Those years have brought at least life’s share of twists and turns for

each. Smothers maintained a steady but generally low profile on the

windy city blues scene while Bishop gained renown with the Butter-

field Blues Band and then struck out on his own noteworthy foray

through blues and southern rock and, like many of his Chicago blues

cohorts, relocated to the Bay Area in the late ’60s. Superb musical jam-

ming and down home eating courtesy of Smokey’s kitchen chops

have marked Elvin and his band’s Chicago visits, and Elvin and

Smokey have helped each other through hard times and tough losses.

Smokey’s health has been in decline in recent years, and Elvin has

seized the moment to compile (with generous assistance from a

number of labels and individuals) Chicago Blues Buddies, a musical

monument to his friendship and musical teamwork with Smokey

while all involved can savor the highly enjoyable results.

Bishop first heard and met Smothers at the legendary Blue Flame on the south side (where Smothers also gave Paul

Butterfield early band experience). Smokey took note of the guitar Elvin was carrying during that first encounter, and accept-

ed Elvin’s request for tutelage. It was soon obvious that Smokey was an exacting teacher with some definite and effective

methods. “He was serious about it, you know. Well, I was too, because I wanted to learn, but he would make me get that stuff

right... He would teach me the rhythm part to the tune, and he didn’t care if it took two or three days, he was going to get it

through my hard head. And when I finally got it, he’d call in all the neighbors and he’d play the lead and I’d play the rhythm

part... Smokey’d get mad if I didn’t get it right. He wasn’t gonna let me slide. I’d learn it halfway, I’d want to go home, he’d

say ‘Naw!’ He’d take me over and have them neck bones and beans goin’ on on the stove, he said ‘come here,’ he’d lift up that

lid and say ‘smell this!’ and I’d say ‘oh, that smells good!’ And he’d say ‘when you get this part, you can have some.’”

Elvin eventually more than got it right, he turned it into something of his own. His style is more jagged and raw than

Smokey’s, he features his slide work, and he doesn’t invoke the jazz flavoring that gives Smokey’s playing a liquid smooth-

ness at times, but Smokey gave him encouragement, knowledge and a level of accomplishment to which he could aspire, not

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: fishfishfishin@aol.com

It has now been almost fifty years since established Chicago guitarist Little Smokey Smothers began mentoring and befriending the young Elvin Bishop, who came to Chicago from Tulsa in 1960 looking for the blues.

GREAT MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE:

ELVIN BISHOP RELEASES LITTLE SMOKEY SMOTHERS-ELVIN BISHOP RETROSPECTIVE CD

www.elvinbishopmusic.com

to mention a strong shot of wry humor they share in their presen-

tation. The friendship remained undiminished even while Smothers

lay low musically and raised his family, and Elvin instigated and

participated in Smothers’ award winning debut CD Bossman! which

appeared in 1993. The two marked its release with a set together at

the 1993 Chicago Blues Festival which, as one major publication

put it, “tore the roof off.” In January 2000, they recorded the

Alligator CD That’s My Partner live in San Francisco. In 2006 they

reprised their Chicago Blues Festival collaboration, and not long

afterward they teamed up again for a video and audio recording at

Ground Zero in Clarksdale, MS. The bond still endures. During a

June, 2009 visit to Smokey, Elvin told him “man, I love your blues. I ain’t heard nobody beat you yet. I should be able to play

better, as much as you tried to teach me,” to which Smokey replied rightly, “naw, man, you playin’ your ass off!’

Their comfort level together is evident on Chicago Blues Buddies. The first two tracks come from Smokey’s Bossman! CD,

with the two reminiscing, clowning and slamming out some powerhouse guitar. Smokey is up front for their Chicago Blues

Festival dust-up on May 30, 1993 (Elvin had opened with a few

songs of his own), but makes sure Elvin gets his slice of the musi-

cal pie, while Elvin’s band drives the proceedings in high gear,

probably mindful that messing up behind Elvin’s main man and

their ace local band chef and host would be a capital offense.

During a post-set backstage interview, the two old and good friends

bask in the glow of nostalgia and another shared musical and per-

sonal highlight. Two excerpts from That’s My Partner show how

well the two complement each other stylistically while sharing basic

common ground and deep empathy, and Smokey’s personality

shines through “Little Red Rooster.” A pair of songs from Ground

Zero give the listener a rousing musical sendoff.

It’s straight from the heart when Smokey says of Elvin “he’s a helluva guitar player now. He really came through for me!”

Now, as he has so many times over half a century, Elvin has come through once again for Smokey with Chicago Blues Buddies,

a portrait of music and friendship of rare and lasting quality.

H H H H H

To purchase this limited-edition CD and help Smokey, please go to www.cdbaby.com or to Elvin’s web site

www.elvinbishopmusic.com — or track down Elvin Bishop when he plays near you!

www.elvinbishopmusic.com

Little Smokey Smothers & Elvin Bishop — page 2

PHOTO COPYRIGHT DIANNE BRUCE DUNKLAU