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Dearborn @ Cavern The 'Forgotten' Years AL's Award AL's Gigs

The Merseyside Rhythm & Blues Volunteers   New Orleans Benefit Gigs   AL Meets Dr John (Desitively Bonnaroo)

LEE DORSEY Joe Sunseri Cranston Clements   Kingsize Taylor Karl Terry Gaz Gaskell

THE BLUESMAN'S ART   Adrian Peters Eddie Croft   AL Meets Leonard Cohen

"Mississippi Benefit"

in Aid of the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

at the Olympia Theatre, Liverpool, 11th October 2005.

This was a tremendous success promoted by Sam Leach and Operation Big Beat Promotions featuring over

25 acts including PJ Proby, The Merseybeats, Kingsize Taylor ft. Gaz Gaskell, The Undertakers,

The Clayton Squares, Juke Box Eddie's, Lee Cutis, Kappa, The Easy Beats, Don Woods,

Joey Shields and AL Willard Peterson etc.

© Photo by AL Peterson AL & Joey after playin' some Down Home Merseysippi Delta Blues at the Benefit "It was great meetin' you and seein' you perform -                                                    It really added to the night"-

Photo by AL Peterson Kingsize Taylor and Gaz Gaskell   quote from Sam Leach legendary Liverpool promoter.

"New Orleans Musicians Benefit"

The Cavern Liverpool

1st January 2006

An exceptionally successful night co-ordinated within the 'Sounds of the Sixties' thanks to

Gaz Gaskell and Kingsize Taylor. A capacity audience enjoyed the 'Down Home' feel of Cranston Clements, Joe Sunseri,

Kingsize Taylor, Sam Hardie and Geoff Nugent

soulfully backed by the

Merseyside Rhythm & Blues Volunteers

Led by the multi talented Gaz Gaskell (Tenor Sax, Guitar & Vocals)

Dave Lunt (Bass) Nick Arnott (Drums) and Tony Maher (Keyboards)

plus guest musicians from New Orleans includin the great

Joe Sunseri (Baritone Sax) and

Cranston Clements (Guitar)

AL Peters-on (Trumpet & Vocals) wholeheartedly added to this worthwhile cause to honour the contribution that the many New Orleans musicians have made to the formation of the world famous sound that is now recognised as Mersey Beat especially after the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that has left many of the musicians destitute.  Ignored by the wealthiest nation on earth?

Two 'Donor Buckets' were circulated durin an exuberant performance of the 'Saints' with all proceeds handed to Joe & Cranston to take back home to New Orleans.  We must thank Spencer Leigh (Radio Merseyside), Joe Riley ( Liverpool Daily Post & Echo), and

Craig Manning (Wirral Globe) for their media support.

Check Out Gaz at www.GazGaskell.com

Karl Terry & The Volunteers        Photo by Jan Gaskell

Kingsize, Cranston, Gaz, Joe & AL

 The Cavern photo taken by a fan who said she had difficulty gettin a complete shot due to the microphones

and filmin goin on. I apologise for obscurin Joe's face with my trumpet.

See picture below of Joe in full flight on the night.

FROM NEW ORLEANS to THE CAVERN JOE SUNSERI  (Baritone Sax) THE MUSICIAN'S MUSICIAN · Performed  with Beach Music legend, Big John Thompson, and Mighty Lester and the Blues Kings. Recorded albums with MarleneMacDonald, Trevor Finlay and Juno Award winner  Drew Nelson. Backed up Ben E. King on European tour. · Performed in major Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe hotel orchestras, backing up Frank Sinatra, Cher, Shirley MacLaine, George Carlin, Helen Reddy, The Temptations, Bobbie Gentry, Larry Storch, Doc Severinsen, George Burns, Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdink, Donna Summer, Joel  Grey, Charro and others. · Musical Director for Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. Toured Soviet Union (1979) performing 44 shows  in 42 days. Won Grammy Award  in 1983 for Best Traditional Blues Recording. Toured with other MCA artists including Roy Clark, the Oak Ridge Boys and Barbara Mandrell.· Dick Stabile Orchestra, Blue Room - Fairmont Hotel, New Orleans. Performed with Ginger Rogers, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Abbie Lane, Billy Eckstine, Tessie O'Shea, Rita Moreno, Vic Damone, Mel Torme, Eddie Harris, Louis Bellson, Brook Benton, The Pointer Sisters,  Bonnie Raitt and many others .· John Fred & His Playboy Band, Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. Performed on the road and recorded with these two groups. They have combined record sales of over 11,000,000 units.

FROM NEW ORLEANS to THE CAVERN CRANSTON CLEMENTS (Guitar) Another Musician's Musician, Guitarist Cranston Clements is a native New Orleanian, having played with many artists, including Dr. John, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, IrmaThomas, The Neville Brothers, Johnny Adams, Marva Wright, The Dixie Cups, Snooks Eaglin, MightySam McClain, Harry Connick Jr. Ellis Marsalis, Eddie Bo, Ernie K-Doe, Allen Toussaint, Percy Sledge, Henry Butler, Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, Oliver Morgan, Buddy Miles, Jaco Pastorius, Hubert Sumlin, The Radiators, George Porter Jr. and Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste  Cranston Clements one of New Orleans most versatile performers pictured here sound-checkin at the Liverpool Cavern for the Mersey to the Mississippi Benefit. There's only one way to describe these guy's CV's, TRULY AWESOME!!!!! and that truly summed up their performances on such a memorable night!

Also on the night was a special lip-smackin' Gumbo/Scouse treat served up in the New Orleans tradition by QUYNNY'S QUISINE (Bold Street, Liverpool) Ride Your Pony Down There ASAP! 'A Very Special Thanks to Quynny's Girls'

The Cavern Liverpool Sunday 30th April 2006

The Merseysippi Jazz Band help raise awareness! The Rhythm & Blues Volunteers waitin to rehearse for the New Orleans Benefit Night >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

AL Peters, Dave Lunt, Gaz Gaskell, Nick Arnot, Tony Maher

DESITIVELY BONNAROO!!!

 

AL, Dr John (The Nite Tripper)& Blind AL  backstage at The Philharmonic Liverpool.

AL & The Nite Tripper share 'Dis Dat or D'Udda' at the President's Expense!

Email Sent to Gaz Gaskell 06/05/06 I hope your gig went well at Jack Rabbit Slim's? I'm still buzzin after meetin The Doctor! Even though I've had a chest infection for the last two weeks that doesn't seem to want to leave me and I missed a gig last night. Besides playin 'The Right Place the Wrong Time' 'Walk on Gilded Splinters' (the rhythmic interlude with The Nite Tripper playin some kinda shell was magnetic spiritualism to say the least. I was on the Bayou, man! The Doctor also explained how the artwork for 'The Right Place' (3 fold sleeve) was taken from the walls of the artist's home in New Orleans. The artist bein James Flournoy Holmes. When I introduced 'Blind AL' to 'The Nite Tripper' he said "Hey Man! Everyone's Got Somethin!   We talked about New Orleans and he's hittin on everyone he knows to raise awareness and funds. He has little time for the authorities at present because of the slowness to repond and their apparent apathy and the way big business is makin a land grab. I wish you were there to meet the man. The best shot is of the three of us 'AL, Dr John and Blind AL' so I'll be postin that and the Merseysippi Jazz Band on the web asap. I'm playin Llangollen this evenin with The Reverb Brothers so I'll be able to explain to them why I just had to see Dr John 'The Nite Tripper'. It was a spiritual experience for me, that 'New Orleans gumbo mix' was a heady vibe man!  My next portrait is goin to be Dr John. All three other musicians had worked with Cranston and the guitarist was very similar in style.  With that Louisiana drawl and my left ear it was difficult to make out their names although I know that the drummer's name was Roscoe. I'll be able to check them out on his 'Mercernary' CD that's out now.  His tribute to Johnny Mercer. By the way Blind AL has donated £5 to the Musicians Clinic that I will present at the next 'live' collection. As Dr John wrote 'Keep On C*' KtF AL  THE NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS CLINIC c/o The Foundation for the LSUHSC PO Box 80578 Baton Rouge, La 70898 www.wwoz.org/clinic It is a not for profit fund under the Foundation for the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre Tax ID 72-1115391 WWW.SAVENOLAMUSIC.ORG

The Nite Tripper  Exits Stage Left Even though there was a photo prohibition durin the performance I was able to sneak a shot when his Manager turned to move towards the exit.

LEE DORSEY pictured here in the UK (Circa 1966) to promote his latest single 'Workin' In A Coalmine' that rose to No 8 in the UK & US Charts (An Allen Toussaint/ Marshall Sehorn Production). After completing these UK excursions Lee would go back to work as a  panel beater in a car workshop in New Orleans in order to support his 11 children. How things have changed or have they for the 'workin non celeb musician' both in Louisiana and here on Merseyside? Lee last toured the USA at the behest of The Clash in 1980 introducin' him to a far younger audience.  He died of emphysema (notorious coalminin' disease) in 1986 shortly before his 60th birthday. The Volunteers plus their special guests Joe and Cranston played two of Lee's hits 'Get Out My Life Woman' and 'Ride Your Pony' in their set at The Cavern.   Other facts: AL Peters has all of Lee's Stateside 7" single UK releases and rates him as one of his favourite singers alongside Ray Charles and Muddy Waters  and durin the 1960's and 70's would eagerly await any news or releases of this very under-estimated New Orleanian talent. As Lee said 'Everthin' I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)'.

LIVERPOOL/NEW ORLEANS FOOTNOTES AL actually met LEE DORSEY after his show at the Cavern on Sunday 12th March 1967.  Lee was in the dressing room checkin' out his startin' pistol for the song Ride Your Pony as it had mis-fired durin' the show! This number will be featured on the night but for health and safety reasons without the pistol.   Colin Areety (The 'Almost' Blues) released a cover version of Holy Cow as a 7" single on the Deram in 1972.   If you have anythin' to add re photos etc contact info@groovinrecords.co.uk