The Blues-Rock Scene In Parma Lately

The column for this issue will include a "Blues Primer" in order to trace the history of Blues Music, with the emphasis on Blues Guitar, from some time in the past until the present day.

1928-29- Lonnie Johnson records "Blue Guitars 1&2" with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. 1936- Robert Johnson records "King of the Delta Blues Singers". He learned from Willie Brown, Charley Patton, and son House. He died as the result of poisoning in 1938. 1940's-   Charlie Christian electrified the guitar and recorded famous sides with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. At the same time, T-Bone Walker took the lessons of T-Bone Walker and the electrified guitar and applied them to a more sophisticated syle of Blues and incorporated horns. The guitar became a more fluid solo voice. 1950's- Little Richard and James Brown go to see Howlin Wolf, a disciple of Robert Johnson and Son House, at a club on the Eastside of Cleveland. Performers such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis up the tempo of the Blues and before long this style of music becomes more well known as "Rock'n Roll". 1965- Crossing the Atlantic, John Mayall records the first Blues Breakers album, featuring an 18 year old named Eric Clapton on lead guitar. Clapton's first attempt at Blues vocals was Robert Johnson's "Ramblin' on my mind". 1969-  Jimi Hendrix records his masterpiece "Electric Ladyland" and the guitar becomes an orchestra itself that makes sound paintings. 1970's-  Muddy Waters teams up with Johnny Winter, the Albino Texas Blues singer.  1983-  Stevie Ray Vaughn plays at the Variety Theater on Lorain Ave. near W. 117th. St. in Cleveland. 1990's-  We see the rise of blues guitar prodigies, like Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Johnny Lange, Joe Bannmassa, and many others. In Cleveland, Michael Bay and the Bad Boys of Blues take their sound into the Parkview Tavern on W. 58th. St. near Detroit Ave. in 1996 and are still appearing there every Wednesday night.  2000-  Eric Clapton returns to the Blues after spending 30 years as a very successful pop artist. 2006- In April local Blues guitar hero Brian O'Donnell brings legendary Blues musician and Musical Director for Howlin Wolf Eddy Shaw, with his band Eddy Shaw and the Wolfgang, for a single performance at Flyers in Parma Hts. 2007-The Allman Brothers Band play in Live Oak, Florida, where they purchased the campgrounds on the Swanee River. Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes round out the new Allman Brothers sound on guitar(s). 2011- On December 11 the John Allender Band plays at Lucky T's in Parma, joined by Tim Lane from the Sultans of Bing, and they absolutely smoke the joint. 2011- On December 15 John Allender plays at Smedley's in Cleveland along with the Freebyrds, where they proceed to burn the  house down. 2011- On December 17 John Allender plays with Steve Candow of the Golden Mean at the Riverside Pub, leaving the crowd absolutely breathless. 2011-  On December 31 the John Allender Band , with Tommy Varga on drums and John McComb from the Akron Symphony Orchestra on bass play at Lucky T's in Parma, ringing in the New Year with style. 2012- who knows what the new year will bring, but I have a feeling that it's going to be great! The John Allender Band wishes all of you the very happiest of New Years, and we want to let you know that we'll be playing at Lucky T's in Parma on January 21st. Hope to see you there and - DON'T FORGET TO BOOGIE!