Banjoist/guitarist/vocalist/author/historian and New Orleans treasure Danny Barker has been nominated for the W.C. Handy award for Best Traditional Blues for his album Save the Bones. The album is on Carlo Ditta's local Orleans label (10188). Another of Orleans' artists, Guitar Slim, Jr. has also been attracting attention. Slim, son of the late legendary blues guitarist Guitar Slim, was nominated for a Grammy last year, and was playing Tramps in New York City on the Fourth of July. Record producer extraordinaire Ahmet Ertegun was there and happened to show up with another recording industry giant, Phil Spector. After a wild show, Ertegun demonstrated his pleasure by kissing Slim in the ear. (Incidentally, 1989 marks 30 years since the senior Guitar Slim was shot to death in the elevator of the Teresa Hotel in NYC.)
This article was originally posted in the New Orleans Weekly Gambit, Vol. 11, No. 33 [August 22nd, 1989]