JANUARY 28, 2020
Congratulations to Trudy Lynn for her nomination in the 41th Blues Music Awards! Trudy has been nominated for the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Female Blues Artist).
The Blues Music Awards "brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members." Click here to vote for your favorite artist and to purchase tickets to the awards ceremony in Memphis on Thursday, May 7, 2020 |
DECEMBER 10, 2019
Connor Ray Music released a 5-song EP featuring Blues Music Award nominee Trudy Lynn and fellow Houstonian's The Steve Krase Band! All proceeds from the sale of "Connor Ray Christmas" in 2019 will be donated to The Hart Fund.
Click here to purchase " I strongly believe in giving back and I have always wanted to do a Christmas record, so combining a Christmas record and a fundraiser just made sense to me," said Krase. "We tried to make it fun and based on my 5-year-old granddaughter's reaction to "Up On The House Top"... I think we succeeded!" "I am grateful to be able to help raise money for the Hart Fund and hopefully help some fellow musicians in need," said Lynn. |
NOVEMBER 11, 2019
Attention France and Belgium!!
Trudy Lynn is heading your way as part of Chicago Blues Festival Tour, starting Wednesday, November 13. Check calendar for locations! |
AUGUST 29, 2019
|
JULY 2, 2019
|
JUNE 6, 2019
|
Trudy Lynn graced the cover of the August 15 issue of Blues Blast Magazine, and she was honored with a glowing interview
by Don Wilcock. The featured article covers Lynn's extensive career, from her high school vocal ensemble to her most recent projects at Connor Ray Music with Steve Krase. In an interview excerpt, Lynn speaks fondly of Krase: “He’s a good friend. He used to come see me when I worked with Jerry Lightfoot, and he played with him. And we just happened one day to be talking. He came by and we were talking, and I was listening to some of the females because I like listening to some of the old females, and I just mentioned to him, I said, ‘I’m gonna cut some of these songs from ladies of a long time ago,’ and he said, ‘When you get ready to do that, just let me know, and we’ll go in the studio.’ I said, ‘Ok, I’ll let you know.’" The rest is history. Click here to read the full article. |
Congratulations to Connor Ray Music artist Trudy Lynn for receiving the Willie Mitchell Lifetime Artist Award from the
Jus' Blues Music Foundation! The mission of Jus' Blues is "To preserve Blues heritage through cultural arts, historical Blues preservation events, recognition of Blues artist who continue to expand the sounds and style of the Blues and Blues Got A Soul education programs to youth and performing artists nationwide and around the world." Click here to read more about the foundation and to view the full list of 2019 honorees. |
Vote for Trudy Lynn in the 2019
Living Blues Awards! - Blues Artist of the Year (Female) - Most Outstanding Blues Singer VOTE NOW! Founded in Chicago in 1970, Living Blues Magazine is America's FIRST blues publication. They feature a wide spectrum of blues artists, and strive to bring focus to musicians on all levels. |
APRIL 29, 2019
|
JANUARY 30, 2019
|
JANUARY 3, 2019
|
Join Blues Music Award nominee Trudy Lynn, Steve Krase, and many other blues artists at the 8th annual Play It Forward fundraiser on May 10 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis, TN. The show starts at 5pm, with a $10 suggested donation.
This event will raise money for two great causes - Generation Blues and the HART Fund. Generation Blues was founded by the Blues Foundation in 2010, and it was created "to provide financial assistance to aspiring young Blues musicians whose limited financial resources might prohibit them from attending a Blues music learning opportunity." The HART Fund, also established by the Blues Foundation, provides support for "acute, chronic and preventive medical and dental care as well as funeral and burial expenses." Click here to read the full schedule of events for the Blues Music Awards in Memphis. |
Congratulations to Trudy Lynn for her nomination in the 40th Blues Music Awards! Trudy has been nominated for the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Female Blues Artist).
The Blues Music Awards "brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members." Click here to vote for your favorite artist and to purchase tickets to the awards ceremony in Memphis on Thursday, May 9, 2019. |
The Mark May Band will be representing the Houston Blues Society in the 45th International Blues Challenge!
Join the Mark May Band at the Big Easy in Houston on Friday, Jan. 18 for their International Blues Challenge Send Off! Click here for more information The International Blues Challenge is an annual showcase of over 260 performers from across the globe that will take place January 22 - 26 in Memphis, TN. |
JANUARY 3, 2019
|
JANUARY 3, 2019
|
DECEMBER 17, 2018
|
Congratulations to Trudy Lynn for receiving the Living Legend Blues Award from the Houston Blues Society!
Click here to read more about the Houston Blues Society and their commitment to keep the blues alive |
The other half of Dry Johnson, Terry Dry, has been selected as one of AXS.com's Top Best Blues Bassists!
"Dry plays bass with Mike Zito’s band and that keeps him pretty busy, but not too busy to step out with the other half of Zito’s rhythm section, drummer Matthew Robert Johnson, in a side project called Dry Johnson. The pair have a new album out called Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1 featuring guests Trudy Lynn, Annika Chambers, Steve Krase and their boss Zito." Click here to read the full list |
Congrats to Matthew Robert Johnson, of Dry Johnson, for being selected on of AXS.com's Top 13 Best Blues Drummers!
"When you’re a musician and part of your name is Robert Johnson, you know you were born to play the blues. Matthew Robert Johnson didn’t make a deal with the devil; he came by his talent the old fashioned way and practice, practice, practice. Johnson keeps the beat for the hotshot guitar player Mike Zito and also as one half of his own band, the duo Dry Johnson. For a real treat seek out the latter’s Long Live Them Blues album." Click here to read the full list. |
DECEMBER 3, 2018
|
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
|
NOVEMBER 19, 2018
|
Watch Dry Johnson's music video for "Long Live Them Blues" (featuring Trudy Lynn!) on Elmore Magazine's website.
CLICK HERE "Wildly fun stuff that really gets the juices flowing, this is the real deal." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record, review of Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1 |
AXS.com released their list of the top 13 best blues singers of all time. Connor Ray Music's Trudy Lynn is listed along side fellow blues legends, such as Bonnie Raitt, Gregg Allman, and Howlin' Wolf.
"Lynn has a big, gutsy vocal sound that’s informed by the greats that came before her, like Etta James and Big Maybelle, and she can sound sweet and sensual or a little bit menacing," said AXS's Kevin Wierzbicki. Click here to view the full list. |
Introducing the official music video
for Steve Krase's ‘The Ballad of Jed Clampett'! Click here to view From Blues and Rock Muse: Steve Krase says, “I’m always on the look-out for popular songs that I can add my own special touch to! ‘The Ballad of Jed Clampett’ is such a song. I had performed it live as a Psycho-Billy version but then one day it became obvious that this needed to be a Zydeco song! I spent two years in Lafayette, Louisiana, and have always been a fan of the genre. On this recording, I enlisted Mike Vowell (Zydeco Dots) on rubboard and Brian Jack (Brian Jack & The Zydeco Gamblers) on accordion. In addition to myself on vocals and harmonica, the track features David Carter on guitar, Rock Romano on bass and Tamara Williams on drums. The video features Pat Mason on accordion and was filmed on location in Jefferson, Texas.” “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” is on Steve Krase’ recent album release, Just Waitin’ where he expands his blues music into new territory. |
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
|
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
|
JULY 19, 2018
|
Congratulations to the Ally Venable Band for winning Entertainer of the Year in the 2018 East Texas Music Awards!
This is the SEVENTH ETX Music Award for Ally Venable and her band. 2018 - Entertainer of the Year 2017 - Blues Band of the Year 2017 - Album of the Year "No Glass Shoes" 2016 - Blues Band of the Year 2015 - Blues Band of the Year 2015 - Guitarist of the Year 2014 - Guitarist of the Year Click here to view the full list of 2018 nominees and for more information about the ETX Awards. |
Connor Ray Music announces an October 5 release date for the debut CD from Houston-based duo, Dry Johnson, Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1. Dry Johnson is comprised of bassist Terry Dry and drummer Matthew Robert Johnson, who collectively have formed the powerhouse rhythm section backing award-winning Texas guitarslinger Mike Zito for almost two years. Zito returns the favor on Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1 by playing guitar and singing on several tracks of the
new disc. Other special guests on the Dry Johnson debut include legendary singer (and Connor Ray labelmate) Trudy Lynn, guitarists John Del Toro Richardson, Mighty Orq and James Wilhite, harmonica ace Steve Krase, and beloved Houston musician Kevin “Snit” Fitzpatrick on vocals. “Getting this out has been a year and a half in the making,” admits Matthew Robert Johnson. "Terry and I originally thought up the idea after a gig with Mike Zito in a hotel room in Florida. We discussed the idea of doing a project as a rhythm section, with all of the artists that we have either worked with in the past, or would like to work with in the future…and Dry Johnson was born. I can only hope that we have done this great city and its incredible musical legacy some justice with this recording.” Click here to read the full press release. |
Connor Ray Music announces an August 31 release date for Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women, the new CD from New Jersey-based blues guitarist Bob Lanza and his band. Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women is Bob’s fifth album release. Digital pre-release sales start July 31.
Bob and the band will celebrate the new album’s release with a special CD party and show on Saturday, September 29, at the legendary Stanhope House, 45 Main Street, Stanhope, New Jersey. Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women has been a long time coming. Working with acclaimed producer and performer, Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors, Noel Redding, Lenny Kravitz), at his Sonic Boom Recording Studio in Raritan, New Jersey, Lanza delivers a mix of covers and originals, done only the way he can do it. The album also includes a tribute to the late, great harmonica master, James Cotton, penned by Lanza and Krizan. Lanza has known Krizan for many years, but had never gotten the opportunity to work with him until now. “It’s a no brainer,” he says, about working with Krizan. “I’ve known Anthony since 1990. Thru the years we crossed paths many times, as I watched his career as a performer and producer soar, and I always thought about what doing a record with him would sound like.” Click here to read the full press release. |
JULY 11, 2018
Six-time Blues Music Award nominee Trudy Lynn will release her new CD, Blues Keep Knockin’ from Connor Ray Music on July 27. Backing Trudy’s vocals on the new disc are musicians Steve Krase – harmonica; David Carter – guitar; Terry Dry – bass; Matt Johnson – drums; Jim Brady – trumpet; and Dan Carpenter – sax; with special guests Bob Lanza and Carolyn Wonderland on guitar.
Trudy was recently honored with three nominations for the Living Blues Magazine Awards, with voting currently underway at the magazine’s website: www.livingblues.com.
“I want to thank all my blues fans new and old, or should I say ‘mature,’ for being with me through my journey with the blues, both near and far,” Trudy says in the album liner notes. “My name is Trudy Lynn and I sing the blues for you, some old some new and some borrowed too. I love singing the blues! The blues knocks on my door, on my window and my heart. I must sing and I sing only what I feel and I sing to make you feel exactly what I feel!”
Blues Keep Knockin’ features ten soul-drenched songs dripping with blues and R&B. In addition to a new original song written by Trudy (the album’s title track), she puts her own stamp on covers of songs from Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Big Maybelle, Big Bill Broonzy and Jimmy Rogers, among others.
Click here to read the full press release.
Trudy was recently honored with three nominations for the Living Blues Magazine Awards, with voting currently underway at the magazine’s website: www.livingblues.com.
“I want to thank all my blues fans new and old, or should I say ‘mature,’ for being with me through my journey with the blues, both near and far,” Trudy says in the album liner notes. “My name is Trudy Lynn and I sing the blues for you, some old some new and some borrowed too. I love singing the blues! The blues knocks on my door, on my window and my heart. I must sing and I sing only what I feel and I sing to make you feel exactly what I feel!”
Blues Keep Knockin’ features ten soul-drenched songs dripping with blues and R&B. In addition to a new original song written by Trudy (the album’s title track), she puts her own stamp on covers of songs from Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Big Maybelle, Big Bill Broonzy and Jimmy Rogers, among others.
Click here to read the full press release.