Fresh Air dedicated a whole episode to an interview with and performances by the great young multi-instrumentalist Jerron Paxton, who has a new album out on Smithsonian Folkways. He's been a leading light in traditional blues for a decade, but has been under-recorded. www.npr.org/2024/12/02/1...?

Excerpt from a new book about Dr. John, "Two-Headed Doctor: Listening for Ghosts in Dr. John's Gris-gris," that came out last week on MIT Press. www.furious.com/perfect/drjo...

Now available in the US via print-on-demand: "Soul Music Odyssey," chronicling Swedish soul freak (and founder of Mr. R&B records) Jonas Bernholm's 81-day US clubs, studios and radio stations in 1968--he saw/interviewed Womack, Toussaint, Penn, Hayes, Magic Sam et al. Link in comments.

Extended Morning Edition piece featuring my friend Cary Baker @caryroo.bsky.social talking about his new book about a wide range of buskers from the '20s to the present - including B.B. King, Houston oil drum master Bongo Joe, the Violent Femmes and Tuba Skinny one.npr.org?sharedMediaI...

My latest guest is George Pelecanos, who got his start as a crime novelist and became a notable TV screenwriter and producer. His career is a tribute to talent, the will to risk and perseverance. Early on in your conversation, George shared a bit of news... tinyurl.com/2bm9pmwj

“Annie Proulx has a lot of fun making fun of him. She’s sort of sadistic in how much she makes this guy look like an ass.” 📌 ICYMI, Jimmy Cajoleas talked w/ Jake Xerxes Fussell for THE GUEST LIST from our music issue southwestreview.com/volume-109-n...

The story includes a link to a video featuring the wax cylinder recording from 1891 by New Orleans performer Louis Vasnier, which has been released on a 45rpm by @archeophone.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Nice profile by Alex Greene of Memphis royal family member Jerry Phillips, son of Sam and Sun recording artist (guitarist for the Jesters, featuring Jim Dickinson on vocals). He recently recorded a new album, For the Universe. Photo by @jimherrington.bsky.social memphismagazine.com/culture/loca...

From a fun new podcast that mostly explores artists cast as the "female Bob Dylan" here's an episode with contemporary folk musician Jake Fussell talking about issues including Dylan's sartorial choices. @thefemalebobdylan.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Coming soon on Netflix is a true crime documentary about a feud between two Elvis tribute artists in Tupelo. Here’s a great account of the saga from a decade ago by Wells Tower. www.gq.com/story/paul-k...

New Al Green take on "Everybody Hurts," with backup singing by Memphis' Wilkins Sisters www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEwP...

My friend Burgin Matthews, director of the Southern Music Research Center in Birmingham, put together this great annotated playlist. I did one for Mississippi last year. Link in comments. s.si.edu/4fxDcCd

Happy birthday to Mississippi's blues wonder Jessie Mae Hemphill, here playing fife and drum music in 1982 www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJk...

Happy birthday Dan Penn! Still going strong and playing gigs with his old partner Spooner Oldham at 83 www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWR...

Not too new but I thought I'd get my feet wet here. He was great, as usual, on this last tour with Los Straitjackets www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFra...