival was held at the Winthrop KOA campgrounds just I mile east of the quaint little town of Winthrop thanks to the Meyer family. The festival was a one day event with the temperature being 105 degrees on that day. Featured acts were; Charlie Musselwhite & The Silent Partners, Seattle Women in R & B, Jerry Miller Band, Stevie & the Blues Flames and Too Slim & The Taildraggers. There were 1,200 people in attendance. Although the event was a financial loss, the organizers Jimmy & Fran Smith and Dale & Lucinda Fasse decided to make year 2 of the festival a go. Moving to the 5Y on Perrigin Lake, it continued to be a one day event and the temperature was slightly cooler with 102 heating up the crowd. Featured acts were; Lydia Pense & Coldblood, Savoy Brown, Lloyd Jones Struggle and Curtis Salgado. The festival was filmed by PBS out of Spokane. This was also the year that the Friday night street dance began in downtown Winthrop. Attendance doubled to 2,500 people. The 3rd Annual Winthrop Blues Festival had new producers: Steve Wood & Jimmy Smith as consultant. This is the 1st one hat Cholo attended. With enthusiastic fans the festival stayed with the same location. Featured acts were: John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers featuring Coco Montoya, ex Bluesbreaker/Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Jr. Cadillac and Too Slim & the Taildraggers. In 1991 & 1992 the 4th & 5th Festivals moved to Big Twin Lakes Resort with Steve Wood continuing as producer. Featured acts were: Koko Taylor, Long John Baldry, Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings, Big Daddy Kinsey & the Kinsey Report, Lonnie Mack, Robert Ward & the Lloyd Jones Struggle and Too Slim & The Taildraggers. The 6th Annual Winthrop Blues Festival stood on shakey ground when Steve Wood pulled out in early April. Festival organizers Jimmy & Fran Smith, Kathy Hart and Curtis "Cholo" Lehmkuhl made the mad scramble to pull the event together at the last minute. They rallied together to ensure that the festival would go on so as to not let the blues fans down. The festival was held at the Winthrop Baseball Field and City Park. Over 2,000 people showed up in support of the Festival and kept the blues alive in Winthrop for another year. Featured acts were: James Cotton Blues Band, Seattle Women, Charles White, Seattle Blues All-stars and Too Slim & the Taildraggers. In 1994 for the 7th Annual Winthrop Blues Festival with the cooperation of property owners Dr’s Michael Scott Sr & Jr a permanent home was created for the event located near the Methow River off SR20 just 1 mile west of the town of Winthrop. The site was a horse pasture, car garden, shack laden field in need of a little TLC baby. With a lot of hard working volunteers the festival organizers were able to create a workable space that has become known as “The Blues Ranch”. Festival producers that year were Jimmy & Fran Smith, Kathy Hart & Cholo Willsin and Doug Potter. Featured acts were: Bo Diddley, Canned Heat, J.J. Cale w/ Christine Lakeland, John Hammond Jr., Lonnie Brooks, Burnin’ Chicago Blues Machine,Big Time arah,Seattle Women,the No DeLay Band w/Linda Hornbuckle, Little Bill & The Bluenotes and the Alleycats. Year 8 brought even more site improvements with on-site camping & portable showers. The festival was expanded from a one day event to a 3 day event packed with great live music. The producers were Al & Terry Morrell, Kathy Hart, Jimmy Smith /consultant & Cholo Willsin stage mgr. Featured acts were: Booker T & the MG’s, Roomful Of Blues w/Sugar Ray Norcia, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Terrance Simien & The Maumau Playboys, Mark DuFresne Band and the late great Paul DeLay. Festivals 9 – 12 were produced by Allan & Terry Morrell & co-producer/stage mgr Cholo Willsin at the Blues Ranch. The site continued to develop & improve with a now permanent stage. Featured acts were: Elvin Bishop, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, The Chambers Bros, Charlie Musselwhite(2nd time), Delbert McClinton, Susan Tedeschi, Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors, Otis Taylor, Kim Wilson & The Thunderbirds, Doyle Bramhall Sr., Omar & the Howlers, Frankie Lee, Shemekia Copeland, Curtis Salgado, Percy Sledge & Too Slim & the Taildraggers. These artists were just a few who graced our new stage and fans with their musical talents in yrs 1996 – 1999. In the year 2000 the 13th festival the returning producers Jimmy & Fran Smith, Doug Potter, Randy Levine and Cholo Willsin brought fans yet another great program. This is the year that Ms Etta James was booked but cancelled due to health issues. The Staple Singers w/Mavis Staples were gracious enough to fill in at the last minute (Pops stayed home not feeling up to the trip), featured acts were: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Joe Louis Walker & The Boss Talkers, Long John Hunter, Tab Benoit, Walter “Wolfman Washington, C.J. Chenier, Chris Vincent, Daniel Castro, Mark DuFresne, Seattle Women & Too Slim & the Taildraggers. This was the largest Winthrop crowd ever with over 4,000 in attendance. The 14th Annual Blues Festival was the year of the fires. Smoke filled the valley and sadness reared its ugly head with the deaths of 4 local fire-fighters. The press was world-wide with the media stating Winthrop was ablaze keeping blues lovers away resulting in a shy attendance of 2,500 – 1,500 less than was needed to break even on the budget. The show must go on though and it did with such acts as: Ike Turner & The Rhythm Kings, the late Little Milton Cambell, Bobby Rush Blues Revue, Buddy Miles Express (RIP), Mr.Son Seals (RIP), Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers, Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Sista Monica, James Solberg, the debut of Eddie Cotton and our fav-Too Slim & the Taildraggers. Though attendance was low and the budget high festival organizers Jimmy Smith & Cholo Willsin tried to keep their spirits up as they looked towards the future. Festivals 15 – 17 were produced by Cholo Willsin & then wife Pam Lehmkuhl with help from Tammy Morgan, Jim Smith, Randy Levine & Doug Potter. Featured acts were: Tower of Power, Mighty Sam McClain, Denise LaSalle, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Big Bill Morganfield w/ Joe Louis Walker, The Original Lowriders, Henry Grey & Lil’ Buck Senegal, Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Eddie Cotton, Sonny Rhodes, Big Jack Johnson & the Oilers, Big Joe Turners Memphis Blues Caravan, David Gogo, Duffy Bishop, Jim Mesi Band & Too Slim & the Taildraggers and The Howlers. In 2005 the non-profit organization Winthrop Music Association (WMA) was formed to ensure continued success of the Annual Winthrop R & B Festival. WMA board members included Bill Stoberg, Robin Wheeler, Jimmy Smith, Cholo Willsin, Lisa Maxey, Doug Potter, Rich Reeves, Tammy Hammer, Erika Olsen and Jessica Smith. All of the board members have been associated with the festival for many years in one way or another. In the years 2005 – 2006 featured acts were: W.C. Clarke, Coci Montoya, The Mannish Boys w/ Johnny Dyer-Finis Tasby-Kid Ramos-Paris Slim & Rand Chortkoff. Renee Austin, Porter, Batiste & Stoltz, Anthony Gomes, Jason Ricci & New Blood, Janiva Magness, Kelly Thibodeaux & Etouffee, Rose City Kings & Too Slim & the Taildraggers plus many more regional acts. We have now finished with our 20th Anniversary with acts Charlie Mussellwhite (3rd time) Eric Burdon & the Animals, John Lee Hooker Jr., Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Polly O’Keary, The Fat Tones, Eddie Turner and Too Slim & the Taildraggers.The festival continues to be a success as a non-profit organization. The Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival in its history has drawn over 70,000 blues fans to the beautiful Methow Valley having an economical impact of over 15 million dollars to the local area. It has had five locations finding a permanent home at the Blues ranch located on Highway 20 just one mile north of Winthrop, WA. The average temperature is 90 degrees with clear blue skies. There has been one birth and two wedding with numerous future weddings blossoming due to the event and 2 decades of generations have been introduced to the blues. Too Slim & the Taildraggers have performed at 19 of the 20 years and continue to support the festival in every way. Jimmy Smith has been involved in the festival in one capacity or another for all 20 years and Cholo has been involved with 15 years running now. Without the support of the musicians, blues fans, volunteers, producers, vendors and festival organizers this event could not have survived all that it has endured. Thanks to ALL that have helped keep this festival alive and running for the past 20 years.

My Interests

"I'd rather be The Devil than To Be That Woman’s Man!" - Skip James"Leave your Ego, Play the Music, Love the People" - Luther Allison . . . .If it's the devils music, Satan must be awfully proud. Anon . . . .If you're not living on the edge, you’re taking up 2 much space. Anon . . . . ..."What's the point in listening to us doing I'm a King Bee when you can hear Slim Harpo do it?" -- Mick Jagger, 1968"Hey, move over people, just as fast as you can. Say, I know you're waitin' for me ‘cause I'm the Hoochie Coochie Man. -- Y'all know who.New Orleans is a piano town and there are number of piano players, that if you were to sit 'em at a B-3 would probably blow more roofs off than Katrina......... Sally StevensInclined To Rhythm . . .

I'd like to meet:

Peoples of all race, religion, sex & age who love to come together and have the best times of thier lifes listening to the best Damn Rhythm & Blues Music we can find to bring ya. I am strictly a site for blues peeps so if you doing rap or country or rock or alternative so don't bother asking 4 an ADD, I will not add you as a friend. Sorry, nothing personal,OK? join me @ www.winthropbluesfestival.com

Music:

It's the Blues Baby! Nothing but the Blues! Raw, Greasy, Stinky, Stanky, Stunky, Funky, Booty Shaking, Hip Grinding, Tongue Waggin', Low Down Dirty Blues Baby!

Movies:

Please visit me at www.winthropbluesfestival.com also check out my friends very hard work and dedication, NOW! www.DeltaMusicExperience.com
I made this MySpace Music Player at MyFlashFetish .com.

Television:

Ohh Yeah Baby! The 2nd Zen Blues Quartet disc titled 'Again And Yet Again' Right out the gate Zen Blues Quartet lets you know they are SERIOUS about their music with the Mike Finnigan penned 'What A Life'. A very tasty tune rich with musical talent and astounding vocals. Next is Tim Scott's 'I've Had Harder Times From Better Women Than You', with Curtis Salgado blowin' the mississippi saxaphone. This tune will surely getcha dancin'. Slowing down a notch with Steely Dan's 'Reeling In The Years' is a soulful gospel groove with Tim Scott & Mike Finnigan taking turns vocally and will have you huggin' your honey for sure. I've always dug the Lester Christian penned 'Let A Woman Be A Woman' but this version with Tim Scott vocals and some amazing horn riffs is pretty freaking cool. Tim again shows his soulful vocal abilities with 'Kiss And Say Goodbye' along with Finnigan & John March laying down some pretty tasty B3 & guitar licks on this track. Very nice & smooth 'Powerful Stuff' penned by Mike Finnigan and then a nod to Finnigans old employer 'Etta James' with Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's 'I Want To Ta Ta Ya' with some very dynamic & emotional playing involved on this tune. Next is a nod to the great NW with a Rich Dangel/Tim Scott penned instrumental 'Secrets Best Kept'. While John March is a very capable guitarist I still found myself thinking of Dangel and the many, many nights at the Scarlet Tree groovin' to this tune. 'Grits Ain't Groceries' sung by Tim Scott is such a fun tune but then you add Mike Finnigan singing and it becomes doubly fun. I have been hearing this tune for years without tiring of it. It'll surly get ya dancing even in your seats. The production and playing on this disc is of top quality and the players are some of the finest in the business. Tim Scott is a Seattle native and one of my all time favorite vocalist's. Tim's singing is soulful, passionate and full of conviction and range. He is also one very tasty bass player. Tim was a huge part of The Scarlet Tree house-band, 'The Reputations' with Rich Dangel, Denny Goodhew, Kurt Kolstad, Jim E. Holden, John Goforth, Mike Jaap, Steve Banks, Jeff Simmons, and a variety of only the best players in town all improvising and pushing one another to play their best. The Reputations also backed up such talent as Ms. Etta James, Big Joe Turner, George Benson and Buddy Miles just to name a few and I saw it all. Mike Finnigan is an integral part of The Phantom Blues Band that Taj Mahall recorded with and used for many years. Mr Finnigan also spent many, many years playing B3 for Etta James. Finnigan is a highly acclaimed session player that has played with too many to name here. Steve Ferrone is the touring drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and was with the Average White Band for many years. Being the 'groove in the pocket' meister he is Mr. Ferrone has played for pretty much everyone in many different styles/genres of music including Eric Clapton, Keb Mo & Duran Duran. John March is an excellent & talented guitarist who has played for Mitchell Forman, Jeff Young & The Kids, Alex Ligertwood & Bill Churchill. Along with our own Curtis Salgado guesting on this disc are also: Carmen Grillo, Marty Grebb, The LA Horns = Bill Churchill, Rev. Dave Bonuff & Ed Wynne. This is a most excellent outting for The Zen Blues Quartet and I suggest you get out and purchase it at any major record store along with their first recording. You may also catch The Zen Blues Quartet this summer headlining at the Mt. Baker Blues Festival this year. www.zenbluesmusic.com www.myspace.com/zenbluesquartetCurtis 'Cholo' Lehmkuhl Winthrop R & B Festival Blues 4 Food Fest 12927 - 3rd, Ave SE Everett, WA. 98208-6443 206-372-7741 www.myspace.com/bluesforfoodfest www.myspace.com/winthropbluesfestival----------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ZBQ.jpg

Books:

Between Midnight & Day, The B.B. King Treasures, The Language of the Blues from Alcorub to Zuzu, Harmonicas, Harp's & Heavy Breathers, Blues Access, Blues Review, Living Blues, No Depression, No One get Out Alive, Hammer Of The Gods, Red Road To Wellbriety

Heroes:

W.C. Handy, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Fessor Longhair, Charley Patton, J.B. Lenoir, Tampa Red, Elmore James, Petey Wheatstraw, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, J.B. Hutto, Blind Boy Fuller, John Lee Hooker, Hound Dog Taylor, Honeyboy Edwards, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Mama Thornton, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Mimphis Minnie, Billie Holiday, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Alberta Adams, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Nina Simone, Etta James, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Johnny Shines, Booker White, Mance Lipscomb, Bukka White, Big Joe Williams, Big Joe Turner, Slim Harpo, Blind Willie McTell, Arthur 'Big Boy" Crudup, Robert "Pete" Williams, Mississippi John Hurt, Big Walter, Little Walter, Byther Smith, John "So Blue" Westin, John Dee Holman, Frank Frost, Big Jay McNeeley, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood Jr, Lazy Lester, Sam Phillips, Clifford Antone, Bill Graham

My Blog

Mickey Waller - drummer

Mickey WallerDrummer with the Jeff Beck Group who was a familiar face on the 1960s music scene Peter MasonWednesday May 28, 2008The Guardian Mickey Waller, who has died of liver failure aged 66, w...
Posted by Winthrop on Sat, 31 May 2008 09:04:00 PST

July 18, 19, 20, 2008

Ok peoples heretis: Bobby Rush Blues Revue Elvin Bishop Terry Evans Blues Bad The original Blasters Rosie Ledet Zydeco Pianorama w/ DK Stewart, Kenny ’Blues Boss’ Wayne & Dave Vest w/...
Posted by Winthrop on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:30:00 PST

The Zen Blues Quartet

Ohh Yeah Baby!The 2nd Zen Blues Quartet disc titled "Again And Yet Again"Right out the gate Zen Blues Quartet lets you know they are SERIOUS about their music with the Mike Finnigan penned "What ...
Posted by Winthrop on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:34:00 PST