HOY-HOY! Live DVD. The 18th Birthday Show
Here is a D VD that will allow you to take a trip on a lazy Sunday afternoon to a pub on the outskirts of sleepy ol'Adelaide town and enjoy the 18th birthday celebration of HOY-HOY!

To get your copy contact Frank Lang:
Ring Frank: 08 82480834
Email Frank: flang@internode.on.net

BORN IN THE HONEY ~ THE PINETOP PERKINS STORY
THE ONLY AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF NONAGENERIAN PINETOP PERKINS

Born In The Honey, set for international release May 15, 2007 by the new VizzTone Label Group through Redeye Distribution, is not only an extensive portrait of the 93 year-old blues piano player, Pinetop Perkins, but also a microcosm of the "Great Migration" from the Delta to the industrialized North over the last century.

As well as following Pinetop’s performing career, Born In The Honey also tells of the incident that ended his career as a guitar player, how he taught Ike Turner to play the piano, the explosion that affected his hearing, his days as a car mechanic and his nights as a ladies man. Included on this hour-long DVD is historic film footage and stills of cotton picking, African-American participation in World War II, Tutweiler and Clarksdale, MS, Helena, AR, Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO and Cairo and Chicago, IL.

Produced by Peter Carlson and narrated by Chuck Dodson, the title, Born In The Honey, refers to Pinetop’s birthplace, the Honey Island Plantation in Belzoni, MS. Pinetop as well as numerous fellow friends and musicians and business people recount his story in loving detail taking the viewer through his life and times performing with Robert Nighthawk, Earl Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson on the King Biscuit Time Radio Show, Ike Turner, Muddy Waters and his band and finally his solo career begun at the age of 83 under the guidance of his manager, Pat Morgan.

Interviewees include Ann Rabson, Bernard Allison, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, Bubba Sullivan, owner of the Blues Corner in Helena, Dr. John, Eddy Clearwater, Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner, Kim Wilson, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Marcia Ball, Mitch Woods, Paul Oscher, Sam Carr (Robert Nighthawk’s son), Taj Mahal and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Ike tells of his fascination with "Pinetop’s fingers rippin’ across the keys" as well as their time playing together, while Bobby shares a story with an interesting twist of lovers united.

Interspersed throughout the DVD are live performances starring Pinetop with other musicians including Bob Margolin, Mookie Brill, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Ann Rabson, Diunna Greenleaf, who also performs the opening gospel song, Curtis Salgado and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones.

Born In The Honey reveals all the ups and downs of Pinetop’s life, the accolades from the Grammy’s to the lows of alcohol abuse. As Pinetop says himself at the beginning of the DVD – "I had a rough time, but I made it." And at the young age of 93 Pinetop still has more to give.

Please visit http://www.pinetopperkins.com/ and http://www.vizztone.com/ for more information.

Willie King DVD Documentary “Down in the Woods” Released

Visible World Films has released “Down in the Woods”, a DVD about the life and music of Alabama bluesman Willie King. The film takes viewers on a journey into Willie’s world - a backwood, juke-joint musician who lives and breathes the blues every moment of his life. The DVD contains a 63-minute documentary and 40 minutes of live music.

The DVD is available at Willie King’s website. In addition, a DVD Release concert will be held at Jupiter Bar & Grill in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on May 11th and at Willie King’s 10th Annual Freedom Creek Festival May 25th and 26th.

Dutch filmmakers Saskia Rietmeijer and Bart Drolenga of Visible World Films came to America with the intention of producing a documentary about African American arts and culture in the deep South. When they met Willie, they decided instead to devote their efforts to creating a DVD about Willie's life and times.

The DVD is a fascinating collage of Willie King's life and many activities, illuminated with searing live performances and interviews with his family and friends. It enables the viewer to experience something of what it is like to be a modern bluesman living in the Alabama Black Belt, "down in the woods."

Born on a cotton plantation in 1943 the son of poor sharecroppers, Willie was drawn to the blues at an early age. He made his first guitar out of bailing wire when he was seven and has been playing ever since. Cotton picker, moon shiner, juke joint owner, civil rights activist and social worker – Willie has done them all and now is one of the most popular blues musicians around.

He plays big stages and festivals but always returns to his beloved Old Memphis, a small and mostly African-American community in rural Alabama where he lives in an old trailer and preaches the blues at house parties and in ramshackle juke joints. Willie spends much of his time supporting his local community and teaching young people the traditional culture and survival skills passed on to him from his people’s share cropping and slave ancestors.

Willie King is one of the true innovators of the blues in the tradition of Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker. His music is powerful – an exciting, danceable mix of rural blues, soul and boogie, all in his own distinctive style. King’s lyrics are often political, fighting racism and a voice for poor blacks in the South. He preaches a message of peace, togetherness and social justice for all people around the world.