Muddy Waters at the White Rose in Phoenix, Illinois

I only once saw Muddy in a black-audience club. On New Year’s Eve of 1970-71, I was working at the Jazz Record Mart. It was open until 9 but there were no custo...

Snapper Mitchum, Muddy Waters Jr., Bobby King

Snapper Mitchum, Muddy Waters Jr. and Bobby King at Queen Bee's Lounge - By Andre Hobus...

In Living Blues #252
December 2017

Dear friends, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials just celebrated an amazing 30 years together with a gala night at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted in Chicago. I know of...

In Living Blues #250
August 2017

Dear friends, We’re immensely proud of Selwyn Birchwood’s new Pick Your Poison CD. It’s been hailed as one the best blues albums of the year, and a giant ste...

In Living Blues #233
September 2014

Dear Friends, Elvin Bishop just played here in Chicago, and, as always, left everyone both blown away and grinning. Blown away because Elvin is such a terrif...

In Living Blues #223
January 2013

Dear Friends, As the new year kicks in, we’re busy planning Alligator’s exciting releases for 2013. I told you last time about our new Tommy Castro 45, Greed...

In Living Blues #212
March 2011

Dear Friends, We’re very excited about the initial reaction to The Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Cha...

In Living Blues #188
January 2007

Dear Friends, Welcome to a new year, and one that I hope will be better for the blues than 2006. In the last few months, we’ve lost so many of our most belov...

In Living Blues #187
November 2006

Dear Friends, The record business is shrinking incredibly quickly, and blues recording is suffering. You’ve all read about falling CD sales over the last few...

IN LIVING BLUES #185
JULY 2006

Dear Friends, As I told you last time, we’re ending what I believe is the hardestbusiness year ever for blues record labels. Hopefully, next year, Alligator...