I didn't really stay asleep for six days but honestly those 10 & 13 hour road trips are rough on the ole aching back. LOL. A-a-a-a-nyway ---
I promised a rundown on our trip to Tunica, Miss. to the Blues Music Awards. So, on Tuesday, we followed my uncle (Teresa's dad) to a friend's house in Kingwood near Houston to leave his car. (We would drop him off in Sulphur, Louisianna on the way back and his friends would take him back to Kingwood.) After dropping off the car, we took Jack to my mom's in Houston for dinner and a short brother and sister visit. Then back to Huntsville for the night.
Up early Wednesday morning for the 10 hour drive. Found Tunica. Found the Grand Hotel Veranda. Found Terry and Teresa and had some dinner at the Grand Casino. Amazingly -- no gambling that night -- too tired.
Next morning - early off to visit the Blues Museum in Clarksdale. But first, true to my DH's clever techno skills, he managed to lock Uncle Jack out of his cell phone. Of course, no one knew the password to get back in so we made a short stop to AT&T (though his service is Verizon) where the nice folks got it all fixed. (The thumbs up and down means thumbs up. It is from a typical Teresa joke - she's known for her fourth grade jokes -- remind me tell you that joke sometime.)
Clarksdale is a quaint little Mississippi River delta town that boasts of being the birthplace and world capital of the blues and location of the famous Crossroads intersection of Highway 61 and 49 – the heart of the delta and the soul of the blues.
So, we arrive at the museum where, of course, they don't allow photos. So I have just this one outside.It's just as well they didn't allow pictures because I was terrible about taking pictures the whole trip. The only ones I got home with after these were mostly some of a rusting tin building that I thought I might use somehow in my art - natch.
Hey, remember that T-shirt I was coveting with Teresa's lyrics on it? Well, their size XL was equivalent to our size 4 or 2!!! I had to forget about it. So, I bought a tee at the museum instead.
After the museum, we had a great southern lunch at a little cafe within walking distance, The Dutch Oven (Bldg. on the right in the photo on the left.) Then back to Tunica to get ready for the evening. (While I got ready, DH went to the casino - I told you he would - and won enough to pay for our trip! How could I gripe?)
The Blues Foundation Music Awards Dinner was top notch.
We had floor seats at a table with my cousin, Teresa James and her husband, Terry Wilson; her fan club president, Sarah; and fan club member, Mary; and the very talented Doug MacLeod (one of my favs) who was up for the Acoustic Artist of the Year award. The only pictures from the banquet were by the officially sanctioned photographers - which was of course, not me -- thank goodness or there would be no pictures! You can see them all here.
Teresa did a fantastic job -- as usual - in her performance. She sang with the popular and talented Tommy Castro who won Entertainer of the Year and best Contemporary Blues Album for his Painkiller which you can hear on his MySpace.
Along with his band, both Teresa and Terry Wilson (Teresa's husband and incredible guitar bass player) were invited to perform. Also, the winner of the Instrumentalist - Horn award, and another one of my favorites, Deanna Bogart, played and sang with them. She is a wonderful pianist, saxophonist, and singer. You can hear some of her music on her MySpace. To say the least, Tommy Castro and his band with Teresa, Terry, and Deanna created a fantastic performance!
(L to R) Tommy Castro, Deanna Bogart, Tommy's band & Deanna, Doug MacLeod
Now if you have stuck with this post all this time to hear whether Teresa won her award or not -- may I say thank you! Actually, Teresa was the new kid on the block at this 28th Blues Foundation Awards and wasn't expecting to win her first year nominated. The winner in Teresa's category, Contemporary Blues Female Singer of the Year, was the award winning soul singer, Bettye LaVette, a 62 year old veteran blues performer. She not only won in this catagory, but was also up for Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for her The Scene of the Crime.
In the meantime, Teresa had fantastic exposure and made many, many contacts with producers, festival organizers, and the like who sought her out after the performance. She was thrilled with the outcome and we were thrilled to be there with her.
Wow! Looks like you had a great time!
I just made nine ATC's for a blind swap. I had a lady email me and she wanted to do a blind swap so I did it! I always feel the urge to tell you things because you are my biggest inspiration. It was fun and it is getting easier for me. Looking forward to doing more.
Hugs
Patti
Posted by: Patti Koosed | May 19, 2008 at 02:52 AM