Sugar Mae - Big City Blues

BLUES
BIG CITY
SUGAR MAE
All photos by Shirley Mae Owens unless otherwise credited.
The Cruise really lets people relax and enjoy
each other-Marcia Ball and the man behind
the Doctor-Herman Ernest,
At the Queen's Table, her beautiful daughter Cookie, Koko Taylor, Joe Whitmer,
Sarah Whitmer, Sugar, Dave Fields, and Robert Jr on the Pacific Ocean looking for
hurricanes.
And I Ain’t Lyin’!
ugar Mae & Junior’s whirlwind
West Coast trip in October was
of course nonstop. It all started
in L.A. driving a PT Cruiser convertible to the award winning Delta
Groove Music’s headquarters
(thank-you Rand & Kelli!) where
Sugar was delighted to find Mannish
Boys vocalist Finis Tasby. Living in
Lancaster, CA for almost 15 years,
Finis remembered, “I happened to
play out there once and it was nice
S
and quiet, I never left,” smiled Finis
who had just returned from the San
Francisco Blues Festival. “It was
pretty nice but getting across the Bay
Bridge—so much traffic!” For the
afternoon Solomon Burke invited
Sugar & Junior to his home. He
excitedly told them all about his new
recording project to help his dear
friend—the incredible Clarence
Fountain (Blind Boys of Alabama)
and Sam Butler. And what a beauti-
Pitching a “Wang Dang Doodle” Cookie Threatt, our captain-Roger Naber,
and a “young” Koko Taylor burning a hole in the deck, Pacific 2008.
Smooth as silk, Finis Tasby at his
offices, Delta Groove Music,
California, October 2008.
ful home with a church like atmosphere where Solomon often hosts
many prayer meetings, Junior quickly got down to business with his
photo assignment. After Clarence &
Sam’s three wardrobe changes and a
drive up overlooking a valley, it was
a wrap and Solomon served up a
delicious soulful lunch. (Look for Big
City Rhythm & Blues cover—
Feb/Mar 2009 with Clarence
Fountain & Sam Butler). Sugar
asked, “Solomon how do we get to
the beach for sunset?” Solomon
smiled, “Do you mind a few
curves?” And off Sugar drove down
and around through Topanga
Canyon while Junior held on to his
hat! On the way south they stopped
by the famous Boogaloo Café then
to Lucky’s place to sleep and view
her gorgeous Windansea Beach of
La Jolla. (Thanks Lucky!) The next
morning at the historic Brockton
Villa for brunch, their upstairs outdoor table overlooked the stunning
panoramic view of The Cove. Finally
it was time to bon voyage with the
one and only Legendary Rhythm &
Blues Cruise on the Holland
American Line’s intimate Ryndam
and nonstop rhythm & blues. Yeah!
Sugar’s number one highlight was
having Koko Taylor as a dancing
partner on board. And of course it
can’t get any better to be with the
good doctor—Dr. John and his
incredible Lower 911 Band. Folks
were thrilled to have Etta James
aboard too but due to illness she
unfortunately was not on top of her
game. Get well Etta! And what fabulous shows by Los Lobos, Marcia
Ball, Elvin Bishop, Tommy Castro,
Ronnie Baker Brooks, Kenny Neal,
Watermelon Slim, Leon Blue, Eden
Brent, Magic Slim, Rev. Billy C.
Wirtz, Chris Thomas King and
David Jacobs-Strain. It was smooth
sailing to Cabo San Lucas where
they tendered over to check out
Cabo Wabo for a high energy afternoon jam! At Mazatlan beaches
ruled and warm waters with the best
surf ever. La Paz was cancelled due
to Hurricane Norbert and Captain
Pete brought us north to safe waters
sailing gently around scenic islands
with lots of dolphins, sea lions,
whales and huge pelicans. And for
Sugar & Junior’s big finale—Sailin’
On The High Seas Silent Auction
raised over $16,000! A record! It
would not happen without all those
generous happy cruisers and LRBC
staff as well as staff from The Blues
Two Captains at this table, table #1, (l-r) Julia Naber, Roger Naber, The Ryndam's
Captain Peter, Judy & Geoff Alexander.
60 Big City Blues • Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009
Celebrating “Ground Zero Pearl River”— Bill Luckett, Bobby Rush, Senator Horn at the
Pearl River Resort, Golden Moon Casino, Mississippi, October 2008.
Foundation, Koko Taylor Celebrity
Foundation and Gimme 5! A
Fundraiser. Plus The Koko Taylor
Celebrity Foundation received an
additional $5000 from La Paz’s
unused port taxes to help the Blues
Machine with their medical expenses. Big thanks to Dave Fields for
everything he did to help Sugar &
Junior take a break, pull off the auction, assist with the Big City Rhythm
& Blues Orchestra and more! Good
job Dave! Back in San Diego Sugar &
Junior visited another landmark—
The Coronado Del Mar and had
brunch outdoors by the pool with an
ocean view before having one more
dip at the Windansea Beach and
then sunset at Beacon Beach in
Encinitas. See you next year
California!
It was back to Detroit just in time
to leave for Philadelphia, MS to the
Pearl River Resort’s Ground Zero
Blues Club opening soon at the
Golden Moon Hotel & Casino that
presented Blues at the Moon
Festival on Oct. 17 & 18th, home of
the Choctaw Indians. Morgan
Freeman made an appearance and
kicked off festivities while Howard
Stovall ran the festival smoothly featuring Ruby Wilson, The Fabulous
Thunderbirds, Bobby Rush and
Solomon Burke. Plus Sugar & Junior
enjoyed the hospitality—a huge com-
fortable converted shack that was
built to serve VIPs. They met with
Shelley Ritter – Delta Blues
Museum (www.deltabluesmuseum.com), Bill Talbot– Shack Up
Inn/Cotton Gin (www.shackupinn.com). Stay tune to see if there
will be Blues at the Moon Festival
two in 2009. And that same weekend
not too far away Sugar & Junior
stopped by the Tommy Johnson
Blues Festival near Terry, MS early
in the day where they found Capt.
Dirk setting up camp and watching
a horse race.
As we go to press Sugar & Junior
are on the road again this time with
Little Freddie King from New
Orleans, next stop New York City,
Woodstock, Athens (Georgia that is)
and Hollywood (Florida that is).
Check out Sugar & Junior’s Social
& Pleasure Club page for hotel
group rates for the upcoming LRBC,
IBC’s, Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, BMA’s
and more. Email: bigcityblues@lindentravel.com.
Happy Holidays & Happy New
Year!
And love & happiness,
Sugar Mae
PS – Thanks to all for your calls
and cards for Junior’s recent cancer
scare. All is well now on the home
front. Peace.
Sugar and Junior were honored to be guests at the home of Solomon Burke, in the hills
above LA, October 2008.
Watermelon Slim and Annie on Pacific Cruise, “When do we get to Cuba?”
Strolling on the promenade of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Mississippi
Boogie Woogie Queen, Eden Brent and Magic Slim's guitarist, Jon McDonald.
Two original Falcons, Eddie Floyd and his young friend, Sir Mack Rice on his 75th birthday
party, St.Regis Hotel, Detroit, MI, November, 2008.
Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009 • Big City Blues 61