Category Archives: Deaths

Remembering Mike Finnigan

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Mike

Not just the blues — but the whole music — world lost one of its greatest living musicians last week with the passing of organist and singer Mike Finnigan, whose work we admired not only with bands we’ve reviewed here … Continue reading →

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R.I.P., guitarist and singer Lonnie Brooks

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Mike

The music world lost another true father of the blues this weekend with the passing of Chicago blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks (born Lee Baker, Jr.). We had the pleasure of seeing Lonnie – whose most recognizable songs included the likes … Continue reading →

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Remembering music legends James “Mr. Superharp” Cotton and Chuck Berry

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Mike

The blues world lost another legend Thursday with the passing of harmonica great James Cotton. Here’s a good obituary on Cotton from Alligator Records, with whom the harmonica player first recorded in the mid-80s and then returned for the final … Continue reading →

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Rest in peace, B.B. King

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Mike

“Heaven done called another blues-stringer back home…” We’re sure there will be many tributes being paid to The King of the Blues everywhere around the world this weekend – including at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival where we’ll be – and for … Continue reading →

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True to the Blues until the very end, guitarist Johnny Winter dead at age 70

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Mike

A spokesperson for Johnny Winter has confirmed the death of the Texas guitar legend yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. Earlier this year, Columbia/Legacy Records released the box set True to the Blues: the Johnny Winter Story in conjunction with the guitarist’s 70th … Continue reading →

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R.I.P., Louisiana Red

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Mike

Blues harmonica player and Rhythm Room proprietor Bob Corritore is reporting today that friend and fellow musician Louisiana Red has passed, another great loss to the blues music world. Here are a couple of posts we’ve done on Red in recent years, one on … Continue reading →

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In fond memory of Willie Big Eyes Smith

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Mike

Late last week, the blues world lost another of its legends with the passing of drummer and harmonica player Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, who in death is reunited with such former bandmates as the great Muddy Waters and keyboardist Pinetop … Continue reading →

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Farewell, Honeyboy Edwards

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Mike

By now, you’ve likely heard about the death of one of the last true Mississippi Delta bluesmen, the talented David “Honeyboy” Edwards, who, as some of you may know, was managed for the past nearly three decades by Pittsburgh native, harmonica … Continue reading →

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Farewell, Pinetop

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Mike

It’s another sad, sad day in the blues music world with the passing yesterday of a greatly admired and important bluesman, the 97-year-young piano-pounding, boogie woogieing Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins. We’re planning a special tribute to Perkins in the coming days, but in … Continue reading →

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