Bluesville Records

17/09/2025

September 17, 1994: Muddy Waters, "Ma" Rainey, Robert Johnson, and more were honored by the U.S. Postal Service at the Delta Blues Festival in Mississippi. Part of the Legends of American Music 29-cent stamp series, each stamp features a portrait illustration that reflects the spirit and legacy of these blues pioneers.

' highlights his dignified presence and connection to Chiago blues. 's is inspired by one of the only known photographs of him and intense stare, a hallmark of his Delta Blues roots. "Ma" Rainey's captures her powerful persona of being known as the "Mother of the Blues." The was officially stamped into USPS history!

[📷: National Postal Museum]

15/09/2025

Mercy, mercy, mercy: it’s ’s birthday! 🎷

From Jacksonville to jazz immortality, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley’s story is legendary. Nicknamed for his appetite (he was originally known as “Cannibal”), he was a Florida schoolteacher until one night in 1955 when a dazzling solo at Café Bohemia made him the talk of New York. He never looked back, becoming one of the most beloved saxophonists in jazz history.

Whether playing alongside Miles Davis, leading his own quintet with his brother Nat, or introducing new audiences to jazz through his legendary live recordings, Cannonball brought warmth, humor, and soul to every note.

Check out our latest 🎵Plays The Blues🎵 playlist spotlighting Adderley today: ffm.to/cannonball-adderley-playstheblues

11/09/2025

On this day in 1914, W.C. Handy published "The St. Louis Blues," ("St. Louis Blues") which became a standard for the blues as well as serving as a crossover pop classic known as "the jazzman's Hamlet." Its twelve-bar-blues format with repetitive lines and commentary themes lends itself as an early godfather of work, with renditions by , , , and more.

The track (W.C. Handy's 1922 version) was selected to be preserved in 2023 in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

Handy was so influential to the genre that Congress commemorated the centennial of his first encounter with the genre (in 1903) by declaring 2003 the Year of the Blues.

06/09/2025

Celebrating 100 years of Jimmy Reed! 🎵

Today we honor the centennial of Jimmy Reed: a true giant in the Chicago blues scene, Reed was one of the first blues artists to obtain crossover success. His music combined elements of blues, rock, and pop, and emphasized a laid-back groove that's resonated across generations. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (via Andrew Schwartz) credits Reed with “creat[ing] a style so perfect in conception and ex*****on that it could never really be improved upon.”

From learning the harmonica alongside his long-time collaborator, Eddie Taylor, to creating crossover electric blues hits like "Baby What You Want Me To Do," and "Big Boss Man" Reed inspired blues and rock icons like , The , and more.
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Hit the link below to revisit I'M JIMMY REED on ’s birthday!
🔗 https://found.ee/bluesville-imjimmyreed

05/09/2025

Next up in our “Plays The Blues” series features the Soul Jazz Pioneer, : a master of the keys whose gospel-infused touch brought warmth and swing to every note. 🎹 Known for his soulful style, blues-soaked improvisation, and charm, Harris helped define a sound that bridged straight-ahead jazz with deep blues and R&B roots.

In this handpicked collection, Harris shines across fiery trio workouts to funky organ collaborations with , and within his own Trio (active from 1956-1970). Experience the slow-cooked “Old Dog Blues (Live),” the simmering groove of “J & G Blues,” and the raw energy of “Blues March – Live from Dimitriou's Jazz Alley.”

Spanning the late 1950s through the 1990s, this set highlights Harris recordings from early trio dates to live club sessions and later career gems. Dive in and hear why Gene Harris is one of the bluesiest voices in jazz piano: https://ffm.to/gene-harris-playstheblues

03/09/2025

🎹 Born John Len Chatman on this day in 1915, we celebrate the enduring legacy of blues piano legend . Hailed as one of the world’s greatest pianists, Slim was a key figure in the Chicago blues scene, blending boogie-woogie with jump blues in his own style.

⁠He recorded over 500 tracks during his career, including timeless classics like “Every Day I Have the Blues” and influential collaborations with icons like Big Bill Broonzy and Willie Dixon. Slim also helped launch the careers of John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson and Washboard Sam, backing them as a session player.⁠

Revisit his 1959 live album AT THE GATE OF HORN: ffm.to/bluesville-atthegateofhorn

28/08/2025

64 years ago, John Lee Ho**er released THE FOLK LORE OF JOHN LEE HO**ER on Vee-Jay Records. This classic album blends acoustic and electric recordings, including standout tracks like “Tupelo” and “The Hobo,” which were recorded live at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival.⁠
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Revisit this iconic release: https://found.ee/folklore-jlh

**er

24/08/2025

"If I Had My Way" we'd spin every day! Released today in 1960, Davis' groundbreaking album HARLEM STREET SINGER captures his deep spiritual and musical prowess, featuring both originals like "Death Don't Have No Mercy," and interpretations of traditional such as "Samson and Delilah."

Revisit the album here: https://found.ee/bluesville-harlemstreetsinger

22/08/2025

Happy birthday to the legendary **er! 🎸

Born in 1917 to a sharecropping family in Coahoma County, Mississippi, Ho**er was immersed in the Delta blues tradition from an early age. His deep, hypnotic grooves and electric guitar stylings propelled the blues into a new era, making him a towering figure in American music.

Over the course of a five-decade career, Ho**er released countless classics across multiple labels, including the raw stomp of “Boogie Chillen” and the signature boogie of “Boom Boom.”

Celebrate the King of the Boogie’s enduring impact—listen to some essential cuts and explore THE VEE-JAY SESSIONS compilation here: found.ee/john-lee-hooker-theveejay-sessions. 🎶

19/08/2025

Next up in our “Plays The Blues series” spotlights “The Boss,” : a cornerstone of the tenor sax tradition, Ammons is known for his soulful tone, blues-rooted phrasing, and melodic expressiveness. He helped bridge the bebop revolution with the emergence of soul jazz, making blues central to his voice.

In this collection, Ammons transforms his bebop ways into blues-drenched statements, from the slow burn of “Hittin’ the Jug” and the grooving “Blue Greens and Beans” to the jam-session energy of “Groove Blues.”

His recordings from the early 1950s through the 1970s, including Blue Gene (1958), Boss Tenor (1960), and powerhouse collaborations with , are all here. Listen to the collection now: ffm.to/gene-ammons-playstheblues

01/08/2025