Unique Holiday Gifts for your Blues Lovin' Baby

Join us at Keep On Truckin Apparel in celebrating R. Crumb's "Heroes of the Blues" and get 10% off store wide this Black Friday, 11-25-11. No coupon code required you'll receive the discount automatically at check-out.

Choose from plush cozy heavy cotton hoodies, in two compilation designs:

The Fan which includes Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Memphis Minnie, Roosevelt Sykes, Reverend Gary Davis and Bill Bill Broonzy.

Or The Poster which includes all of the above as well as Blind Willie McTell, Clifford Gibson, Barbecue Bob, Buddy Boy Hawkins, Peg Leg Howell, Tommy Johnson, Jaybird Coleman, Sleepy John Estes, Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell.

We also carry both short and long sleeve t-shirts imprinted with one of the 36 Heroes of the Blues color portraits done by Robert Crumb for Yazoo Records. You choose your favorite blues artist, tee style, color and size.


Heroes of the Blues tees and hoodies are available exclusively at www.kotapparel.com.

A portion of the proceeds from each Heroes tee or hoody is donated to the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Wear the blues while supporting those who make the music!

Heroes of the Blues featured artist of the week Blind Blake

Blind Blake (1893-1933)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #4

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Jacksonville, Florida's Arthur (Blind) Blake ranks among the most accomplished rag and blues guitarists of all time. In the 1920's he based his career in Chicago. Between 1926 and 1932 he recorded nearly eighty sides for Paramount, afterwards fading into obscurity. Unlike many blind blues preformers, Blake played up-tempo dance-oriented music. His polished technique and effortless-sounding improvisations attracted many imitators, but admitted no equals. Blind Blake was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1990.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corporation.

A Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive design.

Heroes of the Blues featured artist this week: Roosevelt Sykes

Roosevelt Sykes (1906-1983)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #23

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Roosevelt Sykes, known as The Honeydripper, was born in 1906 and learned piano around 1918 in Helena, Arkansas. His main influence was Lee Green, from whom he derived his 1929 hit, "44 Blues." He began his recording career while living in St.Louis and produced nearly 125 sides between 1929 and 1942, some under pseudonyms Willie Kelly and Dobby Boggs. Sykes continued as a post-war attraction and his career was enhanced during the 1960's blues revival.Sykes was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1999.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep On Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation.