Great Al Blake Added To The Battle  

Blues harmonica great Al Blake has just been added to the lineup for the 20th annual Battle of the Blues Harps which will be held on Wednesday, November 26th (Thanksgiving Eve) at the Golden Sails/Best Western Hotel in Long Beach , CA. Blake will be replacing Randy Chortkoff who regretfully will not be able to attend. Al Blake's extraordinary vision and unique talents as a vocalist, harmonica player, guitar player, writer and producer have led him to create some of the deepest and purest Blues of the post-modern era. Along with Rock This House, the seminal recording by the Hollywood Fats Band, released in 1979, Blake has also recorded these collections with fellow members of the Hollywood Blue Flames: Mr. Blake's Blues and Dr. Blake's Magic Soul Elixir. And now his most recent releases are Soul Sanctuary, nominated for a W.C. Handy Award, and the awesome Road to Rio, which went to #1 on the radio charts in the first weeks of its release, both on Delta Groove Productions.

Blake's list of influences include Hollywood Fats along with The Mississippi Shieks (Walter Vinscon and Lonnie Chatmon), Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy , Arthur Peties, The McCoy Brothers (Charlie and Joe), Jordan Webb, Buddy Moss, Josh White, Memphis Minnie, Little Walter, Louis Meyers, Freddy King, Othum Brown, Lightnin? Hopkins, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Jesse Thomas, Jimmy Rogers, Walter Horton, Forest City Joe, Junior Wells, George ?harmonica? Smith, John Lee Williams, Papa Lightfoot, Lloyd Fulsom, Johnny Young, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Baby Face Leroy, Howlin? Wolf, Willie Johnson, Joe Willie Wilkins, Robert Nighthawk, Little Son Jackson, Baby Boy Warren, J.B. Lenoir, Billie Holiday, Charles Brown, Maxwell Davis, The Moore Brothers (Johnny and Oscar), and many others.

This year?s stellar lineup also includes Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, The James Harman Band, Mitch Kashmar, Lynwood Slim and Johnny Dyer. An all star Delta Groove backline will include Kirk "Eli" Fletcher on guitar, Johnny Bazz on bass, and Richard Innes on drums. The Battle of the Blues Harps XX starts at 7pm and a full bar and food will be available. The Crystal Ballroom features a large dance floor for dancers. The Golden Sails/Best Western Hotel is located at 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, CA. The 20th anniversary commemorative Battle of the Blues Harps merchandise will be available for sale at the event.