Upcoming Performances- John Penney [ 8/31/2010 - 17:54 ] # THREE ARTISTS WHO GRACED OUR STAGES RETURN TO THE MOTOR CITY
For 31 years Labor Day Weekend has been spelled J-A-Z-Z in Detroit. With over 100 performances spanning four days on six stages extending from Hart Plaza's waterfront up Woodward Avenue to Campus Martius, the Jazz Fest is one of our city's most important and enduring cultural institutions. Two of our favorite artists are playing the Fest this year.
 Jason D. Williams honed his chops on Beale Street with the legendary Memphis Slim. His performance at the Redford Theatre during the 6th annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival threatened to bring down the rafters. The performance and interview footage can be seen on our DVD Boogie & the Blues Diva.
Jason D. returned for our intimate 11th Fest last year and tore up the stage at Callahan's Music Hall.
Jason D. Williams will tear up the Detroit International Jazz Festival's Chase Main Stage in Campus Martius on Sunday, September 5th, from 5:45 to 7:00pm.
 New Orleans writer, producer, arranger, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Allen Toussaint was inspired by Professor Longhair and later Fats Domino. As a producer for Minit Records in the 60’s, Toussaint played a primary role in defining the New Orleans R&B sound. He has written hundreds of songs that have been hits for everyone from Herb Alpert (Java) to the Rolling Stones (Fortune Teller). Allen performed at the 10th Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival in 2008.
Allen Toussaint will perform solo on the DJF's Chase Main Stage Monday, Sept. 6th from 5-6:30.
KENNY NEAL AT CALLAHAN'S!
Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Kenny Neal is the son of reknown bluesman Raful Neal. He grew up surrounded by music and steeped in the tradition. Kenny performed for us on the stage of the Royal Oak Music Theatre in 2005 and can be seen on the DVD Gen2 Blues. Make sure to see him in the intimate atmosphere of Callahan's, THE home of the blues in SE Michigan.
Kenny Neal performs at Callahan's Friday Sept. 10th at 8:00pm.
AMRF Festivals and Concerts AMRF News Events of Interest
|  | | International Boogie Woogie Honored in Houston- John Penney [ 4/29/2009 - 08:23 ] #  The American Music Research Foundation’s “International Boogie Woogie” was honored with a 2009 Gold Remi Award for Television or Cable Documentary at Worldfest, the 42nd Annual Houston International Film Festival. WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, with more than 4,500 category entries received from 33 countries in 2009. Awards were determined by points accumulated in juried viewings.
“International Boogie Woogie” documents solo and trio performances by four internationally acclaimed pianists at the 7th Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival, augmented by interviews with the artists: Switzerland’s Sylvan Zingg, France’s Philippe LeJeune, and Canadians Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne and Michael Kaeshammer. Wayne emigrated from California, and Kaeshammer from Germany.
“International Boogie Woogie” was originally uplinked by NETA in MAy 2008, NOLA INBM OK1. It is the most recent of four nationally distributed documentaries produced by the AMRF, a non-profit based in Farmington Hills, Michigan dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and documentation of American music. “Motor City Boogie Woogie & Blues Festival” was released in 2005, “Boogie & the Blues Diva in 2006, and “Gen2 Blues” in 2007.
The AMRF will release three new programs this year. Companions “Big Band Blues” and “Big Band Boogie Woogie” feature the Paul Keller Orchestra with pianists Charles Boles, Mr. B., Bob Seeley, and Axel Zwingenberger; saxophonist Red Holloway; clarinetist Dave Bennett, and guitarist George Bedard. “4 Shades of Blues” features Ruthie Foster, Ana Popovic, Tommy Castro, and Koko Taylor.
Executive Producer and AMRF Founder Ron Harwood said of the award, “I began filming these shows 10 years ago simply to document and preserve the excellence and elegance of underappreciated artists and genres. I never expected to win awards, but I am proud of our group’s achievements.” Producer and AMRF Director John Penney added, “It’s particularly appropriate that we received this award in Texas, the birthplace of boogie woogie.”
For a DVD containing the complete program
and an additional 45 minutes of bonus footage call toll free 866-270-5141.
$25 includes postage and handling.
CONTACT: John Penney 248- 478-2525 tunesailor@comcast.net
AMRF News AMRF ON TV Boogie Woogie
| | | Thanks for Stopping By!- John Penney [ 8/7/2008 - 11:19 ] #  It was a pleasure to meet you at Elizabeth Park during the Jazz on the River Festival last weekend!
The American Music Research Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and documentation of American music, focusing on blues, gospel, ragtime, boogie woogie, jazz and rhythm and blues so we can provide a vehicle for generations to understand the historical significance of our American musical heritage. You can visit us at www.amrf.net
This year we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of our Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival. The performances and interviews with the artists will be recorded for posterity, and the footage used to produce nationally distributed programs for public television.
Your name has been entered into a drawing for tickets to this year's festival. The winner will be announced in early September. We look forward to seeing you at Music Hall October 3rd and 4th!
AMRF News
| | | A Great Weekend at the Detroit International Jazzfest- John Penney [ 9/5/2007 - 17:23 ] # Thanks for stopping by!
 Thanks so much for stopping by to chat with us and sharing your e-mail address. We promise not to abuse the privilage and assure you we will not share your information with anyone else.
The American Music Research Foundation, better known as the AMRF, is a non-profit dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and documentation of American music and the artists who create it, paying particular attention to the blues and boogie woogie, jazz, R&B, stride and ragtime. Being non-profit means we're in it for the music. Nobody makes a dime off of our efforts except for the musicians, and we do our best to help them.
Watch a slideshow of images from the Detroit International Jazz Festival. 
Our primary activity is production of the Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival, now in its ninth year. We do professional video shoots of the performances and of extensive interviews with the artists, in which they tell their stories and talk about their music. This raw documentary footage is preserved in our archives and available to historians, film makers, and other interested parties. We are blessed to have documented such seminal artists as Jay McShann, Johnnie Johnson, Harold McKinney, Joe Hunter, Alberta Adams, Johnnie Bassett, and "Sir" Mack Rice, to name but a few among the well over 50 artists represented.
From the raw footage we produce nationally distributed programs for public television. "2003 Motor City Boogie Woogie & Blues Festival" and "Boogie & the Blues Diva: 2004 Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival" have been aired over 300 times on over 140 stations around the country, accessible to over 124 million viewers.
Our newest program, "Gen2 Blues," will debut on Detroit Public Television Saturday September 29th at 7pm before being released nationally through WGVU-TV in Grand Rapdis. DVDs including over an hour of bonus material will be available for purchase at this year's festival.
The 9th Annual Motor City Blues and Boogie Woogie Fesitival promises to be bigger and better than ever at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Detroit. On Friday night October 5th it's Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine, the Tommy Castro Band, Ruthie Foster, and Ana Popovic. On Saturday October 6 Marcia Ball headlines, with The Deanna Bogart Band, Leon Blue, Matt Wigler, and Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson. For more information follow this link.
As a non-profit we are dependant upon the support of sponsors and members. We hope you will consider making a donation to the AMRF. Basic membership costs only $15, and all donations are tax deductable as allowable by law.
AMRF News
| | | First Annual Great Lakes Blues Society Summit- John Penney [ 6/7/2006 - 11:23 ] #
AMRF Director John Penney attended the first Great Lakes Blues Society Summit in Windsor Ontario over Memorial Day weekend. While we are not precisely a blues society, our mission certainly includes the maxim of "keeping the blues alive," and we have collaborated with the Detroit Blues Society since the beginning - they are always at our Festivals.
John made a lot of new friends, a lot of new contacts, and had a lot of fun. We will shortly receive and post links to all the blues societies that participated so that you can keep up to date with blues news you can use. In the meantime, here is the press release from Big City Blues Magazine:
Great Lakes Blues Society Summit, May 26-28, 2006
Eight states, two countries and twenty blues societies and organizations met May 26, 27 and 28, 2006 in Detroit, MI and Windsor, Canada to form a partnership and establish regional live blues music tours and beyond. Plus by working together blues societies and organizations that reach thousands of blues enthusiasts will attract more sponsorship and support for blues music.
After “too much fun” from Friday night’s Motor City Pub Crawl, May 26th with unforgettable highlights of Pricilla Price and Artie “Blues Boy” White’s performing together at Detroit’s #1 juke joint—The Mississippi Connection and next at Detroit’s downtown river front club--Currents where Luther “Badman” Keith and Lady Sunshine sang together for the first time ever, the Great Lakes Blues Society Summit began their business meeting the following morning on Saturday, May 27th in Windsor.
Discussion topics included issues that such as increasing membership, fundraising and blues education. The primary goal for the 2006 Great Lakes Blues Society Summit was accomplished and eight blues societies made a commitment to work together for a fall acoustic tour with Bobby Rush “unplugged.” A spring electric tour will follow.
Future partnership projects for the Great Lakes Blues Societies were discussed and may include a compilation blues CD, blues calendar, working with Koko Taylor’s Celebrity Aid Foundation, Gimme 5! fundraising for New Orleans musicians and a possible project with Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians Village in New Orleans.
The Great Lakes Blues Society Summit received a very positive response. Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to Robert Jr. Whitall and Ted Boomer for organizing this groundbreaking event.
Mark your calendars for 2007 Great Lakes Blues Society Summit – May 25-27, 2007.
Great Lakes Blues Society Steering Committee: Ted Boomer, Robert Jr. Whitall, Shirley Mae Owens, Danny Graham, And Rolly Hough
Great Lakes Blues Societies/Organizations Summit 2006 Roll Call:
American Music Research Foundation
Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival
Black Swamp Blues Society
Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine
Bluesfest International
Blues Foundation
Canada South Blues Society
-Windsor Chapter
-Bruce County Chapter (Incardinate)
-London Chapter
-Kitchener Chapter
Charleston West Virginia Blues Society
Detroit Blues Society
Hot Blues & Barbeque
Kitchener Blues Brews & Barbeques
Koko Taylor’s Celebrity Aid Foundation
Mid-North Michigan Blues Society
Saginaw Bay Blues Society
STLBlues.net
West Michigan Blues Society
Western New York Blues Society
Other Great Lakes Blues Societies & Organizations that are interested but were unable to attend: Alpena Blues Society, Capital Area Blues Society, Chicagoland Blues Society, Cinci Blues Society, Marquette Blues Society, Monroe Library Series, Tawas Bay Blues Society
For more information about the Great Lakes Blues Society Summit/Organization contact: Ted Boomer – ted@thebluesfest.com - 519-977-9631 or
Robert Jr. Whitall – blues@bigcitybluesmag.com or 248-582-1544
AMRF News Blues
| | | AMRF Invites Evacuees to Attend Blues & Boogie Fest- John Penney [ 10/6/2005 - 14:17 ] # United Way for Southeastern Michigan has been charged with coordinating basic care for evacuees who have come to our region. The AMRF has provided UWSEM with 100 tickets for each night of this year's Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival, which will be distributed to evacuees who could use a night experiencing the joy that music can bring.
AMRF News
| | | Katrina's Piano Instrument Purchases- John Penney [ 10/5/2005 - 11:24 ] # Two large New Orleans music stores have reopened, and in pursuit of the mission of revitalizing the musical economy, Katrina's Piano is now routing as many new instrument purchases as possible through C&M Music and Ray Fransen's Drum Center. 'Piano Principal Michael Paz, a NO resident who has returned to the city, is coordinating the acquisition and distribution of both newly purchased and donated instruments. He may be contacted at michael@thepazgroup.com .
AMRF News
| | | AMRF Katrina's Second Line Coalition- John Penney [ 9/27/2005 - 14:10 ] #
Katrina's Piano is the brainchild of New Orleans resident Juan Labostrie; and Klondike Koehler, owner of Klondike Sound and for 28 years the Audio Director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. After Juan rescued some 15 of his neighbors in New Orleans (see http://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=90&cat=23&id=495718&more for the inspiring story of Juan and his wife Vicki), he started thinking of what he could do next. He came up with the mission statement for Katrina's Piano:
" It's a simple economic equation: once a musician has an instrument in his hands, he can go back to work. Little economies will spin up around each instrument, in all the relocation cities. Money for the long trip home can be earned, and the soul of New Orleans will be saved."
Juan has served on the stage crew at the jazzfest for many years, and he contacted his good friend Klondike in Greenfield, MA. Klondike in turn contacted other friends and associates from the jazzfest, a provisional 501(c)(3) number was established, and Katrina's Piano was founded.
In addition to soliciting cash donations, Katrina's Piano is actively pursuing the donation of instruments, and is actively engaged in trying to form partnerships with instrument stores and manufacturers to provide instruments either for free or at cost. Available instruments are then matched up with the musicians in need and shipped directly to them.
Katrina's Piano will be accepting donations at the AMRF table in the lobby of the Royal Oak Music Theater during this year's Boogie Woogie and Blues Festival. If you would like to donate an instrument, the information will be taken and you will be contacted about where to send it. Cash donations may also be sent to:
Katrina's Piano Fund
Greenfield Savings Bank, attn: Alexa
400 Main St.
P.O. Box 1537
ph: 888-324-3191
Meanwhile, our friends at the Detroit Blues Society (http://home.flash.net/~dbsblues/) have mounted their Gimme 5 campaign, benefiting the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. The NOMC has provided comprehensive health care to musicians since 1998. (In the aftermath of Katrina the NOMC had relocated to Lafayette, LA, but Rita is forcing them to move yet again. Where they will land we do not know.) The NOMC is collaborating with the Jazz Foundation of America to provide whatever form of relief is needed directly to musicians. The Detroit Blues Society will be accepting donations for the Gimme 5 campaign at the Royal Oak Music Theater.
Finally, the Nataional Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS, or The Recording Academy - these are the folks who present the Grammy Awards) established the MusiCares Foundation in 1989 to help musicians across the country cope with personal, medical, and financial hardship. In response to Katrina, MusiCares has established a Hurricane Relief Fund to provide for the basic needs of musicians impacted by the disaster. Musicare's website also provides en extensive set of links to other organizations providing assistance, including Katrina's Piano and the NOMC. Our good friend Howard Hertz is on the regional board of The Recording Academy, and he will be accepting donations to Musicares at the Festival..
As part of the AMRF's mission to care for the artists who create the music, we have been actively engaged in the work of matching people with resources, and faciltating communication between organizations that have resources to share, in an attempt to match supply with demand.
Again, the AMRF has partnered directly with Katrina's Piano, and we ask that you support their efforts. But also, we ask that you follow your heart and support any or all of the organizations represented in the Katrina's Second Line Coalition.
AMRF News
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