Tuesday, July 31, 2007

In Memoriam: T99 Sings the Blues

As a way of commemorating the passing of Texas blues legend Jimmy T99 Nelson, I have posted an unreleased track from a mid-90s session I did with him. You can listen to it here.

It will only be there for a few days.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Farewell, Old Friend: Jimmy T99 Nelson Is Dead

Jimmy T99 Nelson died yesterday evening in Houston. He had been suffering from lung cancer. Roger Wood, a lover of the music and a dear friend to T99, gave me the sad news. Roger's book, Down in Houston, is the definitive word on the Houston blues scene.

Jimmy was the last of the great blues shouters, a house wrecker from the days gone by. There will be no more like him. Here's the proof.

He was also a friend like no other. When I called him from the West Coast in 1999, to tell him I had made the journey from Texas safely, despite being robbed along the way, the first thing he said was, "Do you need any money?"

I can see him now, sitting at the dining room table in his home on Calumet Street, good music on the stereo, a yellow legal pad in front of him, still writing great songs in his 80s.

Now he passes into memory, myth and legend.

To have called Jimmy Nelson my friend -- what can a life in music give, that's any better than that?

UPDATE:

By way of commemoration, I have posted an unreleased track from a mid-90s session I did with Jimmy. You can listen to it here.

It will only be online for a few days.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Seventh Heaven

After hitting No. 1 several times on Amazon's Top 100 Lives Blues CDs, our new release, The Last of the Best, has entered the Billboard blues chart at No. 7.

Can't link to the chart because it's a subscribers-only service, but take my word, it's a thing of beauty!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Oh My Lord, What A Time!

Home from Portland's Waterfront Blues Festival, where in addition to playing some music with my friends, I got to meet some cool people and even listen to some of my favorites. As always, the Blind Boys of Alabama delivered the healing. The Neville Brothers and Mavis Staples both just blew me away, and Charmaine Neville was a picture of genius in motion.

Thanks to all the blues fans for making our new CD -- "The Last of the Best: Live Recordings by the Paul deLay Band" -- the best-selling CD at the festival. Makes us all feel good.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Down by the Riverside

I'm off to play and visit old friends at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland. Keep track of what's happening with Tom D'Antoni, who's live blogging the festival this year.