The Cedric Burnside Project Returns to Young Avenue Deli

Memphis, TN – (February 14, 2015) – The Cedric Burnside Project (CBP) returns to Young Avenue Deli on Valentine’s Day for a concert that is sure to be a sweet treat for music lovers across the Mid-South. This show will be the band’s first time back in Memphis since August 2014 and as always, their progressive style of Hill Country Blues and Rock will be a crowd pleaser in the “Home of the Blues.”

After a successful year in 2014, including a performance at the Blues Music Awards where Cedric Burnside took home Best Instrumental Drummer, The Cedric Burnside Project are reaching for new heights in 2015 with a brand new album.

CBP’s Valentine’s Day show will be the official album release party for their new album, “Descendants of Hill Country.”  This album officially releases in February 2015 and was partially recorded and mixed locally at Scott Bomar’s Electraphonic Records. For CBP, “Descendants of Hill Country,” offers a sound that is a new exploration of Hill Country Blues that will thrill long-time Cedric Burnside Project fans and newcomers alike.

Doors at Young Avenue Deli open at 9pm and The Cedric Burnside Project will take the stage at 10pm for a special, two-set Valentine’s Day show. Tickets for the event are available at the door for $15.00 for couples and for $10.00 for anyone solo and looking to find love. AS Barboro and Young Avenue Deli will provide domestic and craft beer drink specials, along with a Young Avenue Deli style Valentine’s Day Hunch Punch all night long.

About Cedric Burnside Project

North Mississippi drummer Cedric Burnside has been a known musician in the Holy Springs hill country area for some time now. At the age of 13 Cedric began touring worldwide with his grandfather blues legend and Hall of Famer R.L. Burnside as his drummer. Since founding The Cedric Burnside Project he has become a household name in the blues community.

Since the bands formation in 2006 the CBP hit the ground running winning Best Debut Artist at the 30^th Blues Music Awards. In the nine year history of the CBP, Cedric has received four of the last five Best Instrumental Drummer Awards at the Blues Foundations Blues Music Awards. With the lineup now consisting of childhood friend and North Mississippi local Trenton Ayer, the CBP looks to reach new heights in not only the Blues community, but music in general. In 2013 the duo released the album “Hear Me When I Say” from which Cedric received his 4^th Blues Music Award for his drumming.  This year CBP prepares to release a follow up album titled “Descendants of Hill Country” in February of 2015 as it explores the progression of the Hill Country Blues.

About Whitney Entertainment Brokers

The Whitney Entertainment Brokers seek to debut and present headline quality music starting with the blues throughout the Mid-South. The Whitney Entertainment Brokers mission is to recognize and relish Memphis, TN as the home of the indelible Blues and Delta sound which has laid the groundwork for R&B, Rock n Roll, Soul and various popular music genres. As we embrace the history and culture of this city we seek to unify and showcase the positive aspects Memphis has to offer. 

About Young Avenue Deli

Standing tall off the corner of Cooper and Young Avenue in the heart of Memphis, TN is the Young Avenue Deli. After opening in October 1995 this restaurant, bar and music venue is seen as a local landmark to Memphians. Just a few blocks down from Overton Square, “The Deli” serves as the backbone to the Cooper Young Festival each year. With the largest selection of craft beer in the area, Young Avenue Deli looks to revive Memphis culture in the eyes of locals as they embrace the emerging beer scene and showcase live music kin to the area. 

Contact Info:

Ric Whitney and Stephen Whitney

E: stephen@whitneybrokers.com

P: 901.605.9754

Remembering Duane Allman (Nov 20, 1946 - Oct 29, 1971)

The legacy of the Allman Brothers Band, while comprised of and continued by a host of unbelievably talented and motivated musicians, is owed primarily to one man: Duane "Skydog" Allman. While his time with the ABB was short, it was he who set the band up for success. He hand picked every single member of the original six-piece band based on his vision of a band that not only played together, but became a family and even a community. It was not just the band either. The ABB crew members became a part of the family as well. They all traveled together, ate together, partied together and even lived together.

Just two years into what would become a 45 year career for the band, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident. It was October 29, 1971, and Duane was less than a month away from his 25th birthday. It was a day that will live on in infamy in rock history, especially for ABB fans. Duane was the heart and soul of the band. When nobody else knew what to do or how to handle a situation, Duane did. He was like the big brother of the band, looking out for all of his younger brothers. And of course, he was perhaps the best slide guitar player who has ever lived to this day.

After Duane's death, the ABB went through many more hard times, but the band endured for 45 years with Duane's spirit guiding them and keeping them alive. He was in the music, he was in the fans, and he was continually in the atmosphere surrounding the entire ABB community. I use the term "was" because the Allman Brothers Band played its final show two nights ago. Three of Duane's prized guitars were used in the ABB's final Beacon Theatre run, and on the final night, they were displayed on stage for all to see. While the official date of the band's final show was October 28, 2014, the show ran into the morning of October 29, 2014, the 43rd anniversary of Duane's death. A fitting end to an illustrious career, filled with the ups and downs that can only be compared to those of a family, shared by band members, crew and fans alike. 

Rest in peace Skydog! And thank you to the Allman Brothers Band for the incredible years of music, which will live on in rock & roll history forever!

Duane "Skydog" Allman and brother Gregg Allman

Woodstock: 45 Years Later

45 years ago today, perhaps the most iconic event in music history began on a dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur in Bethel, New York. To Millennials like myself, Woodstock is the stuff of legend, a mysterious weekend of music featuring many artists who now also only exist as legends, the likes of which has never been and will never be experienced, while to those who attended the magical festival, its legacy lives on through their memories and ideals. August 15-18, 1969 will forever be etched into the world of music, especially rock & roll, and now let's take a deeper look into the amazing weekend. Also, make sure to check out a special playlist of YouTube videos of performances from the iconic festival!

Crowd Photo - Woodstock 1969

Woodstock was the brainchild of four entrepreneurs: Michael Lang (promoter, Miami Pop Festival); John Roberts; Joel Rosenman; and Artie Kornfield. While an outdoor music festival, especially one as large as the final result, was not in the initial plan for the venture, the idea slowly built from a recording session into a festival. The first act to sign was Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), and after that, all the big names of the time jumped on board the venture. 

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Woodstock 1969

The venture also had some issues with the location of the festival. Originally, the event was planned to take place at Mills Industrial Park in Wallkill, New York, and town officials were assured that no more than 50,000 would be in attendance. Town residents vehemently opposed the festival and enacted laws which eventually banned the festival from the location. Eventually, the event was moved to Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, although the promoters still promised under 50,000 in attendance, despite backlash from other town residents.

Janis Joplin - Woodstock 1969

Despite many logistical catastrophes, such as massive traffic jams, way more attendees than expected resulting in insufficient first aid and sanitation, rain delays causing the festival to extend into Monday morning, and two deaths, most people in attendance, including Mr. Yasgur, saw the weekend as a success and a "victory for peace and love." The sound engineer Bill Hanley is quoted saying that the sound system "...worked very well." And, of course, the music was unbelievable.

Stage Photo - Woodstock 1969

Friday, August 15, 1969 performers included:

• Richie Havens
• Ravi Shankar
• Arlo Guthrie
• Joan Baez

Joe Cocker - Woodstock 1969

Saturday August 16, 1969 (into Sunday morning) performers included:

• Country Joe McDonald
• Santana
• Canned Heat
• Mountain
• Grateful Dead
• CCR
• Janis Joplin w/The Kozmic Blues Band
• Sly & The Family Stone
• The Who
• Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane - Woodstock 1969

Sunday August 17 (into Monday morning) performers included:

• Joe Cocker and The Grease Band
• Country Joe and The Fish
• Ten Years After
• The Band
• Johnny Winter
• Blood, Sweat & Tears
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Paul Butterfield Blues Band
• Jimi Hendrix/Gypsy Sun and Rainbows

Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock 1969

Many of these performances are considered to be some of the best in rock & roll history. While the music was a huge success, Woodstock Ventures incurred $1.4 million in debt and faced approximately 80 lawsuits following the festival. Mr. Yasgur turned down the offer to host the festival again in 1970 to resume his life as a dairy farmer, while Bethel residents voted out their supervisor in a November 1969 election because of his part in bringing Woodstock to their town, and New York state and Bethel passed mass gathering laws in order to prevent future festivals. Fortunately for Woodstock Ventures, profits from the Woodstock movie, released in 1970, financed legal settlements and debt.

Santana - Woodstock 1969

Today, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts sits on the original site of Woodstock, which opened in 2006, as well as the Museum at Bethel Woods, which opened in 2008. There is also a plaque on the site, set there in 1984, commemorating the festival. A 40th Anniversary event was held in 2009, featuring the largest gathering of Woodstock alumni since the festival itself, and there is talk of a big 50th Anniversary celebration in the works for 2019.

Current Site - Woodstock Music Festival

Blues-Rock Legend Johnny Winter Dies at 70

While no cause of death or official statement has been released from his family, Johnny Winter reportedly died in his hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland yesterday, July 16. Following is a photographic, cinematic and musical tribute to the legendary albino guitarist, Johnny Winter. Scroll down for pictures, a YouTube playlist and a Spotify album.