BluesHeaven

Blues Heaven completes another successful Blues History Education Program in Chicago!

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:50:42 +0000

On Friday, February 26th, Blues Heaven Foundation, with the support of Chicago Musician/Educator Doktu Rhute (Doctor Root – http://www.doktulatrice.com/), completed another successful Blues History & Education program at Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School in Chicago. The program included a history of the Blues, music presentation and harmonica instruction for the students.

Additional programs are currently underway. If your child is attending a Chicago area school and you would like the opportunity for us to present at that school, please contact Alex Dixon via email at alex@bluesheaven.com for more information.

Thank you!

Marie Dixon featured on WCIU’s The U

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:48:21 +0000

Marie Dixon, President of Blues Heaven Foundation, was featured this morning on Chicago’s WCIU. She had an opportunity to discuss who recorded at the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, as well as some of the history of the Blues. Check it out!

CLICK HERE:

http://www.wciu.com/youandme.php?section=home&assetID=10001307

Blues’ Who of the Blues…Victoria Spivey

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:51:46 +0000

Our next Blues’ Who of the Blues is a person whose work was greatly admired by Willie Dixon, who also had the honor of working with her. She is definitely a relevant person in the blues, and everyone should check out her work.

To read Victoria Spivey’s biography, please CLICK HERE.

Chicago songwriter signs up to reclaim music!

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:54:44 +0000

North Shore musician Jim Peterik is among thousands of songwriters nationwide who stand to earn big paydays on songs they sold off decades ago.
The U.S. Copyright Law of 1976 (it took effect in 1978) allows artists to take back ownership of songs 35 years after selling the rights to publishers. Songs given up in 1978 can be reclaimed by their owners in 2013; the paperwork to reclaim them has to be done two years in advance.
“It means money for me, for my heirs and for my family. It boils down to dollars and cents, but more emotionally, you feel you have part of your child back,” says Mr. Peterik, whose “Eye of the Tiger” became synonymous with Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky III” in 1982.

Songs that predate the law can be reclaimed 56 years after they were written, so many artists from the 1940s and ’50s are stepping up to reclaim their work, too.
Brent McBride’s Nashville-based Copyright Recapture LLC is helping songwriters with the lengthy application process. He says hundreds of songwriters don’t even know about the law.
“Songwriters in major markets like New York, Nashville and Los Angeles haven’t heard about it. And there are even fewer people who know in smaller markets like Chicago,” he told me.
So far, only a handful of musicians in Chicago, including Mr. Peterik and the widow of bluesman Little Junior Parker, have come forward.
“With the brilliant music scene of Chicago, I think there are many more who could take advantage of (the law),” he said, “especially in the field of the blues.”
Mr. Paterik said he’s been trying to spread the word to fellow artists.
“We made these deals a long time ago when we didn’t have a penny in our pockets. We regretted it later, and this is a chance to reclaim that,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”

ChicagoBusiness.com

Supporters of Blues Heaven using GoodSearch and GoodShop!

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:23 +0000

Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation can earn a donation every time you search the Internet and shop online!!!

CLICK HERE TO READ PRESS RELEASE!

Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and they’ll donate about a penny to your cause each time you search!

Shop at more than 600 GoodShop.com merchants including Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to your cause!

Blues’ Who of the Blues…Howlin’ Wolf!

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:19:56 +0000

Ok, so we know it’s been a long time coming, but we’d finally like to introduce you to our next Blues’ Who of the Blues…Howlin’ Wolf.

For some, he needs no introduction. He was a reconizeable voice and a force to be reckoned with in the Blues! Who was Howlin’ Wolf? What contributions did he make to the blues? Who were his influences?

CLICK HERE to read more…

COMING SOON…Blues’ Who of the Blues…Howlin’ Wolf

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:07:13 +0000

COMING SOON…Howlin’ Wolf!!!

Gibson shows how Willie Dixon was an inspiration…

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:55:09 +0000

There is an article about Willie Dixon posted on Gibson’s website, by Ted Drozdowski, titled “How Blues Legend Willie Dixon Inspired Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, the Stones, and Other Guitar Greats”. It reads…

Willie Dixon was arguably the blues’ greatest songwriter and — as a talent scout, producer, and session bassist — a key player on the nascent Chicago electric blues scene of the 1950s.

He kick-started the careers of Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Magic Sam during his tenure at the Cobra label and helped build the legacy of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and other legends while on the payroll at Chess Records. Today, recordings of Dixon tunes are still inspiring new generations.

To mark the 94th birthday of the late “bard of Vicksburg,” as blues poet John Sinclair dubbed him, here’s a rundown of 10 of the greatest guitar performances of songs from Dixon’s extensive catalog:

You can check out the complete article by clicking HERE.

Record Row Festival…FREE Concerts in the Blues Garden!

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:41:02 +0000

Already underway, the Record Row Festival held in the Willie Dixon Blues Garden is proving to be another successful year! Please check the lineup HERE, or you may contact us at (312) 808-1286. The FREE concerts are held everything Thursday from 6pm – 7pm through summer (if it’s raining, we bring the party inside). Although the concerts are absolutely FREE to the public, donations are gladly accepted. It is your generous donations that enable Blues Heaven Foundation to continue with our programs.

Here is the lineup for the next few shows:

7/30/09: Jimmy Jay @ the Hard Drive Band

8/6/09: Nellie “Tiger” Travis – www.nellietravis.com

8/13/09: Park Avenue Players

8/20/09: Johnny Drummer & The Starlighters – www.johnnydrummermusic.com

We hope to see you there!

Blues Heaven Foundation

The Blues world mourns the loss of Koko Taylor!

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:19:11 +0000

шлюхитрансы

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the Dixon family expresses their condolences for the passing of an extraordinary woman, and blues legend, Koko Taylor. Koko passed away this afternoon in Chicago from complications due to surgery in mid-May. For more information, please click on the links below:

The Book of Eli film

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

daybeakers movie

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES