The Black Cat Alley

07/29/2021

Hi friends. If any of you have been affected by cancer in your family or personal lives, or if you’ve ever benefited from the remarkable care provided by the Jewish General, now is your chance to give back, and to help the unending battle against cancer. On August 21st, I’ll be riding 150km in the Ride to Stop Cancer. All money going to the JGH’s world renowned Segal Cancer Centre. Any contribution, no matter how small, will be GREATLY appreciated.
https://jghfoundation.crowdchange.co/17414/page/283939

Please help me to support the remarkable and literally life-saving work done by the brilliant staff at the Segal Cancer Centre. This is a truly world-class facility

07/30/2020

Legendary Blues guitarist Buddy Guy is celebrating his 84th birthday today. Buddy is a mainstay of the Chicago blues and has influenced white blues-rock musicians such as, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

During the 1960s Guy was a member of Muddy Waters' band and was a house guitarist at Chess Records. Guy had a long musical partnership with harmonica player Junior Wells.

Guy was ranked 30th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

While Buddy was a 'house' guitar player at Chess Records, the company didn't want to let him to do any of his own records because label owner Leonard Chess thought his music was 'noise'.

And a beautiful noise it was. Do you ever listen to his music?

Happy Birthday Mr. Guy!!!

07/25/2020

The tragic tale of Peter Green’s mental breakdown. If it hadn’t happened, I contend that he would have been as big as Clapton. He had it all: the voice, the playing, the writing, and that ineffable connection to a higher power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wux6pzqKH9E

PETER GREEN-FLEETWOOD MAC DOCUMENTRAY PART2 I am sorry part 1 has been removed due to copyright this video may be next.

07/25/2020

https://www.nme.com/news/music/fleetwood-mac-co-founder-peter-green-died-2715066?fbclid=IwAR02XNd1hAg3yNoWaXOs2Ca2FsDBOcVGYivpHDdwmnLf4qTbdCRMay1xDno

Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green has died at the age of 73, his family have confirmed in a statement.

07/25/2020

Farewell to one of the truly all-time greats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxux5LdmjQU

early fleetwood mac

07/22/2020

Sorry for my long absence from here. I'd like to know: if the Black Cat Alley was available as a free weekly podcast, how many of you would download it? I hope to reconnect with you all very soon. ~Randy

07/21/2020

The Chicago brick house will turned into a blues museum, venue, and more

05/04/2018

"If you really want to be honest about it, you should call it the 'Southern blues,'" guitarist says in 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' clip

02/13/2018

Beth Hart!

The Ottawa Blues Fest has unveiled its 2018 line-up and this one's HUGE!

01/17/2018

Hearty congratulations to Paul, Angel, and Guy for their honours at this year's Maple Blues Awards, handed out this past weekend in Toronto. Once again, the local blues scene gets national recognition.

The 21st Annual Maple Blues Award Winners

Entertainer of the Year - Paul DesLauriers Band

Electric Act of the Year - Colin James

Acoustic Act of the Year - Big Dave McLean

Male Vocalist of the Year - Matt Andersen

Female Vocalist of the Year - Angel Forrest

New Artist of the Year - Jason Buie

Recording/Producer of the Year - Colin James – Blue Highways (True North); Producers: Colin James & Dave Meszaros

B.B. King International Artist of the Year - Joe Bonamassa

Songwriter of the Year - Harrison Kennedy

Blues with a Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) - Diana Braithwaite

Guitarist of the Year - Colin James

Harmonica Player of the Year - Guy Bélanger

Piano/Keyboard of the Year - David Vest

Horn Player of the Year - Jon Wong

Drummer of the Year - Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)

Bassist of the Year - Laura Greenberg (JW-Jones)

12/17/2017

It is the farewell edition of The Black Cat Alley tonight. Filled with tunes chosen by Alleycats who discovered those songs & artists via The Alley.

Don't miss the final show, tonight at 8.

12/11/2017

My own personal Top 20 Blues songs (and performances of them) of all time:

The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues [The Fillmore Concerts]
Elmore James - Done Somebody Wrong
Sonny Boy Williamson - One Way Out [Best Of Sonny Boy Williamson]
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning [Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960]
John Lee Ho**er - Boom Boom [Ho**er]
Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working [The Story of the Blues: I Put a Spell on You]
Koko Taylor & Muddy Waters - I Got What It Takes (Live 1972/Montreaux Jazz Festival) [What It Takes: The Chess Years]
Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind [Performances at Montreux 1975 – 1990]
Buddy Guy - First Time I Met The Blues [Can't Quit The Blues]
Luther Allison - Cherry Red Wine [Blue Streak]
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone [Blues Legends]
Albert King - As The Years Go Passing By [Live]
Eric Clapton - Double Trouble [Crossroads Box Set]
Fleetwood Mac - I Loved Another Woman [The Best Of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac]
Gary Moore & The Midnight Blues - Midnight Blues [Live At Montreux 1990]
Rory Gallagher - Calling Card [The BBC Sessions]
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Tin Pan Alley (Roughest Place In Town)
The Butterfield Blues Band - I Got A Mind to Give Up Living [East-West]
Lightnin' Hopkins - Tom Moore Blues [Texas Blues]
Son House - John the Revelator [Father of the Delta Blues]

12/11/2017

This song never fails to just blow me away. Rory Gallagher. Man, what passion and power!

12/11/2017

What a voice! Elmore James.

12/07/2017

With the Black Cat Alley getting ready to shutter its gates for the final time on December 17, Randy is going to present his 20 all-time favourite blues songs this Sunday. His picks for the best of the best. Sunday @ 8pm.

12/04/2017

As just announced, The Black Cat Alley will be shutting its gate at the close of 2017. And even though I'll still be on the air Mon-Fri, I am going to desperately miss these Sunday night rendezvouses, and sharing with you this music which comes from deep emotion.
Perhaps the show will return someday (remember, there was a Blue Monday program once, until I left for T.o., then the BCA started once I returned), but for now I need to concentrate on my week-day tasks.

We still have two more shows to come. Next week my Top 20 all-time favourite blues tracks. Then the December 17 episode is all yours: songs and/or artists that you fell in love with while listening to the BCA. Think about it and then please let me know.