The Blues Never Tasted So Good!

Bobby Parker 1950's During the 50's Bobby started out by working with the doo-wop group Otis Williams and the Charms. He played lead guitar with Bo Diddley, toured with Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Laverne Baker, Clyde McPhatter, and the Everly Brothers. He also toured with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard in late '50s. In 1958 while working with Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams and playing at the Apollo in Harlem, he wrote and recorded "Blues Get Off My Shoulder" (recorded on Vee-Jay label)

1960's
In 1961, Bobby relocated to Washington DC and began appearing at all the major clubs in DC. He recorded "Watch Your Step" (V-Tone label) in 1961 which became a regional hit and was later covered by Spencer Davis Group, Dr. Feelgood and Santana. "Watch Your Step" became a hit on British and US R & B charts. In 1968, he toured England and recorded "It's Hard to be Fair" for the Blue Horizon label.

1970'S-80's
The 70s and 80s found Bobby performing heavily in the Washington DC area and he became a key figure in the city's blues scene. 

2000+
Bobby's show continues to rock the new century. He performs frequently in the Washington DC area and on tours around the world. His new tunes, soon to be released on this third CD, are dynamite!

Songs

1. You Gotta Get Hip

2. Kickin' It

"Bobby Parker is one of the most exciting performers in modern blues."

-All Music Guide to the Blues

Barbara Chandler If there is a crowd that you want liven up, leave it to Barbara Chandler. She can bring a crowd to its feet, with gestures and jokes that make them feel right at home. In the last few years, she has taken the pressure off the band by giving short takes of conversation and band introduction. She has traveled with Memphis Gold to numerous countries and 9 USO Tours. There have been times where she has consoled young military soldiers by simply talking and encouraging them to strive on, while away from their families.

She is also, stage and road manager for the Memphis Gold band. If you see her in action, you will understand her importance and versatile showmanship. But most of all, if the band's pay is not right, you'll also see her expert and exceptional managerial skills

Rowe Oliver, Bassman Esq. Have Bass Will Travel  Rowe Oliver has been performing with Memphis Gold since the 1990`s as well as several other well known artists around the world. He has traveled extensively with Memphis Gold to festivals and venues in Egypt, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and Thailand, not to mention the hundreds of gigs and shows across United States. When we say "backbone" and "bottom" of the band, he's just that, and lays down those incredible bass licks like no other. He is featured on all 3 of Memphis Gold's CD's with rave reviews and having done so, serves as a master musician and good friend. What makes his and Memphis's nucleolus so special since the very beginning is their upbringing in the Pentecostal Holiness Church. He and Memphis Gold serve the same spirit in their music and you had better be ready to go to church. He can turn on an audience in a moments notice, and is versatile in all genres of music, not only the Blues. If there is one bass player who goes down in history as a real time keeper, it is Bassman Esquire Rowe Oliver.

Johnnie Bassett Detroit blues legend Johnnie Bassett, born in Florida in 1935, recalls watching Tampa Red, Big Boy Crudup and others perform at fish fries in his grandmother's Florida backyard. After his family moved to Detroit in 1944, Johnnie got his professional start playing guitar in the early 1950s with the teenage R&B group Joe Weaver and The Bluenotes," the house band for the Motor City's Fortune Records label.. Soon he was playing back up for visiting artists such as Big Joe Turner and Ruth Brown as well as hometown blues artists John Lee Hooker, Eddie Burns, Washboard Willie, Mr. Bo, and Alberta Adams.  During the early 1960s Bassett appeared on the very first recording of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and while briefly living in Seattle, periodically jammed with Jimi Hendrix, and worked as back up to Tina Turner and Little Willie John. Other memorable credits include gigs with John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, and Dinah Washington. After returning to Detroit in the late 60s, he began working with Michigan Heritage Awardee Little Sonny Willis and eventually formed what would be the first of his many Blues insurgents. Johnnie has been honored with many Detroit music awards as well as the Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award (1994). Today, Johnnie frequently tours the U.S. and Europe and has been recording albums recently with the Dutch Black Magic label.

Barbara Carr Barbara Crosby Carr was born in St. Louis, Missouri into a large family with a love for music. Barbara's musical background began in the First Baptist Church of Elmwood Park, Missouri, There she performed gospel with members of her family. Their group was formally known as The Crosby Sisters. The Crosby Sisters sang often in their home church and throughout the Missouri Church Circuit. In elementary school, Barbara's talent was recognized by Miss Clara Brooks, a St. Louis Public School teacher. Miss Brooks recruited Barbara to perform with The Little Peppers, a young group of singers and dancers who entertained throughout the school district. Barbara went on to perform in high school with the LaDue Choir and can proudly boast today that she won EVERY talent contest she ever entered.

Barbara decided to sing professionally and put together a locally popular group called Barbara Crosby and The Cometts Combo performing in the St. Louis area. Barbara then went on to perform with The Petites. They played in and around the St. Louis area and opened for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. The Petites recorded their only album, which included the still-popular "Lonely Girl" and "Believed The Man Loved Me" on the Teek Records label in St. Louis. Chess Records took an interest in Barbara's talent and signed her to record with them. She released a number of singles including "I Can't Stop Now" and "Think About It Baby." This was the beginning of her solo career. The Chess relationship never really blossomed so Barbara and her husband, Charles Carr, decided the best route for Barbara's career was to record on her own label. They took the plunge and released two critically acclaimed albums on their Bar-Car label: "Good Woman Go Bad" and "Street Woman", both produced by Harrison Calloway. Barbara still shares her unforgettable voice at many clubs, concerts and festivals. In 1998 she was nominated for Female Blues Artist of the Year by the Living Blues magazine Reader's poll. She has had two releases on the Ecko Records label including "Footprints On The Ceiling" and "Bone Me Like You Own Me." With the release of her newest CD "What A Woman Wants" in May of 1999, Barbara not only brings great delight to her many fans, but she is once again offering her sexy, solid style to Blues and R & B fans everywhere.

Philip Jaymes Flowers Born in Washington, D.C., Philip Jaymes Flowers, Jr. was destined for show business.  The son of well known entertainer, Phil Flowers, he followed his father's footsteps starting in Junior High School Talent Shows, then joining Madam Clara McCormick's Gospel Choir, as one of the lead vocalists. At age 13, Philip found himself on tour performing all over the U.S. and later performing with his father's show at venues all over the world from Canada to Saudi Arabia, and Bermuda to Puerto Rico, just to name a few places. After two years in Israel and Europe, Philip is able to sing in various languages including Hebrew, Greek, German, and Spanish.

While perfecting his craft and growing as a premier entertainer, Philip founded the group "Tough Act To Follow", and having one of the hottest Top 40 show bands on the east coast, began performing in clubs regularly and landed at Atlantic City's, Trump Plaza for almost 22 weeks a year, while traveling to all parts of the world the remainder of the year.

After many years of touring, Philip decided to further broaden his musical repertoire, and began taking vocal lessons from veteran vocal trainer Frankie Collier. This new direction allowed him to land a part on Broadway with "Dreamgirls". 

Philip spent the next few years as the lead singer for the world renowned Gene Donati Orchestra, performing at the White House, the Presidential Yacht, many Inaugural balls, and various political and high society function. Performing everything from R&B, Classical, Pop, Big Band, and Opera Philip Jaymes Flowers has evolved into one of the most sought after, talented, and entertaining vocalist/performers in recent history.

Following the 9-11 tragedy, Philip was asked to co-write and perform a song dedicated to the victims of 9-11, and performed the stirring tribute "Standing Tall" in Central Park, N.Y.

You name it, he does it, whether it's singing, acting, dancing, or just a plain enjoyment of doing what he loves, don't be surprised to see "Mega Star" after his name.

Song

1. Me and Mrs. Jones

Selena "New York" McDay  Washington's Most Emotionally Expressive and Commanding Singer  She’s a native New Yorker, described by Washington Post Entertainment reporter Mike Joyce as “...a commanding singer...emotionally expressive”. And while the “Big Apple” is famous for many things, one of its most precious exports is from “The Village of Harlem”, SELENA MCDAY, better known on the music circuit as simply, “SELENA”.

SELENA discovered she had a three and one half octave range while studying classical music as a Mezzo Soprano voice major and undergraduate student at Savannah State University in Savannah, GA. She confesses however, that she can only use all those octaves “on a good day”. Whether she uses one octave or three, SELENA’s vocals are commanding and sweet and able to reach into the most secret corners of her listeners’ souls, then “take you even higher” with her always powerfully entertaining stage presence! This is especially true when she is performing (or “reliving”, as she describes it), one of the Blues tunes from her mother’s repertoire, who performed on the “chittlin’ circuit”, as it was known in New York City when SELENA was a child, or the R & B/Soul (sometimes dubbed today as “Neo-Soul”), that she admits being “a little partial to”.

SELENA came to the Washington, D.C. metro area in August 1989 to attend American University’s Washington College of Law, on a full scholarship to study 

Entertainment Law. she’s sauntered across nearly every stage in the Metro area, SELENA doesn’t need “Diva training”. She’s captured our hearts with her eclectic fusion of Jazz/R & B/Soul/Blues song styling versatility and sensational “get down” stage performances, since her very first local performance on Nov. 21, 1989 at the legendary Takoma Station Tavern, in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Since that performance in ‘89, SELENA has performed in some of the East Coast’s premier entertainment settings including in recent years New York’s world famous Apollo Theater, Washington D.C.’s National Press Club, The Watergate Hotel, The French & British Embassies, Fort Dupont Amphitheater, The National Portrait Gallery, The Smithsonian Institute, The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Blues Alley, Sweet Georgia Brown’s, The BET Soundstage, the elegant Odyssey cruise ship and Baltimore’s Bay Lady. In addition, Selena made history when she preformed at the 53rd Annual Presidential Inaugural Ball for then President Bill Clinton. 

SELENA has shared the stage with Wynton and Ellis Marsalis, two of Washington’s favorite vocalists Jean Carne and Carl Anderson (“Jesus Christ Superstar” fame), flutist Herbie Mann, saxophonists Kenny G, Clark Terry and Stanley Turrentine, Pieces Of A Dream and pianists Dr. Billy Taylor, Doug Carne and Harold Maybern. Of late you’ll find her touring with Wilson Pickett’s former back-up band turn headliners, “The Midnight Movers” performing in her own unforgettable eclectic style, everything from Bobby Cauldwell’s Jazzy “What You Won’t Do For Love”, to R&B/Soul Diva Mary J. Blige’s “Love No Limit”, from “Sassy” Sarah Vaughn’s “My Funny Valentine” to the queen of Rock ’n Roll, Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”. SELENA’s versatility has also afforded her the opportunity to serve as guest “VJ” host for a series of 12 shows on “Jazzy Vocals”, an hour long video program that airs on “BET on Jazz: The First 24 hour Jazz Channel“. 

SELENA is busy these days diligently working towards the Summer 2003 release of her debut C.D. , entitled “My Name Is...Selena”, on her own small family owned independent label RiMac Music Group, LLC, SELENA says there will be a little “sumthin’” on the C.D. for everyone as it will include everything from Hip Hop to Contemporary Gospel/Inspirational. There’s even a track featuring her son “Rizion” aka Samuel Risien, Jr. who is not only featured on his mother‘s debut, but co-wrote most of the tracks and is sharing the production chores with her. 

“My son is an absolutely brilliant young Writer/Producer/Artist driven by his true love for “The Music”, who is surprisingly on the money when it comes to ‘coloring’ and ‘flavoring’ many of my songs. I truly believe that the combination of ‘Ole Skool and New Kool’ we’ve found together works! I can’t wait for the world to hear our music.”

If you find yourself somewhere and you see or hear an advertisement that SELENA MCDAY is performing anywhere in town that you can walk to, run to, drive to, cycle or fly to, jump on the first thing smokin’ and get there because...whatever “IT” is that makes Superstars, SELENA has it. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce...SELENA!

"Hollywood" Charlie Sayles  Charlie Sayles has played his blues harmonica in the streets, taught his instrument to classes in prisons, and now is well known to top blues festivals all over the world. In the summer of 1991, he completed his second album "Night Ain`t Right" with Larry Wise for the British label JSP Records which received a terrific review in the May /June issue and in both the UK Blues and Rhythm Blueprint Magazines.

On stage, Charlie is quite a dashing figure due in part to his eye patch which contributes to his swashbuckler image. Demonstrative as a performer, he often waves wildly with his hands for proper emphasis. " Charlie Sayles is an electrifying, innovative harmonica composer. His solo performances are lyrical, full of brilliant stimulating runs, constantly, expanding the range of blues harp through his musical ideas. 

Song

1. I Love My Baby

Lil Jimmy Reed The Alabama Blues Project has done it again! We are proud to introduce to you, yet another, overlooked Alabama bluesman by the name of Leon Atkins. Leon, (aka Lil Jimmy Reed), lives in Enterprise, Alabama and is a self-taught musician who learned to play guitar and a harmonica around the age of 16. "My daddy bought me a guitar on Monday and by Saturday, I could play it" says Leon. As a child he grew up in front of a nightclub. Jimmy Reed's music was played regularly on the jukebox and young Leon did his best to play along with it and learn the Jimmy Reed style. Leon got his name from an experience he'll never forget. He had always wanted to see the real Jimmy Reed and when he finally got the chance, Mr. Reed was too drunk to play. "They snuck him out back and came and got me. The people couldn't tell the difference or didn't care!"

Lil Jimmy Reed has appeared as the opening act for Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lynn White and many others. In 1995, the Alabama Blues Society presented Leon with the Alabama Blues Treasure Award. He has also played at many festivals around the South including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The Alabama Blues Project is dedicated to helping provide a support for these lesser known bluesmen and women living and performing regularly in Alabama. The rest of the blues world seems to have overlooked Alabama, and that's understandable considering the talent that has emerged from our neighbor to the west, Mississippi. One thing we are well aware of here in Alabama is that the blues didn't stop at the state-line. If you go into the area called the "Alabama Black-Belt Region" due to the rich black, river bottom soil, you would be startled at the resemblance to the Mississippi Delta. Both of these areas were heavy producers of cotton and "The Blues." This is the area of Alabama that Leon Atkins called his home. Visit his Web site.

Memphis Gold Productions 
P.O. Box 11384
McLean, VA  22102