Backroads of American Music

• Sam "Black Smoke" Wiggins

  We ran up on Black Smoke one night at the Boom Boom Room on Thomas Street in North Memphis, back when it was called the J&J . Nice enough dude. We chatted awhile, emptied intoxicating golden liquid into our bellies from chilled aluminum cylinders... Posted Apr 13 2008, 01:21 PM by Preston with | with no comments Filed under: Memphis, Artists, Genres, Regions, Blues, Sam "Black Smoke" Wiggins

• "Big" Don Valentine

  Don Valentine’s nickname won’t blow anyone away. The drummer-entertainer behind the Hollywood All-Stars, Valentine keeps it simple and honest with his tag: Big. When we chatted about meeting up for an interview, Valentine seemed accommodating about the... Posted Nov 12 2007, 07:02 PM by Preston with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Memphis, Artists, Genres, Regions, Blues, "Big" Don Valentine

• O.T. Sykes: "The Singing Dentist"

  O.T. Sykes has the finest nickname this side of Jessco White. The similarities between Sykes and the "Dancing Outlaw" end there, though. Sykes comes from a family of professionals who stress hard-work and education. He's been a successful... Posted Oct 22 2007, 05:00 PM by Preston with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Memphis, Artists, Genres, Regions, Soul, O.T. Sykes

• The Memphis Connection Band

  THE strongest band in the city, bar none. The lineup features Leroy Dotson on keys, the outstanding Kenny Kight on guitar, Leroy Hodges of Hi Rhythm on bass, and Roy Cunningham, or sometimes Howard Grimes on drums. The combined playing experience of members... Posted Sep 22 2007, 08:11 AM by Preston with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Memphis, Artists, Genres, Regions, Soul, Sugarman, Roy Cunningham, Memphis Connection, Kenny Kight, Howard Grimes, Leroy Hodges, Leroy Dotson, Preacherman

• Wilroy Sanders, Patriarch of Memphis Juke Joint Blues

  Wilroy Sanders turned 73 this year. The people celebrating that birthday with him counted the event a pleasant surprise. He drank of whiskeys. He smoked of tobacco cigarettes. And only when he was damn ready, he took the "stage" at the Blue... Posted Sep 20 2007, 06:11 AM by Preston with | with no comments Filed under: Memphis, Artists, Genres, Blues, Wilroy Sanders

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• "Big" Don Valentine
• Blue Worm
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• Howard Grimes
• James Bonner
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• Leroy Dotson
• Leroy Hodges
• Memphis Connection
• O.T. Sykes
• Preacherman
• Regions
• Roy Cunningham
• Sam "Black Smoke" Wiggins
• Soul
• Sugarman
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• Wilroy Sanders