CHARLIE WILSON PERFORMS FOR U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ

(February 10, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA) – Grammy nominated Jive Records recording artist Charlie Wilson is set to make his third trip to Iraq and Kuwait to perform for United States Troops in the region in mid-February, 2011.

In addition to performing concerts during his tour, Wilson has created a micro site and is inviting the public to post messages of love and support to the troops.  “Our troops are away from home and family and I thought this would be a good way to bring them personal messages from home.  You can leave a message for a loved one serving our country or just a message of thanks for all the sacrifices our troops are making for our country. It’s important that we let them know that we respect and support them”

The public can log onto http://www.jiverecords.com/YouAreForTheTroops/ to post their messages.  Wilson will be sharing these messages with the troops at each base he visits.

Cookin’ With The Hook: An Interview with John Lee Hooker, Jr.

On the heels of the successful release of his third CD, “All Odds Against Me,” Grammy nominated blues artist and son of blues legend, John Lee Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Jr. heads to Europe, Turkey and Russia to wow audiences overseas with his special brand of blues flavor.

A blues superhero, as portrayed in his animated video release “Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But A Pimp,” Hooker Jr. has successfully captured the attention of audiences internationally. The video animation, from Frenchman Laurent Mercier at the Callicore Animation Studios in Paris, has served to bridge the generational gap between the blues and hip hop audiences.

The video is the first of three to be released in 2008 and is included free on his enhanced CD. It can also be viewed on the web at www.JohnLeeHookerJr.com.

We interviewed Hooker, Jr., in 2004, before his debut release “Blues with a Vengeance” and are pleased that he continues to grow and delight audiences around the world. To gain some insight into John Lee Hooker, Jr. and his growth as an artist, we have updated our exclusive interview from August 2004.

After reading this interview you will see how John Lee Hooker, Jr. has evolved into a first class 21st century contemporary bluesman.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Hooker, Jr.

Hooker Jr. and his legendary Dad John Lee Hooker

Isaac Hayes Dead at 65

Remembering Isaac Hayes by Gary A. Johnson

August 10, 2008 – Music legend Isaac Hayes, the Academy and Grammy award winning singer, songwriter and musician was found dead at his home according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. He was 65.

A family member reportedly found Hayes unresponsive near a treadmill and he was pronounced dead about an hour later at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes’ wife and young son and his wife’s cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff’s deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

“The treadmill was running but he was unresponsive lying on the floor,” Shular said.

Most young people know of Isaac Hayes as the voice of “Chef” on the TV show “South Park.” They know nothing about his songwriting skills as a pioneer with STAX records and his days as a musician with Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. Isaac Hayes was a bona fide star in 1969 with the release of his album “Hot Buttered Soul.” I can still see his shaven head, gold chains and sunglasses on the front cover. I was only 11 at the time, but I remember the image of his dark-skinned black man taking the music industry by storm.

“Hot Buttered Soul” was one of those albums where you had only 3-4 cuts on one side of the disc. One song was last about 13 minutes. Hayes became a super star with his scoring the music soundtrack for the movie “Shaft” starring Richard Roundtree. The “Theme From Shaft,” hit No. 1 hit in 1971.

Isaac Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone.

He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as “Hold On, I’m Coming” and “Soul Man.”

In 1972, he won another Grammy for his album “Black Moses” composed film scores for “Truck Turner” besides “Shaft.”

Here’s a video of Isaac Hayes singing Clifton Davis’ classing song “Never Can Say Goodbye.”