During her 25 years as a professional blues singer, Big Time Sarah has built a solid reputation worldwide with regular tours in the U.S. and abroad. She started sitting in during the late 1960's with Louis & Dave Myers, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Magic Slim. This album features five new songs Sarah collaborated on with songwriter William Bolden & arranger/guitarist Rico McFarland. Although more than capable of wringing the last drop of soul out of a slow burner, most of Sarah's music is about having a big, good time, and she delivers it with gusto.

Slim is joined by His House Rockers, feat. Matt "Guitar" Murphy, feat. 2 instrumentals, 3 songs not available since the 78s & 4 never before released alternate takes.

It's Wolf and Waits, Louie and Leonard (Cohen, that is). It's thumping bass that could be behind Charlie Feathers or J.B. Lenoir. It's a trap set from a burlesque theater and it's the kid who wanted to sound like Beiderbecke. It's Route 66 taking you West and Old Route One bringing you up the California coast and home... and it's literate. But not literate enough to get in the way of a good time. Here, Morey (on vocals, harmonica and guitar) presents 19 originals recorded in June of 2002, joined by Joe "Tubb" Faria, Scott Pittman and guest Rick "Cookin'" Sherry on harmonica and clarinet.

One of the hottest guitar slingers in Chicago, Coleman hits with his debut American release; in 1979, at the age of 23, he joined James Cotton's band & stayed with him for seven years - since then he's worked with Eddy Clearwater & Syl Johnson, and has had several European albums; the songs on this CD reflect his varied influences, from Junior Wells to Isaac Hayes to Jimi Hendrix.

Bandleader, blue guitarist & producer Specter has earned a international reputation as one of the premier young talents on the Chicago blues scene; this is his 6th Delmark album & it's an instrumental program combining Chicago blues, jump blues & sometimes jazz.

Veteran blues singer/guitarist has the vocal urgency & immediacy of singers like Otis Redding & Wilson Pickett; Ward pioneered the use of the Magnatone amplifier which was featured on many of his 1960s recordings as Robert Ward & the Untouchables - here he presents 10 new originals done in his trademark sound.

Ragtime pianist/composer adds to his repertoire on his 3rd Delmark album - here he has documented his major inspirations, creating compelling & passionate pieces.

This 1997 recording was James Wheeler's debut as leader. James had played guitar in the bands of Otis Rush (for seven years), B.B. King, O.V. Wright, Billy Boy Arnold, Otis Clay, Mississippi Heat and Willie Kent. "The Chicago native and prolific songwriter exudes a relaxed, knowing authority... simple, grounded, no-nonsense blues from the soulful elder with a milk chocolate voice." - Jazz Times with Billy Flynn, guitar; Ken Saydak, piano; Bob Stroger, bass; Vern Rodgers, drums; Golden "Big" Wheeler, harmonica (on two songs); and guest vocalist Gloria Thompson-Rodgers. Features eleven original compositions and covers of "I'm Just Your Fool" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". (Previously deleted:4/1/06. Original release date:3/24/98)

Despite the successes Tad Robinson, Steve Freund, Ken Saydak, Harlan Terson and Marty Binder have achieved over long parallel careers, there was some unfinished business to attend to. Longtime bonds, which sometimes elude conscious recognition, drew them to Delmark's Riverside Studio on Chicago's North Rockwell Avenue in October of 2017. It was a joyous musical and artistic reunion. They had all recorded for Delmark over the past decades. Now it was time to join together again, as equals who had shared a lifestyle and craft, each in his own way, each with his own voice. So they took a week away from their routines to share a brief moment, frozen in time on Back To Chicago.

Quintus McCormick's acclaimed Delmark debut from 2009 Hey Jodie! (DMK 801) was one of the best soul-blues albums of the new millennium's first decade. Quintus' second CD Put It on Me! (DMK 815) proved he is one of contemporary Chicago's brightest stars. And now the prolific songwriter is back again with new joints, ready to pop. Plus there's Quintus own personal spin on covers of the Beatles' Oh! Darling, George Jackson's Still Called the Blues and Old Time Rock And Roll and more. Great blend of straight ahead blues, soul blues, r&b, funk and soul music. Anyway you look at it, it's Still Called the Blues.

Blues artist Jimmy Dawkins had his own record label in the 1980s, Leric Records, with 45s issues by Tail Dragger, Queen Sylvia Embry, Little Johnny Christian and Nora Jean Wallace. Delmark is re-issuing these recordings now on CD for the first time with the addition of unissued sides by Vance Kelly and Big Mojo Elem. 15 songs, 60 minutes with various sidemen including Jimmy Dawkins, Johnny B. Moore, Lafayette Leake, Willie Kent, Eddie "Jewtown" Burks, Michael Coleman and Chico Banks.

LONESOME HIGHWAY

Chicago's Jimmy Burns accompanies his soulful, countrified voice with unstoppable rhythms and sure-handed solos. His vibrant, heartfelt blues and boogies echo the Mississippi Delta, where he was born and raised. - Guitar Player review of "Leaving Here Walking" (DMK #694). "Back to the Delta" reflects those same influences with 13 new original songs including "Juke, Juke, Juked," "Stranded in Clarksdale," "Country Boy in the City" and others. The title track is about Jimmy's hometown just up the road from Tutwiler, where the blues was born.

The Rockin' Johnny Band has been one of Chicago's most loved blues bands since 1995. Their Monday night residency at the Smoke Daddy led to Straight Out of Chicago (DMK 720), the first CD. Their original, energetic approach made them a strong draw bringing in blues aficionados, every musician in town and a younger crowd that normally didn't go hear blues bands. The Rockin' Johnny Band plays modern Chicago blues, but also ventures into funk, rock, and swing. With Rick Kreher, rhythm guitar; John Sefner, bass; Steve Bass, drums; Big D, harmonica. Grim Reaper features many new original compositions including It's Expensive to Be Broke, One And One Ain't Two, Shoe Leather & Tire Rubber.

The blues vocalist/songwriter/bandleader/harmonica player is now in his 73rd year and is not slowing down one bit. On this brand new August 2007 recording, Arthur's performance is powerful and amazing.

Delmark's 55th anniversary blues bash at Buddy Guy's Legends on March 7, 2008 featured most of Delmark's local blues roster, a Delmark Day proclamation from Mayor Daley and a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for the groundbreaking Hoodoo Man Blues album. Live performances by Lurrie Bell, Tail Dragger, Zora Young, Jimmy Johnson with Dave Specter, Aaron Moore, Little Arthur Duncan, Eddie Shaw and Shirley Johnson.

This is country blues at it's best from the master of the nine string guitar. It's also the first new Big Joe album on Delmark in 30 years, and it features recordings made in St. Louis from 1958 which also gave US "Piney Woods Blues" (DMK #602) and "Stavin' Chain Blues" (DMK #609), as well as from recordings made in Chicago from 1961 which also gave US "Blues on Highway 49" (DMK #604) and "Nine String Guitar Blues" (DMK #627). Bassist Ransom Knowling accompanies on three songs and their studio banter is priceless! More blues tales from one of the greatest story-tellers of all time.

Shirley is back with that same blend of traditional good-rockin' Chicago blues, smoldering R&B and poppin' soul she is known for. Almost all of the 14 songs on Blues Attack are new original compositions by various musicians on the CD however there are great covers of classics "Unchain My Heart" and "634-5789"."Raised in the church but evidently born to sing the blues, Shirley Johnson belts like a spiritual daughter of Koko Taylor, flexing her husky voice on ballads and up-tempo love songs, hitting gravel when she reaches for a higher note or pushes her volume." - Ted Drozdowski, Pulse!

Chicago music buffs eagerly anticipate the second weekend of June for the annual Chicago Blues Festival and if that weren't enough of an incentive to bring out-of-towners into our city, it's also when the Bob Koester's Jazz Record Mart hosts it's annual Blues Brunch. This CD was recorded at the 2005 Blues Brunch with Michael Coleman's group acting as the core band. Also features Willie Kent, Bonnie Lee, Little Arthur Duncan (all three now passed away making this disc all the more crucial), Lurrie Bell, Steve Freund, Zora Young, Shirley Johnson, Tail Dragger and Aaron Moore. An entertaining hour-long smorgasbord of no-nonsense straight ahead Chicago blues.

Sharon Lewis unleashes another extraordinary Delmark album; Grown Ass Woman features 12 new original songs with special guest appearances by Sugar Blue and Joanna Connor. In a review of her first Delmark album Rosalind Cummings-Yeates said "The Real Deal" (DMK 816) qualifies as one of the best blues albums of the year" - Illinois Entertainer, December 2011. The new album kicks off with "Can't Do It Like We Do" a tribute to the current Chicago Blues sound and scene. "Hell Yeah!" is a total party jam, there's plenty of soul like "They're Lying" and "Call Home", and "Freedom" is a timely song which points out that "freedom cannot be freedom until freedom means freedom for everyone!"

Giles Corey's credits include being in the bands of Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues and Otis Rush. Giles also played and recorded with Syl Johnson, Mississippi Heat and Buddy Miles. The talented singer/guitarist was a founding member of the funk/blues/rock & roll powerhouse Lubriphonic. When Lubriphonic stopped touring in 2011, the seed was planted for Stoned Soul, Giles' debut as leader. The band features Marty Sammon on keys, Joewaun Scott on bass and Rick King on drums. The album features eleven new originals and covers of "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You", a 1971 hit for Wilson Pickett and Gary Clark Jr.'s "Bright Lights". Stoned Soul features a unique blend of roots music, rich in history yet contemporary and forward-looking.

Reviews of Toronozo's first Delmark CD were overwhelmingly glowing. 11 new original compositions ranging from straight ahead blues to funky soul to the psychedelic rocked out title track. Guitarist Lawrence Gladney and bassist Larry Williams return but this time around drummer Brian "BJ" Jones keeps the booty grooves shakin'. "With consistently powerful performances from Cannon, a batch of compelling original songs, and the exemplary band work, Leaving Mood is a must-hear CD that should rank among the year's best." - Living Blues "Southside Chicago native Toronzo Cannon is a genuine triple threat artist (guitarist/singer/songwriter) as he amply demonstrates on Leaving Mood." - Blues Revue.

Mike Wheeler has been playing the blues for almost 30 years and has played with Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmy Johnson, Son Seals, Willie Kent and a who's who of today's Chicago Blues!!. Mike is an extraordinary blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He wrote most of the material Self Made Man including the title track where he sings "I'm a self made man and I made myself have the blues". Mike is accompanied by his regular group including Brian James, keyboards; Larry Williams, bass; Cleo Cole, drums and special guest Omar Coleman, harmonica on three songs. Others songs include "Get Your Mind Right", "Movin' Forward", "I Don't like It Like That", "Here I Am".

We like our blues with a dose of funk, soul and all other kind of stuff, says Omar Coleman. Eventually these supposedly separate genres run into each other especially with the new generation of blues artists taking over. Even though it was only available for the second half of the year Omar's Delmark debut Born & Raised was #15 on Living Blues magazine's top radio albums of the year. In the LB review of the album Roger Gatch said "The album bears the mark of an artist who is appropriately confident in his abilities as a singer, harmonica player and songwriter and who is steeped in the classic blues sounds of his home city yet unafraid to take them in a more contemporary direction."

Sleepy John Estes was one of the most individual of all recorded blues singers. He sang with phrasing that fairly dripped with expressiveness in a high crying tone that seemed often like he was speaking to the listener. The songs he wrote were well suited to this treatment, dealing frequently with his and his neighbors' lives. - Gerald Brennan. This session is from July 19, 1974. None of these performances have ever been issued before. Estes, vocals, guitar; Hammie Nixon, vocals, harmonica, kazoo.