The Little Village Foundation was founded in 2014 by Jim Pugh as a

501(c)(3) organization A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of t ...

based in

Solvang, California Solvang (; ) is a city in Santa Barbara County, California. It is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 6,126 at the 2020 census, up from 5,245 at the 2010 census. Solvang was founded in 1911 and incorporated as a city on May ...

. Pugh is a veteran keyboard player who has toured the world with

Robert Cray Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. Early life Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953, in Columbus, Georgia, while his father was stationed at ...

and

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, sh ...

(see ''

Stickin' to My Guns ''Stickin' to My Guns'' is a studio album by Etta James, released in 1990. It was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Contemporary Blues Recording". Production The album contains a duet with rapper Def Jef. Although it reunited her with several Mu ...

''). Little Village Foundation (LVF) is non-profit company in the music industry that produces and distributes what it considers to be culturally significant recordings made by individuals and groups that might otherwise not be heard beyond the artists' community or family. The label serves an access point for previously overlooked artists who retain their intellectual property and album sales through their work with the organization. The artists come from widely varied and sometimes non-traditional backgrounds. Pugh and his find and secure talent to sign and record, and several of the musicians have roots that extend to other nations, including Mexico, India, Russia and the Philippines.

Discography

LVF released its batch of four CDs in 2015. Four more followed in 2016, and seven more have followed in both 2017 and 2018. Most are released in the summer to coincide with an artists' showcase on Fourth Of July weekend at the Waterfront Blues Festival in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

2015 releases

* David Ellis ''With Any Luck But Bad'' (western/folk musician from Bakersfield, California) * Los Tres Amigos Snuviko's ''When the Clouds Descend'' (musicians from Santa Maria, California, who sing and play in the

Mixtec The Mixtecs (), or Mixtecos, are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla as well as La Montaña Region and Costa Chica Regions of the state of Guerrero. The Mixtec Culture wa ...

language of their native Oaxaca, Mexico) * Ron Thompson's ''Son Of Boogie Woogie'' (Oakland, California, bluesman) *

Wee Willie Walker Willie Earl Walker (December 21, 1941 November 19, 2019), also known as Wee Willie Walker, was an American soul and blues singer. Life and career He was born in Hernando, Mississippi, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he started singing ...

's ''If Nothing Ever Changes'' (Memphis-born soul-blues artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota)

2016 releases

* John "Blues" Boyd's ''The Real Deal'' (Mississippi-born San Francisco-area bluesman) * Aireene Espiritu's ''Back Where I Belong'' (Filipino-American Californian who sings some tunes in Tagalog) *

Aki Kumar Akarsha "Aki" Kumar (born 1980) is an Indian-born blues musician now living in San Jose, California. After working at a technology job, he is now a harmonica player and vocalist. Early life, education, and former career Kumar was born and grew up ...

's ''Aki Goes To Bollywood'' (Bay Area-based blues harmonica player from Mumbai, India, who sings in

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

) * Mariachi Mestizo's ''Te Doy La Libertad'' (16 high school students from Delano, California) *

's ''Live! Notodden Blues Festival Norway'' (October release)

2017 releases

* Sean Wheeler's ''Sand In My Blood'' (Salton Sea Legend of The Desert) *

Chris Cain Chris Cain (born November 19, 1955) is an American blues musician. He began playing professionally as a teenager in local clubs, at festivals, and at private events. He attended Pomona College. Cain received four Blues Music Award nomination ...

's ''Chris Cain'' (San Jose, California, born blues multi-instrumentalist) * Xochtil Morales' ''Descansos'' (LVF's first spoken-word album – the poetry of a member of Mariachi Mestizo) * The Sons Of The Soul Revivers' ''Live! Rancho Nicasio'' (traditional gospel quartet singing) * Maurice Tani's ''The Lovers Card'' (alt-country artist from San Francisco) *

Paul DeLay Paul Joseph deLay (January 31, 1952 – March 7, 2007) was an American blues vocalist and harmonicist. Life and career Paul deLay was born in Portland, Oregon, United States. His musical career started in the early 1970s with a band called "Bro ...

's ''1997 Live At Notodden'' (blues) * Howell Devine's ''HOWL'' (Bay Area country blues and jazz)

2018 releases

* Ada Pasternak's ''Sweet Dreams'' (Violinist and singer-songwriter – recorded with and a tribute to her parents Rayhan and Igor, with whom she migrated to the U.S. from her native Russia) * Aki Kumar's ''Hindi Man Blues'' (A fusion of blues and Bollywood with liner notes from blues harmonica player

Charlie Musselwhite Charles Douglas Musselwhite (born January 31, 1944) is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the white bluesmen who came to prominence, along with Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop, as a pivotal f ...

) * Kevin Burt's ''Heartland And Soul'' (Debut recording from Iowa-based guitarist/harmonica player who captured top honors in three categories at the 2018

International Blues Challenge The International Blues Challenge (IBC) is a music competition run by the Blues Foundation. Notable blues artists that have competed in the IBC over the years also includes Fiona Boyes, Eden Brent, Michael Burks, Tommy Castro, Sean Costello, Alb ...

) * Marcel Smith's' ''Everybody Needs Love'' (Debut solo album from veteran gospel vocalist) * Mariachi Mestizo's ''XX Aniversario'' (Mariachi follow-up to 2016 debut album) * United By Music North America's ''Yes We Can Can'' (blues, swing, jazz and rock-'n'-roll performed by professionals and musicians with autism and other developmental disabilities they mentor through their international non-profit organization) * Various Artists ''Raise Your Voice'' (Collection of music and spoken-word pieces about school safety delivered by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida, and others from other parts of the U.S., including the following songs/works by the following high school students: "Shine", by Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Peña; "Raise Your Voice", by Madison Yearsley; "Save Me", by Tyler Jenkins; "A Poem for the Fallen", spoken word by Saida Dahir; "Renegades", by Amalia Fleming; "The Truth: We Need Change", by the AP Music Class from John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School; "17", by Ben Soto; "The Separation", by Ashlyn Flamer and Christopher Doleman; "Little Princess", by Tyler Suarez; "Freedom", by Nina Lee; and "We Can", by students from St. Paul High School for the Performing Arts) *

Whitney Shay Whitney Shay (born September 16) is an American blues, soul, and rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. To date, Shay has released three albums including her 2012 debut issue, ''Soul Tonic''. She has won four San Diego Music Awards, including ' ...

's ''A Woman Rules The World'' (San Diego-based blues vocalist)

2019 releases

* Anai Adina's ''Esperame En El Cielo'' (Harvard-bound multi-instrumentalist daughter of mariachi stars Leticia and Juan Morales) *

Betty Reid Soskin Betty Reid Soskin ( Charbonnet; born September 22, 1921) is an American retired ranger with the National Park Service, previously assigned to the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. Unti ...

's ''A Life of Being Betty'' (Spoken-word account of the African-American experience as seen through the eyes of America's oldest active Park Ranger) *

Junior Watson Junior Watson is an American jump blues guitarist and singer. Career Watson is a West Coast blues guitarist. He was a founding member of the blues band The Mighty Flyers and, starting in the early 1980s, he performed with the band for a decade. ...

's ''Nothin' to Do But to Do It'' (Jump blues from guitarist who's worked and recorded with

Canned Heat Canned Heat is an American band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group is noted for its efforts to promote interest in blues music and its original artists and rock music. It was founded by two blues enthusiasts Alan Wilson and Bob ...

Big Mama Thornton Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton, was an American singer and songwriter of the blues and R&B genres. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's " Hound Dog", in 1952, which becam ...

George "Harmonica" Smith George "Harmonica" Smith (born Allen George Smith, April 22, 1924 – October 2, 1983) was an American electric blues harmonica player. Apart from his solo recordings, Smith is best known for his work backing both Muddy Waters and Big Mama Thornt ...

, Charlie Musselwhite,

Jimmy Rogers Jimmy Rogers (June 3, 1924December 19, 1997) was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters's band in the early 1950s. He also had a solo career and recorded several popu ...

Pee Wee Crayton Connie Curtis Crayton (December 18, 1914 – June 25, 1985), known as Pee Wee Crayton, was an American R&B and blues guitarist and singer. Career Crayton was born in Rockdale, Texas. He began playing guitar seriously after moving to California ...

, and many more) * Marina Crouse's ''Never Too Soon'' (Bay Area Mexican-American blues, R&B and jazz vocalist) * Maurice Tani's ''This Is It'' (Alt-country artist recorded live at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, California) *

Mary Flower Mary Flower is an American musician and music educator on the independent Yellow Dog Records label. A blues and ragtime fingerstyle guitarist and vocalist, she combines intricate syncopated Piedmont style fingerpicking with lap-slide guitar. ...

's ''Livin' with the Blues Again'' (Piedmont and lap steel stylings from Oregon-based singer/songwriter) * The Mike Duke Project's ''...Took a While'' (Debut Southern soul release from pianist/songwriter who penned major hits for

Huey Lewis Hugh Anthony Cregg III (born July 5, 1950), known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many o ...

& the News in the 1980s and was a longtime member of the

Delbert McClinton Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, ...

Band) * Saida Zahir's ''The Walking Stereotype'' (Poetry from 18-year-old Somali refugee now living in Salt Lake City, Utah, with guest appearances from R&B bassist

Jerry Jemmott Gerald Stenhouse Jemmott (born March 22, 1946, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, New York City) is an American bass guitarist. Jemmott was one of the chief session bass guitarists of the late 1960s and early 1970s, working with many of th ...

and Tonight Show Band percussionist

Vicki Randle Vicki Randle (born December 11, 1954)Hillgirlz, the les ...

) * Skip The Needle's ''We Ain't Never Going Back'' (Debut release from all-female R&B band founded in Oakland, California, in 2014 and anchored by Randle)

2020 releases

* Casey Van Beek and the Tulsa Groove's ''Heaven Forever'' (Dutch-born, Los Angeles-raised 1960s rocker and former Grammy nominee with the country-rock band

The Tractors The Tractors were an American country rock band composed of a loosely associated group of musicians headed by guitarist Steve Ripley. The original lineup consisted of Steve Ripley (lead vocals, guitar), Ron Getman (guitar, Dobro, mandolin, tenor ...

delivers a mix of blues, country and rockabilly in a style known as the Tulsa Sound.) * Ron Thompson's ''From the Patio: Live at the Poor House Vol. 1'' (recorded in San Jose, California, in 2014 and released as a tribute a few months after Thompson's passing due to complications of diabetes.) * The Sons Of The Soul Revivers' ''Songs We'll Always Sing'' (The second Little Village release from the quartet, which bridges gospel, soul and early rock 'n' roll.) * Nic Clark's ''Love Your Life: Songs for the Whole Family'' (Debut release for Colorado-born, Bay Area-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist featuring contributions from longtime

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...

drummer Derrick Martin and

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

session bassist

.) *Sonny Green's ''Found! One Soul Singer'' (Best-known for the song "Jody's on the Run", this Los Angeles-based, Louisiana-bred has been singing contemporary Southern soul music since the late 1960s.) * ''20x20: The LVF Singer Songwriter Compilation'' (20 artists in multiple fields contributed one song each to this collection. All of the material was recorded at home during the COVID-19 crisis with minimal backing. The roster includes Aireene Espiritu, Alabama Mike,

Be Steadwell Be Steadwell (sometimes stylized as be steadwell) is a singer-songwriter and filmmaker from Washington, D.C. She is best known for producing a genre of music she calls "queer pop". Steadwell produced the film ''Vow of Silence'' (2014)'','' which ...

, David Jackson, Genesis Fermin, Ira Marlowe, John Arthur Bigham, Jim Bruno, Joe Rut, Kofy Brown, Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Margaret Belton, Marina Crouse, Maurice Tani, Nic Clark, Rachel Garlin, Sean Wheeler,

Roger McNamee Roger McNamee (born May 2, 1956) is an American businessman, investor, venture capitalist and musician. He is the founding partner of the venture capital firm Elevation Partners. Prior to co-founding the firm, McNamee co-founded private equity f ...

Vicki Randle Vicki Randle (born December 11, 1954)Hillgirlz, the les ...

and Wendy Beckerman.)

2021 releases

* Aaron Lington''s ''4 Bari x Bach'' (San Jose State University professor/coordinator of jazz studies reinterprets Bach chorales on baritone saxophone) *

's ''Zindagi: Live It Your Way'' (Single blues release with Bollywood overtones) * Gary Vogensen's ''Shot of Hope'' (Bay Area singer-songwriter's first solo release in 19 years. A former member of

Angela Strehli Angela Strehli (born November 22, 1945) is an American electric blues singer and songwriter. She is also a Texas blues historian and impresario. Despite a sporadic recording career, Strehli spends time each year performing in Europe, the US an ...

's band, Blues Broads, he has been a touring musician for 40 years in a career that has included work with

Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen were an American rock band founded in 1967. The group's leader and co-founder was pianist and vocalist George Frayne IV, alias Commander Cody (born July 19, 1944 in Boise, Idaho, died September 26, 2021 ...

Boz Scaggs William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (born June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. An early bandmate of Steve Miller in The Ardells and the Steve Miller Band, he began his solo career in 1969, though he lacked a major hit until h ...

, Steve Miller,

Lloyd Price Lloyd Price (March 9, 1933May 3, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter, record executive and bandleader, known as "Mr. Personality", after his 1959 million-selling hit, "Personality". His first recording, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", was a hit for Spe ...

and more.) * Tia Carroll's ''You Gotta Have It'' (First-ever U.S. release for Bay Area blues, rock and gospel singer) *Bobby Black's ''70 Years of Swingin' Steel!'' (Retrospective from the pedal steel guitarist who was a longtime member of Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen,

Asleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western swing group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more t ...

and

New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969 and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. The band is sometimes referred ...

.) *Memphissippi Sound's ''Welcome to the Land'' (All-original debut release of duo formed by harmonica player Damion Pearson and percussionist Cameron Kimbrough that delivers contemporary one-string, trance blues, a form that was popular in the deep South in the pre-War era.)

2022 releases

Diunna Greenleaf Diunna Greenleaf (born October 6, 1957) is an American blues singer and songwriter. At the 2014 Blues Music Awards, Greenleaf won the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female), beating fellow nominees Teeny Tucker, Lavelle White, Trudy Lynn, ...

's ''I Ain't Playin'' (2014 Blues Music Association Koko Taylor Award winner as female vocalist of the year returns to the studio for her first new solo release in 11 years.) *

Henry Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882 – August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Prior to World War II, Kaiser was involved in the construction industry; his company was one of ...

and Rome Yamilov's ''The Lenoir Investigation'' (San Francisco-based ethnomusicologist/guitarist Kaiser teams with Russian-born Yamilov to re-imagine the music of the bluesman

J.B. Lenoir J. B. Lenoir ( '; March 5, 1929 – April 29, 1967) was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, active in the Chicago blues scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Life and career Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississippi. His full given ...

.) * Marina Crouse's ''Canto de Mi Corazon'' (Spanish-language release from fourth-generation Mexican-American Bay Area vocalist who revisits songs she heard as a youth.) * Mighty Mike Schermer's ''Just Gettin' Good'' (Former

Marcia Ball Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949, Orange, Texas, United States) is an American blues singer and pianist raised in Vinton, Louisiana. Ball was described in ''USA Today'' as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist... where Texas stomp-rock a ...

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...

and

Elvin Bishop Elvin Richard Bishop (born October 21, 1942) is an American blues and rock music singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. An original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a membe ...

guitarist delivers an original set of Texas and West Coast blues.) * DaShawn Hunter's ''Drums, Roots & Steel'' (Debut album from a steel guitarist based out of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, delivering music culled from traditional Pentacostal-Holiness churches.) * Phantom Blues Band's ''Blues for Breakfast'' (The fifth release under their own name for the group who have served as

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...

's backing band since the 1990s. Composed of first-call sidemen, the lineup includes guitarist

Johnny Lee Schell Johnny Lee Schell is an American guitarist and songwriter. In the late 1960s, he first recorded with producer Norman Petty in Group Axis. In the 1970s, he joined Amarillo TX southern rock band, Baby. Since his professional debut, he has played with ...

, bassist Larry Fulcher, percussionist

Tony Braunagel Tony Braunagel is an American drummer, producer, and songwriter from Houston, Texas, United States, who is based in Los Angeles, California. Braunagel has played on many film scores and television shows as well as numerous albums as a musician, ...

, and horn players Joe Sublett and

Darrell Leonard Darrell Leonard is an American, Los Angeles-based, trumpet player, composer and arranger. He recorded and toured with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends from 1970 through 1973. He is a Grammy Award winner for his work with Taj Mahal and the Phantom B ...

and

Curtis Salgado Curtis Salgado (born February 4, 1954, in Everett, Washington, United States) is a Portland, Oregon-based blues, blues rock, and blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter. He plays harmonica and fronts his own band as lead vocalist. Career Salgado be ...

make guest appearances with proceeds targeted for donation to the

Mike Finnigan Michael Kelly Finnigan (April 26, 1945 – August 11, 2021) was an American keyboard player and vocalist, his speciality being the B3 Hammond organ. Working primarily as a freelance studio musician and touring player, he played with a wide va ...

School of Music in Salina, Kansas, in honor of their keyboard player who succumbed to cancer prior to the release of this CD.) * Maurice Tani's ''All In'' (Singer/songwriter teams with several LVF label mates and delivers an all-original set of tunes with linear storylines that include everything from alt country to R&B and roots.)

2023 releases

* Alabama Mike's ''Stuff I've Been Through'' (All-original set of Southern soul, R&B, funk and blues from Alabama-born, Bay Area-based vocalist born Michael Benjamin.) * Nic Clark's ''Everybody's Buddy'' (An all-original, sophomore release from Colorado-based, Mexican-American multi-instrumentalist describes the trials and tribulations of growing up in

Generation Z Generation Z (or more commonly Gen Z for short), colloquially known as zoomers, is the Western world, Western demography, demographic Cohort (statistics), cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular me ...

. It was produced by guitarist

Charlie Hunter Charlie Hunter (born May 23, 1967) is an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, a ...

in Greensboro, N.C.) * D.K. Harrell's ''The Right Man'' (The debut release from Rustin, Alabama-based guitarist who finished third in the 2022 International Blues Challenge.) * Candice Ivory's ''When the Levee Breaks: The Music of

Memphis Minnie Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being "Wh ...

'' (Tennessee-born vocalist reimagines 12 tunes made famous by one of the earliest female stars in the blues.) * Marcel Smith's ''From My Soul'' (Gospel- and R&B-infused sophomore release from veteran West Coast vocalist.) * Bobby Vega's ''What Cha Got'' (An instrumental soul, funk, rock and jazz offering from bassist whose career includes work with

Sly & the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi-i ...

Paul Butterfield Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942May 4, 1987) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and band leader. After early training as a classical flautist, he developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his n ...

and many others.) * Jeff Sanford's Cartoon Jazz Orchestra's ''Playland at the Beach'' (New York City-born clarinet's ensemble performs material culled from the

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short film series produced by Warner Bros. starting from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series ''Merrie Melodies'', during the golden age of American animation.

cartoons catalog.) * The Sampanguitas' ''The Sampanguitas: Folk Songs from the Philippines & Beyond'' (Aireene Espiritu, Jenevieve Francisco and Cristina Ibarra mix originals and more in this love song for the island nation.) * Skip the Needle's ''Octavia of Earth Vol. 2: Inspired by the Life of

Octavia E. Butler Octavia Estelle Butler (June 22, 1947 – February 24, 2006) was an American science fiction author and a multiple recipient of the Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, Butler became the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowshi ...

'' (Oakland-based female quartet's documentary/musical about the life of the founder of

Afrofuturism Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, and philosophy of science and history that explores the intersection of the African diaspora culture with science and technology. It addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technocu ...

2024 releases

* J.P. Soars' ''Brick by Brick'' (A South Florida resident who won the 2009

, Soars infuses blues with his love for gypsy jazz, country, Latin and rock in this set, which includes appearances from fiddler

Anne Harris Anne Harris may refer to: *Anne Harris (journalist) Anne Harris (born 25 August 1947) is the former editor of the '' Sunday Independent''. Her daughter Constance Harris writes for the newspaper as a fashion writer. She is the former wife of Eogha ...

, vocalist

Annika Chambers Annika Shattrelle Chambers (born August 7, 1985) is an American soul blues singer and songwriter. Chambers has released three albums, and she won a Blues Music Award in 2019 in the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year' category. Her sophomore ...

, guitarist Paul DesLauriers and saxophonist Terry Hanck.) *

Kid Andersen Christoffer "Kid" Andersen (born 15 January 1980) is a blues guitarist from Herre, Norway. By age 11, Andersen had gained the attention of Norwegian blues guitar teacher, Morten Omlid, who steered him towards traditional blues music. In 2001, ...

and Lisa "Little Baby" Andersen's ''Spirits/Soul'' (Two-CD release from the perennial

Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...

nominee guitarist/producer and his vocalist wife, a former child star and

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

contestant who's enjoyed a successful career on stage and who's appeared in a support role on more then 50 albums in the past decade. The first disc features Kid with guest appearances from

and others while Lisa's album includes contributions from Latimore and more.) * Billy Price's ''Person of Interest'' (The former lead singer for

Roy Buchanan Leroy "Roy" Buchanan (September 23, 1939 – August 14, 1988) was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan worked as a sideman and as a solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career and two lat ...

, Price has been releasing award-winning albums since the early '80s, and he teams with Grammy-winning producer

for this soulful set.) *

's ''Fine By Me'' (One of the most decorated soul-blues artists of his generation, Delgado takes his vocal stylings and songwriting talent in a new direction on this one, incorporating everything from gospel to rock and funk as he pays tribute to the musical influences of his youth.) * Jubu Smith's ''Jubu'' (A guitar wizard whose professional career began at age 19 in Oakland, Calif., with a ten-year run with childhood friends Tony! Toni! Tone!, includes stints with Whitney Houston, Frankie Beverley & Maze and recording with many of the biggest names of R&B, Jubu steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for the first time with this original, ten-tune set.

Eric Gales Eric Gales (born October 29, 1974), also known as Raw Dawg, is an American blues rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. , Gales has recorded nineteen albums for major record labels and has done session and tribute work. He has a ...

guests on one cut.

Notable events

Following the release of their album, Mariachi Mestizo was invited to play in a showcase at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

in New York. The performance took place on April 10, 2017. The group also performed at New York's

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 millio ...

in 2018. Formed a partnership in 2020 with Arhoolie Foundation, the non-profit that continues the mission of

Chris Strachwitz Chris Strachwitz (born July 1, 1931) is a German-born American record label executive and record producer. He is the founder and president of Arhoolie Records, which he established in 1960 and which became one of the leading labels recording a ...

and his

Arhoolie Records Arhoolie Records is an American small independent record label run by Chris Strachwitz and is based in El Cerrito, California, United States (it is actually located in Richmond Annex but has an El Cerrito postal address.) The label was founded b ...

, joining to co-produce "Working from Home", a series of concerts that provide a revenue stream for artists across the U.S. who are housebound because of coronavirus and unable to perform elsewhere. The shows are recorded and broadcast via social media with viewers contributing to virtual tip jars for each performance. All monies raised go directly to the artists involved, and LVF and Arhoolie provide matching funds for the first $500 raised per show. Ten shows were recorded in the series in 2020–21, including broadcasts from Seligstein and Horowitz of

Veretski Pass Veretskyi Pass or Verecke Pass ( uk, Вере́цький перевал, translit=Veretskyi pereval, more formally: uk, перевал Середньоверецький, translit=pereval Serednoveretskyi, label=none, also known as: uk, В� ...

, Casey Van Beek and the Delta Groove, John "Blues" Boyd, Aki Kumar and Rome Yamilov,

Wilson Savoy Wilson Allen Savoy (born February 1, 1982 in Eunice, Louisiana) is a Grammy winning accordionist, keyboard player, fiddler and singer with the Cajun bands Pine Leaf Boys and The Band Courtbouillon, as well as a local filmmaker in Lafayette, LA. ...

, Mary Flower, Familia Longoria, The Sons of the Soul Revivers, Xochitl and Anai Morales, and

C.J. Chenier C. J. Chenier (born Clayton Joseph Thompson, September 28, 1957 in Port Arthur, Texas, Port Arthur, Texas) is the Louisiana Creole people, Creole son of the Grammy Award-winning "King of Zydeco", Louisiana musician, Clifton Chenier. In 1987, Ch ...

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Organizations established in 2014 Music organizations based in the United States Charities based in California Organizations based in Santa Barbara County, California Solvang, California 501(c)(3) organizations