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.

Win a FREE "Heroes of the Blues" T-Shirt

We are so excited about our new compilation "Heroes of the Blues" Tees with Art by R. Crumb that we are giving them away.

Just go to our new "Heroes of the Blues" Facebook page here: LINK

Then "Like" us, and you'll be automatically entered to win this cool t-shirt which features these early great musicians who where among the first to record the blues: Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Memphis Minnie, Roosevelt Sykes, Reverend Gary Davis and Big Bill Broonzy.

We will randomly draw 3 winners on May 13th--so be sure to check back to see who won!!

New Heroes of the Blues Poster Tee

New from Keep On Truckin' Apparel this Heroes of the Blues Poster t-shirt. If it's just too hard to pick just one blues "Hero" from our t-shirt collection of 36 this compilation shirt is for you.

Included are 20 color portraits, of the early great men and women who where among the first to record blues music, all drawn by R. Crumb. Starting at the top from right to left you'll find: Charley Patton, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind (Reverend) Gary Davis, Roosevelt Sykes, Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Memphis Minnie, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell, Sleepy John Estes, Jaybird Coleman, Peg Leg Howell, Tommy Johnson, Buddy Boy Hawkins, Barbecue Bob, Blind Willie Johnson, and Clifford Gibson.

Available in both Men's and Women's sizes Small to X-Large, and colors white, black, chestnut, and indigo exclusively at www.kotapparel.com.

Heroes of the Blues: Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill (1898-1958)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #22

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Born in 1898, Bill Broonzy played violin in the vicinity of Little Rock, Arkansas, before moving to Chicago where he took up guitar in the early 1920's. He first recorded in 1927 and became a hit-maker during the next decade, enjoying a continuous recording career up to his death in 1958. He was associated with a sound rather than a signature song and his warm voice, facile touch, and strong beat earned him popularity as both a city and country blues stylist. Big Bill was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980.

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 Corp.

On Sale this month Big Bill Broonzy T-Shirt

To celebrate the release of the new biography "I Feel so Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy" Keep On Truckin' Apparel is offering 20% off our Big Bill T-Shirt for the entire month of April. Available in both short and long sleeve 100% cotton tees, chose for black, white, indigo or chestnut in Sizes S-3X.

This color portrait of Broonzy was drawn by underground comic icon and musician Robert Crumb. Crumb was commissioned in the 1980's by Nick Perls of Yazoo Records to create 36 color portraits of the early great men and women who where among the first to record the blues. The portraits where then incorporated into the "Heroes of the Blues" boxed Trading Card set. Stephen Calt, well known blues historian, provided the historical text on the back of each card.

Big Bill sings, "I Feel So Good."

Heroes of the Blues Featured Artist: Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #9

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

A native of Wortham, Texas, the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson worked as a street singer and visited several state in the course of his travels. His successful recording debut in 1926 launched the vogue for country blues. Before his mysterious death in 1929, Jefferson recorded eighty-five sides and established himself as the most popular blues guitarist of his era. An off-beat guitarist known for his free phrasing patterns, he was one of the most inspired singers found in blues. Blind Lemon Jefferson was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980.

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.

Memphis Minnie's "Kissing in the Dark"

Memphis Minnie's final commercial release from 1953.

Led Zeppelin with Neil Young cover "When the Levee Breaks" original by Memphis Minnie

The Original: When the Levee Breaks by Memphis Minnie and Joe McCoys

Heroes of the Blues Weekly Featured Artist: Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie (1897-1973)

Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #32

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Lizzie Douglas, born in Algiers, Louisiana, was raised in Memphis, and learned guitar at the age of eleven. As Kid Douglas, she toured the South from 1916 onward, returning to Memphis in the late 1920's under the name Memphis Minnie. An accomplished guitarist and gifted song-writer, she recorded over 150 sides between 1929-1941. Most were solo blues, but she also teamed for duets with her second husband, guitarist Kansas Joe McCoy, and her third husband, guitarist Little Son Joe Lawlar. Memphis Minnie was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980.

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.

Heroes of the Blues Feature Artist: Cannon's Jug Stompers

Cannon's Jug Stompers
Heroes of the Blues Trading Tees Card #20

Art by R. Crumb Text by Stephen Calt

Cannon's Jug Stompers, based in Ripley, Tennessee, consisted of banjoist Gus Cannon (Banjo Joe), guitarist Ashley Thompson, and harmonicist Noah Lewis. Cannon was born in Mississippi in 1883 and played professionally before 1900. Lewis a native of Henning, Tennessee, was born in 1895 and began working with Cannon around 1910. The group's twenty-eight recordings between 1928 and 1930 included "Walk Right In," made famous as a folk-rock song in the 1960's. Cannon's Jug Stompers was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2010.

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.

T-Shirts available exclusively at www.kotapparel.com

R. Crumb's Heroes of the Blues

In celebration of our new, Heroes of the Blues T shirt collection, a tribute to those early great singers and musicians who first recorded the blues. Many of whom never received recognition until after their deaths.

All pictured here have since been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame: Son House, Skip James, Charley Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Willie McTell.

We here at Keep on Truckin' Apparel are excited and thrilled to be donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of our "Heroes of the Blues" Trading Tees Collection to Music Maker Relief Foundation. Music Maker is based out of Hillsborough, North Carolina, their mission to "keep the bluest of the blues alive", through offering support to musicians living in poverty, and launching careers with a hand up, not a hand out. As well they preserve and present American musical traditions for the benefit of local communities, worldwide education and future generations.


Their mission seems to go hand in hand with the spirit of the "Heroes of the Blues" series. These color portraits where commissioned by Yazoo Records founder Nick Perls. Nick spent time traveling through the South, visiting second hand shops and knocking on doors to track down old blues records in the 1960's. He then remastered and preserved these old 78-rpm. His work was part of the revival of the Blues in the 60's, and brought attention to these unsung heroes.

For the "Heroes of the Blues" artwork he turned to Robert Crumb, musician and cartoonist, and for the historical text Stephen Calt, author and blues historian. The 36 card trading card set first appeared in 1980, and includes:
Charley Patton, Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Memphis Minnie, Blind Blake, Willie McTell, Big Bill Broonzy, Gary Davis, Skip James, Roosevelt Sykes, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Blind Willie Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Sleepy John Estes, Peetie Wheatstraw, Bo Carter, Ed Bell, Barbecue Bob, Buddy Boy Hawkins, Papa Charlie Jackson, Memphis Jug Band, Ramblin' Thomas, Sam Collins, Furry Lewis, Bo-Weavil Jackson, Rube Lacey, Mississippi Sheiks, Whistler & His Jug Band, Curley Weaver & Fred McMullen, Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell, Jaybird Coleman, Frank Stokes, Clifford Gibson, Peg Leg Howell, and William Morris.

So collect them, trade them, wear then with pride, and know that you will be supporting a rich American musical heritage.