Camden website is up & running! - September 6, 2008
www.bluesbash.com/camden will give you the full details for the 12th annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, October 2-4, in Camden, SC
Shrimp City Slim: News
Tropical Storm Hanna should not affect Pawleys Island gig on Saturday night - September 5, 2008
So we will see you there!
Southern Comfort back in as name sponsor of Lowcountry Blues Bash! - September 4, 2008
Confirmed today, "SoCo" is back in for the third year - 19th annual Bash will be February 6-15, 2009 in Charleston. Woo hoo!
Tropical Storm Fay having effect on St. Augustine gigs this weekend - August 21, 2008
Weekend at A1A Aleworks ("Gator Trio") regrettably cancelled due to heavy weather and dangerous driving. See you in October!
French tour going great...Cognac festival with Wanda a major success! - July 29, 2008
Wanda and the band knocked 'em out at Cognac Blues Passions this past weekend. Check out www.wandaj.com/news.html
for Jocelyn Richez's review.
Five gigs left for me in metro Paris with Dr. Pickup this week. Please note: added Wed 30 July at Charlie Birdy in Belvedere. Hope to see you there!
for Jocelyn Richez's review.
Five gigs left for me in metro Paris with Dr. Pickup this week. Please note: added Wed 30 July at Charlie Birdy in Belvedere. Hope to see you there!
Line-up complete for Carolina Downhome Blues Festival - July 23, 2008
...October 2-4 in Camden. Will be posted soon at www.bluesbash.com/camden
If you would like more info, pls send us an email at mail@bluesbash.com
If you would like more info, pls send us an email at mail@bluesbash.com
SCS included in new book on Carolina music - July 3, 2008
Thanks to Clair de Lune for the piece "Gary Erwin: Charleston's 'Shrimp City Slim' in the new book "Making Notes" published by Novello Press ( www.novellopress.org )
John Coltrane, James Brown, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie, et. al. make nice company. Check it out - a fine book!
John Coltrane, James Brown, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie, et. al. make nice company. Check it out - a fine book!
Shrimp/Wanda dates finalized for Poland/Czech Republic - June 24, 2008
Tour November 13-30 with fifteen shows, backed by local band. I'm in touch with family over there; looking forward to visiting.
Click on "Calendar" for locations.
Click on "Calendar" for locations.
SCS and Wanda Johnson back to the Upstate (SC) this weekend - June 9, 2008
Please check out the calendar.
RIP Randy Crowe - May 16, 2008
Now we have to say goodbye to another friend, Piedmont bluesman/singer/songwriter/guitarist/harmonicist Randy Crowe (1949-2008) who was the victim of an apparent heart attack while travelling in Costa Rica. Lowcountry blues fans will remember Randy as a founding member of the Lowcountry Blues Society in 1986 and his years of playing acoustic blues in the Charleston area. He released "Tailwind" in 1989 on the Erwin Music label. He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Karen Crowe, with whom he travelled the world. Randy was a great guy and a natural talent. What a loss.
SCS in new book on SC jazz & blues - May 2, 2008
"Jazz & Blues Musicians of South Carolina" by Benjamin Franklin will be released in early summer by the University of South Carolina Press. Featured is an interview with Gary Erwin (Shrimp City Slim) along with Dizzy Gillespie, Nappy Brown, Houston Person, and others. Check it out & order (advance) at:
www.sc.edu/uscpress (click "New Titles")
www.sc.edu/uscpress (click "New Titles")
SCS/Wanda Johnson's "Hold" praised in Blues Revue - May 1, 2008
Thanks to Thomas Cullen III in the latest BR (June/July 2008, Kenny Neal on cover) who said of "Hold":
"This all-original set is an eclectic blend of New Orleans R&B, soul, jazz, rockabilly, pop, and gospel music...the luminous Wanda Johnson is firmly in control...Erwin's glistening piano is prominent throughout, his fleet-fingered versatility one of the album's charms. He exudes a jazz elegance but can also rumble with Otis Spann thunder..."Hold" is a triumphant low-key gem that's simultaneously tough and tender." Thanks, BR!
www.bluesrevue.com
"This all-original set is an eclectic blend of New Orleans R&B, soul, jazz, rockabilly, pop, and gospel music...the luminous Wanda Johnson is firmly in control...Erwin's glistening piano is prominent throughout, his fleet-fingered versatility one of the album's charms. He exudes a jazz elegance but can also rumble with Otis Spann thunder..."Hold" is a triumphant low-key gem that's simultaneously tough and tender." Thanks, BR!
www.bluesrevue.com
"Gone With the Wind" back in stock - April 22, 2008
A new printing of our 1992 CD "Gone With the Wind" has just come in. Available at shows or at www.cdbaby.com
Tim Holek reviews "Hold" in Southwest Blues (Dallas) and Twoj Blues (Poland) - April 16, 2008
"Wanda Johnson may well be on her way to becoming the new voice of soul and blues...Johnson's full potential is yet to come. When it does, she'll be one of the great vocalists of our generation."
http://www.southwestblues.com/reviews/2008/cd-03-08wanda-johnson.htm
http://www.southwestblues.com/reviews/2008/cd-03-08wanda-johnson.htm
"Dropping Names" (from latest Wanda Johnson CD) on shag/beach charts - April 15, 2008
"Dropping Names" now in the Top 20 on the Beach/Shag charts in SE and NE. www.beachshag.com / "Roadhouse Boogie" chart.
"Hold" (Wanda CD) gets great review in Living Blues - April 2, 2008
Living Blues (#195, just out) gives Wanda/SCS collaboration "Hold What You Got" a glowing review: "The results are stunning...this could well be the album that puts Wanda Johnson on the road to stardom." www.livingblues.com
"Whad'ya Know?" (Public Radio) this Saturday - April 1, 2008
SCS & Wanda Johnson will be performing one or two songs on Michael Feldman's "Whad'ya Know?" this Saturday April 5, 11 am-1 pm live from Clemson University. The popular nationwide radio program is produced by Wisconsin Public Radio. Consult your local NPR listings.
"Hold What You Got" (Wanda Johnson/Shrimp City Slim collaboration) applauded in Soul Bag (France) - March 24, 2008
Soul Bag, France's venerable blues magazine (since the '70s), has a fabulous review of "Hold What You Got" in their March, 2008 issue #190. They give the CD "Le Pied", which is the highest ranking for any CD reviewed...essentially 5 stars. In the same issue, Soul Bag includes a bonus 13-song CD sampler with "Dropping Names" from "Hold" as track #3. www.soulbag.presse.fr
RIP Calvin "Skeeter" Brandon - March 21, 2008
Our friend and beloved fellow musician Calvin "Skeeter" Brandon passed away yesterday after a lengthy decline in his health. He would have been 60 years old this April 22.
Skeeter's resume included stints with Clarence Carter and The Chi-Lites before he was recruited by the band Highway 61 in 1991 to take the late Walter "Lightnin' Bug" Rhodes' role as bandleader. Skeeter & Highway 61 went on to record numerous albums, tour the world, and become one of the Carolina's top blues & soul exports.
Skeeter also tore the house down on two tracks of SCS's 1994 project "Blues on the Beach" (lead vocal on "Breath of Fresh Air" and organ on "Big Fish, Small Pond"); high points of the album.
Skeeter Brandon was a fine talent who never received the recognition he deserved. He was a sweet guy. We'll really miss him.
His website is www.skeeterbrandon.com
Funeral arrangements are being organized now.
Skeeter's resume included stints with Clarence Carter and The Chi-Lites before he was recruited by the band Highway 61 in 1991 to take the late Walter "Lightnin' Bug" Rhodes' role as bandleader. Skeeter & Highway 61 went on to record numerous albums, tour the world, and become one of the Carolina's top blues & soul exports.
Skeeter also tore the house down on two tracks of SCS's 1994 project "Blues on the Beach" (lead vocal on "Breath of Fresh Air" and organ on "Big Fish, Small Pond"); high points of the album.
Skeeter Brandon was a fine talent who never received the recognition he deserved. He was a sweet guy. We'll really miss him.
His website is www.skeeterbrandon.com
Funeral arrangements are being organized now.