In Photos
Keeping the blues alive: Portraits of Texas' great, surviving blues musicians
Jul 24, 2012 | 2:14 pm
- These Texas musicians continue to give a voice to the blues, a seemingly fading genre of music,. My aim was to capture each musician's pride in his music, using backdrops that have a personal connection to the musician, whether it be a club or in a music studio. Pictured here: saxophonist Grady Gaines [https: /www.gradygaines.com/].Photo by A.L. Carter
- Grady Gaines, shot at the Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club [https: /www.thebigeasyblues.com] in Houston, where he performs occasionally.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Grady Gaines, shot at Goode's Armadillo Palace [https: /www.thearmadillopalace.com]in Houston. Gaines was band leader for Little Richard and Sam Cooke [https://www.songsofsamcooke.com/], recording classics like "Long Tall Sally" and a "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On." Since then he's played with the greatest R&B artists.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Omar Kent Dykes of Omar & The Howlers [https: /www.omarandthehowlers.com/], shot at The Highball [https://www.thehighball.com] in Austin. Dykes brought his gravel voice and guitar feedback to Austin in the '80s. He's recorded more than 20 albums.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Omar Kent Dykes of Omar & The Howlers, shot at The Highball.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Omar Kent Dykes of Omar & The Howlers, shot at Antone's Record Shop [https: /www.antonesrecordshop.com] in Austin. Dykes is a frequent customer of this shop. The photo is the cover of his new album, I'm Gone.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Tutu Jones [https: /www.tutujones.com/], shot in downtown Dallas. Jones grew up in a house frequented by bluesmen like Freddie King, Little Joe Blue and Ernie Johnson. He began playing drums and later started his own band playing R&B guitar.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Tutu Jones, shot in front of 508 Park Ave. in Dallas, where in 1937, Robert Johnson, of whom Jones is a big fan, recorded half of the 29 songs that comprise his entire discography.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Tutu Jones, shot in downtown Dallas.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Van Wilks [https: /www.vanwilks.com/], shot at Laguna Gloria in Austin. Wilks is one of Austin's master blues guitar players.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Van Wilks, shot at Guitar Land Music Studios, where he teaches guitar.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Tommy Shannon [https: /tommyshannon.com/], shot at Antone's [https://www.antones.net] in Austin. A Texas bassist, Shannon has a deep affinity for the blues club.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Tommy Shannon, shot at Antone's [https: /www.antones.net] in Austin. Shannon played at Woodstock with Johnny Winter and at Carnegie Hall with Stevie Ray Vaughan.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Denny Freeman, [https: /www.dennyfreeman.com/] shot in downtown Dallas. Freeman was born and raised in Dallas and now can be found mostly at the Continental Club, Antone's, The Gallery and in Dallas-Fort Worth area clubs.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Denny Freeman, shot in downtown Dallas. Freeman played in the Bob Dylan Band from 2005 until August 2009 and plays on the Bob Dylan album, Modern Times.Photo by A.L. Carter
- Denny Freeman, shot in downtown Dallas. He's also written and played with Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kathy Valentine (The Go-Gos), Clem Burk (Blondie) and Taj Mahal [https: /www.tajblues.com/]. He also played guitar for the Antone's House Band, backing up the greatest blues musicians on the planet. --- Photos by A.L. Carter: www.alcarterphoto.com [https://www.alcarterphoto.com]Photo by A.L. Carter
The Texas musicians who continue to give a voice to the blues, a seemingly fading genre of music.
Perry's is popping its new Champagne. Photo courtesy of Perry's 