JIMMIE LEE ADAMS SCORES RECORDING CONTRACT IN MEMPHIS

Veteran Quad Cities blues voice Jimmie Lee Adams has been signed by Nasha Recording Company in Memphis, Tennessee. A longtime favorite in this area, Jimmie Lee was born in Brighton, Tennessee. Growing up in a Baptist congregation, Adams began singing Gospel at the age of seven, and eventually sang with the Southern Aires of Gates Tennessee. After a five-years stint in the blues clubs of Los Angeles, Jimmie Lee returned to the Gospel music scene. In 1991 he returned to the Blues, and gained the attention of local producer Bobby Lane. For the past eight years, Jimmie Lee Adams has fronted some of the Quad Cities most revered Blues and soul ensembles.

It was Lane’s demo recordings of Jimmie Lee Adams that lead to the deal signed with Nasha in April. Adams comments that "its been a long time comin,’ and its a blessing in disguise." The demo tracks included the syncopated soul anthem "Love On," and the silky-smooth, B. B. King-styled Blues of "Aint No Use." Jimmie Lee added, "I’m prayin’ that this is my time," and noted his main influences as B. B. King, Bobby Bland, and Little Milton Campbell. Anyone who has ever heard Jimmie Lee Adams, either with New Complexion Band or the Steady Rollin’ Blues Band, knows he delivers each and every song -straight from the heart - each and every night. Congrats and kudos to Mr. Jimmie Lee Adams, one of the Quad Cities’ premier, true Blues voices. Even though we’ll agree that its been a long time comin’, we sincerely hope that Jimmie Lee isn’t a long time gone - when it comes time for him to head out on that blues highway. We are very fortunate to have had him call the Quad Cities home, and to have been blessed with the gift of his voice and talent.

SHANE JOHNSON’S BLUE TRAIN WINS IOWA BLUES COMPETITION

Q. C. favorites Shane Johnson’s Blue Train traveled to Des Moines to take the cake on the 1999 Iowa Blues Competition. Blue Train came out strong on Court Avenue in Des Moines, Saturday, May 15th, and bested runner-ups The Soul Providers (Des Moines Region Finalists), and third place Don Boyle Band (Cedar Rapids Region Finalists). This was also two years running for the Blue Train as Quad-Cities Region Finalists, this year finishing ahead of Big E & The Blues Biznes, Mojo Risin', and the Twin Towers Blues Band during the April 30th showdown at Rock Island Brewing Company.

As winners of the Iowa Blues Competition finals, Blue Train will receive first place prizes of $1,000 cash $1,000 travel expenses to compete in Memphis’ International Blues Talent Competition, eight hours of recording studio time, a paid appearance at this year’s Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, and a $300 gift certificate for Rieman Music. Congratulations from True Blue to Shane Johnson’s Blue Train, and break a leg in Memphis!

PHYLLIS WETHINGTON’S PREMIER BLUES CD OUT THIS MONTH!

The Phyllis Wethington Band ‘s new blues CD "Let Loose" is due for release by the end of June, but you can order your copy in advance via Brass Sail Studio. The shelf and bandstand price will be $15.00 each, but Brass Sail is offering a discounted advance price of $13.50 pre-paid, via check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. For more information, e-mail: BrassSail@qconline.com, or phone (309) 762-1315.

OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER WITH BLUES FROM SPRINGFIELD…

Harry Nino and Reggie Britton are a dynamic true-blues duo from Springfield, Illinois, and their self-titled CD also features Eric "B.B." Tinsley on bass, Brian Moore on alto sax, Frank Parker on trumpet, and Pat Bowe on guitar. The sound is fat and funky, and includes great Britton-Nino original music as well blues classics by Jimmy Rogers, Yank Rachel & Taj Mahal, and even a fun cover of Sinatra’s signature "That’s Life." Produced by Nino and Britton at Digitracks in Springfield, Illinois, this is smooth, home-grown, midwestern Blues. We hope to see Oysters Rockefeller back in our neck of the woods soon. For more, visit their web site at: www.oystersrockefeller.com or e-mail: hnino@juno.com.

JUST A REMINDER…

Don’t forget to register for a chance to win a set of tickets to see John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Bnois King and Smokin’ Joe Kubek at the Col, Friday, June 25th. Snail mail entries to True Blue, Quad-Cities Online, 1720 - 5th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, 61265. To enter by e-mail, send your name, address, phone number and return e-mail to: trueblue@qconline.com. You must be 18 years of age to enter, and winners will be contacted by phone and/or e-mail. Limit: one entry per person - multiple entries will be discarded.

FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD…

‘Just a light load this month, Blues brothers and sisters. We didn’t find any new blues for you to use in the mailbox this month, but we’re sure to be expectin’ some soon. You’ll just have to toss a few ‘ol Muddy, Wolf or T-Bone Walker disks on the player, sit back and enjoy yourself for now. It will no doubt do your True Blue souls good to reach back to where it really all came from. We’ll be back at this crossroads again same time next month, with some more for ‘ya to chew on and, until then…

Blues to ‘ya!