RIP Robert 'Chick' Willis

Just heard that Robert 'Chick' Willis has passed on (It was posted on his Facebook page). He had been battling lung cancer for some time.

Above he is seen in 2005 playing show at Lamont's in PoMonkey Maryland (Charles County). He always put on a great show mixing straight blues with a few bawdy ones including "Stoop Down Baby" which was a hit for him in the late sixties. A cousin of Chuck Willis, I had the pleasure seeing him a number of times at Lamont's where he would play regularly. He wrote a variety of originals and did strong personal renditions of such blues classics as "Love Me With a Feeling" and "Let Me Play With Your Poodle."

In a 2006 review of the tribute record he did with DC area saxophonist Jacques Johnson, I wrote "Its been close to forty years since this writer acquired a 45 by one Chick Willis that included a solid rendition of Guitar Slim’s The Things I Used to Do. Shortly thereafter, Chick recorded another single that would generate his career defining song, Stoop Down Baby. Such a song can be a blessing and a curse because it does provide work but it is also an albatross that prevents folks from appreciating just how good and varied a blues performer he is as opposed to be limited to bawdy double entendre numbers."

Chick was a terrific, soulful singer and guitarist. He is part of a dying breed of blues artists today. It is becoming unfortunately rare to hear folks like Chick anymore at what are 'supposed' blues festivals.

Here is Chick from the last time I saw him performing (again at Lamont's in 2012). He certainly liked that outfit.

Its A Hot July Fish Fry For The DC Blues Society

Enjoying the Fish fry

Tomorrow, July 14 DC Blues Society is presenting its 8th Annual Hotter Than July Fish Fry ‘n’ Blues at the American Legion Post 41, 905 Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland. The entrance is on Fenton and the parking lot and garage. The $12 admission includes a fish sandwich and the music which will start at 4PM and will include 11 bands.

Saskia of the Unruly Blues Band

The blues starts at 4PM and runs until around 11PM and the bands performing are: Almost Blue; Blues Obsession; Dave Panzer & the Bluesicians; DC Blues Society Band with Ayaba Bey; Fast Eddie & the Slow Pokes; Ida Campbell; In Lay Mans Terms; Joyce Ettingoff; Unruly Blues Band; Tan Man Blues Band; and XPress. 2 other bands are waiting if a band can’t make it.

Ida Campbell

Highlights of the bands playing include WPFW’s Ida Campbell who is a fine singer in the Ruth Brown, the Williamsburgh, Virginia band, In Layman’s Terms, with Cole (14 on guitar), sister Logan (11 on bass) and mother Sandy Laymen on drums with a repertoire of classic rock and blues; the Unruly Blues Band featuring the vocalist Saskia that tied at the 2011 DC Blues Society Battle of the Bands and mix a variety of blues styles with terrific showmanship; and David Panzer and the Bluesicians which features the vocal and instrumental skills of Panzer who spent five years with the Midnight Mover, Wilson Pickett. More information on the line-up, including the schedule can be found at www.dcblues.org. Just click on the schedule link on the home page.

Dancing and Partying at the Fish Fry'N'Blues

In addition to the music there will be a Fish Fry includes fish sandwiches, fixings and cake. This starts at 4:30PM and runs until about 9PM. Beverages are available from the Legion staff.

Its the DC Blues Society's Memphis Blues Blowout at Lamont's

Preston Shannon

Next Saturday, July 21, the DC Blues Society and Lamont’s Entertainment Complex Present a Memphis Blues Blowout headlined by Preston Shannon as well as Daddy Mack. The music starts at 1:00PM with the DC Blues Society Band with Ayaba Bey followed at 2:00PM by Dr. S.O. Feelgood and then at 3:30, Jim Bennett, lady Mary and the Unique Creation band will present their brand of Southern Soul. The Daddy Mack Blues Band goes on at 5:00PM and Preston Shannon will start at 6:30PM. Advance tickets are $18 for members and $20 for nonmembers and $25.00 at the door. For information and Ticket Sales: go to the Blues Society’s website, www.dcblues.org or call Lamont’s at 301-322-1808.

Memphis-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter Preston Shannon is well known as one of the finest contemporary Bluesmen in the U.S. He delivers deep, soul-filled vocals, atop his burning, venom-tipped guitar chords - a blend of Southern-fried soul and blues; danceable, grooving tunes; and slow, soulful ballads.

The Daddy Mack Blues Band has been the house band at the Center For Southern Folklore on Beale Street in Memphis since 1998. Daddy Mack’s natural and soulful musical blend has been on stages from BBQ dives in Mississippi to halls in Paris. He’s known for his Albert King-like biting vocals, funky guitar licks, and his uncompromising notion of real Blues.

Jim Bennett

Jim Bennett has been entertaining for 45 years, the last 22 with vocalist Lady Mary and the Unique Creation Band. Bennett, who plays vocals in addition to his warm baritone vocals that have a cool quality like Jerry Butler. Lady Mary gives a contrasting style with more than a bit of sassiness, and they are backed by a bight band that adds the right amount of funk to the southern soul stew.

Dr. S.O. Feelgood adds his own very personable blues and downhome soul style while the DC Blues Society Band features Dr. Ayaba Bey. Dr. Bey is indeed a “griot” (a storyteller, also musician-entertainers from West Africa whose performances include tribal histories). She has traveled to Guyana, Brazil, the Caribbean, and hundreds of colleges/universities across the US sharing her his-torically-based educational theater/music programs.

It’s going to be a party so come prepared to stay the day, and maybe even into the night for the indoor After-Party! Pack your coolers and your lawn chairs (yes, you can bring both, and your cooler can be packed with your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic brew, and food). It takes place Rain or shine.

It takes place at Lamont's Entertainment Complex, 4400 Livingston Road, Pomonkey (Accokeek), MD.

Driving Directions From the DC Beltway/I-495, take Exit 3 onto MD-210 South, Indian Head Highway; continue about 14.3 miles and make slight left onto MD-227/ Marshall Hall Rd.; after 1.3 miles, stay straight on MD-224; and after another 1.3 miles, Lamont’s will be on the left.

Dr. S.O. Feelgood and Chick Willis Highlights of Lamont's Blues Fest

Chick Willis takes to the crowd at Lamont's

It was a nice day of downhome blues, Saturday May 19 at Lamont’s for a Blues Festival in PoMonkey MD. Featuring mostly Washington DC area performers along with the Stoop Down day, a few hundreds came out to the picnic grounds and Entertainment Complex.

Chet Hines aka Dr. S.O. Feelgood

The day started with the Lady Rose Band. Lady Rose is a good singer and her band is tight although the guitarist sounded a bit heavy handed at times. Also, the material was mostly covers with a fair amount of funk and soul and less focus on blues. Chet Hines aka Dr. S.O. Feelgood was up next with one of the highlights of the day. With a tight trio of backing musicians, Dr. S.O. Feelgood encouraged the crowd to party while he sang about his preference for full figured women with meat on their bones singing. He brings so much personality and interacts with the crowd so well and at one point sang his heart out withour a microphone.

Jim Bennett

Members of Clarence ‘Bluesmen’ Turner Band were late, so to help pass the time, Jim Bennett, a local southern soul performer of note did a couple of numbers including a blues. Bennett is a smooth, expressive singer in the vein of a Jerry Butler. After a further delay Clarence ‘The Bluesman’ Turner and turned a lengthy set (which pushed back the starting time for two headliners) that included a nice rendition of Little Johnny Taylor’s “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing,” as well as some blues warhorses like “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Chick Willis

Next up was Chick Willis, backed by Bobby Parker’s rhythm section. Opening up with his “Rib Shack,” it was a set of songs that might be familiar from Chick’s fans, but performed with feeling and panache as he went out into the audience a couple times, before performing his classic “Stoop Down Baby” to the audience’s delight. Bobby Parker came on shortly after “Stoop Down,” bring up the rest of his band, opening with a solid rendition of Guitar Slim’s “(You Give Me) Nothin’ But the Blues,” and some Albert King numbers that sounded as solid as eve. Dusk was approaching, so we left before Bobby’s set ended. Afterwards, there was an after-party inside with the soul-funk Gridlock Band.

Bobby Parker

It was a gorgeous day of weather for the music. Lamont’s will be celebrating its 22nd year on June 9 with a soulful revue that includes Eddie Levert, lead singer of The O’Jays; Frank Washington, lead singer of The Spinners; The Hardway Connection, previous winners of the International Blues Challenge and other groups. The Dc Blues Society will be presenting a day of blues at Lamont’s July 21 with the Daddy Mack Blues Band and Preston Shannon headlining.

Dancing to the Stoop Down man, Chick Willis

Eddie Daye RIP

Eddie Daye IMG_0514
Originally uploaded by NoVARon

Steve Kiviat has blogged on the City Paper's Music Blog that Eddie Daye passed away this past Thursday at the age of 78.Here is the link to Steve's obituary.

Vocalist Eddie Daye was a fixture on the DC music scene for about five decades. While leader of a 1950s vocal group, the Good Time Band, that included his wife, Denise, Daye and his group the Four Bars served as house band for Gee's 400 Club in Brentwood, MD, and Chuck & Billie's in Washington, D.C. Originally formed in the mid-fifties, they were influenced by groups like The Ravens and The Orioles and recorded for Jubilee and Shrine. Later he started Dayco to record the group. In more recent years he and Denise established themselves as DC rhythm & blues royalty.

This picture is from June, 2006 when Eddie Daye (and Denise) entertained the crowd at Lamont's as part of a bill headlined by Theodis Ealey. Highlight of his performance was him singing his blues, "(I Ain't No Dirty Old Man I'm a) Sexy Senior Citizen."

Farewell Denise Daye

I just found out that Denise Daye passed away March 27, 2008. She was 55 (born February 18, 1953).  She is pictured here with her husband Eddie (of The Four Bars fame) at Lamont's back in 2006. It was part of a terrific blues show headlined by Theodis Ealey and about there performance I wrote "Eddie Daye & Denise Daye [ ] did a strong set of oldies and soul before Eddie did what is now his signature tune, "I’m No Dirty Old Man, I’m a) Sexy Senior Citizen" simply out to outrace father time. Denise Daye was amazing in both her outfit and youthfulness. Material ranged from doowop to R&B-soul classics (Eddie did an amiable rendition of Tyrone Davis’ "Turn Back the Hands of Time") while Denise did Ike & Tina’s rendition of "Proud Mary."
The two were a DC institution for years and I remember the enthusiasm that Former DC Blues Society President Mike Roach had when talking about them. He even issued some of Eddie's recordings from Eddie's Dayco label in England on Mike's Stella label. She was a tremendous talent who I was privileged to have seen her perform. Belated condolences to Eddie Daye and family.
Here is a an article by Steve Kiviat from the Washington City Paper on Eddie and Denise Daye.

Bobby Rush, Chick Willis, and more coming to DC area May 26

PICT1496 Bobby & dancer
Originally uploaded by NoVARon.

Big Pre-Memorial Weekend Blues Festival takes place at Lamont's at 440 Livinston Road, PoMonkey (or Indian Head in Charles County) Maryland, Saturday May 26. Music starts with Jim Bennett & Lady Mary followed by Big G coming all the way from Richmond. Then DC's legendary Bobby Parker is up with The Blues Night Band, followed by Chick Willis who will play with your poodle and also do "Stoop Down Baby, but insofar as he is playing with Jacques Johnson, one should expect some Albert King tributes and the saxman maybe will do his "Root Doctor." Finally Bobby Rush, appearing at Lamont's for the 1st time who certainly get the crowd really going. Hey the show is on the picnic grounds (unless weather forces it inside) and will end around sunset with an afterparty going on afterwards. So you can spend a day at one of the best lineups in this area and still go out and catch some more blues wherever you want to.
The phone number for Lamont's is (301) 283-0225