Daddy B. Nice's Concert Calendar & Mailbag (Southern Soul, Blues, R&B)

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RE: WHAT "YOU'VE GOT A BOOGER BEAR UNDER THERE" MEANS

Daddy B. Nice notes:

In my review of Ecko's latest chart-topping sampler, Blues Mix Vol. 15: Down Home Soul, and specifically the Ollie Nightingale oldie, "You've Got A Booger Bear Under There," your Daddy B. Nice confessed to never understanding what "you've got a booger bear under there" means. Growing up in our household of eight, it usually signified Dad was about to slap you upside the head for picking your nose.

So the other day as I was e-mailing back and forth on some other subjects with Ecko Records' John Ward (who produced Ollie Nightingale's "You've Got A Booger Bear Under There" long ago), I asked him if he'd take a shot at defining what "you've got a booger bear under there" means.

Here's what John had to say:

Hi Daddy, that booger bear, snapper, kitty cat, monkey, thang thang: all the same thing and all located “under there”. You may be taking the whole phrase to have a unique double meaning but the only thing with a double meaning is just the “booger bear” under there is a good rhyme.

Wait a minute, just occurred to me that maybe you never hear of the booger bear. That’s some imaginary creature they used to use to scare us when we were little kids. For instance, they told us he would get us if went outside by ourselves at night or something like that. “Be careful or the booger bear will get you”. We used to be afraid of the Booger Bear when we were little kids.

Look at definition # 3 here: http://www.urbandictionary.com

(John)

Daddy B. Nice notes:

I'm glad John added that second paragraph, because I don't remember hearing the phrase "booger bear" up North. I wonder if that's more of a southern thing. I think (up North) some of our parents or relatives might have used "bogey man" or "boogie man."

Sterling Williams and Bobby Rush, among others, by the way, have done versions of "You've Got A Booger Bear Under There," and the phrase has been referenced in many other southern soul songs, most recently in Miz. B's "You Got To Be A Freaker."

See Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Ollie Nightingale.

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RE: JOSEPHINE SON POKEY

Hello,

I am trying to find out when and where does the artist Josephine Son Pokey perform. I am originally from Louisiana but live in GA. I visit home at least 4 times a year and want to see their performance.

I am also thinking of have a concert with just artist from Louisiana something like the music the new zydeco music.

Sincerely,

Charleen

Kindly provide me with information to contact this artist for an engagement, “Josephine Son Pokey” from Louisiana.

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Dear Charleen,

I have never received a press kit from Pokey, but if you consult the Concert Calendar on this page, you'll find that Pokey is appearing May 9th and May 10th in Delisle, Mississippi and Laurel, Mississippi respectively. Laurel is a ways from Louisiana, but Delisle is a Gulf Coast town not far from New Orleans and shouldn't be too much effort in traveling. (And there may be other concerts for Pokey listed--read through thoroughly and keep watching for new posts.)

If you want to book Pokey and have no other resources, I'd recommend attending one of his concerts (as above) and finding that gig's promoter (just start asking people around the stage), who should be able to give you a contact # for Pokey or one of his representatives.

Good luck!
Daddy B. Nice

P.S.

Oh man! I just noticed: Pokey's in Shreveport this coming weekend with the Blues Is Alright Tour. DBN.

Listen to Pokey singing "They Call Me Pokey (Remix)" Video featuring Tyree Neal and Tucka on YouTube.

Listen to Pokey & Stephanie McDee singing "Doing The Hokey Pokey" on YouTube.

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HOW STIFF IS THE COMPETITION?

RE: TOP 10 "BREAKING" SINGLES

"Cowgirl" by Big Yayo feat. J'Wonn: #1 January 15

Hey Daddy B Nice...

Just curious....I been submitting songs without much success. No problem, this isnt a "bitch" letter. Just wondering.... How do you choose? Is there a process. How many songs were submitted in February? How stiff is the competition anyway?

P.S. You can post the letter, but please don't use my name.

(Anonymous)

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Okay, Anonymous, that's a fair question.

Here's the final working list of singles for February's TOP TEN SOUTHERN SOUL SINGLES REVIEW. There are 33 songs on the final list. What I do is keep playing them over and over, shuffling them around until I have the songs that I enjoy the most at the top of the list. They become the "top ten 'breaking' singles."

The final list was culled from about three times that number of songs "caught in my fisherman's nets" in January, the others being rejected after a few bars or a verse, usually because they don't fit the southern soul genre or are just plain bad. The sources for the songs break down into three major groups: 1/ mp3's e-mailed to me; 2/ albums snail-mailed to me; and 3/ songs I've heard on streaming radio or YouTube.

1. Miz. B. "You Got To Be A Freaker"
2. Bigg Robb "Sweet Sweet"
3. Stephanie McDee "Taking Care Of Business"
4. Billy "Soul" Bonds "You Went To Bed With A Woman But Woke Up With A Man"
5. Columbus Toy "I'm Gone"
6. Sheba Potts-Wright "We Got The Right Stuff"
7. Donnell Sullivan "Backdoored (By A Man Named Jody)"
8. Greg Watson "Move Your Body (Zydeco Mix)"
9. Mel Waiters "Stick To Your Drink"
10. Lomax "Please Let Me Hold You"
11. Nelson Curry "Sweet Valentine"
12. Uncle Wayne "The Way I Feel About You"
13. Donnie Ray "I'm Still Waiting On You"
14. Chopper Law "Marinate In Your Love"
15. Theo Huff "Soul Swing"
16. Bertha Payne "Southern Soul Party"
17. Andre Lee "Tell Me What You Need"
18. Big Cynthia & LaToia "I'm Here For You, Baby"
19. Mel Waiters ("I've Been Watching This Girl")
20. Big Poppa G & Floyd Taylor "Be There"
21. Columbus Toy feat. Lacee "Let's Go"
22. R.J. Scott feat. Donnell Sullivan "Swing Out Tonight"
23. Luster Baker feat. T.K. Soul "The Main Thing"
24. Stan Mosley "Why I Gotta Pay"
25. Donnell Sullivan "Cookies & Cream"
26. Derrick Washington "I Don't Have Time To Play"
27. Mel Waiters "Disrespect"
28. Mi'el "I Do"
29. Denise LaSalle "Grown Folks Business"
30. Stephanie Pickett "You Worry About The Wrong Thing"
31. Lee "Shot" Williams "Juke Joint Slide (Club Mix)"
32. The Don "Ready To Step Tonight"
33. Larome Powers "Casino Blues"

Sometimes--not often--songs that didn't make the cut in a given month carry over into the next month and make the subsequent "Review." For instance, Donnie Ray's "I'm Still Waiting On You" (#13 in February) is sounding awfully good to me right now, as are some others. Sometimes, I don't get to everyone in as timely a manner as I'd like. But I do want artists such as yourself to know that your Daddy B. Nice is listening carefully to everything you send, beginning with the tracks listed above.

Daddy B. Nice

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RE: SOUTHERN SOUL CONCERTS ON VALENTINE'S WEEKEND (RIGHT-HAND COLUMN)

Andre Lee

LOL,

What a lineup for Valentine's Weekend! And Blues is alright...are you kidding? The number of shows has to be a record.

Keep it up, Daddy Be Nice!

DJ Styles

Daddy B. Nice replies:

The calendar of gigs for the weekend goes down for many, many column inches. I'm just amazed.

Daddy B. Nice

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MARVIN SEASE GRAVE MARKER DEDICATION SLATED FOR FEBRUARY 28th IN BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA

Daddy B. Nice:

SUBJECT: A "Memorial Ceremony/Dedication" service for the (unveiling) of the "Beloved Marvin Sease" (Bronze Metal Grave Marker); Marvin Sease...(aka)..."The Candy Licker" was born and raised in Blackville, SC...

Greetings to All...please mark your calendars.....to attend the "Memorial Service" of the unveiling of Marvin Sease's "Memorial Grave Maker." For all who knew, worked with, and enjoyed the music of the "Marvin Sease" who died, 8 Feb 2011. As a remembrance to Marvin Sease,
a "Bronze Metal Grave Marker" will be installed on "Marvin Sease's" grave (130-D-1), Saturday afternoon, 28 Feb 2015 at 1:00 PM. This awesome event will take place in "Hope Memorial Perpetual Care Cemetery", 1730 Yale Rd (Highway 3), Barnwell, SC, where Marvin Sease is buried.

As Always...Much Thanks for All You Do...

"LGB"

See Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Marvin Sease.

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RE: DADDY B NICE'S TOP TEN ALBUMS IN THE "VILLAGE VOICE"

Tucka

Hey Daddy,

I’m from NYC & saw your ballot—Top Ten Singles & Albums—in the annual Village Voice “Pazz & Jop” poll just out. It was cool and a surprise seeing Daddy B Nice on the ballots link! At last someone is taking southern soul to the masses! One question: I noticed your top ten album list. Is that a new award? And I see you included a number of albums from previous years?

Thanks, and keep up the valuable work

Nate

Click here for Daddy B. Nice's "Village Voice" PAZZ & JOPP ballot.

Theodis Ealey

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Thanks, Nate. Last year someone recommended I contribute to the “Village Voice” poll and sent me the ballot info. I think it’s good, and others should do it, but I must say it does make southern soul feel like a grain of sand on a beach. To your question about the albums…No, it’s not a feature on the website. The poll asked for the top ten albums, and since southern soul is so unfamiliar I decided to go with the very best CD’s of the last two or three years, including Stephanie McDee’s, Theodis Ealey’s, Vick Allen’s and Tucka’s.

Daddy B. Nice

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LOOKING FOR A SONG: "WHAT YO' NAME IS"

Daddy B. Nice:

Hi. The last few times I visited family in SC, I heard a song that I can't seem to find anywhere and was hoping you could help. I don't know if the title is "what yo name is, " but it's definitely part of the lyrics. That's all I can remember and all I can find is rappers that have songs with that title. The song I'm looking for is not a rap song, but more on the line of Mel Waiters. Can you help me with the artist?

Thanks,
Sheila

Daddy B. Nice replies:

That is "Mister Sexy Man" by Nellie "Tiger" Travis, one of the most popular southern soul songs of the last couple of years.

You can read more about it in Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Nellie "Tiger" Travis, and you can watch the official video at "Nellie Tiger Travis: Mr. Sexy Man" on YouTube.

Enjoy,
Daddy B. Nice

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RE: TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS

Hi there DB

don't know if you can help in anyway. I'm writing from England UK
Love the website by the way!!!

I am visiting New Orleans Feb 10th for 5 days for a live recording. It's my first time in Nola and wondered if you have any recommendations re live music clubs n record stores for new n old toones to look out for???

Any tips would be greatly received
Thanks for your time

Regards
Rich

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Hi, Rich,

I think it's great you're visiting the American South. So few people--from Europe OR America--do so, relatively speaking, to their continued impoverishment.

However, I can't assist you with specific information, for two reasons. The first is that I simply do not have enough familiarity with New Orleans myself, using it mostly as a "gateway" to the more rural destinations in the South that sustain southern soul music--places like Gulfport and Vicksburg, Mississippi or Lake Providence and Monroe, Louisiana.

The second reason is that New Orleans has its own world-renowned musical culture (jazz, swing, etc.). It's what the tourists want to hear and therefore what the majority of the clubs promote.

My advice is to enjoy what New Orleans has to offer. Immerse yourself in the French Quarter--the oyster bars, the greasy spoons, the historic streets with their European-style balconies, the traditional music. And if you have the time or wherewithal, consult Daddy B. Nice's Calendar and take a day (or overnight) trip to a southern soul concert outside town.

Best,
Daddy B. Nice

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MEMORABILIA LETTERS

RE: RONNIE LOVEJOY

Hi Daddy

As a fan of the late great Ronnie Lovejoy I thought you’d like to see the attached.

With best wishes

Mike Haralambos
Good Time Records

DBN notes: This letter is accompanied with many unseen photos and graphics of Ronnie Lovejoy and also magazine stories.

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RE: New Releases The Late Jackie Neal "Rock Me Baby" & Barbara White "Shake It Up Get On Down"

Dear Daddy B. Nice,

If you can do something with these records please give me a call. (225) --- ---- or 225 --- ----.

Robert Martin

DBN notes: The letter is accompanied by an unreleased Jackie Neal song and graphics.

Readers interested in the contents of either letter can contact Daddy B. Nice at daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com

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THANK YOU LETTERS....

RE: DADDY B NICE FEATURES WILLIAM BELL #1 (NOV.
14) ---- William Bell f/ Snoop Dogg "I Forgot To Be Your Lover", PLUS NEW ARTIST GUIDE

Thanks for the accolades & the feature BNice,...we sincerely appreciate it!

Keep up the great / necessary work & only the best to you,

Larry
Wilbe Records

See Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to William Bell.

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RE: SHOUT OUT TO DADDY B NICE

Just wanted to thank you and Friends for the comments I've been reading. This is straight from me Maurice Wynn that I am still playing all over and will release something new the on coming year. It won't be a repeat of what I've done, grown in so many ways over the years and ready to share these stories with everybody. Again thanks for the love ….=

Maurice

Read Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Maurice Wynn.

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RE: LIL' JIMMIE

Hello,

this is Tobias from Munich, Germany. I am running a small record label on which I re-release soul music from the 1960s. I came across your website when I was searching the internet for Jimmie Forbish Jr.

I am wondering if you were able to help me getting in contact with him. I would be interested in licensing a song which he released back in the late 1960s.

It would be wonderful if you were able to help me in this regard.

Best regards,
Tobias

www.tramprecords.com

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dear sir/madam.

is there anyway i can purchase a song by lil jimmie-entitle ( she was twerking)? released june 2014.

thanks for your cooperation.

bobby

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Lil' Jimmie's "She Was Twerkin'" was by far the most requested song here in 2014. I'm sorry, but I still have no contact for Lil' Jimmie, and the song has still not been released for sale. Lil' Jimmie occasionally appears in the tour dates in Daddy B. Nice's Concert Calendar. You may want to watch for contact #'s of concert promoters who may have further information.

Read Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Lil' Jimmie.

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SOUTHERN SOUL RADIO WARS LETTERS:

RE: SOUTHERN SOUL RADIO ROUND-UP

The Love Doctor

Daddy,

I really enjoyed your recent essay on WAGR. I'm so sorry I never tuned into WMPR during its golden era when the likes of Senator Jones ruled the airwaves. (I've checked but there don't seem to be any tapes of him floating around the 'net.) The current bland funk oldies on WMPR are such a let down.

Per your advice I've been tuning into WAGRand loving it. But I remember a few months ago you had a post detailing other shows called "Saturday is the day for the southern soul radio," but it seems to have fallen off when other posts moved up. Could you repost it as a resource for us fans who rely on the Internet for our southern soul radio fix?

Many thanks,
Noah

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Thanks, Noah. If you ever come through my area, I'll play you an early-morning, Uncle Bobo (Senator Jones) back-to-back replay of Love Doctor's "Lies" with Uncle Bobo talking between every phrase, in a swoon of adulation for this creation he's helped bring to life.

I tuned into WAGR (Lexington) last night and DJ Big Money was on. I caught the last half of the Klass Band's "Sugar Shack" (I wonder if that whistling phrase in the middle is what made it a hit?) followed by Sir Charles' "Do You Feel It" (from the Tribute CD), Little Milton's "Room 244," Keisa Brown's "I'm Leaving Married Men Alone," RB & Company's "You Can't Watch Your Wife And Your Woman, Too," Jackie Neal's "If You Think I'm In Love, I'm Just In Love with Yo Stuff" and James Smith's "Get Off My Track."

Jackie Neal

Is that inspired or not? Then, and only then, came the commercials, but half of them were local concert ads, and there's nothing that makes me happier than posting a concert I hear on a local radio station.

Noah, with all the year-end content I'm obligated to post in December and January, I don't have room to post my piece on "Saturday Is The Day For Southern Soul Radio." However, I'm talking to my "web" people about building an "Archives" page or section to the website.

I will tell you that this morning (Saturday) I started my Southern Soul streaming at WDLT Mobile with DJ Nikki DeMarks and a couple of hours later moved to WAGR Lexington with DJ Big Money.

Best wishes,
Daddy B. Nice

See article on Daddy B. Nice's Corner.

Noah replies:

Hi Daddy,

Thanks for the great reply to my letter. I love the idea of an "archives" section for posts like the radio one I mentioned.

Here are some upcoming concerts....

Thanks as always!
Noah

RE: SOUTHERN SOUL RADIO WARS:

BIG NEW SOUTHERN SOUL RADIO PROGRAM!

Daddy B. Nice,

Jazzii A., former Bobby Rush dancer and Southern Soul Renaissance Woman (entertainer, choreographer, journalist, TV personality, radio deejay, club deejay, label owner, etc.) is now on WJAB-FM, Alabama A&M's 100,000 watt (!) public radio station with her "N-Da-Kno With Jazzii A" southern soul show, every Friday night/Saturday morning from 12:00 midnight to 4:00 AM. (Yeah, Jazzii keeps juke joint hours!) --

Perfect for your at-home after-hours blues parties, your late-night drives home from your local hole in the wall, or your weekend "strokin'" sessions (on the couch or anywhere else!) --

Good news for all of us who care about the music . . .

David Whiteis

Read southern soul/gospel radio article on Daddy B. Nice's Corner.

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BIO AND UPDATE ON MR. TERRY WRIGHT "THE ANYTIME MAN"

Good afternoon Sir,

I have looked through your page (on Terry Wright) again and again and there is something missing, and that is Terry's hot new Single called "I Done Lost My Good Thang" oh my I need to send you this right away, it is the hottest song right up there with J-Won a very good friend of mind from Jackson MS. Terry has come along way since the Back Road CD and the Anytime Man CD as well, this song has over 200,000 hits on you tube of the behind the scenes video of I Done Lost My Good Thang, its powerful video as well. I see we need to get you caught up, my name is Larry J. Valliere Im Terry's Road Manager and Publicist. Mr. Terry Wright has had a wonderful and productive Summer as well, has been on shows with the legendary duo group of the 90's K-Ci and Jo Jo, and Morris Day & The Time. Mr. Wright has also been booked to join The Blue's Is Alright Tour in 2015 beginning in Feb. Mr. Terry Wright had the opportunity of a life time and that is to pay tribute to the Legendary Soul Group The Manhattens, in which Terry created the look and the style, and not to mention the moves, it was a night to remember at the Just Music Awards in Tunica Resort a standing ovation, and Gerald Austin and Blue Luvett enjoyed an emotional tribute. I believe its on you tube as well. Sir my email is larryvalliere166@gmail.com and you can reach me at -------- or you can reach Terry at -------- thank you Sir for your time and patience and the Title of the CD is called Standing In A Good Man Way featuring the hit song I Done Lost My Good Thang, and Terry is with Coday Records as well we are just waiting for the finished product, for it to be released.

Larry Valliere

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Dear Larry,

At first, after reading your letter, your Daddy B. Nice felt self-righteous and marked you for one of those publicists who don’t do their research and assume their artists' histories begin and end with their tenure, because Terry Wright's “I Done Lost My Good Thang” was a major story here in 2013, "broken" to the southern soul community a full year ago--last November, in fact.

All you had to do was go to Daddy B. Nice's Comprehensive Index under “Wright, Terry” to find all the references on the website to “I Done Lost My Good Thang”—-for example, its original appearance at #6 on Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For NOVEMBER 2013.

But when I went to the Terry Wright Artist Guides (there are two, you know), I was taken aback by how much time had passed since either was updated, and I began to feel sympathy for your concerns.

A YouTube video of "I Done Lost My Good Thang," as you point out, had been released since my postings, and there wasn’t a link to that, so I put one in. Even more importantly, I noticed that there was no link from the “old” Terry Wright Guide (#89 on the Top 100 “90’s—00”) to Terry Wright’s new Artist Guide (all the way up to #48) on the 21st Century Top 100 Countdown—-a major boo-boo on my part--so you might have been stuck on the old artist guide page. But the new page—the 21st Century Artist Guide--needed some work too.

So with apologies for my first reaction, check out the new Terry Wright page—the 21st Century Artist Guide. I’ve even posted the single for “I Done Lost My Good Thang” in Daddy B. Nice’s CD Store.

And don’t forget Daddy B. Nice’s Comprehensive Index, where you’ll find the locations of the song’s other 2013 citations....as one the “best ballads” of the year, and as one of the “best songs by a longtime veteran”.

My best wishes to you and Terry,

Daddy B. Nice

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RE: GREATEST SOUL SINGER ALIVE

Dear Daddy B. Nice,

I had the opportunity to hear Maurice Wynn in September at a function in the Roanoke Rapids (North Carolina) area. I had heard his wonderful songs before but never had the privilege of seeing him in person.

Maurice Wynn

I visited your website a couple of times and I just wanted to say that Maurice is one of the best soulful singers on earth. His smooth, sexy and piercing voice resonate your soul and heart.

I have heard Roy C, Johnny Taylor and all the soul singers, but Maurice holds his own up there with Luther, Barry, Keith Sweat, R Kelly and everyone. We have visited Gwendolyn's other club called Blue Oasis several times lately to hear Maurice. He is now singing there on Thursday nights instead of the club called Gwendolyn's.

Our group will pay any price to hear this man sing. He has captured our hearts forever. Thanks for posting the information about Maurice. He is so talented and needs to be somewhere winning all kinds of awards for such a clean, extraordinary and distinctive voice.

Eunice Ward

Daddy B. Nice replies:

Dear Eunice,

Excellent letter. It's great to hear from someone touting her favorite artist with such heartfelt enthusiasm.

Daddy B. Nice

See Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Maurice Wynn.

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION! UNDER CONSTANT REVISION!

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Daddy B. Nice replies:

John, by the way, would you want to take a shot at defining what "you've got a booger bear under there" means?

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With the exception of Daddy B. Nice's notes or replies, the statements and opinions contained in the letters on this page reflect the views of the writers themselves and not those of Daddy B. Nice or SouthernSouRnB.com.

Friday, March 6, 2014. Chaifetz Arena, 1 South Compton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. Blues Is Alright Tour. T.K. Soul, Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones, Lenny Williams, Bobby Rush, Shirley Brown, Theodis Ealey.

Friday, March 6, 2015. Underground 119, 119 S. President St., Jackson, Mississippi. Grady Champion. 601-352-2322.

Friday, March 6, 2015. House of Khafre, 300 Main St., Indianola, Mississippi. Birthday Bash for Columbus Toy. Miss Lady Blues, Columbus Toy.

Friday, March 6, 2015. The Uptown Theatre, 1350 Third Street, Napa, California. Dan Ackroyd & The Official Blues Brothers Review. 707-259-0123.

8 pm., Friday, March 6, 2015. Hanniton Watts American Legion Post #193 (Florida Armory National Guard), 8790 Grow St., Pensacola, Florida. 2015 Commanders Charity Ball. Lomax, J. Red. 850-433-7271.

Saturday, March 7, 2015. Leflore Civic Center, 200 Mississippi 7, Greenwood, Mississippi. Mississippi Blues Fest. Ms. Jody, Bobby Rush, Vick Allen, Donnie Ray, O.B. Buchana, Lamont Hadley.

Saturday, March 7, 2015. Club Point, Dayton, Ohio. Mel Waiters.

Saturday, March 7, 2015. Duling Hall, 622 Duling Avenue, Jackson, Mississippi. Grady Champion. 601-292-7121.

8 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2015. BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham, 2100 Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North,Birmingham, Alabama. Gladys Knight. 205-458-8400.

9 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2015. American Legion Post #248, 5070 Farm To Market Road 1398, Hooks, Texas. Karen Wolfe, Terry Wright, Lomax, Andre Lee. 903-547-7248. Doors open at 7 pm.

Friday, March 13, 2015. Masonic Temple, 500 Temple Ave., Detroit, Michigan. Blues Is Alright Tour. Theodis Ealey, Mel Waiters, Bobby Rush, Shirley Brown, Lenny Williams, Sir Charles Jones, Clarence Carter.

8 pm, Friday, March 13, 2015. Vicksburg City Auditorium, 901 Monroe Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 9th Annual Southern Soul Friday. Betty Wright, L.J. Echols, Avail Hollywood, Karen Brown. 601-955-4894. Doors open at 7 pm. BYOB.

Saturday, March 14, 2015. Star Plaza Theater, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville, Indiana (Chicago). Blues Is Alright Tour. Theodis Ealey, Mel Waiters and more.

7 pm, Saturday, March 14, 2015. Canton Multi-Purpose Complex, 501 Soldier Colony Road, Canton, Mississippi. 2nd Annual Birthday Bash for Ricky White. Ricky White, Vick Allen, Calvin Richardson, Adrena, Omar Cunningham. 601-624-7396. Doors open at 6 pm. BYOB.

8 pm, Saturday, March 14, 2015. New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey. Aretha Franklin. 973-642-8989.

Saturday, March 14, 2015. American Legion Post #248, 5070 Farm To Market Road 1398, Hooks, Texas. Lil' Jimmie & Band, Chris Ivy, O'Flava Psi. 214-790-4477. Doors open at 6 pm.

8 pm, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The Orpheum, 203 S. Main, Memphis, Tennessee. Santana. 901-525-3000.

Friday, March 20, 2015. PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. Blues Is Alright Tour. Mel Waiters and more. 919-861-2300.

8 pm, Friday, March 20, 2015. Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Aretha Franklin. 203-345-2300.

Saturday, March 21, 2015. North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, South Carolina. Blues Is Alright Tour. Mel Waiters and more. 843-529-5000.

8 pm, Saturday, March 21, 2015. L'Auberge Du Lac Casino and Resort, 777 Ave Lauberge, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Gladys Knight. 337-395-7777.

Sunday, March 22, 2015. Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St.,Columbia, South Carolina. Mel Waiters.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015.Smoothie King Center, 1501 Dave Dixon Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana. Stevie Wonder. 504-587-3663.

Thursday, March 26, 2015. Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted St., Chicago, Illinois. Nellie "Tiger" Travis & Band. 773-477-4646.

8 pm, Friday, March 27, 2014. Fox Theater, 660 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia. Blues Is Alright Tour. Mel Waiters, Theodis Ealey, Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Clarence Carter, Latimore. 404-881-2100.

Saturday, March 28, 2015. Diamond Jack Casino, 3990 Washington Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Willie Clayton. 601-636-5700.

Saturday, March 28, 2015. Earlwood Park, 1111 Parkside Drive, Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina Cornbread Festival. Theodis Ealey.

Saturday, March 28, 2015. Mr. J’s Lounge, 4610 West Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nellie "Tiger" Travis.

Sunday, March 29, 2015. Addis Community Center, 7520 Louisiana 1, Addis, Louisiana. Willie Clayton. 225-336-2423.

8 pm, Friday, April 3, 2015. Reliant Arena, Reliant Parkway, Houston, Texas. H-Town Blues Festival. Blues Is Alright Tour. T.K. Soul, Mel Waiters, Tucka, Theodis Ealey, Terry Wright, Sir Charles Jones. 832-667-1400.

8 pm, Friday, April 3 & Saturday, April 4, 2015. Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds, 1035 Cody Road North, Mobile, Alabama. Spring Fling. (Friday) L.J. Echols, Nathaniel Kimble, Karen Wolfe, Steve Perry; (Saturday) Ms. Jody, T.K. Soul, Lomax, Stony Murphy, Vick Allen, O.B. Buchana, Wendell B., J-Red and more. Gates open at 12 Noon on Saturday. 251-243-5164.

Saturday, April 4, 2015. Ladd-Peebles Stadium, 1621 Virginia Street, Mobile, Alabama. Original Spring Fling 2015. Lacee, Tucka, Sir Charles Jones, Jeff Floyd, Lebrado, Columbus Toy, L.J. Echols. 251- 208-2500. Hosted by Nikki DeMarks and Beverley McDowell.

Saturday, April 4, 2015. Theatre For Performing Arts, River Center Baton Rouge, 275 S. River Rd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Keith Frank, Betty Wright, Tucka. 225-389-3030.

8 pm, Saturday, April 4, 2015. Brunswick Community College Odell Williamson Auditorium, 150 College Road N.E., Bolivia, North Carolina. Pre-Easter Concert. Roy C, Clarence Carter. Doors open at 7 pm. 919-827-2033.

6:30 pm, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Club Soops, 1205 Country Club Drive, Jackson, Mississippi. JR Blu CD Release Party. JR Blu & Band. Hosted by Queen B & DJ Sir Jam. 601-922-1402.

8 pm, Friday, April 10, 2015. Riverdome At Horseshoe Casino, 711 Horseshoe Boulevard, Bossier City, Louisiana. Smokey Robinson. 318-742-0711.

Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, 2015. Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted St., Chicago, Illinois. Nellie "Tiger" Travis & Band. 773-477-4646.

Saturday, April 11, 2015. Catfish in the Alley, Downtown, Columbus, Mississippi. Grady Champion.

Sunday, April 12, 2015. Metropolitan Complex, Houston, Texas. Willie Clayton.

Sunday, April 12, 2015. Mahaffey Theater, Progress Energy Center for the Arts, 400 First Street South, Saint Petersburg, Florida. Smokey Robinson. 727-892-5767.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Sarasota Fairgrounds, Sarasota, Florida. Suncoast Blues Festival 2015.
Bobby Rush, Eden Brent, Zac Harmon and more.

Friday, April 17, 2015. The Barn, Camden, Alabama. Ms. Jody.

Friday, April 17 & Saturday, April 18, 2015. Bottleneck Blues Bar, Ameristar Casino Hotel, 4146 Washington Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grady Champion. 601-638-1000.

Saturday, April 18, 2015. Hauppauge Auditorium, 500 Lincoln Blvd. Hauppauge, New York. Barbara Lewis, Chuck Jackson and many more.

6:30 pm, Saturday, April 25, 2015. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, 705 Grand Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. Pre-Mother's Day Blues Show / Sir Charles Jones Birthday Party. Sir Charles Jones, Carl Sims, Wendell B, L.J. Echols, Peggy Scott-Adams, Monro Brown, Andre Pitre. Doors open 5:30 pm. 318-268-6560.

7 pm, Friday, May 8, 2015. Vicksburg Auditorium, 901 Monroe St., Vicksburg, Mississippi. Mel Waiters, Nellie "Tiger" Travis and more.

Saturday, May 9, 2015. Civic Center Arena, 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe, Louisiana. Blues Is Alright Tour. T.K. Soul, Mel Waiters and more. 318-329-2225.

3 pm, Saturday, May 9, 2015. Pecan Grove Ball Park, 24548 Delisle Cubes Road, Delisle, Mississippi. Kenne' Wayne, Jeff Floyd, Klass Band Brotherhood, Pokey and more. Gates open at 12 Noon.

9 pm, Saturday, May 9, 2015. CAC Hall, 2824 Perkins St., Saginaw, Michigan. Lomax, Karen Wolfe, Andre' Lee, Terry Wright, James Smith (all with live bands). BYOB. Doors open at 7 pm.

3 pm, Sunday, May 10, 2015. The Fairgrounds, 1457 Ellisville Boulevard, Laurel, Mississippi. Mother's Day Blues Festival T.K. Soul, Kenne Wayne, Ms. Jody, Vick Allen, Pokey, Mr. Sam, Sir Charles Jones, Storm, Robert Evans. 601-649-9010. Gates open at 12 Noon.

Sunday, May 10, 2015. Municipal Auditorium, 417 Fourth Ave., Nashville, Tennessee. Blues Is Alright Tour. Mel Waiters and more.

Friday, May 15, 2015. A.V. Bull Sallas Park, 21675-B McClesky Road, New Caney, Texas. Texas Bikers Zydeco Show. Keith Frank. 512-694-0817.

Saturday, May 16, 2015. Downtown, Dermott, Arkansas. The Crawfish Festival. T.K. Soul & Band.

8 pm, Saturday, May 16, 2015. A.V. Bull Sallas Park, 21675-B McClesky Road, New Caney, Texas. Texas Bikers Blues Festival. Sir Charles Jones, Sweet Angel, Tucka. 512-694-0817.

6:30 pm, Saturday, May 23 & Sunday, May 24, 2015. Lloyd Pavilion, I-10 at Exit 217, Lloyd, Florida. Lloyd, Florida Music Festival. Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Wilson Meadows, Theodis Ealey, Willie Hill, Black Zack. Gates open at 3 pm. 850-264-7951.

10 pm, Saturday, May 30, 2015. The Meeting Place, 1309 West Irwin St., Tyler, Texas. L.J. Echols & Band. 214-406-6894. Doors open at 9 pm.

9 pm, Friday, July 3, 2015. Legends Bar & Grill, 2523 W. Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky. Mel Waiters.

Saturday, July 4, 2015. Nolan Norman Memorial Park, Wisner, Louisiana. 7th Annual Nolan Norman Day Celebration. T.K. Soul & Band and more.

E-mail concert listings and corrections to:

daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: January 1, 2014:

SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Despite the usual attrition 2013 was a fantastic year for the last "segregated music" in America (as singer/songwriter Luther Lackey called Southern Soul music in an insightful "farewell" interview with Daddy B. Nice in January), with steady output from veterans and buzz-filled epiphanies seemingly on a monthly basis by a parade of bright new and/or little-known performers.

Not to be mistaken for your mama's southern soul, 2013 was the year of Nellie "Tiger" Travis's "Mr. Sexy Man," called in many quarters the "number-one song" in America. Even Medea (aka comedian Tyler Perry), boasted that the song--the result of Travis' reunion with writer/producer Floyd Hamberlin--was her favorite during a guest stint on The Steve Harvey show.

One of the keys to the song's popularity was the line in the chorus, "what-yo-name-is?" (which Medea mimicked perfectly), proving once again that good English grammar ("What is your name?") just doesn't (don't?) make sense in the world of blues.

Like a 100-year flood, "Mr. Sexy Man" crept into media outlets long known for eschewing southern soul music, but close in its wake, especially throughout the established chitlin' circuit, was Ms. Jody's "Just Let Me Ride," in which the fiercely competitive diva "saved the horse and rode the cowboy," in the process notching her finest club song to date.

And Ms. Jody also took the music beyond its roots, winning (and triumphantly performing) at the Carolina Beach Music Awards for her single "Still Strokin'," the title tune from the same CD featuring "Just Let Me Ride."

The successes of Nellie "Tiger" Travis and Ms. Jody marked the ascension of a new generation of divas: both had started out as the best of a class of newcomers around 2005.

But the ultimate southern soul high of the year, at least for the insiders fortunate enough to hear his debut in the Delta (Jackson, Mississippi, the heart of the music), was the Big Yayo-tutored singer J-Wonn's "I Got This Record."

With only word-of-mouth, local air-play and one meagerly-recorded live-with-boombox YouTube video on the sidewalk of Farish Street (remember the Rue Davis song?), J-Wonn became an overnight sensation, the charisma and sensitivity of his vocal compelling your Daddy B. Nice to call his coming-out party "dramatic enough to recall Sir Charles Jones' 'Friday' or LaMorris Williams' 'We Can Do It (Impala)'."

Deejays called this song "the #1 song in the WORLD," (How's that, Nellie Travis?), but it was really the #1 Song in the Delta, where its popularity thrust J-Wonn on stage with Willie Clayton and subsequently led to headlining gigs with the likes of respected Southern Soul veterans Wilson Meadows and Dave Mack.

J-Wonn's lightning-speed acceptance--without a published CD--wasn't unique. Only a few months earlier, during the heat of the summer, a young performer whose only claim to fame was being the little sister of singer/songwriter L. J. Echols, put out a single called "Mad Dog 20-20."

An anthem to low-budget, country-style inebriation, with brother L.J.'s admirably rustic guitar picking for background, Krishaunda Echols' "Mad Dog" (which your Daddy B. Nice called "the best thing since the late Jackie Neal") broke with only a YouTube video, without the benefit of distributed single or CD.

In the span of two months, Ms. Echols became a feted headliner at Mississippi southern soul concerts, most exceptionally headlining a show at the Laurel, Mississippi fairgrounds with the greatest divas in Southern Soul (Peggy Scott-Adams, Denise LaSalle and Shirley Brown), with the radio spot featuring Krishunda's "Mad Dog 20-20" exclusively in the commercial.

So fast did events unfold, there was often a disconnect between the day-to-day Southern Soul media, which catered to and supported the small but vital network of established Southern Soul artists, and the emerging younger generation of new acts, largely introduced by Daddy B. Nice, often with little distributed product--J-Wonn, Krishunda Echols, T-Baby, Fredrick (King Fred) Hicks, Adrian Bagher among them--who more often than not had little access to the chitlin' circuit network of the older generation.

Unheralded, young, Delta-based producer Big Yayo (Stevie J's "Because Of Me," LaMorris Williams' "Impala"), was again at the heart of the action, producing not only T-Baby's "The Swag" but J-Wonn's resplendently-arranged ballad, "I Got This Record." And Big Yayo's 2012 success with the disco-edged, Dave Mack-sung, club anthem "Booty Talking" presaged the success of Nellie Travis' similarly-driven "Mr. Sexy Man" in 2013.

Another vital stream of new southern soul music came from a traditional bastion of the genre, southern Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, where--with the demise of the once-invaluable Chico's Radio--WDLT Mobile's deejay Nikki DeMarks fought the good fight, championing artists like Stephanie McDee, Cupid and Tucka, whose "Sweet Shop" seduced listeners.

"Twerking" finally hit the mainstream. Hey, America: Louisiana's Jackie Neal was doing it and singing about it a dozen years ago.

And Jackie Neal's little brother Tyree finally moved out of her shadow, producing Big Cynthia's best work in years, not to mention producing fellow Louisianan Pokey and providing the irrepressible guitar lick in the Louisiana-based, "return-of-the-southern-soul-queen" Stephanie McDee's instant classic, "When I Step In The Club."

2013 was noteworthy for the publication of David Whiteis's monumental primer to contemporary Southern Soul: Southern Soul Blues (University of Illinois Press).

The overwhelmingly-accurate, exhaustively-researched tome was the first up-to-date analysis of contemporary Southern Soul in cloth and paper, lending further credence (in the mainstream) to the genre's still obscure existence.

Whiteis wrote (and confirmed with your Daddy B. Nice) that the term "southern soul blues" was a compromise--that the phrases "southern soul," "soul-blues" and "southern soul blues" were all used interchangeably in the book. Yet, such was the heft of the book's influence that respected European online critic Heikki Suosalo wrote that:

“Soul-Blues” is now in the U.S.A. the common term for the music we used to call and still call in Europe “southern soul.” Even though some artists like Willie Clayton don’t like the phrase “southern soul” in terms of describing his music – and Chicago isn’t very south, I agree – I’ll still use it anyhow, because it’s an established, respectable term, going all the way to the 60s. Among European soul music lovers, it’s a positive term and it conjures up an image of certain kind of music, highly emotional and powerful. It’s not necessarily tied up with geography, but purely sound. We also have “northern soul”, and every black music fan and club-goer in Europe understands what we’re talking about."

In the critical sphere, 2013 was also the year Daddy B. Nice completed his Top 100 21st Century Countdown, two and a half years in the making, and the first ranking of southern soul artists since his Top 100 Southern Soul Artists a decade earlier, with Sir Charles Jones replacing the late Johnnie Taylor as the #1 Southern Soul Artist. Mel Waiters, Willie Clayton, T.K. Soul, Bobby Rush, Ms. Jody, Shirley Brown, Theodis Ealey, O.B. Buchana and Bigg Robb rounded out the top ten.

A vocalist some industry people doubted existed emerged from anonymity in an interview with Daddy B. Nice: Will T., the mysterious singer of the original "Mississippi Boy," (often attributed to Charles Wilson), one of the most iconic and oft-covered songs in contemporary Southern Soul. It was written by the same Floyd Hamberlin of this year's "Mr. Sexy Man" fame and most recently covered by Sir Charles Jones under the title "Country Boy."

2013 posted outstanding CD's by some of Southern Soul's banner artists: Theodis Ealey, Vick Allen, Mel Waiters, Ms. Jody, O.B. Buchana, Klass Band Brotherhood and Donnie Ray, to cite only a few.

2013 witnessed the passing of some of the music's most beloved practitioners: Artie "Blues Boy" White, Gus Geeter (of Alabama's King Tutt Band) and Tina Diamond. And in December, to the consternation of the blues community, Robert "Chick" Willis--in his heyday one of the most risque of performers--passed on to Soul Heaven.

Onetime enfants terribles Bobby Rush and Willie Clayton found themselves the elder statesmen of traditional rhythm and blues, with old classics like Rush's "Hard Feelin' With Me" (from Blind Snake)...

Different strokes
For different folks.
Special kind of stroke
For the soulful folks."

...and Clayton's "Can We Talk" (from Full Circle), dressed up with reggae dancehall trimmings, rematerializing in current air play and wowing a new generation.

Lyrical highlights that made 2013 a little more distinctive:

"Hey mista sexy man,
What yo name is?"
Nellie "Tiger" Travis, "Mr. Sexy Man"

"Everyone's watching you throughout this room,
Women watching men watching you.
Jealousy is kicking in."
Mel Waiters, "Hottest Thing"

"Tonight we're eating perch with tartar sauce."
Big "Ro" Williams, "Good Love Muscle"

"They conversated (sic) for awhile."
Vick Allen, "My Baby's Phone"

"Just like Al Green said,
'I'm tired of being alone,'
Thank God for the men
That made these smart phones."
Billy "Soul" Bonds, "Get Her With My Twitter"

"They call me Pokey,
Big pokey bear,
Anytime you need me, baby,
I'll be there."
Pokey, "They Call Me Pokey"
(from an album entitled JOSEPHINE SON POKEY)

"We didn't know a damn thing about bills.
Thought we were living it up like in Beverly Hills.
Plenty of Kool-Aid and government cheese,
Collard greens and black-eyed peas.
Man, those were the good old days."
Vick Allen, "I'm Tired Of Being Grown"

"I'll tell you what.
Stop giving up the cookie
And see how long he stays around."
Nellie "Tiger" Travis to Adrena in "Another Woman's Man"

And, from the debut of the year...

"I caught 'em at the grocery store.
I caught 'em in the Mall.
Saw 'em at the casino,
But my grandma even caught 'em at bingo."
J-Wonn, "I Got This Record"

--Daddy B. Nice

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-----e-mail daddybnice@southernsoulrnb.com-----

Daddy B. Nice
P.O. Box 19574
Boulder, Colorado 80308

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