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Michaela Rae by Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

Posted on 12/28/2009 by Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

Michaela Rae


(Memphis, Tennessee) This week we take a listen to The album, "Blues with a Backbone," by 14 year old guitar prodigy Michaela Rae Knox who hails from Colorado. I heard her play with Jasco at the Snowy Range Music Festival in Laramie, Wyoming, over this past Labor Day weekend. I was there playing keyboard and harmonica with the Reba Russell Band and after our show we headed over to hear Michaela play.

Michaela and Jasco jamming in Wyoming

I was very favorably impressed as she plays with great precision and has a very good tone. I have honestly heard many adults who who could take some lessons on execution and style from this young lady. Her guitar playing was excellent. At 14 Michaela Rae has already performed at Denver's Mile High Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge. That festival is one not to miss, by the way.

Here's a link to the Snowy Range Music Festival site:

http://www.snowyrangemusicfestival.com/homepage/

Here's a link to the Mile High Blues Festival:

http://www.milehighbluesfestival.com/

Michaela's CD starts out with the Booker T. & the M.G.'s classic, "Green Onions." She and the band do an admirable job on this great old instrumental. She is accompanied on the recording by:

Dave Beegle - Guitar, Hammond B3
Michael Olson - Bass
Matt Henderson - Drums


The CD is produced by Dave Beegle at Backbone Studios and the recording is tastefully performed with clean, clear sound and crisp tracks throughout. Among the eight tracks are Buddy Guy's "Mary had a Little Lamb" (which features some real cool Leslie guitar) and Jimmie Vaughn's "SRV Shuffle," which is the classic lumpty-lump bass line and some great harmonizing guitars and loads of hot solos.


Dave Beegle at this year's Snowy Range Music Festival

Here's a link to Dave Beagle's site:

http://www.davebeegle.com/



Michaela Rae and Andy Irvine on bass

When I was talking with my friend John Catt he informed me that Michaela Rae was going to be this year's IBC Youth Showcase entrant from the Grand County Blues Society in Colorado. I look forward to seeing Michaela and her family here in Memphis for the big competition. I had an opportunity to speak with her father for a while in Wyoming and he is a genuinely affable and kind man. He told me that he had started her out on guitar when she was only 4 years old.

Here's a link to the Grand County Blues Society site featuring this year's IBC entrants:

http://www.grandblues.org/OurSociety/GCBSandtheIBC/tabid/91/Default.aspx


Michaela jams with our old buddy Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin


Billy Branch and Michaela Rae

I thoroughly enjoyed Michaela's first CD and I understand that she is currently working up material for her next one. The guitar work and production were excellent and even the developing vocal styling of Michaela was always adorable, if not always perfect. As this blues player continues to develop the world will have some great performances to enjoy for many years.


When she's not playing the blues apparently Michaela Rae likes to drive fast in a straight line. This is a shot from her Facebook page of her dragster...cool, huh?

To get a copy of this Michaela Rae CD of your very own, click here:

http://michaelarae.bandcamp.com/

To read my article about this year's Snowy Range Music Festival, click here:

http://www.ameriblues.com/2009/12/memphis-snowy-range-music-festival.html

To read my article about this year's Mile High Blues Festival, click here:

http://www.ameriblues.com/2009/12/memphis-cincinnati-to-denver-and-mile.html

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RCT

©2009, Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms


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American Blues News Staff

What makes American Blues News unique is our coverage across America. Here is our lineup:

Mon: Memphis Correspondent - Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms
Nighthawk is our resident globetrotter and man behind the scenes, as he tours with the Reba Russell Band.

Tues: New York Correspondent - J. Blake
Blake is the American Blues News review and interview guru. You may catch him out and about in NY playing the blues.

Wed: National Correspondent - Monica Yasher
Monica is our executive director and artist interview specialist. You can catch Monica singing the blues around Pittsburgh or working on some country music songs in Nashville.

Thurs: Washington, DC Correspondent - Virginiabluesman
Geraldo offers inteviews and reviews. You may have seen him at an Ana Popovic concert or conversed with him on her websites, as he offers administrative support with her music.

Fri: Northeast Photographer - Nelson Onofre
Nelson offers a Friday column of blues photography and pictorial support for the interviews covered by the team.

Jim Stick in Colorado
Jim will be focusing on the Blues Festivals in the beautiful state of Colorado, and the artists that live and visit there.

Maureen Elizabeth, our resident art correspondent, will be focusing on blues art as she explores the creation of CD covers, or speaking with artists who also have a love of creating pictorial art in addition to their music! She may also feature some of her good friends in the Pittsburgh area. In her love of art, you may find Maureen's photography accompanying writer's articles on our pages. Maureen is also our marketing director.

Pittsburgh correspondent and photographer, CR Bennett, will share the Pittsburgh scene with all of you. You may also see CR's pictures accompanying other writer's articles.

We head to the big state of Texas! Abby Owen, our Texas correspondent.

Another big area to cover, the West Coast with Casey Reagan, Casey will feature many artists and events on this ocean's shores.

Lastly, we have our roving blues entertainment writer,
Chef Jimi.

And of course, we will surprise you sometimes!

 
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