ROBERT JOHNSON’S 100TH BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATED WITH CONCERT SERIES
BY REBECCA DIRKS
BOSTON, MA – Blues at the Crossroads: The Robert Johnson Centennial Concerts will cross the nation in
early 2011 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Robert Johnson’s birth. The concert series coincides with
a studio release of songs recorded by the bands on the tour.
On the Blues at the Crossroads ticket is Big Head Todd & The Monsters, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert
Sumlin, and Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcom. One of the oldest living Delta bluesmen, Edwards, 95, has a
unique link to Johnson: he was in attendance at Johnson’s last live performance the night he passed away.
“We both wanted to create a blues show that was not just another blues show, but a show that was
truly unique,” said Blues at the Crossroads co-producer Ron Hausfeld, who is producing the tour with Ted
Kurland Associates’ Jack Randall. “We want people to walk away saying, ‘Wow…that was cool…I’ve never
seen anything like it.’”
The tour kicks off in San Francisco, CA, on January 28, 2010. Currently, the tour is scheduled for 21 dates
in 15 states, with additional dates to be announced. The studio recording is set for release in early 2011.
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lasting. The two released two collaborative albums together, That’s My
Partner and Chicago Blues Buddies in
2000 and 2009, respectively.
Smothers is remembered for his
good humor and friendliness. Bishop
commented on his friend, saying, “He
would’ve gotten along with Martians.”
Premier Builder’s Guild Acquires Two-Rock Amplifiers BY JOE COFFEY
Paper Jamz Series 1 Style 6
Gibson Guitar
Sues Paper Jamz
Producers
BY REBECCA DIRKS
Gibson SG while the Rock Style
1 is made to look like the famous
Gibson Les Paul. You can choose
from your favorite styles of guitar,
with the styles ranging from the
classic Fender Stratocaster to the
‘Gibson Flying V’ design.”
In the suit, Gibson claims that
the use of the shapes and terms
causes confusion among consumers
and damages the company’s repu-
tation. Gibson has also targeted
retailers who continued to sell the
products despite a cease and desist
letter from the company.
NASHVILLE, TN – One of this
summer’s hottest toys was the
ubiquitous Paper Jamz cardboard
guitar. Paper Jamz use multi-touch
circuits embedded in the cardboard that allow kids to “play”
music through a built-in speaker.
Now, the producer of the toys,
Wow Wee, is under suit from
Gibson for infringing on Gibson’s
trademarks of their body shapes,
headstock shapes, and guitar
names by using the likeness of
Gibson’s products, along with the
actual names of Gibson guitars in
their marketing materials.
The suit, as provided in its
entirety on TechDirt.com, claims
that the Paper Jamz websites contained the following language, “the
Rock Style 6 guitar in Series 1 of
Paper Jamz is made to resemble a
CHICAGO, IL – Chicago blues guitarist and vocalist Albert Abraham
“Little Smokey” Smothers died
on November 20, 2010 at age 71.
Smothers performed with blues
legends like Howlin’ Wolf and
Albert Abraham
“Little Smokey”
Smothers Dies at 71
BY REBECCA DIRKS
Little Walter, recorded albums
with artists including Mojo
Buford and Elvin Bishop, and was
a lead guitarist for the Legendary
Blues Band.
Smothers toured and led bands
in Chicago from the late 1950s
through this decade, and mentored
younger guitarists, including Elvin
Bishop in 1964. His relationship
with Bishop proved to be long
PITTSBURGH, PA – Premier
Builders Guild [no affiliation with Premier Guitar] has
announced it has acquired the
Two-Rock amplifier brand.
PBG founder Michael Bernstein
told Premier Guitar that Two-Rock amplifier production will
continue on as usual and that
the acquisition is a tremendous
opportunity for Two-Rock’s Bill
Krinard to continue to design
new products.
“What’s important to us is that
we’re trying to bring best-in-class
builders under one roof,” Bernstein
said, referencing the other boutique luthiers and amp makers who
are currently a part of PBG. “We
want to bring these builders and
these products to an appreciative
