Collection : Singing the blues in St. Louis

Have the blues 'done left this town'?

The marquee names are gone: Tommy Bankhead and Oliver Sain, Johnnie Johnson and Little Milton Campbell, Bennie Smith and Henry “Mule” Townsend. They all helped define St. Louis as a blues town.

Jun 04, 2007 | 4:26 pm | Loading…

For 50 years, Big George Brock has been the music’s caped crusader

CLARKSDALE, MISS. • His enormous hands envelop the harmonica. When Big George Brock blows into it, the sound overwhelms the room.

Jun 04, 2007 | 10:20 am | Loading…

Teenage guitarist channels the blues masters

“Are y’all ready to get down?” the burly blues singer, dressed improbably in a peach-color playa’s suit and matching derby, asks the obviously ready crowd at BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups.

Jun 04, 2007 | 10:42 am | Loading…

Arthur Williams

When he was 9, Arthur Williams sneaked one of his father’s harmonicas to school, went into the bathroom and began to blow.

Jun 04, 2007 | 1:44 pm | Loading…

Marcell Strong

Marcell Strong’s five decades playing blues began on a dare in an East St. Louis tavern. He was 19, it was the late 1950s and Piano Slim was on stage.

Jun 04, 2007 | 1:36 pm | Loading…

David Dee

Every night is ladies night when David Dee plays the blues.

Jun 04, 2007 | 1:28 pm | Loading…

Boo Boo Davis

James "Boo Boo" Davis knew he was something special as a boy. The old folks at the hospital where his mother lay dying told her so.

Jun 04, 2007 | 11:57 am | Loading…

Rudy 'Silver Cloud' Coleman

It was 1977, and Rudy Coleman was about to get the nickname that stuck for 30 years.

Jun 04, 2007 | 11:09 am | Loading…

Growing up and growing old inspire Barbara Carr's blues

Growing up and growing old have brought Barbara Carr potent doses of the blues.

Jun 04, 2007 | 10:50 am | Loading…

Brian Curran

By Kevin C. Johnson

Jun 04, 2007 | 4:16 pm | Loading…

Kim Massie

Kim Massie is such a staple of the St. Louis blues scene that it feels as if she’s always been here wailing “At Last” and “If I Can’t Sell It I’ll Keep Sittin’ on It.”

Jun 04, 2007 | 2:03 pm | Loading…

St. Louis blues fans may have noticed something about Melissa Neels the last couple of years: She wasn’t around. The singer-guitarist took a couple of years off because the music was bumping heads with her regular job at Chrysler.

Jun 04, 2007 | 1:59 pm | Loading…

Bottoms Up Blues Gang

The blues wasn’t always singer Kari Liston’s thing.

Jun 04, 2007 | 2:53 pm | Loading…

Big George Brock keeps the Blues tradition going

St. Louis blues Musician Big George Brock talks a bout his career as a bluesman. To see the the complete project go to STLtoday.com/bluesmusic

Jun 04, 2007 | 11:37 am | Loading…

Bluesman Big George Brock perfoms in Clarksdale

Big George Brock, local harmonica player and blues singer, performs at Ground Zero night club in Clarksdale, Miss in May of 2007. Brock was there to honor his 75th birthday by recording a live album of his performance.

Jun 10, 2007 | 10:06 am | Loading…