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Piedmont blues guitarist, Little Joe McLerran - Root Blues Reborn
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Little Joe's Blues News

Roots Music Report - Top 50 BluesJan. 29, 2010 - Roots Music Report is the number one independent music chart in the world. RMR compiles radio airplay data from radio stations around the globe that play all forms of roots music, so that each week you can see which independent artists are being played the most by what stations...

Little Joe has reached the #1 spot on the Roots Music Report for the week of January 29th. !!!!

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The Rhythm Road
- American Music Abroad

Little Joe McLerran Quartet is selected among 10 ensembles to travel overseas...(more)
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TulsaPeople.com

TulsaPeople.comMusician
Little Joe McLerran
sings the blues

Tulsa, OK - The 25-year-old blues musician has a penchant for the classics, but he has created a sound that is current — and all his own. . . >> more
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CD Reviews for 2010

Jim White
Pittsburgh-PostGazette

Jan 14, 2010

"...when you find a new, young bluesman whose music easily carries the spirit of the blues, it's a very pleasant and rewarding experience. Little Joe McLerran, at 25, is one of those young bluesmen. And his blues of choice is not one of the easiest to master -- the Piedmont fingerpicking style is one of the most complex and elegant.

But it's not just that McLerran shows his mastery of that on his new CD, "Believe I'll Make a Change" (Root Blues Reborn). The Tulsa, Okla.-based musician captures the essence of fine old-timey music, whether in a duo or with the funky little band that accompanies him here on some of the cuts. He's also manages to write quirky songs in harmony with the classic music he favors...">>more - review, sample track & video

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CD Review just in from Belgium!
Little Joe McLerran's Believe I'll Make A Change

"The true lovers of Piedmont Blues
should blindly buy this gem..."
>>
more

Joe's Blues News

Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues
Jan 8, 2010


# 9 with a bullet... Little Joe McLerran
_______Believe I'll Make a Change

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Root Blues Reborn
>>more
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The Rhythm Road
- American Music Abroad


2010 - The Rhythm Road - American Music Abroad
Photo by Frank Stewart for Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Graphic: R J Whetstone

...a collective of seasoned musicians drawn from the ranks of Tulsa’s finest, who came together specifically for The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad... have been selected to represent American Music overseas by Jazz at Lincoln in New York and the US Department's of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Effairs.

In its unique approach, this ensemble presents blues and American roots as a “Soup Recipe,” which has been stirred, mixed, handed down, and revised by generations of people who brought their music from all over the world to America. Little Joe McLerran Quartet members describe their style as simple, supportive, inspired, and above all else, inventive. >>>more

New York, New York -

Little Joe McLerran News October 25, 2009 - Little Joe flew back to Tulsa on Saturday, Oct. 24th from San Diego after appearing on the week-long Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. With no time to rest, he was flown to New York on the following day to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center (2 blks off Central Park) on Sunday the 25th. This appearance has already triggered a request to perform on the Africa continent sometime after the first of the year. Robbie Mack reported that four cheeseburgers, a drink, and fries in New York can set you back $100....wow, what a busy weekend ! [blog]; NY-American Music Abroad

Little Joe McLerran News Little Joe & Band will return to New York on Dec. 2nd for another Big Apple appearance at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club...Unlike most historical and modern-day jazz venues, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (named after Dizzy Gillespie) soars several stories above the expansive vista of Central Park. Tony Bennett calls Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola "the best jazz room in the city." [blog]

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Joe's Videos
...videos of Little Joe at the finals of the International Blues Challenge (IBC) - Memphis 2009 & festival appearances and more

October 17-24, 2009 Pacific
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseFrom San Diego, CA to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Loreto on Holland America's intimate ms Veendam. Currently SOLD OUT - call 888-BLUESIN to be placed on the wait list

Appearing on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise: Mavis Staples • Kenny Wayne Shepherd • Susan Tedeschi • Holland America's Veendam cruise 2009
Elvin Bishop • Buckwheat Zydeco • Phantom Blues Band w/ Special Guest Dave Mason • The Brooks Family Band (Lonnie, Ronnie Baker & Wayne Baker) • Mel Waiters • Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers • Tommy Castro • Coco Montoya • Roy Gaines • Michael Burks • Cafe R&B • Shane Dwight • Fiona Boyes • Lionel Young Band • Little Joe McLerran • Piano Bar Hosts: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne • Taryn Donath • Leon Blue • Special Guests: Debbie Davies • Preston Shannon • Jam Host Randy Oxford • Plus Surprise Guests
<more details >

SPECIAL EDITION: IBC RoundUP!
Blues Society of Tulsa SPECIAL EDITION: IBC ROUND UP - Mar/April 2009
March/April 2009 BLUES NEWS - The Blues Society of Tulsa has released a Special Edition: IBC Roundup! - Twelve pages of news, insight, terrific articles, interviews, book and CD reviews, plenty of photos, and a lot more...

Contact the Blues Society of Tulsa to obtain your copy & membership details

Blues News - Mar/April 2008Mar/Apr 2008 - - "...he sounded just like an old Blues 78' record! I could notbelieve just how chronologically perfect this guy and his resonator sounded! This guy is 25 years old! It was like watching Robert Johnson or Son House in the flesh! I mean, the blues this guy plays is too old for even the old timers! English blues researchers will love this man, mark my words. Unbelievable!" >>more



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Little Joe's New CD
"Believe I'll Make a Change"
- thirteen root blues studio tracks
recorded in Tulsa

Little Joe McLerran - Believe I'll Make A Change
Little Joe McLerran - Believe I'll Make A Change
Little Joe McLerran - Believe I'll Make A Change
Finalist...The Blues Foundation -  IBC Best  Self-Produced CD 2010
...more about the new CD....
Believe I'll Make a Change

From Tulsa to Italy

Roots and Blues Festival - Parma, IT

Wednesday, June 17, 2007 - Little Joe flies to Italy today for his four concert appearances in and around Parma. With a seven hour stop-over in Atlanta followed by a nine and a half Italyhour trans-Atlantic flight, he will arrive (5440 miles later) in Milan, IT. A real Roots'n'Blues Festival in the deep country along the PO River in Parma Province, the land of the parmesan cheese and ham. >>more photos from Italy>>

Little Joe and Robbie Mack perform in Parma, IT

Little Joe and Robbie Mack
in the Italian Province of Parma
-photos by Giovanni Grilli

>>more photos from Italy>>

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Simply the Blues Fest
Fort Madison , Iowa
May 8 & 9, 2009

BLUES BLAST REVIEW - ..."Kicking off the main stage on Saturday was the 2009Little Joe McLerran performs at the Simply The Blues Fest in Ft Madison, Iowa International Blues Challenge solo/duet winner, Little Joe Mclerran. Joe and his bass player was so tight they were squeaking. He gave the crowd a clear picture of why he won!"

"Little Joe plays Piedmont Blues, and since the death of John Cephas [3/4/09], may be the heir to the crown of "the best" around. For a guy that is only 24 years old, this guy oozes with talent. Surely another artist you want to make a point to see."

"Following Little Joe was the 2009 International Blues Challenge Band winner, JP Soars and the Red Hots...." - - Review and Photo by Blues Blast editor Bob Kieser


McLerran's Blues takes 1st
By Judy Lambert
Herald Assistant Editor
Sapulpa Herald Online
Tues., April 21, 2009


SAPULPA HERALD ONLINE - Bringing life back to an "old style" of Piedmont Blues music is one 25-year-old Sapulpan [OK] who picked up his first guitar at the age
of 5 or 6.

To look at Joey McLerran on the street you might think he was your average "boy next door," and it's doubtful you would match the music on his CD to the guy looking you in the face.

Like one gifted Blues guitarist, Johnny Long, did when Joey, at the age of 10, picked up Johnny's guitar and began to play... you would most likely have to do a double take...(complete article)

International Blues Challenge winner
coming to Des Moines

DES MOINES, IOWA - After four consecutive attempts at the International Blues Challenge, the first two times as a duo act with his dad, bassist Robbie Mack, the third with his whole band, Little Joe McLerran finally took home the crown, all by himself. Little Joe's three stunning performances in Memphis against a field of 64 solo/duo performers from all over the United States and as far away as France, Italy and Croatia lead to Little Joe's triumph. Following his set in the finals, held at the Orpheum Theater on Beale Street, Joe could only wait for the decision of the judges. It was unanimous, Little Joe was Champ. (...the whole story)

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7th Annual Blues Festival Guide 2009MAY 1, 2009 - The 7th Annual Blues Festival Guide for 2009 is currently being distributed around the country, additionally a digital version is now available online. Featured on the cover this year is the amazing Bonnie Raitt.

Blues fans and Festival lovers are receiving a magazine through their local blues societies, blues festivals, blues clubs, record stores, music stores, etc. Several mentions of Little Joe are noted in this issue.

A limited production of only 100,000 magazines will be made available to the public, however the "Guide" will also be available online, in a special digital format. Given the nature of all print media, you may see more publications utilizing digital distribution. [2009-Online Digital Magazine]

Tulsa World - Jennifer Chancellor,
World Scene Writer

01/01/09 - "There ain't nothin' little about his sound - - Little Joe McLerran is all of 25 years old and playing Piedmont blues, music generally mastered by people 40 years his senior. But don't let that fool you. His live show wins over audiences all over the place, and merges ragtime, swing and jazz into melodies that sound almost like piano rolls..."

Brookside Blogger Speaks Up...
Litttle Joe McLerran - Blues God
- By Lamont Cranston

Little Joe McLerran, Photo by R J WhetstoneNov. 17, 2008 - "Lest I give Tulsa totally short shrift on the artistic achievement scale, I really should take a moment out to praise Little Joe. Joe is by far the best living acoustic blues musician that I have ever heard. He is like a collection of 78 rpm records come to life, but he is much, much more than a nostalgia act. He plays Tulsa quite a bit, of course, but he gets around a bit too. You can catch him in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge Feb.5th -7th, 2009." (link to Brookside)

Keeping quiet pays off for guitar picker

Tulsa World Feb 18, 2009TULSA WORLD -2/18/09 - Little Joe McLerran knows what it feels like to wake up in Memphis after not making it to the finals of the International Blues Challenge. He's done it three times
...but this year was different...>> more

Little Joe's CD's  now available on Amazon.com
Little Joe's Live At Last CD is now available at Amazon.com

Damprock Blogger - A recently published Blog article observation of the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, a spectacular event made even better by witnessing Little Joe McLerran win 1st Place in the solo/duo category that took place at the historic Orpheum Theatre on Main St. and Beale on Feb. 7th, 2009 .....(article / blog)

Blues Festival Guide for 2009Blues Festival Guide - and it free
Be sure to obtain a copy of the upcoming publication, Blues Festival Guide available Spring 2009. This represents Little Joe's first shot with small advertisement (a gift from the Blues Foundation) in a publication that distributes over 100,000 copies...Check it out, it's free! (Visit Blues Festival Guide for details)



S
The Blues Foundation
Presents the

25th Annual
International Blues Challenge

Memphis, Tennessee

Feb. 2009


Little Joe receives 1st Place at the Blues Foundations 25th Annual Awards

Little Joe McLerran
wins 1st Place

>>Story and photos

From Tulsa to Memphis -
a journey to the IBC

 

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