- Click here to read the Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro CD review at http://www.mary4music.com.
- Bobby BlackHat voted 2008 MEONA Harp Player of the Year.
XM Satellite Radio. For those of you who have XM radio please tune in to Bluesville (Channel 74). Bill Wax has put a couple of Bobby BlackHat tracks in rotation.
- Live From Memphis: First, on behalf of Larry and myself, thanks again to the Natchel` Blues Network for sponsoring us at the IBC. Although we didn't bring home the prize, we did our best to represent the NBN with distinction. From the comments and kudos we received from the judges and audience, I think we done the NBN proud. The IBC has evolved far beyond an amateur competition and is now the largest gathering of blues musicians in the world. Larry and I were both proud and humbled to participate. It was a fantastic playing, listening, learning and networking experience. We were able to meet the who's who of the blues industry at all levels and make many new friends from across the globe.
Now for the recap. I cannot describe adequately in words how high the bar was set for this competition. It was the most intense blues immersion you could ever imagine. If you ever want to get a true Blues Baptism (sounds like a song title to me), then this is the place to be. The crowds were large and charged up all over Beale Street. I was totally amazed at the quality, variety, and creativity displayed throughout the event. Larry B and I performed at the Handy Blues Hall (aka Juke Joint) on Thursday and Friday. Our sets were limited to 25 minutes, with three different judges each night. Performers were scored based on blues content, talent, originality, and stage presence. We competed against nine other acts in our venue with one act advancing to the finals.
Other than the competition and delicious Memphis ribs, my greatest thrill was being able to jam at the Hard Rock Cafe, Wet Willies, DoubleTree Hotel, and the Rum Boogie Cafe. The Rum Boogie Cafe was the crown jewel for jamming and I took the stage twice to showcase my own songs in front of some of the hottest blues performers in the country. Here's a sample of the Saturday night jam lineup...Watermelon Slim, Zac Harmon, Rick DelGrosso, Billy Gibson, Bob Margolin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Super Chicken, Fiona Boyes, Gary Clark, Jr, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, Matt Walsh and more. At 2AM more musicians were still arriving. It was total blues overload. One of my favorite moments was watching last years 2nd place finishers the "Homemade Jamz Blues Band" perform along with several other youth competitors. They were all under 16 years old and the drummer was a 9 year old young lady named Taya. Let me tell you, these kids just blew the house down.
If you want to really scratch your blues itch, then I suggest you start planning your trip down to next year's IBC.
- GOOD NEWS! CDs have arrived! Please email me at bobby@bobbyblackhat.com to place your order.
- Bobby BlackHat Podcast and Story - Bobby is being featured on the U.S. Joint Forces Command website. The story and podcast were created by Navy Chief Mass Communications Specialist Chris Hoffpauir U.S. Joint Forces Command Public Affairs. Photos by Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan Axtell, U.S. Joint Forces Command Public Affairs.
- Bobby BlackHat and Larry Berwald won the solo/duo category of the 2007 Natchel` Blues Network Battle of the Bands competition. The event was held at The Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach. Bobby and Larry will now go on to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, Jan 31 - Feb 2.
- Bobby BlackHat CD Released Oct 6, 2007 - Bobby "BlackHat" Walters proudly announces the release of his first CD, You Changed Your Mind Again, on the G.E.M.S. Recording Label. The CD is available on Napster, iTunes, and Amazon. Click Here!
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Cover Photo by Bruce Kincaid, Oneil's Studio of Photography
Inside and backcover photo's by John S. Young (Crystal Eye Photos).
