Blues Folk

The fourteenth child born of fifteen children, Rick Lawson was reared on a sharecropper's farm in northeast Hinds County in Raymond, Mississippi. Greatly inspired by his uncle, (Mr. Willie Banks and The Messagers on Malaco) who was known as "The Godfather of Gospel," Rick began his singing career at the age of four as the lead vocalist for "The W&W Jr. Spirituals" of Raymond, Mississippi.

At age ten, he joined "The Baptist Brothers," also of Raymond, MS and recorded his first single. At the age of sixteen, Rick formed a group called "The Gopsel Carriers" of Jackson, MS and recorded his first album entitled, "Look Where He Brought Us." By the time he reached the age of twenty, Rick Lawson was singing R&B with "The Mighty Upsetters Dance Band" of Jackson, MS. With this band, he gained valuable experience singing "blues" music. On July 18, 1994, the Jackson Music Awards presented him with an award as the "Most Outstanding New artist of the Year."

Rick Lawson has opened and shared the stage with major acts such as B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, and many others. Due to his age and growing popularity, he earned the stage title "The Baby of the Blues." In July 1997, at the age of twenty-six, he recorded his first R&B album under the Nu Wave Records label, entitled, "Check Your Heart Out." This recording put Rick on the road touring many places previously traveled by famous blues artists. From the Beltline of Texas to the Mississippi Delta, "The Big Easy" to the "Windy City" of Chicago, Memphis and various other cities, Rick has left his singing style etched in the minds of many who have listened to him.

To date Rick Lawson is still performing around the country. He is a God-Fearing man,a family man, entrepreneur, and a student at Jackosn State University pursuing a B.S. degree in History. Most recently, Mr. Lawson has become a part of the Ecko Records family in Memphis, Tennessee, and is scheduled to release another "blues" album which is sure to be one of the greatest yet.

LIL DAVE THOMPSON

David Lonzo Thompson was born in Hinds County, Mississippi May 21, 1969. Lil Dave's exposure to music came early and has always been a way of life. His father, the late Sam Thompson played with Willie Foster, Asie Payton, Paul Wine Jones, Eddie Cusic, James Son Thomas and others.

Lil Dave's list of influences reads like an anthology of the blues. His family was burned out in legendary Moorhead, MS (Where the Yellow Dog Crosses the Southern) and moved to B.B. Kings hometown of Indianola, MS. But it was in Leland, MS, (Hellhole of the Delta) and home of James "Son" Thomas and other blues legends that Dave, at the age of 14, formed his first band. He, along with drummer, Dell Cusic and bass player, Allen Hite called themselves The Delta Blues Band. As a teenager, Dave played with various blues, R & B, Reggae, and gospel bands in the delta area until he met and toured with the late Booba Barnes in 1990. Dave looks like a young man of 34, but his wisdom and experiences belie his age. A third or fourth generation Mississippi delta blues guitarist and vocalist, Thompson has come full circle with the blues. He has lived it, learned it and now seems to appreciate the rich legacy and his responsibility to the blues, this region, and his fellow blues artists, past, present and future. Mississippi guitarist/vocalist Dave Thompson returns to recording with a bang after a six-year hiatus. In 1996 he burst onto the scene with his Fat Possum debut, then quickly disappeared. Now he's re-emerged with a 14 song slab of modern, original soul-blues that are remarkably mature for a player under 35. His visceral, unvarnished music exude swagger, and there's plenty of variety: shuffles, slow blues, junk, Southern strollers, and even a light jazz instrumental. It's hard to pick favorites, but grabbers include "Standin' In The Rain." Reminiscent of early Robert Cray; the smoky, low-key funk plea "Caught Up in a Crossfire"; the fiery stop-time shuffle "Strung Out"; and two Southern soul duets with fellow labelmate Mary Taylor: the Memphis stroller "We Can Make It If We Try" and the loping Tyrone Davis-style dancer "My Baby Won't Change" (both penned by producer/saxist Bruce Fiener). The most anomalous track is "Cuttin' Loose," an instrumental in the style of George Benson or Phil Upchurch, while the slow-burn title track pass tribute to some to Thompson's fellow Mississippi bluesmen past and present and to the city of Greenville.

Thompson's confident, aggressive guitar solos combine the buzz-saw snarl of Albert King and the sweet, metallic sting of Little Milton, and his unpretentious vocals seem equally influenced by blues and soul. This is an important album, and a triumph of sorts by a major young talent who didn't atrophy into semi-obscurity.

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes has lived a life steeped in blues. Today he is the last living practitioner of the celebrated style of Bentonia blues made famous by Skip James and Jack Owens. In addition, Holmes operates what is arguably the oldest juke joint left in Mississippi and is the organizer of one of the longest-running festivals in the state.

Born to sharecroppers Carey and Mary Holmes in the summer of 1947, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes has lived his entire life in and around the small Mississippi town of Bentonia, home to one of the most unusual and beloved strains of Delta blues. The town was first placed on the musical map in 1931 when one of its residents, Nehemiah “Skip” James, recorded nearly two-dozen songs for Paramount Records. These recordings have gone on to become touchstones for several generations of blues fans.

Since James’ death in 1969, several other blues guitarists from the town have emerged including Cornelius Bright, Tommy West, Jacob Stuckey, Henry Stuckey and, most famously, Jack Owens. All are now dead with the exception of West, who lives in a nursing home and is unable to play.

Fortunately for fans of real-deal country blues, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes has emerged as the keeper of the flame for the Bentonia blues. In April, his debut CD Back to Bentonia was released to universal praise. BluesMatters Magazine hailed it as an “early contender for Best Traditional Blues Recording” of 2006. Blues & Rhythm Magazine wrote, “Down-home and Delta blues fans are in for a treat – this is the real deal. A magnificent debut set from Holmes and Broke & Hungry Records.” Juke Blues Magazine notes, “Given his mastery of one of the finest Mississippi traditions, it’s surprising that Holmes hasn’t recorded more. While Jimmy Holmes is still playing, the spirit of the Bentonia blues school lives on.”

In the past year, Holmes has been the subject of feature stories in Living Blues, Blues Revue, Blues & Rhythm, BluesMatters and several European blues magazines. In early July, he was featured in a lengthy Associated Press article that was carried in newspapers around the world, including the USA Today.

Holmes’ contribution to the preservation of Bentonia blues is not limited to his role as a guitarist. Equally important is his role as proprietor of the legendary Blue Front Cafe, an old-school juke joint that his parents opened in 1948. Upon his father’s death in 1970, Holmes took over the day-to-day management of the Blue Front, a responsibility he continues to shoulder today. The cafe remains a gathering point for the residents of Bentonia and a pilgrimage site for blues lovers from around the globe. The juke continues to offer occasional live music – sometimes in the form of special events and festivals, but more often as impromptu blues jams with friends.

Holmes also is the organizer of the Bentonia Blues Festival, which was first held in 1972. What began as a small community event with a blues DJ and a single live performer (Walter “Big Daddy” Hood singing a cappella), grew over time into one of the best-loved blues festivals in Mississippi. Following a 10-year hiatus, the festival returned this summer and the 2007 Bentonia Blues Festival has already been scheduled.

“I’ve been around blues my whole life,” Holmes says. “It’s not really something I chose. I feel like it chose me. I’m just happy that people seem to like what I’m doing.”

December 31: New Year's Eve -- RICK LAWSON for the 2nd ANNUAL 930 NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY!!!!

LIL DAVE THOMPSON – one of the 930’s own from Greenville by way of Italy, the UK, Switzerland and other INTERNATIONAL tour sites, 9:30pm.

FOR INFO ON LIL DAVE THOMPSON, CLICK ON "BLUES FOLK" BUTTON IN LEFT COLUMN ABOVE.

December 15 & 16: JOHN HORTON – genuine Delta Blues from Greenville, 9:30pm.

DUCK HOLMES - “the Bentonia Bluesman, ” 9pm. THE KING EDWARD BLUES BAND featuring Dennis Fountain, 10:30pm until.

930 BLUES CAFE Oct 9 thru 14, 2006 Monday, Oct 9 5:30 to 8pm: Happy Hour. Ironing Board Sam. Drinks 2 for 1. Tuesday, Oct 10 5:30 to 8pm: Happy Hour. Ironing Board Sam. Drinks 2 for 1. Ask about our BIRTHDAY SPECIAL! Wednesday, Oct 11 5:30 to 8pm: Happy Hour. Ironing Board Sam. Drinks 2 for 1. College Night -- wear a shirt, cap, pin, ID from any school and get in for $2 Must be 21. Thursday, Oct 12 5:30 to 8pm: Happy Hour. Ironing Board Sam. Drinks 2 for 1. 8pm: Norman Clark & Smoke Stack Lightning Band. $5 also featuring Jackie Bell FREE admission if wearing a 930 T-shirt. INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED Blues great ***MICHAEL BURKS*** is performing live at the 930 Blues Cafe on Friday and Saturday, October 13 & 14. Nominated for 3 WC Handy Blues Awards in 2005 including Best Guitarist, Best Contemporary male Artist, and Album of the year, Michael Burks has also won the Living Blues Magazine Award for Best Contemporary Guitarist. MICHAEL BURKS - "an immensely talented guitarist who will singe the whiskers right off your face." Show starts at 9:30pm. Admission $15. For more information on MICHAEL BURKS, go to: http://www.bluemountainartists.com/index.cfm/event/Artist/artistId/11.html Friday, Oct 13 5:30 to 8pm: Happy Hour. Ironing Board Sam. Drinks 2 for 1. 9:30pm: **MICHAEL BURKS** $15 also featuring Jackie Bell Saturday, Oct 14 9:30pm: **MICHAEL BURKS** $15 also featuring Jackie Bell

RICK LAWSON "Baby of the Blues"

LIL DAVE THOMPSON