The Holy Grail of Blues Bands: Melissa McKinney & MAMA

The Holy Grail of Blues Bands: Melissa McKinney & MAMA

With only three episodes remaining on Season 6, host Jim Ervin welcomes first band runner up in the 2026 International Blues Challenge, Melissa McKinney. This woman of the Blues put an incredible band together to compete this year, and narrowly missed taking it all home with her. She has sold her successful music school, and she has come away from the IBC on a mission to bring her deep, soulful Blues to the masses. If you get a chance to check her and her band “Mama” out, you will not be sorry if you do. Website: https://melissamckinneymusic.com/mama [https://melissamckinneymusic.com/mama] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissamckinneymusic [https://www.facebook.com/melissamckinneymusic] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A5EiKAJr86zuGUlTN2oaC?si=Lae7eZ66Qj2t5H9qk8qXgg [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A5EiKAJr86zuGUlTN2oaC?si=Lae7eZ66Qj2t5H9qk8qXgg] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissamckinneymusic [https://www.youtube.com/@melissamckinneymusic] _________________________ Facebook: Time Signatures [https://www.facebook.com/groups/152366654342733] YouTube: Time Signatures [https://www.youtube.com/@JErvinBates] Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.facebook.com/CABSblues] Website: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.capitalareablues.org/] Friends of Time Signatures _______ Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive [https://libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages/thebluesarchive/#] Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project [https://www.killerblues.net/] Website: Blues Society Radio Network [https://www.bluessocietyradionetwork.com/] Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation [https://keepingthebluesalive.org/]

Kevin Johnson: Booking the Boggie-Woogie

In the world of music, many of the albums produced are backed by record labels. In the Blues, we have Alligator, Blind Pig, Delmark, Ruf, Malaco and a few others. Each of these labels depend upon the skills of their publicists and radio promoters to help get word of each new artist and their respective albums out to the masses. Kevin Johnson has worked with the Delmark label for years, and he also works with the non-profit label, Little Village Foundation. Additionally, Kevin has work of his own, via Proud Papa Promotions and Publicity, and he is our featured guest this week on Time Signatures. Were it not for PR guys like Kevin, Matt LaFollette, Amy Brat, Jon Bleicher, and a few others, Time Signatures would not be in a position to bring you many of today’s Blues Artists. Enjoy our chat! Delmark Website: https://delmark.com/ [https://delmark.com/] Little Village Foundation Website: https://littlevillagefoundation.com/ [https://littlevillagefoundation.com/] Proud Papa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProudPapaPromotionsPublicity# [https://www.facebook.com/ProudPapaPromotionsPublicity#] _________________________ Facebook: Time Signatures [https://www.facebook.com/groups/152366654342733] YouTube: Time Signatures [https://www.youtube.com/@JErvinBates] Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.facebook.com/CABSblues] Website: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.capitalareablues.org/] Friends of Time Signatures _______ Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive [https://libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages/thebluesarchive/#] Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project [https://www.killerblues.net/] Website: Blues Society Radio Network [https://www.bluessocietyradionetwork.com/] Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation [https://keepingthebluesalive.org/]

One Stop Blues Shop: Billy Prewitt

Billy Prewitt is a self-proclaimed musician in the “Artist Protection Program”, because many of you may not have heard of him. He is a guitarist, bassist, harmonicist, and the originator of the One Man Jam, and he dropped in to talk about the Blues scene of the late 1960’s and early 70’s, a chance meeting with Paul Butterfield on a New York elevator, and a move to Chicago, where he met and began working with Otis Rush at the legendary Mother Blues in Chicago. Billy’s stories are epic, including his first appearance in front of 10,000 Blues fans at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. You can catch some of his other stories on his podcast “Talk a Blues Streak” wherever you listen to podcasts. And be sure to catch the last known interview and performance recording of Sam Lay on the Emmy winning documentary “Talk A Blues Streak”, with Billy and host, Dick Shurman. Podcast Website: https://bestrent.podbean.com/ [https://bestrent.podbean.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billsyacht [https://www.facebook.com/billsyacht] YouTube Documentary Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXqJSllLlk0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXqJSllLlk0] _________________________ Facebook: Time Signatures [https://www.facebook.com/groups/152366654342733] YouTube: Time Signatures [https://www.youtube.com/@JErvinBates] Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.facebook.com/CABSblues] Website: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.capitalareablues.org/] Friends of Time Signatures _______ Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive [https://libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages/thebluesarchive/#] Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project [https://www.killerblues.net/] Website: Blues Society Radio Network [https://www.bluessocietyradionetwork.com/] Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation [https://keepingthebluesalive.org/]

Strings of Fire: JP Soars

It’s another stellar episode of Time Signatures with Jim Ervin as Erv welcomes renowned guitarist and soulful storyteller, JP Soars. JP recently joined forces with acclaimed violinist, vocalist and songwriter, Anne Harris. Together, the two have collaborated to produce “Gypsy Blue Revue”, a 9 track masterpiece, which drops this Friday the 29th EVERYWHERE. The album flows seamlessly between Blues, Soul and even some Gypsy jazz music, featuring JP’s skillful guitar licks and Anne’s mastery on fiddle and mandolin. If you are looking for a fun album, you are going to love this one. Website: https://jpsoars.com/ [https://jpsoars.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpsoars [https://www.facebook.com/jpsoars] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/36CFNLLjVZDOv1NLW7RFaV?si=SZpbseRbQKqHV6NPv4OTMQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/36CFNLLjVZDOv1NLW7RFaV?si=SZpbseRbQKqHV6NPv4OTMQ] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JPSoarsGuitar [https://www.youtube.com/@JPSoarsGuitar] _________________________ Facebook: Time Signatures [https://www.facebook.com/groups/152366654342733] YouTube: Time Signatures [https://www.youtube.com/@JErvinBates] Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.facebook.com/CABSblues] Website: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.capitalareablues.org/] Friends of Time Signatures _______ Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive [https://libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages/thebluesarchive/#] Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project [https://www.killerblues.net/] Website: Blues Society Radio Network [https://www.bluessocietyradionetwork.com/] Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation [https://keepingthebluesalive.org/]

Erin Harpe: The Mermaid of Mississippi

Season 6 is rapidly winding down, and this week, join host Jim Ervin as he welcomes 5x BMA nominee, award winning singer, guitarist, producer and songwriter Erin Harpe. The two discuss Erin’s early years in music, her passion for the roots of the Blues, and old guitars. She was also here to discuss her most recent album, “Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt”. It was a fun discussion, so check it out! Website: https://www.erinharpe.com/ [https://www.erinharpe.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinHarpe.Music [https://www.facebook.com/ErinHarpe.Music] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1EvgDLRrj2KmQ6WGVJACNx [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1EvgDLRrj2KmQ6WGVJACNx] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Erinharpemusic [https://www.youtube.com/c/Erinharpemusic] _________________________ Facebook: Time Signatures [https://www.facebook.com/groups/152366654342733] YouTube: Time Signatures [https://www.youtube.com/@JErvinBates] Facebook: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.facebook.com/CABSblues] Website: Capital Area Blues Society [https://www.capitalareablues.org/] Friends of Time Signatures _______ Website: University of Mississippi Libraries Blues Archive [https://libraries.olemiss.edu/specialcollectionspages/thebluesarchive/#] Website: Killer Blues Headstone Project [https://www.killerblues.net/] Website: Blues Society Radio Network [https://www.bluessocietyradionetwork.com/] Website: Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation [https://keepingthebluesalive.org/]