Welcome to the September, 2018, edition of BLUES JUNCTION.

As most of our readers are now aware we lost two legendary figures in the blues music field over the past few weeks. They are Leslie Johnson known by the stage name Lazy Lester and Cecil John McNeely better known as Big Jay McNeely. These two men represent just how big of a tent is needed to contain what we refer to as blues music. Their sound and style couldn’t be more different from one another. Both traveled different paths to attain legendary status in their chosen field.

Lazy Lester died on August 22^nd at the age of 84. His brand of swamp blues reflected his musical sensibilities and that of the iconic blues label Excello Records where he recorded. Before the infamous segregationist Jay Miller was making records exclusively for the white supremist/KKK market, he was a producer at this Nashville record label. He used Lazy Lester as a multi-instrumentalist playing harmonica, guitar, bass and “percussion.” He played a rolled-up newspaper on a cardboard box in the accompaniment of label star Slim Harpo’s recordings.

His own records included I’m a Lover Not a Fighter, I Hear You Knockin’, Sugar Coated Love and other tunes. While Lester has always claimed authorship of the recordings that bore his distinctive musical stylings, Jay Miller claimed songwriting credits and, more importantly, he was the bastard who cashed the royalty checks which were due the blues musician. Embittered by this treatment, Lester walked away from the music business for a spell.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds recorded some Lazy Lester songs including Sugar Coated Love, I Hear You Knockin’ and Tell Me renewing some interest in his career. In 2001, Antone’s Records recorded one of the best blues albums of the new millennium entitled Blues Stop Knockin’ produced by Derek O’Brian and featuring Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. After years of scuffling, Leslie Johnson had himself a hit. In 2002, a New Orleans roots music festival called The Ponderosa Stomp got its name from a Lazy Lester tune. He was a frequent performer at this annual event.

Lazy Lester settled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in a small town called Paradise. Sounds like a perfect place to live out one’s final days especially for someone who was known as Lazy Lester and who loved to fish as much as he did. Johnson always insisted that he wasn’t lazy; “I’m just tired.” He would say.

Big Jay McNeely on the other hand was a big city guy who was born in the Watts section of my hometown of Los Angeles. His story is best told by himself and that is just what he did seven years ago when the two of us sat down in a Southern California nightclub to discuss his life in music. He was as genuine as he was generous with his time. He had a near photographic recall of the events that shaped his iconic career in the rhythm & blues field. The man I call Big Jay from L.A. passed away on September 16^th at the age of 91. You are welcome to click on this link which will take you into the archive section of our site and my interview with the one and only Big Jay McNeely.

Check out my interview with Marina Crouse. She stands in our Monthly Artist Spotlight this month. Our Monthly Album Spotlight shines on the soon to be released album by Anthony Geraci entitled Why Did You Have To Go. Also enjoy a whole new batch of brand new and soon to be released albums that are part of our Recommended Listening feature. Additionally, Charlie Lange has rounded up a whole batch of brand new (old) CDs for his Re-Issue Rodeo. These, like many of the brand-new offerings in our recommended listening column can be found at his Bluebeat Music online store. As always, by clicking on the album cover art you will be taken directly to his site.

Speaking of CDs, I ask the musical question Are CDs Obsolete? Enjoy an editorial where I examine the arc of the digital age and discuss what it all means to the survival of our civilization.

Additionally, check out a preview of one of the great annual events on the blues calendar, the Riverside West Coast Blues Festival taking place on October 6^th.  This is one of the last true blues only festivals anywhere on this planet. 

Last month the world lost a true musical giant with the passing of the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. I include my appreciation of this musical, social and cultural icon here in the September edition of BLUES JUNCTION.

It was great seeing many of you at the San Diego Blues Festival earlier this month. I also look forward to seeing many more of you out at the Riverside West Coast Blues Festival on October 6^th. It should be a hoot.

Until then be well and be in touch.

-  David Mac



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