B

Marcia  Ball
Born March 20th,1949, Orange, Texas
     Pianist, singer, and songwriter Marcia Ball is a living example of how east Texas blues meets southwest Louisiana swamp rock. Ball was born in Orange, Texas but grew up across the border in Vinton, LA. That town is squarely in the middle of "the Texas triangle". An area that includes portions of both states and that has produced some of the countries greatest blues talents: Janis Joplin, Edgar and Johnny Winter, Queen Ida Guillory, Lonnie Brooks, Zackery Richard, Richard Clifton Chenier, and Kenny Neal, to name a few. Ball's earliest awareness of blues came over the radio, where she heard people like Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, and Etta James, all of whom she credits as influences. She began playing piano at age five, learning from her grandmother and aunt and also taking formal lessons from a teacher.
     Ball entered LA. State University in the late 60's as an English major. In college, she played in a psychedelic rock 'n' roll band, Gum. In 1970, Ball and her first husband were headed west in their car to San Francisco, but the car needed repair in Austin, where they had stopped to visit one of their former band mates. After hearing, seeing and tasting some of the music, sights, and food in Austin, the two decided to stay there. Ball has been based in Austin since then.
     Her piano style, which mixes equal parts boogie-woogie with zydeco and Louisiana swamp rock, is best exemplified on her series of excellent recording for the Rounder label. They include Soulful Dress(1983), Hot Tamale Baby(1985), Gatorhythms(1989), and Blue House(1994). Also worthy of checking out is her collaboration with Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton on the Antone's label, Dreams Come True(1990).
Soulful Dress 1983  Rounder
Hot Tamale Baby  1985  Rounder
Gatorhythems  1989  Rounder
Dreams Come True  1990  Antone's
Blue House  1994  Rounder
Let Me Play With Your Poodle  1997  Rounder
Sing It!  1998  Rounder

Lou Ann Barton
Born Feb. 17th, 1954,Fort Worth, Texas
     Although she doesn't tour as much as she probably should, Austin-based vocalist Lou Ann Barton is one of the finest purveyors of raw, unadulterated roadhouse blues from the female gender that you will ever hear. Like Delbert McClinton, she can belt out a lyric so she can be heard over a two guitar band with horns. Born Feb. 17th, 1954, in Fort Worth, she's a veteran of thousands of dance hall and club shows all over Texas. Barton moved to Austin in the 1970's and later preformed with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. 
     Although she has a few great recordings out, notably Old Enough(1982)  Barton has to be seen live to be fully appreciated. She belts out her lyrics in a twangy voice so full of Texas that you can smell the B-B-Q sauce. She moves confidently about the stage and the grace and poise she displays is a part of the long tradition of women blues singers. The blues world still needs more good female singers like Barton to help to rebroaden the appeal of the music to diverse audiences and to further it's evolution.
     Barton has several other album's out on the Austin-based Antoine's Records, Read My Lips(1989) is a great one
Old Enough  1982  Discovery
Forbidden Tones  1986  Spindletop
Read My Lips  1989  Antone's
Dreams Come True  1990  Antone's

Billy  Bizor
b: 1917, Centerville Texas, d: 4-4-1969, Houston, Texas
     The blues revival of the 60's allowed the spotlight to finally fall on performers like Billy Bizor, an otherwise obscure harpist best known in conjunction with his recordings in support of his cousin, the renowned Lightnin' Hopkins. Born in Centerville, Texas in 1917, Bizor dwelled in almost total obscurity prior to the 60's, developing a spare, haunting sound largely unaffected by the passage of time, making him a prime candidate for rediscovery by purists. Among his first recordings were a series of unheralded early 60's dates backing Hopkins: between 1968 and 1969, Bizor cut his only solo session in Houston with producer Roy Ames, revealing him to be an intense, emotionally charged singer. Eventually issued as Blowing My Blues Away, the end results went unreleased for many years; and Bizor never got to see the recording come to life. He died in Houston on April 4th, 1969
Blowing My Blues Away  1968-69  Collectables

Zuzu  Bollin
b: Sept. 5,1922, Frisco, Texas  d: Oct. 2, 1990
     Two 78's in the early 50's and a 1989 rediscovery album don't add up to much of a recording legacy, but Zuzu Bollins contribution to the Texas blues legacy shouldn't be overlooked. His T-Bone Walker-influenced sound typified post war Lone Star blues guitar.
     Born A.D. Bollin, Zuzu listened to everyone from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Leroy Carr (on records) to Joe Turner and Count Basie. He picked up his nickname while in the band of Texan E.X. Brooks; seems he had a sweet tooth for a brand of ginger snap cookies called ZuZu's. Bollin formed his own combo in 1949, featuring young saxist David "Fathead" Newman. After a stint with Percy Mayfield's band, Bollin resumed playing around Dallas. In late 1951, he made his recording debut for Bob Sutton's Torch logo. Newman and saxist Leroy Cooper, both future members of the Ray Charles band, played on Bollin's "Why don't you eat where you slept last night" and "Headlight Blues. A Torch follow-up "Starvin Chain"/"Cry, Cry, Cry" found Bollin backed by Jimmy McCracklin's combo.
Texas Bluesman  1989  Antone's

Juke Boy Bonner 
b: 3-22-32, Bellville, Tx. d: 6-29-78 Houston, Tx.
     One-man bands weren't any too common on the postwar blues scene. Joe Hill Louis and Dr. Ross come to mind as greats who plied their trade by all their lonesome- and so did Juke Boy Bonner, a Texas whose talent never really earned him much in the way of tangible rewards.
     Born into impoverished circumstances in the Lone Star state during the depression, Weldon Bonner took up the guitar in his teens. He caught a break in 1947 in Houston, winning a talent contest that led to a spot on a local radio outlet. He journeyed to Oakland in 1956, cutting his debut single for Bob Geddins' Irma imprint ("Rock with me baby"/"Well baby"), with Lafayette "Thing" Thomas supplying lead guitar. Goldband Records boss Eddie Shuler was next to take a chance in 1960; Bonner recorded for him in Lake Charles, LA. with Katie Webster on piano, but once again, nothing happened career-wise.
     Troubled by stomach problems during the 60's, Bonner utilized his hospital downtime to write poems that he later turned into songs. He cut his best work during the late 60's for Arhoolie Records, accompanying himself on both guitar and racked harmonica as he told extremely personal tales of his rough life in Houston. A few European tours ensued, but they didn't really lead to much. Bonner died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1978.
Juke Boy Bonner  1960-67  Flyright
One Man Trio  1967  Flyright
Going Back To The Country  1968  Arhoolie
Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal  1969  Arhoolie
The Struggle  1969  Arhoolie
Things Ain't Right  1969  Arhoolie
Legacy Of The Blues  1972  GNP
Adventures of Juke Boy Bonner  1980  Collectables
The Texas Blues Troubadour  1990  Collectables
Jumpin' With Juke Boy  1993  Collectables

Josh Bramhall
b: Nov. 3rd, 1974, Irving, TX.
      Josh Bramhall was born in Irving, Texas, into a talented musical family. His father, Dale Bramhall, is a singer/songwriter & pianist; his uncle, Doyle Bramhall, is a singer/songwriter & drummer who wrote songs for Stevie Ray Vaughan; and Josh's cousin, Doyle Bramhall Jr., is a singer/songwriter & guitarist who collaborated with the Arc Angels, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Roger Waters.
     Josh began playing blues music in Austin, Texas in the early 90s at the age of 17. His impressive musical abilities were noticed and he began jamming with blues legends such as Uncle John Turner, the drummer from the Johnny Winters Band, and Danny Galindo, bassist from the psychedelic band 13th Floor Elevators.
     After cutting his teeth on the Austin scene, Josh began playing gigs with his brother Zack, a singer and bass player, in and around Dallas, Texas. This eventually led to the release of the album entitled "The Bramhall Brothers", which features drummer Charles "Sugar Boy" Myers of the Freddie King Band.
     Josh recently completed his first solo album entitled "Dawn of Remembrance". This original and contemporary collection of songs blends overtones of Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar mastery, to John Lennon's lyrical presence. Josh demonstrates his songwriting skills through the energy of his guitar and vocals, while playing bass, piano, and drums, on several tracks. His album is available on his website at http://www.joshbramhall.com/ .

Doyle Bramhall
b: Feb. 17th, 1949, Dallas, Tx.
     Born in Dallas in 1948, this singer, songwriter/drummer grew up listening to Dallas radio ( with heavy doses of Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and Bobby "Blue" Bland on rock 'n' roll stations) and locals, the Nightcaps, one of the country's first White electric blues bands. In high school he joined the Chessmen, which soon included a young Jimmy Vaughan on guitar. They opened in Dallas on Jimi Hendrix's first U.S. tour. Moving to Austin in 1970, he and Vaughan formed Texas Storm, which later shortened the name to Storm and occasionally included Jimmy's younger brother Stevie on bass. Doyle next formed the Nightcrawlers (with Stevie now on lead guitar), who later credited Bramhall as a primary vocal influence . During this time, the two also co-wrote "Dirty Pool" which Vaughan included on his debut album Texas Flood. Doyle wrote or co-wrote seven more songs on later Stevie Ray Vaughan albums and three of the cuts on the brother's Family Style album. Which also featured Doyle on drums. While drumming with Marcia Ball in the early 80's, Bramhall began stockpiling solo recordings, which eventually comprised his long awaited debut on CD which featured both Vaughan brothers and Doyle's son, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, formerly of the Arc Angles. For more info, visit Doyle's website here.
Birdnest On The Ground  1994  Discovery
Doyle Bramhall II  1996  Geffen

Janna Britton
b: Aug.28th. 1958, Dallas, Texas
     Janna Britton is a native Texas, being born in Dallas, she remains true to her roots. She began singing at an early age in churches where her mother played piano. Her mother, Doris, was one of her major influences in music, playing types of music including gospel, classical, showtunes, and early rock'n'roll. Ms. Britton was also influenced by Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Nima Simo, Doyle Bramhall, Delbert McClinton, and of course, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.  Ms. Britton spent her adolescence in Oklahoma where she sang country and western music, and in the 80's, did some work with the Gary Stewart band. Britton returned to Texas in 1987 and found herself at home singing blues. Robert Ealey played a key role in her interest of blues in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Ms. Britton performed at the Fort Worth blues festival in 1995-96, and the Bedford Blues festival in 1997, and continues to sing in clubs throughout the metroplex and the United States.  She moved to California for a short period of time in 1999, but found herself back home in Texas early in 2000. She formed a band called Abbeville and completed their first CD of original music in June of 2000. Janna has come full circle in the Dallas metroplex, and no matter where she performs, the audience is never disappointed. Her latest album "Dipped in Chocolate"  is out and on sale everywhere.


Charles Brown
b: Sept.13th, 1922, Texas City, Tx.
     How many blues artists remain at the absolute top of their game after more than a half century of performing? One immediately comes to mind. Charles Brown. His incredible piano skills and laidback vocal delivery remain every bit as mesmerizing today as they were way back in 1945, when his groundbreaking waxing of 'Drifting Blues' with guitarist Johnny Moore's Three Blazers invented an entirely new blues genre for sophisticated  postwar revelers- an ultra-mellow, jazz-inflected sound perfect for sipping a late night libation in some hip after-hours joint. Brown's smooth trio format was tremendously influential to a host of high profile disciples like Ray Charles, Amos Milburn and Floyd Dixon.
     Classically trained on the piano, Brown earned a degree in chemistry before moving to Los Angeles in 1943. He soon hooked up with the Blazers (Moore and bassist , Eddie Williams), who molded themselves after Nat "King" Cole's trio but retained a blusier tone within their ballad-heavy repertoire.  With Brown installed as their vocalist and pianist, the Blazers (Drifting Blues) for Phillo Records remained on Billboards R&B charts for 23 weeks, peaking at number 2.  
     If anything, Brown was even more successful on his own.  Signing with Eddie Mesner's Aladdin logo, he visited the R&B Top Ten no less than 10 times from 1949 to 1952, retaining his mournful, sparsely arranged sound for the smashes "Get Yourself Another Fool", and chart topping "Trouble Blues, Black Night, and Hard Times".
     Today, touring extensively with a terrific combo in tow headed by guitarist Danny Caron, Charles Brown is finally receiving at least a portion of the recognition he's deserved for so long as a genuine rhythm and blues pioneer.  But the suave, elegant Brown is by no means a relic, as anyone who's witnessed his thundering boogie piano style will gladly attest.
1944-45  Classics
The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Charles Brown  1956  Mosaic
Snuff  Dippin' Man  1947  Night Train
Driftin' Blues: The Best Of  1956  EMI America
Driftin' Blues  1963  DCC
The Boss Of The Blues  1963  Mainstream
Sunny Land  1979  Route 66
One More For The Road  1986  Alligator
All My Life  1990  Bullseye Blues
Someone to Love  1992  Bullseye Blues
Cool Christmas Blues  1994  Rounder
Just a Lucky So and So  1994  Bullseye Blues
Honey Dipper  1996  Verve

Walter Brown
b: Aug. 1917, Dallas, TX. d: June 1956, Lawton, OK.
     Blues singer Walter Brown fronted the roaring Jay McShann Orchestra (which included young alto saxist Charlie Parker) in 1941, when the roaring Kansas City aggregation cut their classic "Confessin' the Blues" and "Hootie Blues" for Decca.  The Dallas native remained with McShann from 1941 to 1945 before going solo (with less successful results).
Confessin' The Blues  1949  Affinity

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