Beautiful Minds

Debbie  Smith is a woman who has earned respect over the years through her continued battle to honor her son's life, death, music and her unfaltering determination to impact the lives of other creative souls who suffer from a condition which is often left untreated.

Sean Costello was one of the brightest lights to burst upon the scene in the blues world.  As an up and coming star, he fell to darkness on April 15, 2008.  The Delta Groove Artist released Going Home, a poignant and perhaps telling song 14 months earlier.

Today, Sean's impact on the Blues industry is honored by two organizations.  First, the Blues Blast Magazine, which created and accepts nominations to the Sean Costello Rising Star Award.  Past nominees include: Eden Brant; Gina Sicilia; Damon Fowler; John Nemeth; Marquise Knox; Trampled Under Foot and Cash Box Kings.  The second, is the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research.  Like her son, there is No Half Steppin' for his mother, Debbie.

THE SEAN COSTELLO MEMORIAL FUND FOR BIPOLAR RESEARCH PRESENTS BEAUTIFUL MINDS:  Bipolar Disorder Lecture and Performance Series

DATE:     Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 6:00 PM 

PLACE:   Briarcliff Campus of Emory University

                1256 Briarcliff Rd, Building A, 3rd Floor Auditorium

                Atlanta, GA 30306

WHO:    The Emory University Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program and The Sean Costello                    Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research

   

WHAT:  The Emory University Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program and The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research are sponsoring a series of lectures on bipolar disorder, accompanied by performances by creative people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The first lecture, "What is Type II Bipolar Disorder?" will be held at 6 PM, Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Briarcliff Campus of Emory University, 1256 Briarcliff Rd, Building A, 3rd Floor Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia 30306. Light refreshments will be provided.

We are looking for artists in any creative genre who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Performances/exhibits will be held in conjunction with each lecture. If interested, artists can contact Debbie Smith at debbie@seancostellofund.org.

The topics are appropriate for any audience, including families, caregivers, educators and people wanting to know more about the disease.

The schedule of the remainder of lectures will be announced in the near future.

For more information please contact Debbie Smith.

Contact: Debbie Smith
debbie@seancostellofund.org

 

Baton Rouge Blues Festival

If anyone is looking for an excuse to go to Baton Rouge, the Blues Festival this weekend might make a good one.  The more I read about the line up, the more I had to restrain myself from actually clicking on the Expedia App on my phone.

In addition to some of the Swamp Blues of the region, toss in a little bit of Kansas. It's not really just Kansas, it's Kansas with an eclectic spin. Like BBQ with various spice influences. When I think of Kansas, I think of My Grandmother, Ribs, Royals, Twisters, Dorothy, Irish Dance Scholarships, nice people and ....  one of my favorite lesser known duo's, although it escapes me as to why, Moreland & Arbuckle.  They will be playing tomorrow night at The Blues Festival in addition to Delbert McClinton, Jimmie Vaughn and others.

I became aware of Aaron Moreland and Dustin Arbuckle prior to the release of 1861.  I have almost as much patience in waiting for a much anticipated music release, as I do for books.  So, as with books, I started to listen to their previous artistic endeavors.  I started my research with Caney Valley Blues and found a song named "Red Bricks."   From that moment on, Moreland and Arbuckle, garnered my creative respect.  Another song made it's way to my playlist in '08 named "Fishin' Hole off the 1861 release.

Signed by Telarc, they released Flood, earlier this year.


Baton Rouge - Topix

Mark Your Calendars - 15th Anniversary of Blues On The Fox

Where can you see Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Kenny Neal, Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues, Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Lindell and the Hix Brothers all for $10?  Aurora, Illinois on June 17th & 18th.

Aurora, home to the 1930's RCA Bluebird Recording Studio in The Leland Hotel, recorded hundred's of songs considered precursers to the early Urban Blues, by artists such as Big Bill Broonzy, Roosevelt Sykes, Tampa Red, Sonny Boy Williamson and John Lee Hooker among others.

The only catch, it's a bring your own chair event.  "Libations" frozen or otherwise, are extra. Attendees would be wise not to bring their own.