DJ Hairy Larry Presents Suzanne Michell And Fred Wilson Singing Old Rugged Cross
From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2024-07-28

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a favorite hymn sung at a concert featuring mostly jazz and spirituals.

I first met Suzanne Michell when Vivian and I were working on Blues Fest 91. Vivian’s friend Linda, from college, was living in Little Rock and worked in a place where Suzanne was singing. Suzanne is blind so Linda drove her up to Jonesboro for Blues Fest and she amazed and astounded.

Later, Fred Wilson started driving her to gigs and they were playing as a duo and a trio. And then they got married so that was cool.

I’ve recorded Suzanne in Jonesboro and Little Rock. Besides helping us with Blues Fest year after year she played at Bebopalooza, Jazz Thursday, New Jazz In Jonesoboro, and she even sang at my senior recital.

My favorite recordings of Suzanne and Fred were made at the Brookland United Methodist Church when they would visit us every year or two for Wednesday night special music. They sing everything. When Suzanne Michell came to blues fest with an electric guitar one year I called her electric and eclectic. For our Wednesday night special music she had a flair for picking the right songs and speaking directly to the youth about life and music.

DJ Hairy Larry Presents Snap Crow Legs Playing Will The Circle Be Unbroken
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2024-05-26

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a gospel song recorded by a rock band at the Craighead Forest Bandshell in 2011.

When they first played at the bandshell Snap Crow Legs knocked everyone out with their bright, upbeat sound. They soon became regulars playing popular repertoire that included classics from all genres and contemporary rock. On May 15, 2011, they had a little personnel update with Mitch Hollifield as their front man playing acoustic guitar and sharing lead vocals with Greg Phillips.

The recordings I made that day quickly became my favorites and not just because they invited me up to play on three songs. I love it when I go to festivals and the bands invite guests from other bands to play. I really love it when I’m the guest.

Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear an original song that has blues, jazz, and gospel influences.

I met Will Riley at my juke house in Old Town Nettleton. He said he wanted to come and play so we scheduled him in. He became a regular performer playing mostly original songs. One night, on his last set, Bix Smith set in and I knew that I wanted to record what I was hearing.

So we scheduled some sessions during our off hours and recorded the songs featured on the Will Riley album, “My Baby’s Got Me By The Blues”. Eleven originals, each one better than the others. Fantastic work writing, playing, and recording.

I picked “Been Down To The Water” to play today because it’s a gospel song played to a blues change featuring jazz guitar. A little bit of all the ingredients that make up Arkansas Roots.