Friday, December 31, 2010

Buy Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Movement...

End This Year & Start The New One On A Jazzy & Swinging Note With Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear!!!

"Jimmie Lunceford Has The Best Of All Bands. Duke [Ellington] Is Great, [Count] Basie Is Remarkable, But Lunceford Tops Them Both."
-- Legendary Swing Band Leader Glenn Miller


Here Are The Featured Products:


For Just $25 Each Plus $7 Shipping And Handling You Can Get Your Own Soon To Be Popular Tee Shirt Made And Autographed By The Award Winning R2C2H2 Tha Artivist!!!



Or For $25 Each Plus $7 Shipping & Handling You Can Get Your Own Soon To Be Popular Sweatshirt Made And Autographed By The Award Winning R2C2H2 Tha Artivist!!!




Or For $25 Plus $5 Shipping & Handling You Can Own Soon To Be Popular 11" x 17" Art Print Made And Autographed By The Award Winning R2C2H2 Tha Artivist!!!

Or Wait
The Best Deal Yet!!!

Only For The Holidays...Get The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Package Which Includes One Of Each Of The Following:
A Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Tee-Shirt,
A Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Sweatshirt,
A Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Art Print

All For $70 Plus $20 Shipping & Handling

If Ordered By Dec. 15 Guaranteed By Christmas Day.

Also Makes Great Gifts For Channukah, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Etc.,...


$How To Pay$

Please Pay For Your Order Through Our Paypal Account...Please E-mail r2c2h2@gmail.com And /Or Call Us @ 901-299-4355 With The Specifics Of The Order Such As Color, Size Requested (Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2 X-Large Etc.,...) And Quantity...
(Note: Please Add $3 More To Order For 2X-Large And 3X-Large Sizes)

Here's Another Option...

You can send your check or money order with other previously requested information to the following address:

R2C2H2/ Ron Herd II
P.O. Box 752062
Memphis,Tn 38175

Your Order Will Be Shipped Out A.S.A.P. As Soon As We Receive Your Pay...We Will Notify You By E-mail To Let You Know When You Should Expect Your Shipment...

All Of The Proceeds Will Go To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival & Other Related Programs!!!

The Purpose Of Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival:

To Honor And Bring Awareness To The Forgotten And Impressive Legacy And Achievements Of Jimmie Lunceford, The First High School Band Orchestra Leader/Conductor In The History Of The Memphis City Schools…Lunceford, A Fisk University Graduate, Was Hired As A Teacher Of English,Spanish And Physical Education At Manassas High School Back In The 1920s...He Also Served As The School's Baseball And Football Coach...He Started The First Memphis City Schools' Band/Orchestra With Money Out Of His Own Pocket And Donations From The Community...

He Later Took His Band Of High School Students And Turned Them Into A Professional And Popular Local Memphis Band Known As The Chickasaw Syncopators…

In the early 1930s Lunceford took his band to the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, NY to take over as the house band for Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway…The group eventually became known as The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra…The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra would regularly broadcast live from the Cotton Club gaining a huge national audience…Jimmie Lunceford would constantly beat the great swing bands of his era in numerous “battle of the bands” contests including those led by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Chick Webb…The Lunceford Orchestra Was Known For Their Amazing Ensemble Play, Singing , Choreography And Overall Showmanship...They were known as The Harlem Express because of their huge African American following and was the top draw act at the world famous Apollo Theatre for 10 years...The Lunceford Orchestra was considered by many including Glenn Miller and Miles Davis to be one of if not the best swing band ever!!!

Unfortunately, Jimmie Lunceford (after dying under mysterious circumstances on July 12, 1947 in Seaside, Oregon) has been forgotten by many in the Memphis Community for 61 years and counting…

Jimmie Lunceford, the essence of a true teacher, never forgot about Memphis or Manassas High School and would constantly come back to talk to students at Manassas High School and hold free concerts despite being one of the most popular bandleaders in the country, Black or White…

The purpose of this event is to bring awareness about Jimmie Lunceford and to instill community pride in the achievements and accomplishments of a native Memphian who never forgot Memphis…Jimmie Lunceford’s remains are interred at the famous Elmwood Cemetery along with his wonderful legacy...We @ the Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival look forward to changing that same old sad song & swinging a new brighter tune!!!

Please Visit The Official Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Website:
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

Help Us Raise Monies For The Jimmie Lunceford Scholars Fund For Deserving Memphis City Schools Students...
http://jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com/2007/10/help-us-raise-monies-for-jimmie.html

Help Us Get Jimmie Lunceford A Brass Note On Beale Street!!!
http://jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com/2007/10/help-us-get-jimmie-lunceford-brass-note.html


Thanks Once Again For Supporting This Wonderful Venture And Please Spread The Word!!!
Jazznocracily Yours,


Tha Artivist
http://www.r2c2h2.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe
http://www.weallbe.blogspot.com
http://www.soldierboygrip.blogspot.com
http://www.jazzlieutenant.blogspot.com
http://www.cafepress.com/r2c2h2
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com
Posted by tha artivist at 10:37 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Check Out The First Episode Of 'Real Talk With Tha Artivist'!!! "And Rhythm Was His Business: Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend"

"The Revolution Won't Be Televised But It Will Be Blogged, Podcasted & Broadcasted Online!!!"~

Tha Artivist

Real Talk With Tha Artivist Episode # 1~And Rhythm Was His Business...Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend




"Jimmie Lunceford Has The Best Of All Bands. Duke [Ellington] Is Great, [Count] Basie Is Remarkable, But Lunceford Tops Them Both."
-- Legendary Swing Band Leader Glenn Miller

"Jimmy Lunceford Was Buried Here In Memphis. The Spot He Occupies Should Have Something Of A Special Significance. ...He Took A Group Of Relatively Unsophisticated Memphis Colored Boys And Welded Them Into An Organization Which Scaled The Heights Of Musical Eminence. ... He Presented Something New In The Way Of Musical Presentations By Negro Orchestras."
--Legendary Memphis Educator And Syndicated Columnist Nat D. Williams

Although in recent days he was finally awarded a long overdue brass note on the street (Beale Street) that he helped made famous, the tantalizing question still remains for many in the City of Good Abode: Who Was Jimmie Lunceford???

In less than 30 minutes R2C2H2 Tha Artivist plans to answer that exact question with analysis from experts and the people who knew him the best.

“W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Presents…Real Talk With Tha Artivist” takes great pride and honor in honoring a true gentleman whose creative genius and legacy knows no boundaries...James “Jimmie” Melvin Lunceford was considered by many to be among jazz's greatest swing band leaders...His Orchestra was nicknamed 'The Harlem Express' because of their overwhelming popularity with the African American community of the 1930s & 40s...His fame also extended beyond that proud community for he was also recognized by the larger national and international audiences as well...

Leading a band composed of his former high school students from the future Jazz Mecca Manassas High School (where he became the Memphis City Schools' first high school band director , amazingly starting a world class band with little start up money or any support from the school system) and his college buddies from Fisk University, The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra eventually became the house band for the legendary Cotton Club in storied Harlem, NY...The band became wildly famous because of their exceptional stage shows and the weekly live radio broadcasts from the club that were heard throughout the entire U.S....

Please join us in learning more about a man who owned and flew his own airplanes at a time when Blacks were not allowed to attend flight schools in the U.S....Learn more about a man who never forgot his teacher roots and would spend generous sums of money to start and support music education programs throughout the country to fight juvenile delinquency and dropout rates...Learn more about the former star athlete and ambitious teacher who became a movie star and a headliner & legend in his own time before dying under mysterious circumstances at the young age of 45 almost 62 years ago...Learn more about the efforts currently being done to restore this man's rightful place in the jazz pantheon and to ensure his legacy of perseverance, creativity, education and hope lives on in our youths and greater community for generations to come...

For More Information On Jimmie Lunceford & The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Please Visit
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

Please View All 3 Parts Of This Episode On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV By Perusing The Following Links:

Part One



Part Two



Part Three



******
What Are Some Other Ways I Can View ‘Real Talk With Tha Artivist’???

On TV:
Please catch the latest 'Real Talk With Tha Artivist' episode on Memphis Comcast Cable Channel 17 Mondays @ 8pm Central.

Online:
You can also view past and current episodes among other W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Features at the official W.E. A.L.L. B.E. YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/weallbetv

******

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~2nd Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2008/10/12/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~1st Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
Buy Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Movement...

Posted by tha artivist at 1:14 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

6/6/2009~Wreath Laying Ceremony For Jimmie Lunceford @ Elmwood Cemetery

*For Immediate Release*

Wreath Laying Ceremony In Honor Of Jimmie Lunceford's 107th Life Affirmation Day (Birthday)

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009

Where: Elmwood Cemetery (The Lord’s Chapel & Graveside)

824 S. Dudley Street. • Memphis, TN 38104

Time: 12pm-3pm Central

*Free Admission*
Refreshments Will Be Served & Special Tribute Performed

Contact: Ron Herd II/R2C2H2 Tha Artivist
Phone- 901-299-4355
E-mail-r2c2h2@gmail.com

Who Was Jimmie Lunceford????


"Jimmy Lunceford was buried here in Memphis. The spot he occupies should have something of a special significance. ... He took a group of relatively unsophisticated Memphis colored boys and welded them into an organization which scaled the heights of musical eminence. ... He presented something new in the way of musical presentations by Negro orchestras. Lunceford and many others like him chose to remain at home, and with their people. [His death] should have meaning in inspiration and guidance to others. If we permit it, Lunceford's burial in Memphis can mean this."
--Legendary Memphis Educator And Syndicated Columnist Nat D. Williams

"Jimmie Lunceford has the best of all bands. Duke [Ellington] is great, [Count] Basie is remarkable, but Lunceford tops them both."
-- Legendary Swing Band Leader Glenn Miller

On June 6, 1902, a music genius was born. Please join us on June 6, 2009, as we honor the memory of one of Memphis’ unsung heroes on his birthday: Music & Education Giant Jimmie Lunceford.

Jimmie Lunceford was the first high school band director in Memphis City Schools History. He started the first high school band at Manassas High School with no money, but with a lot of determination. Jimmie Lunceford through his pioneering efforts also started the first jazz studies program in U.S. public schools history. He eventually selected nine of his best music students and several college friends from Fisk University to form arguably the greatest jazz swing band of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra eventually took over as the house band at the legendary Cotton Club where they literally became household names due to live regular national broadcasts from that venue. They also became the most popular act at the world famous Apollo Theatre for 10 straight years. Jimmie Lunceford was also a movie star (orchestra performed in “Blues In The Night” and also in a 1936 film short) and his songs appeared in numerous popular cartoons as well.

He owned and flew his own airplanes at a time when African Americans were not even allowed to attend flight schools in the U.S. Jimmie Lunceford was also a philanthropist. He gave large sums of money to start music education programs throughout the country to keep kids out of trouble and in school. He was truly a man ‘of’ as well as ‘ahead’ of his times.

Unfortunately, Jimmie died under ‘mysterious circumstances’ at the peak of his career on July 12, 1947, while signing autographs in Seaside, Oregon. He was only 45 years old. His funerals were attended by thousands in both New York and Memphis. Unfortunately, Jimmie Lunceford and his legacy it seems has laid forgotten about in historic Elmwood Cemetery in South Memphis for 60 plus years…Until now…

View the ‘Real Talk With Tha Artivist’ Memphis Comcast Cable TV Special, “And Rhythm Was His Business…Jimmie Lunceford: Memphis Music Legend” in three parts online…

Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHSBrxpBxro&feature=channel_page

Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGiYBJHb9TM&feature=channel_page

Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9O8jL4f1VU&feature=channel_page

For More Information About Jimmie Lunceford & The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Please Visit http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

******

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~2nd Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2008/10/12/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~1st Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
Buy Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Movement...
Posted by tha artivist at 9:20 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Jimmie Would Have Been Proud: Manassas High School Boys Basketball Team Wins 1st Ever State Title...


Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal
Manassas guard Marcus Holloway is fouled by Temple's Jeremy Sexton during the TSSAA basketball championship game Saturday in Murfreesboro, TN. Holloway was game MVP.

Manassas Takes Class A Championship

By Jason Smith
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Saturday, March 21, 2009

MURFREESBORO -- Manassas boys basketball coach Gerald Harris was thanking anyone he felt had anything to do with his Tigers earning their first boys basketball state title Saturday afternoon with a 60-34 victory over Chattanooga Temple at Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center.

He thanked God. He thanked his assistant coach, Jerry Anthony, as well as his own former head coach at Manassas, Charles Thompson.

"I want to send a shout-out to my mama, Tommie Harris, too," Harris said, "because she couldn't make it."

Having finished state runner-up in three previous state-title game appearances, Manassas (27-2) became the first Memphis boys team since 1986 to win the Class A state title with its 21st straight victory Saturday.

Sophomore guard Joe Northington scored 14 points and junior point guard Marcus Holloway, whose game-winning 3-pointer had lifted Manassas earlier in the week in its quarterfinal victory over top-ranked Humboldt, finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

Holloway was named state-tournament MVP for a Manassas club that played the final 12 minutes of the game without senior star Reginald Buckner, a 6-8 Ole Miss signee who was ejected from Saturday's game after picking up his second technical foul with 3:54 left in the third quarter.

Buckner, who contributed eight points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes of action, was relegated to cheerleader status with his team leading, 30-19, midway through the third.

"It really wasn't tough at all because I had faith in my team. I knew if I cheered them on and kept a positive attitude, they were going to get out there and do what they do," said Buckner, who was named Class A Mr. Basketball following the game.

With their top player out, the Tigers outscored Temple, 23-3, over the next eight minutes of the game to build a 31-point (53-22) advantage midway through the fourth.

Holloway, Northington and senior guard Shaq Walker combined to score 14 of Manassas' 18 third-quarter points before senior post Kendall Woodard scored all 10 of his points in the final period to help put Temple (28-6) away. Woodard also had 10 rebounds, registering his third double-double of the tournament.

"We told (Buckner) we were going to get the win for him," Holloway said. "We tell him that every time we're without him, if he fouls out or anything. We told him, 'We got you Big Boy. We got you.'"

Temple senior guard Jeremy Sexton's 17 points led the Crusaders, who finished 11-of-51 (22 percent) from the field for the game.

Sexton and senior teammate James Kemp (five points) joined Manassas' Woodard, Buckner, Northington and Holloway on the Class A all-tournament team.

Scripps Lighthouse

© 2009 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online
Posted by tha artivist at 2:10 AM 0 comments

Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra Alum & Jazz Great Gerald Wilson To Write Piece Called 'Detroit' For Detroit Jazz Festival...


STEFANO PALTERA/Associated Press

The festival has commissioned composer and bandleader Gerald Wilson to write a big band piece entitled "Detroit" to debut at the festival.


BY MARK STRYKER
DETROIT FREE PRESS MUSIC WRITER

The Detroit International Jazz Festival has commissioned indefatigable 90-year-old composer and bandleader Gerald Wilson, who trained at Detroit's Cass Tech in the '30s, to write a big band piece entitled "Detroit" in honor of the festival's 30th anniversary. The premiere will take place at the Labor Day weekend event, Sept. 4-7 in downtown Detroit.

The commission was among the latest details announced today, including the complete slate of national headliners.

Wilson, who wrote for Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie and Duke Ellington early in his career, has led his own Los Angeles-based big band for 45 years and is a leading voice in post-World War II big band jazz. He'll lead a band of Michigan musicians at the festival.

Festival leaders previously announced such key national acts as the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Chick Corea Trio, Hank Jones and Dave Brubeck, as well as a families-in-jazz theme and artist-in-residence John Clayton, who has been commissioned to write a concerto grosso for quintet and jazz orchestra.

The festival, titled Keepin' Up with the Joneses, will honor the legendary Pontiac-bred brothers Hank, Thad and Elvin Jones. Hank, an amazingly prolific pianist at 90, is the eldest and only surviving brother.

Newly announced headliners include a gaggle with Detroit ties: pianist Geri Allen with a quartet featuring a tap dancer; multi-reedman Bennie Maupin's Dolphyana (a tribute to Eric Dolphy); drummer Louis Hayes' Cannonball Legacy Band; alto saxophonist Charles McPherson; and drummer Karriem Riggins' Virtuoso Experience with Mulgrew Miller and DJ Madlib; Flint-bred singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave with former students Allen, Riggins and Bob Hurst.

There will also be a performance of Donald Byrd's "A New Perspective," a prescient 1963 gospel-influenced LP with a choir. (Byrd will not appear.)

Other headliners include the Heath Brothers, Larry and Julian Coryell, Pete and Juan Escovedo, Brian Augur and Family, Clayton Brothers, Brubeck Brothers, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, T.S. Monk, Chuchito Valdes, Eddie Daniels and Sheila Jordan.

Bassist Christian McBride, resident artist at the 2008 festival, will lead his new straight-ahead quintet and team with Clayton and Rodney Whitaker for a "Superbass" Trio.

Contact MARK STRYKER : 313-222-6459 or stryker@freepress.com.

See Also...

Real Talk With Tha Artivist Episode # 1~And Rhythm Was His Business...Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend
http://jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com/2009/05/check-out-first-episode-of-real-talk.html

Tha Artivist Presents…Memphis Black History, More Than The Place Where Dr. King Died. Part 2

The Official Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Website
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~2nd Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2008/10/12/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~1st Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
Buy Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Movement...
Posted by tha artivist at 12:11 AM 0 comments

Sunday, April 12, 2009

*For Immediate Release* TV Premiere Of "W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Presents...Real Talk With Tha Artivist" (4/13/2009 @ 8pm C., Memphis Comcast Ch. 17)

What: TV Premiere Of "W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Presents...Real Talk With Tha Artivist"
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009
Time: 8pm Central/ 9pm Eastern/ 6pm Pacific
Where: Comcast Cable Ch. 17 (Memphis,TN)
Contact: Ron Herd II
phone-901-299-4355
e-mail-r2c2h2@gmail.com

Show Topic: “And Rhythm Was His Business…Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend.”

"Jimmie Lunceford Has The Best Of All Bands. Duke [Ellington] Is Great, [Count] Basie Is Remarkable, But Lunceford Tops Them Both."
-- Legendary Swing Band Leader Glenn Miller

"Jimmy Lunceford Was Buried Here In Memphis. The Spot He Occupies Should Have Something Of A Special Significance. ...He Took A Group Of Relatively Unsophisticated Memphis Colored Boys And Welded Them Into An Organization Which Scaled The Heights Of Musical Eminence. ... He Presented Something New In The Way Of Musical Presentations By Negro Orchestras."
--Legendary Memphis Educator And Syndicated Columnist Nat D. Williams

Although in recent days he was finally awarded a long overdue brass note on the street (Beale Street) that he helped made famous, the tantalizing question still remains for many in the City of Good Abode: Who Was Jimmie Lunceford???

In less than 30 minutes R2C2H2 Tha Artivist plans to answer that exact question with analysis from experts and the people who knew him the best.

“W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Presents…Real Talk With Tha Artivist” takes great pride and honor in honoring a true gentleman whose creative genius and legacy knows no boundaries...James “Jimmie” Melvin Lunceford was considered by many to be among jazz's greatest swing band leaders...His Orchestra was nicknamed 'The Harlem Express' because of their overwhelming popularity with the African American community of the 1930s & 40s...His fame also extended beyond that proud community for he was also recognized by the larger national and international audiences as well...

Leading a band composed of his former high school students from the future Jazz Mecca Manassas High School (where he became the Memphis City Schools' first high school band director , amazingly starting a world class band with little start up money or any support from the school system) and his college buddies from Fisk University, The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra eventually became the house band for the legendary Cotton Club in storied Harlem, NY...The band became wildly famous because of their exceptional stage shows and the weekly live radio broadcasts from the club that were heard throughout the entire U.S....

Please join us in learning more about a man who owned and flew his own airplanes at a time when Blacks were not allowed to attend flight schools in the U.S....Learn more about a man who never forgot his teacher roots and would spend generous sums of money to start and support music education programs throughout the country to fight juvenile delinquency and dropout rates...Learn more about the former star athlete and ambitious teacher who became a movie star and a headliner & legend in his own time before dying under mysterious circumstances at the young age of 45 almost 62 years ago...Learn more about the efforts currently being done to restore this man's rightful place in the jazz pantheon and to ensure his legacy of perseverance, creativity, education and hope lives on in our youths and greater community for generations to come...

April Is National Jazz Appreciation Month…

For More Information Related To Jimmie Lunceford Please Visit:
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com
Posted by tha artivist at 6:28 PM 0 comments

Saturday, April 11, 2009

It's Official: Jimmie Lunceford Gets Brass Note On Beale Street!!!




By Bob Mehr
The Memphis Commercial Appeal

Friday, April 10, 2009

Legendary Memphis and regional musicians will be honored locally and in Nashville this month.

Next week bluesman Robert "Wolfman" Belfour will receive a Governor's Arts Award in Nashville.

And April 20, the first of a series of brass notes that will be added to the Beale Street Walk of Fame.

Performa Entertainment Real Estate Inc., which administers the Beale Street program, has dedicated 73 brass notes on Beale since 1986 honoring the Mid-South's musical stars and pioneers. This week, the company announced 16 musicians being recognized with the plaques through April 2010.

The first will be unveiled for late blues guitar prodigy Corey Osborn, whose career was cut short at the age of 23 after a fatal automobile accident last fall.

In May, longtime Stax musician and Isaac Hayes guitarist Charles "Skip" Pitts will accept his note, while a pair of jug band pioneers -- Gus Cannon & Cannon's Jug Stompers and Will Shade & The Memphis Jug Band -- will also have their names enshrined.

The balance of the honorees includes local and regional greats, among them big-band leader Jimmie Lunceford, influential rock and roll deejay Dewey Phillips, and songwriter-producer Chips Moman. The list of 2010 recipients announced so far features musical greats from Mississippi including hill country bluesmen R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, slide guitar master Fred McDowell, and fife band patriarch Otha Turner.

The range of artists chosen this year was a result of a renewed focus on the selection process, said John Elkington, CEO of Performa, which also oversees the committee that picks the honorees.

"We felt we needed to re-establish the committee," says Elkington. "We have people from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences), from the Blues Foundation, musicians, club owners -- it's a good cross section."

Meantime, Belfour will be among those recognized with Tennessee's highest honor in the arts, the Governor's Arts Awards, in a ceremony Tuesday at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.

The office of Gov. Phil Bredesen announced he and first lady Andrea Conte will present Belfour with the Folklife Heritage Award for outstanding musical work in representing the blues tradition. He is the only Mid-Southerner among this year's award recipients. Belfour, 68, was raised in Mississippi and moved to Memphis in 1968. His musical career blossomed relatively late in life, after he was discovered by blues enthusiasts in the mid-'90s. Belfour continues to make his home in Memphis where he performs regularly.

-- Bob Mehr: 901-529-2517

--------------------

BRASS NOTE RECIPIENTS

Dates and times for ceremonies are still being arranged. Check performaentertainment.com for updates:

April 20

Corey Osborn (1985-2008)

May

Gus Cannon & Cannon's Jug Stompers

Will Shade & the Memphis Jug Band

Charles "Skip" Pitts (1947-present)

June

Little Laura Dukes (1907-1992)

July

Jimmie Lunceford (1902-1947)

August

Dewey Phillips (1926-1968)

September

Fred Ford (1930- 1999)

Honeymoon Garner (1931-2002)

Bill Tyus (19??-1997)

October

Chips Moman (1936-present)

January 2010

Rosco Gordon (1934-2002)

May 2010

R.L. Burnside (1926-2005)

Junior Kimbrough (1930-1998)

Fred McDowell (1904-1972)

Otha Turner (1907-2003)

See Also...
Tha Artivist Presents…Memphis Black History, More Than The Place Where Dr. King Died. Part 2

The Official Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Website
http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~2nd Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2008/10/12/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~1st Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
Posted by tha artivist at 4:46 PM 0 comments
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