Spring has sprung in the Beehive!

After a festive holiday season, February found me in one of my second homes, New Orleans, onstage with members of the Radiators and the Subdudes to celebrate the great Spencer Bohren and aid him in his cancer recovery. Of course there was a lot of other music and eating, much of it in the company of Radiators' master bassists Reggie Scanlan. The man can eat! March was a wonderful blur of travel and the chance to meet new friends and cohorts. The Sessions Panel flew to Europe, meeting with students in Nottingham UK and at the Royal Academy in Ghent. We traveled by train between the two, including Eurostar under the Channel. Wonderful ride, wonderful folks. Moved on to The Caleb Chapman Soundhouse in Salt Lake City, where 1000 intrepid rock n' roll souls packed the place for the Roundhouse 20th Anniversary with guest artists Steve Smith of Journey, bass god Victor Wooten, and the Li'l Beehive Queen! Then on to to a place near and dear to my heart, the Children's Inn in Washington DC at the National Institutes of Health as the Rock & Roll for Children Foundation, of which I'm proud to serve on the board, hosted its annual charity bash at Fillmore Silver Springs. Honored to share the stage with Martina McBride for that one. Rebel Montez lead guitarist Cliff Goodwin has released his first solo CD, "Rhythm and Blues Union".. it's full of soulful, fiery guitar work over a great choice of songs and vocalists. Rock on with it at CD Baby here: http://store.cdbaby.com/cd/cliffgoodwin ... Proud to work with Cliff, and wish him all the best with this new project! Springtime will find me preparing songs and arrangements for Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's seventh CD, "The Grown-Up Thing". I have a pretty impressive roster of guest artists in the wings. Let's get down in the Hive! Cliff Goodwin, Michael Colbath, Chris Bickley and I will welcome them in. More news to follow! 2019 plans include extensive time in my other second home, Muscle Shoals, for the WC Handy Festival, where I'll partner with the cream of the Shoals including David Hood, Spooner Oldham, Donnie Fritts, Kelvin Holly, Travis Wammack and so many more; "Shoals Jam" in October; the AMA Festival in Nashville in September for the third year of "Sunday School" with Sarah Potenza, Lisa Oliver-Gray and a group of the finest chick singers there, or anywhere. And I'll join my longtime brother from another mother, Big Al Anderson, at a series of Northeast gigs in July. Rebel Montez will trod the boards at the Katharine Hepburn Theater, 9 Wallis, City Winery NYC, and so many more...reach out to us at www.christineohlman.net and at www.reverbnation.com/christineohlman for all dates. Can't wait to see you down the road, and DEEP down in the Hive!

Beehive Hip-Shake in 2018....2017 memories....Muscle Shoals on the Horizon

As Spring comes on strong in the Northeast U.S., I'm filled with Beehive Queen gratitude for an amazing year in 2017. I've been all around the world..The Paris Conservatory and a wonderful German music school with The Sessions Panel...two trips to New Orleans to bond and play with my musical brothers and sisters there, and a chance to show my continued and everlasting support for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic... the always-vibrant scene in Nashville...sit-ins with my dear soul sister Sarah Potenza (our gospel shows at the AMA in Nashville and the Rhythm & Roots Festival RULED) and great times on stage with Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Elvis Costello, Little Steven VanZandt, Rosanne Cash and The New Orleans Suspects...and of course, much time spent in NBC's Studio 8H, truly a second home, with amazing musicians of of the SNL Band, led by Lenny Pickett and Leon Pendarvis. I continue to serve proudly on the board of IMA (Institute for The Musical Arts) in Goshen MA and to visit their always-slammin' Rock and Roll Camp for Girls each and every summer....my heart it there with those wonderful girls. And I continue to support Casey Cares and to both support and serve on the board of The Rock and Roll for Children Foundation. Always, always, I hearken and thank my brothers in Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez--Michael Colbath, Larry Donahue, Cliff Goodwin and Chris Bickley-- and in particular this year, as we ponder sessions for the long-awaited follow up to "The Deep End," "The Grown-Up Thing", which will be once again produced by Andy York and feature wonderful special guests. You've been hearing the songs for a few years now..time to hunker in the studio! Most wonderfully, my second home, Muscle Shoals, has come alive in the last six months with high-profile studio visits by the likes of Demi Lovato and Steven Tyler. It's only fitting that this cradle of American soul music, in which I am now so deeply embedded as an "adopted daughter" (my phrase!) should finally become the mecca it deserves to be. 2017 found me producing a way-sold-out-to-the-walls tribute to the great Spooner Oldham, "A Spoonful Of Sugar: The Women of Muscle Shoals Music Celebrate Spooner Oldham," as well as gigging with those American treasures Travis Wammack, Donnie Fritts, Lenny LeBlanc, Kelvin Holly, David Hood, NC Thurman, and Mike Dillon. In early 2018 we said goodbye to Scott Boyer, one of the founders of The Decoys and a true musical force from the Shoals to Macon, via his longtime association with the Allman Brothers. I'll depart for the Shoals again on July 18 after sharing several New England stages with another force, Big Al Anderson. Truly....I am so blessed to have so many true, strong friends and musical collaborators in this life. It almost seems a dream sometimes, but it's real....and I'm so glad. See you on the road, cats and kittens, and in The Beehive!

Rocking on... 2015 turns to 2016.. with gratitude...

How much do I adore this photo, showing the thrill of finishing 2015 in Connecticut, making Connecticut music with its most talented native son, Big Al Anderson & the mighty men of The Floor Models and The WIldweeds... you can see the joy! My thanks to Stacey Sandler for the snap! This year has brought me from the SNL40 Plaza Hotel concert stage with Jimmy Fallon, the B52s and Elvis Costello, to NOLA and Dr. John, to Muscle Shoals and the Swampers (Travis Wammack, David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Kelvin Holly, riding in Sam Phillips' 1960 baby blue Caddy--Jerry Phillips & Big River), to guest shots with Steve Miller, Graham Nash, Bonnie Bramlett (also hanging with Bonnie in Nashville; we will perform together there in June..), soul brother R&R Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd, the flash cats of Rebel Montez (of course!), (Michael Colbath, Cliff Goodwin, Larry Donahue, Chris Bickley), Liberty DeVitto & my NYC Hit Squad brothers, the students of Conservatory Tchalkovsky in Calabria for The Sessions Panel, Darlene Love, Paul Shaffer, John Leventhal, my SNL Band Soul brothers and sister led by Lenny Pickett and a summer concert with true brother GE Smith.....the fabulous girls & staff of IMA led by June Millington and Ann Hackler, singing for the HBO series "Vinyl" (premiering in January) and good work for well-loved causes The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic, The Rock and Roll For Children Foundation, and Casey Cares. I'll finish the year on New Year's Eve with James Montgomery and the Uptown Horns and my soul brothers Cliff Goodwin and Mitch Chakour tomorrow night. But for this past week, it's been Connecticut rock all the way.. and believe me, Connecticut ROCKS, led by the Big Man himself, Mr. Anderson. Kudos to us all for keeping music at the forefront, and creativity in mind! My love to all!!!

SNL 40: 23 Years of Beehive Gratitude

Written on the very early morning after SNL40…. I am so very overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude for the 23 years I've spent in Studio 8H....SNL is 40 Years young tonight, and so, so many friends were there. An amazing show held together by our amazing crew, as always, and by the brilliant editors who combed through 40 years of tape to build fast-moving montages. The band shots this evening went (rightly so) to past Musical Directors Cheryl Hardwick, Paul Shaffer, and my dear friend GE Smith.... but fear not! The after-party at the Plaza featured a jam orchestrated by Jimmy Fallon, who pulled me up on stage only to have the B52s sing backup for me on "Respect" (somehow, Ariana Grande had gotten up to sing it, but Fallon handed it to me mid-tune. My apologies, Ariana!), Fallon and Kate Pierson acted as my Ronettes on "Be My Baby", a fast-paced "Pump It Up" and "Twist and Shout" with Elvis Costello, and Joe Piscopo burning it up on "Pink Cadillac" (he's a good guitar picker!) while Marty Short and Mya Rudolph danced around the stage and BIll Murray shook a tambourine.... The broadcast itself was fabulous and poignant, and SO, so funny...and.... Paul Simon shouted out to my bandmates at the end of the show, and my heart just sang right out, too, as Lenny Pickett was given the spotlight he so richly deserves! Cherished the shout-out to the late, great T-Bone Wolk, our departed bandmate. Great to see photographic shout-outs to friends Tracy Morgan, visual designer Edie Baskin (who took the cover and back photos for "The Hard Way" and "Wicked Time" CDs) and the great filmographer Jimmy Signorelli. So cool to get hugs from former head writers Andrew Steele and Tina Fey, and too many former cast members to mention. Loved every minute!!! My great thanks to all of you who sent me good wishes. I cherish the day that GE Smith called me to sing at an "event" which turned out to be Lorne Michaels' wedding reception outdoors in the Hamptons, and all of the great work and marvelous friendships that have resulted. I am humbled and oh, so grateful for everything.

2015: A New Year Dawns in The Beehive

So much has happened since my last post.... fabulous sold-out festival shows including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, The WC Handy Festival in Muscle Shoals (I will be the Grand Marshall of this year's upcoming opening parade....) and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. My work with The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame house band, the NYC Hit Squad, The Clean-Getaway All-Stars (an offshoot of the Rockers in Recovery Band) and the wonderful groups of musicians in both the Shoals (Kelvin Holly, David Hood, NC Thurman, Scott Boyer and Mike Dillon of The Decoys, as well as Will MacFarlane, Jimmy Johnson and SO many others) and New Orleans (JoJo Hermann of Widespread Panic, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, John Gros, Bonerama, The New Orleans Suspects led by Reggie Scanlon, Mean Willie Green and CR Gruver; Dave Malone of the Radiators; The Subdudes)...have enriched my life. I am deeply grateful to these cats for their boundless talent. In 2013, I produced a tribute to legendary Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler with my sidekicks and special guests Bonnie Bramlett (an amazing friend and inspiration) and Ed King of Lynnryd Skynryd. The cream of Muscle Shoals was there with me, celebrating, and Dick Cooper's iconic photos of Jerry were displayed. Earlier, we had all gathered for the premier of the wonderful documentary film "Muscle Shoals" and celebrated with a concert following the premier in which John Paul White of the Civil Wars and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes joined me as special guests. The summer of 2014 found me onstage with the undisputed queen of Muscle Shoals music, the great Candi Staton. Muscle Shoals continues to own my heart. New Orleans...do you know what it means to miss it? I come back as often as I can, but always, during JazzFest, for "Down On The Bayou," which I co-host with JoJo Hermann...this years edition of DOB VI will again benefit our pet cause, the absolutely essential New Orleans Musicians Clinic. My dedication to this cause knows no bounds, and with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching, we hope to see a re-release of the compilation CD "Get You A Healin"" which will benefit the Clinic... The Saturday Night Live Band... my 23rd year, and this blog is written just one week before the 40th Anniversary broadcast. Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, Shawn Pelton and the entire band are truly brothers and sisters of mine. But I save the bulk of my musical heart, as always, for the flash cats of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez. As we prepare for our seventh CD, "The Grown-Up Thing" later this year, I look forward to continuing to write, record, and perform with this band whose bond to our audience has only deepened with time. It is an honor and special privilege to be able to present my songs with Cliff Goodwin, Michael Colbath, Larry Donahue, Chris Bickley and our often-colaborators, Mitch Chakour and The Sin Sisters (Janice Ingarra, Patti Rahl and Kathy Kessler). Andy York of John Mellencamp's band will again join us to co-produce the new record. Watch for more and more news! I have recently become a full-fledged member of Jules Follet's engaging and essential project "The Sessions", which brings interactive music panels to universities around the world. Recent trips to St. Paul, Los Angeles, Fort Collins, CT and Italy have been just a few of the locals in which we've found ourselves in the last year... Upcoming projects include Malachy McCourt's first-ever spoken work/sung CD (proud to be supporting this wonderful artist and author whose work has touched so many). I look forward to continuing to connect with everyone here.......all my best wishes for 2015, and my fondest hope to see you all onstage or on the radio very soon!

An Adopted Daughter Of The Shoals-Late July, 2012

Muscle Shoals has a hold on me. I've often said it, and always feel it. It tugs at my heart and my mind. Its rhythm is in my hips and my head...and my blood. There is something so special and deeply affecting for me about the particular brand of soul music recorded there at FAME, Muscle Shoals Sound, and 3614 Jackson Highway. It speaks to me like no other body of recordings. I've been asked to return to the WC Handy Festival, having appeared in 2011 with The Decoys. My soul brothers, The Decoys are the reigning kings of the Muscle Shoals scene, the current "Swampers", and they GROOVE, all day and night. It's a joy and an honor to be on stage with Kelvin Holly, Scott Boyer, NC Thurman, Mike Dillon and David Hood--any time, anywhere. We're booked into the Marriott Conference Center ballroom for a Thursday night show to benefit the Muscle Shoals Music Association. This year, wonderfully, I've also been asked to be the special guest of The Blind Boys of Alabama. And as if wonders will never cease, the internationally-distributed "Muscle Shoals To Music Row" (www.ms2mr) has decided to make my Marriott show THE broadcast of this year's festival. Rising at 4 am (3 am Shoals time) on a Tuesday, I head out, freshly beehived, to the airport. Tuesday evening's festival concert will be by the super-fine songwriter Donnie Fritts at Spring Park in Tuscumbia, a sweet town with a main street full of interesting shops that is the fourth "corner" to the classic tri-city area of Muscle Shoals, Florence and Sheffield. The Decoys are Donnie's backing band, so I know the groove will be on. Donnie (a/k/a "Funky Donnie Fritts" a/k/a "The Leaning Man From Alabam") has become a friend and compatriot. I drive up from Birmingham and meet my soul sister Kim Stovall (Kim was the instigator of my first-ever visit to the Shoals in 2009 and has been my music partner-in-crime ever since). We head out in the 100-degree haze. At the park, I start to soak up the music from the first note, and by the time I take the stage to sing Eddie Hinton's "Cover Me" with Donnie (who co-wrote Dusty Springfield's "Breakfast in Bed" with Eddie--but more on that later), I'm home. My concert is attracting some attention, it turns out: there's a snowball rolling with The Beehive Queen's name on it. On Wednesday I'm booked for not one but two radio appearances at Jerry Phillips' (of the Sun Records Phillips family) 100,000-watt radio statio Q107. Jerry has been SO supportive, a true friend, and since the first day of The Deep End's release, Q107 has been cranking out "Love Make You Do Stupid Things", turning it into a Shoals anthem. My thanks to all the staff there: Jeff Thomas, Chris Michaels, Sabrina Eaton, Leisa Johnson, Nick Martin, Greg Pace, Jimmy Oliver (Jimmy O's morning show has been taken over by Jeff because he's running for City Council...go, Jimmy!!!!). I've also got a date with the NBC TV affiliate, so I run back over to the Marriott for that. Meanwhile, my brothers-in-arms, The Decoys, have been busy rehearsing over at Tonya Holly's Cypress Moon Studios, formerly Muscle Shoals Sound (the outline of that original sign is still on the front door) and I join them in this studio formerly owned by David Hood and the members of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section (the ORIGINAL "Swampers") that is steeped in so much history. I'm moved just to be there, in one of the cradles of American popular music. Donnie is there, too, and we hatch a scheme to perform "Breakfast In Bed" together. He's never performed it live, it turns out, and I know Thursday night's audience will love and appreciate it. Too, I've recently had lunch with my friend Vicki Wickham, long Dusty Springfield's partner, in NYC. I want to be able to tell her that I've taken up the torch, and I want Donnie to be a part of that. It's his song. Thursday night is something I'll remember always. God bless The Decoys, who back me on a bunch of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez songs, including a heartrending version of "Empty" off the Strip CD. It's a hip-shakin' thing all night long, as we pay tribute to the Shoals with classics like "You Better Move On," "Cover Me," "Slip Away," and "I'm Your Puppet" (Spooner Oldham is on his way home from the West Coast and has to miss this one. Next time, Spooner!). We do Jerry Lee's "Night Train To Memphis" to bring it all back home (Sun Records, after all, is playing a part in a way in sponsoring the broadcast). And of course, "Breakfast In Bed." Donnie takes the stage and it's a gorgeous moment, the two of us holding hands by the time it's through. If there's a sexier song than "Breakfast in Bed," show it to me! The ballroom is packed to the rafters and the broadcast goes off without a hitch. The audience, The Decoys and I all find ourselves within that great, deep, wide circle of American popular song, together, and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. I want to thank M. Fletcher Brown for being our Muscle Shoals To Music Row emcee. The evening ends with friends gathered on the top floor of the Marriott in the Sam Phillips Suite...as fine a night as I've ever had. Friday is a day for fun. I visit Jimmy and Angi Nutt at their fab studio The Nutthouse. It's the new kid on the block of Shoals studios, and it's a knockout. Beautifully decorated with a mixture of kitsch and Beatle memorabilia, it's Jimmy and Angi's labor of love. Jimmy, David Hood, Terry Pace, and Suzanne Bolton all serve on the board of the Muscle Shoals Music Association, and I must also take a minute to thank Bart Black and Johnny Belew of the Handy Festival Board. All provided me with their outstanding support. Friday night, it's Travis Wammack time!!! I met Travis in 2010 when I made an autumn visit to sit in with the Decoys (source of my first Shoals blog here, back then...) and Travis, to my delight, showed up. He is an American treasure: a triple-threat singer/songwriter/guitarist, peerless at all three. He and his crackerjack band play a succession of killer cuts including "Tell You About My Girl" a soul-drenched classic which just missed being covered by Otis Redding and, of course, "Scratchy." I'm honored to be asked to sit in. Kim, her mom Brenda and stepfather Ronnie and I all have a sweet time, just hangin' in that Wammack groove! On Saturday evening I have the supreme, unsurpassed pleasure of joining the Blind Boys of Alabama--Jimmy Carter, Ricky McKinney and Benjamin Moore--to sing on Danny Flowers' Nashville gospel gem "I Was A Burden." Their guitarist/MD Joey Williams and I have prepared everything in advance, so there is nothing to do but enjoy the moment, and enjoy it I do, gowning myself in my most colorful vintage piece, a dress I call "The Butterfly", and floating onto the stage. What a gift, the chance to sing that song with those great men! Later, I reunite with Spooner Oldham and his wife Karen, just returned, and that is another joyful moment. Sunday is the icing on the Festival cake. Dear, dear Dick Cooper, muse to and photographer of everyone connected with the Shoals scene, from Jerry Wexler, Duane Allman and Jason Isbell right on down, throws me a party. With music!! A bunch of the Decoys are there with their beautiful wives, and guitarist Will McFarlane and Donnie and Kim and so many others... We all get up and play and sing and have a time. Jerry Henry of the Alabama Music Office is there to conduct video interviews for the Office's archives, and I participate: http://www.musicalabamablog.alabamamusicoffice.com/2012/08/christine-ohlman-interview-at-dick.html?spref=fb . Writer James Carson created a video of the day which can be seen at: http://youtu.be/VRMy2R2O1Yc . The party is just superb in every way, causing me to become homesick even before I've left which, the next morning, I must do. Yet....The Shoals is in the blood of this beehived adopted daughter, now and forever.

Remembering Levon Helm

It was a crisp fall day in late 2008 when we gathered at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock to partake of his generosity in agreeing to sit in on two tracks for my CD The Deep End. Andy York of John Mellencamp's band, my longtime friend and co-producer was there with Paul Ossola (at that time the bassman in Levon's band, but also a compadre of many years going back to The Scratch Band, Paul's and my band with GE Smith. Paul was the catalyst for the session, having pitched the idea to Levon, for which I am eternally grateful). Also with us were Jeff Kazee (keys in the NYC Hit Squad and Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, and a fabulously soulful vocalist himself) and the great Marshall Crenshaw on second guitar and baritone guitar.  Levon had graciously lent not only studio space but himself as drummer on Marshall's and my duet, "What's The Matter With You Baby," a Motown chestnut originally recorded by Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells (Marshall is a Detroit boy, born and raised, so I thought the song a good choice!).

The studio in Woodstock is clean, beautiful space, almost devoid of the usual baffles and glass. Even the control room is just a balcony, completely open to the rest of the studio, which sits below it. Upon entering the room, Levon had greeted me so warmly, taking my hand in both of his and saying his name, "Leh-VOHN", with that Arkansas lilt. I was captivated and charmed immediately by this lovely man, known as "Lee" to his friends.

The session moved quickly, and we soon had what we thought was a pretty good take. Lee seemed frail; he'd recently resumed playing after his first bout with the cancer, and I didn't want to overtax him. We gathered in the control room, listened, and all eyes turned to Lee.  "You're singing your ass off on every take," he said, fixing me in his sights with a chuckle, "but personally, I don't think I did myself any favors with what I just played.  Would you mind if we took it again?"  

Of course we were all for it, and re-entered the studio. Levon sat down at the drums and indicated a new intro he wanted to add, giving us just a taste of a new groove he'd envisioned while we listened back to that previous take.  The genius of the man (and the musician) became apparent then, as he sure-footedly turned the groove around from what we'd had, and led us through a one-time romp that swung so hard with a snaky little backbeat, we just knew it had to be the one. And it was.

I'd also brought in a lilting little countrified thing called "Girl Growing Up" that had been inspired by my then-13-year-old niece. The plan was to have Lee play mandolin, but when he heard the song, he asked, "Do I hear a minor chord in there?"  We confirmed that, yes, the minor-6 chord was heard throughout (think Ben E King's "Stand By Me" if you don't know what this means; that song's iconic bass line feeds off the minor-6 alternating with the main chord). "Then you'd better get someone who can really play," he said with a twinkle.  "You don't want me! I'll play tambourine!"  There was laughter all around, Levon picked up the tambourine, and in the end, there's no mandolin on the track at all, just a brilliant baritone guitar line played by Marshall Crenshaw.

Afterward, Levon and I walked down to the lake with a few of his dogs and talked about fishing for catfish. Another wonderful, memorable moment.

My thanks also to James Smith, the assistant engineer who photographed us that day, and to chief engineer Justin Guip, who made it all sound easy and great. I cannot imagine the level of sadness that everyone at Levon Helm Studios (the home of his Midnight Ramble) must today be experiencing.  Truly, truly, truly we have lost one of the greats.

Spring 2012: Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction and Carnegie Hall

Spring 2012 arrived with a lovely mid-March night at Carnegie Hall as I took the stage with Ian Hunter (I appear on 4 tracks on Ian's yet-to-be-named upcoming 2012 release...) for a tribute to the Rolling Stones' Hot Rocks LP. Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, Marianne Faithful, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Ronnie Spector, Rickie Lee Jones and others joined in. Then it was back on the road with Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez for a series of New England dates, and on to the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction, this year back in its home city of Cleveland. I can say nothing less than that the inducation weekend was magical (HBO broadcasts highlights in a special set to air May 5). For a music historian like me, the first-time-ever (beginning what will become a yearly tradition) induction of backup bands--The Crickets, Blue Caps, Famous Flames, Miracles, Midnighters--was so very moving, with Claudette Rogers' elegant acceptance for the Miracles being the highlight. There was Freddie King's induction (in the "Early Influences" category), and the smoldering vintage footage of him that they showed during the speech by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Baker, after which Derek Trucks, Billy, and Joe Bonamassa did the honors. The Faces/Small Faces ruled the night ("All or Nothing" a particularly good choice) with Mick Hucknall of SImply Red standing in on vocals and a heartfelt induction by Little Steven VanZandt. Donovan (inducted by John Mellencamp), Guns and Roses (Green Day inducted), The Beastie Boys, with a poignant acceptance letter by Adam Yauch after Chuck D and LL Cool J's induction speech (The Roots and Kid Rock stood in for a perfectly-manic performance), and The Red-Hot Chili Peppers (Chris Rock inducted) completed the list of performers. Paul Shaffer wrote the most wonderful, Spector-esque arrangement of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" to honor Don Kirshner, who published that song and so many others, and who was inducted under the category named for Ahmet Ertegun .....I was so honored to sing on that with Darlene Love, with my NYC Hit Squad compadre Ricky Byrd (a 2012 nominee himself, with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts) standing alongside in the "Rock and Roll Choir". Finally, three pivotal engineers--Glyn Johns, Tom Dowd, and Cosimo Matassa--were inducated by Robbie Robertson. They brought Cosimo out in a wheelchair and he beamed while his grandson spoke on his behalf. SO moving and wonderful for a devotee of New Orleans music like me. 5,000 fans thronged the sold-out Cleveland Public Hall. Props to HBO, who of course did everything right and ramped it up in terms of how that venerable, historic rock and roll stage (once home to the Beatles) was dressed. The vintage footage and photographs were projected onto a gigantic scrim at the back of the stage..just beautiful. Many, many MANY industry were squeezed into 100 tables on the floor of the hall. Again, up popped my friend Ian's name, being invoked (although he is not yet inducted, nor is Mott the Hoople...the Hall should rectify that) at the very end of Hall President Terry Stewart's opening speech: "In the words of the immortal Ian Hunter, 'Cleveland Rocks!' " We of The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame House Band (Liberty DeVitto, Jeff Carlisi, Jeff Adams, Rob Arthur, Jimmy Hall, Ricky Byrd and me) tore it up the night before at the pre-induction Gala with our very great special guest Felix Cavaliere (he killed). Darlene Love, Cleveland's native son Michael Stanley, and Dave Wakeling also stopped by, and our NYC compadres Will Lee and Felicia Collins got up and did their thing, too. And then morning-of, we got called for a last-minute vocal rundown in the dusty, cement-strewn basement of the Cleveland Hall. The door opened and Carole King came sweeping into the room for an impromptu twirl through "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," as she picked out the string chart single-note (on a beat-up Fender Rhodes), playing along with Paul Shaffer on the song that would be performed later that evening before that sold-out crowd with Darlene Love. What a lovely moment. Ricky and I hoofed it upstairs to watch the Faces camera-block. Again, a lovely, rockin' moment, so filled with history. Byrd knew Marriott well. It was emotional in the best kind of way. The weekend was filled with those, and I counted myself a very lucky little rock and roll Beehive Queen, makin' the scene!

2012 Dawns Happily In The Beehive

As we swing into 2012, I'm so grateful for new friends made in 2011, new places traveled to, and brand-new professional associations. Some highlights: "Down On The Bayou II" during JazzFest in NOLA; not one but two evenings of house-concert evenings of duets with the very wonderful Mac Rebannack, both to benefit the New Orleans Musicians Clinic; my July appearances with the Decoys at the WC Handy Festival that included an evening of sharing the microphone with Bonnie Bramlett (who'd driven herself down from Nashville for the occasion!); the August Wetlands Jam Festival in Brunswick, ME, and more... There was also a full plate of appearances with Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez at fab venues like Blues@Boscobel, The Fairfield Theatre Company, The Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, Rochester's Abilene and Syracuse's Nelson Odeon. 2011 saw the release of our first-ever concert DVD, "LIVE HIVE," and we're happy to support it's sold briskly on Amazon and at live shows.

But perhaps the most historic and--saving the best for last--most fun I had all year came from Big Al Anderson's invitation to join his reunion of the seminal sixties band The Wildweeds for two nights just after Christmas at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. I stood in for the late, great Bobby Dudek, the band's killer bassist and high-harmony cat. It was priceless. If you grew up anywhere near Connecticut, you know the WIldweeds by reputation, and if you were lucky enough to see them live, you know lots more than that!! Cheers to them!!!

2012 dawns clear and bright. During this last week of January I've once again collaborated with my old friend Ian Hunter and his producer, Andy York (who also produced "The Deep End") on four cuts for Ian's newest CD, slated for summer release. As always, it was a precious musical experience. Onward to Delray Beach Florida with the Rockers In Recovery Band at the International Tennis Championship on March 3, and to Cleveland to play the gala for the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction on April 3....and again, a full calendar of shows with Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez stretching ahead into autumn already. More news later...in the meantime, Happy New Year from the Beehive Queen!!!!

Shoals Soul Shakin' : The W.C. Handy Festival July, 2011

Muscle Shoals has a hold on me. First there was the music, for as long as I can remember, pouring out of radios and record players, deeper than deep: "You Better Move On," "I Never Loved A Man, "Mustang Sally," "Slip Away," "Tell Mama." I've sung these songs all my life, tried to do them justice. Then, a soul journey in September 2010 at the behest of my dear friend Kim Stovall brought me face to face and heart to heart with some of the pioneers of the Shoals scene (I visited with Rick Hall at FAME and toured all the other still-active studios) as well as with some of the cats who keep the flame burning today, when I joined the Decoys--the latest incarnation of the "Swampers"-- at their regular Wednesday night gig on the outskirts of town (Kelvin Holly, NC Thurman and Mike Dillon; Scott Boyer and David Hood were absent that evening, but songwriter Donnie Fritts and the great guitarist Travis Wammack showed up for the ride). We all became immediate friends--a mutual admiration society. Later in 2010, Kelvin and Spooner Oldham came to NYC as part of Pegi Young's band, with her husband Neil in tow, and we hung out on the bus, on Jimmy Fallon's NBC soundstage, and at my favorite breakfast spot in the Village. An idea was floated: maybe I should come down for the WC Handy Festival in July, 2011. Maybe I would, I said.

Springtime came and plane tickets were purchased. The die having been cast, Kelvin and I talked songs, day after day. Finally in late July I flew into Nashville and grabbed a rental car. I hit the Shoals city limits Thursday night and dove into that river of song straight on, meeting the Decoys at a country club shindig they were playing. Of course I got up, and right away, the song of the week was established: Arthur Alexander's "You Better Move On," one of the first-ever hits cranked out of FAME Studios. Bittersweet and stately and soulful and gritty, it became our anthem.

Friday dawned. Bonnie Bramlett was on her way down from Nashville, they told me, taking a leisurely drive on the Natchez Trace to make the scene that night with The Decoys at Crocodile Ed's, and a scheme was hatched for some duet action. I thought the natural choice was "Cover Me," written by the late, great Eddie Hinton, whose tremelo-guitar-pickin'-soul-singin' ghost I could almost see in the humid night air. Miss Bonnie arrived, and after dinner and drinks we joined the band by the side of the stage. With Donnie Fritts sitting square in front of us, and not a dry eye in the house (including ours), Bonnie and I threw down for Eddie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WlqNOOEcE&feature=player_embedded

"Swampers" is the sprawling, appropriately-named cocktail lounge at the Shoals Marriott Hotel, and super-chick-supreme Suzanne Bolton had engineered a Sunday night gig for me there. The joint was packed, Kim seated front and center with her mom Brenda. Kelvin was onstage along with Mike Dillon and NC Thurman, and from the first note, the music couldn't have been more right. We swamped, we gospel-ed, we rocked and rolled. They are such a thrill, those three musicians. Love them all dearly. Mike has a groove and gospel voice to die for, ditto NC's keyboardist's arrow-true sense of the song, ditto my soul brother Kelvin's peerless tremelo-laden guitar chops.

An added kick was the arrival of the great session drummer James (J.M.) Van Eaton, veteran of every Jerry Lee Lewis session at Sun studios. To me, taking nothing away from DJ Fontana, Van Eaton is the king, his behind-the-beat snare making him the rockabilly cousin to Al Jackson, Jr. J.M. had graciously agreed to sit in, and we romped through Jerry Lee's "Night Train To Memphis." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpvsUizH_TI I hoped that somewhere, Sam Phillips was smiling. Later in the week I'd have dinner with Jerry Phillips, Sam's son and a major player on the Shoals scene (indeed, in the entire Shoals/Memphis/Nashville triangle) with his triple-threat endeavors: 100,000-watt radio station Q-107, The Sam Phillips Festival, and live podcast "Muscle Shoals To Music Row" (www.MS2MR.com). Jerry has become a friend, and I'm deeply grateful that Q-107 regularly pumps out my song "Love Make You Do Stupid Things" from The Deep End over the morning airwaves via Jimmy Oliver's "Morning Show with Jimmy O." (Jimmy was there at the Swampers gig, beaming as we swamped up "Stupid Things" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCeducEP9DM ) Sam Phillips' presence is very much felt in the Shoals, and it's beautiful to have the timeless spirit of the music he created co-existing and mingling with the FAME/Muscle Shoals Sound/3614 Jackson Highway vibe). Suffice to say, the Swampers' house was properly rocked.

My last night found me on the main drag of Sheffield. A stage had been erected in the shadow of the Sheffield Hotel, where Arthur Alexander was working as a bellhop when Rick Hall discovered him. Again, with the Decoys--fittingly--the song of the evening was Arthur's "You Better Move On." Jerry Phillips and photographer/raconteur/renaissance man Dick Cooper were both there (Dick's roadhouse photos from my September visit grace the interior booklet of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's new concert DVD Live Hive), and everyone was beaming, including me. Perfect.

On the drive back up to Nashville on Highway 43 the next morning, with plenty of time to spare, I got beautifully lost while yapping to NYC on the cell phone, and took a leisurely detour through some achingly fine Southern back roads before reconnecting with my main route. It was a fitting end to this latest soul journey.

A shout-out to my Shoals family: Kim, Dylan and Brenda Stovall, Dick Cooper, Kelvin and Tonya Holly, Spooner Oldham, Jerry Phillips, Mike Dillon and Rhonda Curington, NC Thurman, David and Judy Hood, Scott Boyer, Suzanne Bolton, Terry and Anita Pace, Sonny Edwards, Jilda Watson, Steve "Papa T" Turner, Gary Asher, Deborah and JM VanEaton.....if I forgot anyone, I'm so sorry.....you are all deeply in my heart, as is the place you call home.

I humbly close with this quote from Terry Pace (writer, film historian, playwright) describing a backstage photo of Jerry Phillips and me:
Soul singer supreme Christine Ohlman -- the beloved "Beehive Queen" and longtime vocalist with the Saturday Night Live band -- with producer, performer, songwriter, publisher and Big River Broadcasting president Jerry Phillips (son of the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," Shoals native Sam Phillips) during a W.C. Handy Music Festival outdoor event in downtown Sheffield, Alabama. Christine made a number of unforgettable appearances in the Shoals during this year's festival, jamming with The Decoys and fellow soul diva Bonnie Bramlett, resurrecting Muscle Shoals soul classics like "You Better Move On," "Respect Yourself" and "Cover Me" and performing a stunning show of her own with Decoys guitarist Kelvin Holly at Swampers in the Marriott Shoals Hotel in Florence. (July 25, 2011)

Thank you, Terry. Thank you all.

Down On The Bayou III: May, 2011

During the second weekend of the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, musicians from all across the country--and specifically from across the South--gathered for the third annual "Down On The Bayou" concert organized by Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann, all to benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and its parent, The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation. This was my second year of participation, and I was completely jazzed to be asked to emcee the show. In classic Jam Band tradition, JoJo had planned a nine-hour concert, complete with a tasty "late night" section guaranteed to delight the fans-- and delight them we did, as artist after artist rolled onto the stage of legendary club Howlin' Wolf. From true classics (Irma Thomas, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Deacon John, Jon Gros, Ivan Neville, Russell Batiste, Jr. ) to Mardi Gras Indians (Wild Magnolias w/Bo Dollis and 101 Runners w/Monk Boudreaux) to R&B-tinged artists (Anders Osborne, Bonerama, and my barn-burnin' duet with American Idol Taylor Hicks on the Edwin Starr soul chestnut "25 Miles") to new-style country legend Jamey Johnson (the hit of the late-night segment) to blues queen Marsha Ball, alt-country legend Michelle Shocked, and Jam Band heroes Seven Walkers (Bill Kreutzmann & George Porter, Jr.'s newest aggregation), the fun never stopped for a moment. Fans left happy at 6 a.m., and the Musicians Assistance Fund was enriched by some $62,000 and still counting (private donations continue to come in). By all means, consider going to the Clinic's website and donating today. Their vital work helps to keep the music (and musicians) of New Orleans alive.

In other Beehive news, we await the imminent release (late June) of Live Hive, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's first-ever concert DVD. Watch for news on the web site and in our blogs...
I will decamp to Muscle Shoals, AL in late July for the WC Handy Festival. Rebel Montez can be seen all over the Northeast this summer....check www.christineohlman.net for all the concert listings!!

Swinging Into Spring With The Beehive Queen

As we swing into Spring for real here in the Northeast USA, so much is happening in the world of the Beehive Queen....

LIVE HIVE (so-called after my big beehive hairdo) Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's first concert DVD, was shot in mid-January before a sold-out house. Special on-stage guests included Andy York (long-time John Mellencamp lead guitarist and co-producer of The Deep End) and gospel/soul singers extraordinaire The Sin Sisters, who appear with me on our Strip CD. My dear friend (and Deep End duet partner) Ian Hunter looked on from the audience. LIVE HIVE will include the first-ever appearances of two signature soul music covers, "That's How Strong My Love Is" and "Piece Of My Heart" as well as two brand-new originals slated for the next record, "The Grown-Up Thing" and "The Wish." LIVE HIVE is scheduled for June, 2011 release.

The Deep End was honored on national 2010 Top 10 lists, including those of Nick Cristiano of The Philadelphia Inquirer; Bill Holmes of Blurt and PopMatters.com (#2 CD of the year); our friend Rich Gibson from the Ohio rock/Americana scene; and 2 picks by TheAlternateRoot.com, including a #1 ranking.

Spring and summer appearances by Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez will include The Wolf Den at the Mohegan Sun, BOMBFest, Blues at Boscbel, MusikFest 2011, 1794 Meetinghouse, The Fairfield Theatre Company Stage One, Boston House Of Blues Foundation Room, The Branford Festival, and much more. Check out www.christineohlman.net for complete concert calendar. Solo, I will join David Foster & The Shaboo Allstars plus Elvin Bishop and the James Cotton Band for the Shaboo 40th Anniversary concert.

On a mid-March evening following his induction into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame, I was honored to be asked by Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) to join him for an evening of duets to benefit his Healing The Gulf charity. The event took place outside New York City. It was sweet and deep. What a joy to sing with Mac at the piano!

Way back in mid-December, I hobnobbed in NYC with Neil and Pegi Young and Pegi's band The Survivors. At Brooklyn's Bell House, I took the stage with Neil to warble background vocals for Pegi. Muscle Shoals aces Spooner Oldham and Kelvin Holly of The Survivors were also on board, of course...

Following my annual pre-holiday appearance with The Saturday Night Live Band for the 2010 SNL Christmas broadcast on NBC, Christmas evening found me on stage as the special guest of Ronnie Spector at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino. At this "Meeting Of The Beehives," I paid special tribute to the late Solomon Burke with his holiday classic "Christmas Presents."

I appeared in January at "Up From The Bayou" in NYC to benefit The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic, sharing the spotlight with New Orleans piano legends Henry Butler and John Gros and Soulive guitarist Eric Krasno. The sellout crowd at NYC's Sullivan Hall belied the fact that it was the evening of the winter's second-biggest blizzard.

Best of all, In May, I will travel to New Orleans to headline "Down On The Bayou III" during the 2011 Jazz and Heritage Festival, all to benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic. Organized by JoJo Hermann of Widespread Panic (JoJo and I are the celebrity spokespersons for the Clinic), this year's concert will find me dueting with American Idol Taylor Hicks. A duet outing with Mac Rebennack is also planned in what promises to be a legendary night. More on that in the next blog.

The Beehive Rocks 2011

Happy, Happy New Year, as we begin 2011 together.
I'm so very grateful for all that happened in 2010, starting with the release of The Deep End and all the critical acclaim it received (including four top Ten lists...Nick Crisitiano of the Philadelphia Inquirer; Bill Holmes of blurt.com, popmatters.com and Dr. Bristol's (#2 CD of the year); and two writers from The Alternate Root magazine, an Americana Icon (#1, in one case). On the road, we met so many new friends and played so many great shows. I can't thank all the fans and friends enough for the warm welcomes, the messages of support, and that oh-so-good interplay between musician and audience that makes music the soulful, magical force that it is, in all of our lives. We released the first video from The Deep End --"Love Make You Do Stupid Things"--and an EPK/electronic press kit for the album as well. Thanks, too, to the members of Rebel Montez--Cliff Goodwin (guitar), Michael Colbath (bass), Larry Donahue (drums), and Chris Bickley, who has joined us on guitar on some dates this year. They are stalwart, their talent is boundless, and I know you love, respect, and appreciate them as much as I do.

My travels took me to some super-soulful spots. I visited New Orleans twice--once for the "Down On The Bayou II" benefit for the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (this year also saw the release of Get You A Healin' on which "The Cradle Did Rock from The Deep End appears as a bonus cut alongside tracks by BB King, Richard Thompson and the Subdudes, again to benefit the Musicians' Clinic)--and spent a lovely week in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, sitting in with the Decoys, Donnie Fritts and Travis Wammack and hanging out at Fame and Cypress Moon (the former Muscle Shoals Sound). The Decoys' Kelvin Holly, Spooner Oldham and I reconvened in NYC in December for their gigs with Pegi Young and a sit-in in Brooklyn where both Neil and I took the stage.

2010 also caught me onstage with my friends Paul Thorn up in Connecticut, the Subdudes in NYC, Jack Pearson in Nashville (Jack is an encyclopedia of soul all on his own), and Jeff Carlisi in Atlanta. The "Casey Cares" and "Rock n' Roll For Children" benefits brought me together with Rick Derringer, Colin Hay and the guys from Night Ranger. And Christmas night found me sitting in with the legendary and gorgeous Ronnie Spector.

And, wonder of wonders, the Saturday Night Live Band will play its first out-of-Studio-8H live gig in seven years in January in NYC. So.... a fabulous year...and I'm sure there's more I can't even recall right now.

In January, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez will film a live concert DVD to be called "LIVE HIVE"...watch for it mid-year, packed with bonus extras like the "Love Make You Do Stupid Things" video, The Deep End 's EPK, and at least two brand-new songs that are slated for the next CD.

Cheers to all for 2011...may joy, love, and peace be present in each of your lives, and may music continue to make the world go 'round.

Down On The Bayou II

I'm extremely proud to have been the only female artist on stage (it just worked out that way...) at April's "Down On The Bayou II" concert during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which was organized by my friend, Widespread Panic keyboard wiz JoJo Hermann, and to have my version of Edwin Starr's "25 Miles" included in the concert's recent digital release, all profits to benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic. I hope everyone check out this download--it's an easy, fun way to contribute to the good work of the Clinic and its parent charity, The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation.

TEXT OF THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
"Down on the Bayou II- Live Jam from New Orleans now available
More than 60 musicians collaborate to create live jam album for charity"

The live recordings from Down on the Bayou II, a benefit concert for the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC) and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF), are now available for download atwww.nugs.net. The recordings captures the collaboration of more than 60 musicians coming together as never before playing renditions of classic songs such as “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”, Robert Johnson’s “32-20 Blues”, Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time”, “Turn On Your Love Light” Edwin Starr's "25 Miles" and Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman”. All proceeds from sales of the album benefit the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation to support its vital Musicians’ Clinic (est. 1998).

The concert, which took place April 29, 2010 at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans, Louisiana is the second annual benefit concert spearheaded by Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann. “Down on the Bayou is an annual concert during Jazzfest that brings top musicians together to pay tribute to New Orleans and the contributions this city and its musicians have made to the music we make and love today. The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic is a model for artist healthcare and we’re proud to support it,” explained JoJo.

The recordings of the performances that night found their way into the hands of multiple Grammy award-winning producer John Porter. Those musicians who donated their performances to benefit the Musicians’ Clinic include: Big Chief Bo Dollis, George Porter Jr., Widespread Panic, Bill Kreutzmann, Ivan Neville, members of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Gov’t Mule, Big Sam, Luther Dickinson, Anders Osborne, Christine Ohlman and Jon Cleary, among others. 100% of the proceeds from Down on the Bayou Live will go to sustain America’s only comprehensive medical home for musicians.

“The staff, volunteers, board of directors and the 2000 + patients of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic are deeply grateful to the amazing Howlin’ Wolf staff and the musicians who donated their inspiration to make Down on the Bayou a magical night of music and funk!” states NOMC & AF Director, Bethany Ewald Bultman. “This album truly embodies the mission of the clinic to keep New Orleans music ALIVE.” (www.savetheclinic.org).

The album premiered on www.nugs.net on the afternoon of October 29th.

New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic/Musicians Assistance Foundation:
The mission of the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation is to keep music alive by sustaining New Orleans musicians and tradition bearers in body, mind and spirit. We do this through providing access to health and social services through the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, regardless of musicians’ ability to pay, and by fostering cultural opportunities that advocate for and support this effort. To learn more, visit www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org.

New Video: "Love Make You Do Stupid Things"

Our first full-production video from Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's latest, The Deep End, was a joy from start to finish. When we shot the main footage in late July with Bill Hurley of ADC Film Production in front of a blue screen at Connecticut's Horizon Music Group, we'd already hatched a scheme to raid Bill's extensive collection of vintage horror movie footage to enhance the theme of the vid's title, "Love Make You Do Stupid Things." A second shoot at the legendary Lakeside Lounge in New York City with the track's special guest, the guitar-totin' Eric "Roscoe" Ambel of the Del Lords, yielded some fun stuff as Roscoe and I romped in the Lakeside's equally legendary photo booth and swapped stories at the bar. The triple-tremelo-guitar attack of Rebel Montez's Cliff Goodwin, Deep End producer Andy York (who's on tour now with John Mellencamp), and the aforementioned Mr. Ambel is potent stuff, with bassist Mike Colbath and drummer Larry Donahue laying down their usual murderous groove. It was big fun, and we hope you dig the result. Check it out at www.youtube.com/christine ohlman , and let us know what you think! Rock on, everybody!

Beehive Soul Journey: Muscle Shoals, September 2010

I'd long been invited to come to Muscle Shoals to sit in with The Decoys (legends in their own right, and Donnie Fritts's touring band) at their regular Wednesday night hang at a roadhouse outside of town. One thing led to another and months went by. Finally, I decided to just book a flight and do it. Kelvin Holly, the Decoys' monumental guitarist who's been with Little Richard for many years, was the king mixer of the week's festivities, and my dear soul sister Kim Stovall planned everything for me. You all know I collect soul music on vinyl and have for years. Going to the Shoals (this would be my second trip) is like going to church for me.

During my two-day stay, I toured FAME and the former Muscle Shoals Sound (now renamed Cypress Moon and largely a film studio, nestled beautifully on the Tennesee River; that's me sitting on the couch in front of the wall covered by moss green shag carpeting in the main office); sat in the FAME control room and met with Rick Hall; met with my friend Jerry Phillips, Sam's son, whose 100,000 watt radio station Q-107 is beaming "Love Make You Do Stupid Things" from The Deep End all over the South; saw the set for Jerry's cool new podcast "Muscle Shoals To Music Row" ( www.ms2mr.com ); had coffee with celebrated photographer and local bon vivant Dick Cooper (many of the best Shoals music photos are Dick's); lunched with cool chicks Suzanne Bolton (who manages everything at FAME for Rick) and Kim Stovall; had a quick photo taken outside 3614 Jackson Highway (because no one likes the present owner, we had to sneak around); and toured through the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, where I learned that Nat "King" Cole had two other music-playing brothers (I'd thought there was only one) and saw Webb Pierce's gold-plated cadillac with ornamental guns mounted on the hood.

All this was a prelude to the gig at Sidelines II, a local watering hole out on Ford Road ("It's a joint," Kelvin had said, and he was right.) Spooner Oldham ended up missing in action (he didn't get out of church in time), but showing up to play were Donnie Fritts, a bunch of cats from Little Richard's band, and Travis Wammack. I knew The Decoys were good, but they turned out to be more than that. Mike Dillon rules the drum kit and sings his ass off, while Kelvin, Steve Vickery (sitting in for David Hood, who apologized personally for having to go to London and do Jools Holland's show) NC Thurman and Barry Billings similarly rule their corners of the stage. This was American music at its best, played with heart and soul and grit, for the pure joy of it. Everyone could sing, and sing well. They told me after I got there that there had never (not for any special reason--there just had never) been a woman in the "sitting in" spot with the Decoys, so I was honored, to begin with. But the welcome I got will stay with me for the rest of my life. We did Erma Franklin's version of "Piece Of My Heart," romped through Freddy King's "I'm Tore Down" (after Donnie Fritts and I decided Freddy is, indeed, the best King) and, when, after a swamped-up turn through "Take Me To The River," Mike Dillon announced, "She's a Decoy!", my heart was pretty full.

Donnie got up to sing "We Had It All," and I joined him on the bridge. Then The Decoys burned through the Fritts/Penn/Oldham anthem "Memphis Women and Chicken." The crowd was whooping, dancing, drinking, sweating and smiling (with Dick Cooper snapping what turned out to be 400 photos of the evening) by the time Travis Wammack quietly took the stage with his signature red 335---and just as quietly blew my mind. His 1964 hit "Scratchy" wasn't (and didn't need to be) on the bill: he was there to be part of the band. They played a couple, he shredded---and I mean SHREDDED---and then announced, "I'd like to sing a little..." as he sounded the arpeggio that introduces "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby." This was perfect, pristine country soul, sung so true, deeper than any well, and I was proud to stand up there and be part of the gospel choir that the bunch of us made (remember I said they can all sing...) at the chorus. THEN Wammack ripped into the most ass-kickin', hip-shakin' version of the Isley Brother's "It's Your Thing" that the world has ever known. I danced all over the stage, Mike Dillon and I aced the harmonies, and the Beehive Queen's soul was very, very, very, very content. So many folks came over to the table to thank me. It was I who felt grateful, and I still do, and I always will. What a beautiful thing, to be there with everyone, so DOWN in the groove, all night long. My thanks and respect to Kim, Kelvin, and all involved.

Before I left, very early on Thursday morning, I visited Jimmy Oliver's morning show on Q107 Eric Ambel, Cliff Goodwin & Andy York's triple-tremelo-guitar attack on "Love Make You Do Stupid Things" sounded mighty fine beaming out over those megawatts. And, by the way, the cotton opened up overnight, between Tuesday and Wednesday. The drive south back to Birmingham on Route 157 was through a sea of white.

Autumn In The Beehive 2010

After a whirlwind summer that found me in Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, DC and points between, I landed in New Orleans at the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, visiting with friends and participating in PazFest II, Michael Paz's benefit for the Ruth Paz Hospital for Burns and Pediatric Surgery in Honduras. Late August also saw the digital-only re-release of "Get You A Healin' " to benefit my pet charity, The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic, with original tracks by Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and others. On the "bonus cuts" side, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's "The Cradle DId Rock" from The Deep End joins tracks by BB King, Richard Thompson, The Subdudes, and Chandler Travis. So very proud to be included.

I decamp to Muscle Shoals, Alabama September 15 to sit in with Donnie Fritts and The Decoys on their regular Wednesday night gig and to visit with Rick and Linda Hall at FAME and tour other studios.....this journey to the heart of Southern Soul music will be like going down to the well for me. I'll report back on how it goes.

Reviews for The Deep End continue to come in, with wonderful mentions in Downbeat, Blues Revue, and Blueswax. Leading the pack are The Bluegrass Special's "The Deep End insists on telling the truth until it alters perceptions of love and loss and how it all works, especially when it falls apart so tragically as that which produced this work of art. Here comes the sun, healing and transcendent." and Dave Marsh's "Ohlman turns out the best blue-eyed soul of her career...'The Gone of You' fully exhibits how much grief a blues-drenched heart can bear. The whole history of soul music can be heard here, reflected in a passionate life--or two." (Rock n' Rap Confidential).

I am deeply grateful, and deeply aware of how much the connection with friends and fans through the music means. Hope to see you soon on stage.

And thanks to VENU Magazine, a fabulous new arts and music mag based out of Fairfield, CT, for their wonderful feature in the September/October issue.

Summer In The Hive with The Beehive Queen

It's high summer, and "The Deep End" has been in release for four months. The review have been pretty overwhelming, from Dave Marsh to Nick Cristiano in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Downbeat, Blues Revue, M Magazine, Hal Horowitz's insightful piece in the All-Music Guide, and so many more. I'm appreciative to everyone who's responded positively to this record, and I'm joined in this gratitude by the members of Rebel Montez--Cliff Goodwin, Michael Colbath and Larry Donahue. Our tour schedule has taken us to venues like the Rochester International Jazz Festival's Abilene Americana stage, where we headlined alongside (on separate nights) Dave Alvin and Amy LaVere. I was so proud to perform at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to benefit the New Orleans Musicians Clinic ( www.nomc.org ) alongside JoJo Hermann & Widespread Panic, The North Mississippi All Stars, Gov't Mule and others. More than $50,000 was raised.

This new record has such deep meaning for me, and in on-air SIRIUS/XM appearances with both Vin Scelsa and Dave Marsh, Andy York (the record's producer) and I have gotten to explore some of the songs in the radio setting. Our schedule will take us to various points on the East Coast this summer into the fall, and we look forward to seeing all of you on the road. Keep in touch on Facebook at the "Christine Ohlman Beehive Queen" music page, or e-mail me at info@christineohlman.net . Let's all rock on together. --Christine

The Deep End Release Date Set

The Deep End debuted in the digital world in November and has been downloadable on iTunes and Amazon.com since then. Now, the release date has officially been set for March 20, 2010 with pre-order on Amazon.com on January 20. A free download of the title cut, as well as much more information, is available at www.christineohlman.net. Co-produced by Andy York (John Mellencamp), its fourteen songs are of life and love tempered by loss. The members of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez (Michael Colbath-bass; Larry Donahue-drums; Cliff Goodwin-guitar) are joined by special guests (and my duet partners) Dion, Ian Hunter, and Marshall Crenshaw, plus special guests Levon Helm, Big Al Anderson, G.E. Smith, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, Catherine Russell, Vic Steffens, Shawn Pelton, the Asbury Juke Horns w/Mark Rivera, Jeff Kazee, Paul Ossola, Mitch Chakour, and, of course, Andy. In all, it's been a labor of love, following a recording hiatus of several years due to the passing of both our long-time producer (and my mate) Doc Cavalier and our guitarist, Eric Fletcher, who is memorialized in a cool radio airshot he and I recorded together in 2005. The advance reviews have all been great. It's all been done for the pleasure of our listeners, and we hope you dig, and enjoy.

Andy York and I will appear January 31 (11 am) with my great friend Dave Marsh on his Sunday morning SIRIUS/XM show "Kick Out The Jams" to chat about the record and perform a few tracks. Tune in and turn on!

In other news, I appeared in a raucous commercial parody on Saturday Night Live called "Carter n' Sons Barbeque" (a/k/a "Swine Fever!") Check it out at NBC's HULU site. As always, I'm the one with the big blonde beehive!

Rock on into Spring.....Christine

Imminent Release of The Deep End

Many of you have asked when The Deep End will be available, so I'm happy to tell you that digital release on iTunes is set for November 1, with availability for downloads on Amazon and other sites on or about November 8; full street-date release on January 19, 2010, with pre-order on Amazon in mid-December. You'll be able to order it at www.christineohlman.net on October 20. We will celebrate at Cafe Nine in New Haven, Connecticut, the favorite original-music hangout of Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, on November 14.

What a journey of the heart this record has been. I’ve experienced, since the release of my last studio album Strip, the loss of both a mate—Doc Cavalier, who’d been our producer—and a long-time guitarist and collaborator, Eric Fletcher. It’s been tough, and sitting down at the writing table wasn’t always easy. Rosanne Cash and I were talking, and she asked me if I’d written sad songs. It wasn’t until I considered her question that I realized I hadn’t. Ultimately, this is an album about love and the courage to fall into it. The fact is, the loss just informs you; it opens emotional doors that couldn’t possibly have opened before, no matter how much you thought you knew about it. I wrote about love—the newness of it, the glory of it, the loss of it, the constancy of it, the sadness that can come from it, the wonder of it…the sweet bitterness of it, sometimes. It’s my favorite topic, and never have I felt it so deeply and been so deeply affected by it.

The songs came over a period of about 10 months, the last being “The Gone Of You,” co-written with Cliff Goodwin. It turned out to be, along with the title track (with wonderful guitar work by Big Al Anderson), the album’s signature. We’ve included it twice, in a full studio version and then in a genius demo track that Andy York, who produced the record and was its most stalwart contributor, fashioned from voodoo loops and dark guitar. I sang it one late-night-into-early morning, so we dubbed it “The Gone Of You (After Hours).” Yet it’s “The Deep End,” with its theme of jumping off a cliff, that owns my heart.

If the writing of the songs had been a joy, the recording process proved to be a total kick, spearheaded by sessions with the core band: Cliff Goodwin, Larry Donahue and Michael Colbath of Rebel Montez, joined by Andy York. Then from Andy’s home studio to Vic Steffens’ cool Connecticut-based Horizon Music Group to Levon Helm’s place in Woodstock to Station West in Nashville, Lily’s Terrace and New Calcutta in NYC, and Sounds Great in Boca Raton, the guest artists had tracks flying, on fire together.

Ian Hunter whipped off his sunglasses in the June heat at Andy’s and dug into “There Ain’t No Cure.” To my delight, he’d also written the lyrics to “The Deep End” on a yellow legal pad and offered to add his voice there, too. Marshall Crenshaw and I romped on one of my all-time favorite “lost” Motown classics, Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells’ “What’s The Matter With You Baby,” over at Levon’s studio, the great man himself on drums, his shoulders famously hunched in that beautiful way of his. Dion and I conferred by phone and, with Cat Russell’s help, crafted our vocal tracks—he in Florida and I in Connecticut— for “Cry Baby Cry,” a treasured southern soul gem out of my vinyl collection originally done by the unsung duo Van & Titus. Dion had loved the track as much as I did when I’d first sent it to him. The guitarists on this record are, truly, an “A Team”—from Rebel Montez’s current (Cliff) and once (Eric, to whose memory the CD is dedicated, appearing with me in a pristine radio air shot of Link Wray’s “Walkin’ Down The Street Called Love”—if ever a title fit the theme, this is it) —to G.E. Smith, Big Al Anderson, Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, and Andy York. I am so deeply grateful to all the musicians whose hearts and souls are stamped on these tracks. They honor me with their presence.

It’s been a long and winding road, and in many respects I felt this was a journey I truly had to make by myself. That I’ve had great artists support me along the way has been a dream, and a gift. As I say in the liner notes, “There are so many who have stepped up with grace and love to help me get through these past years, to rejoice with me, to hold me while I cried, and to lift me up.” I have, indeed, been lifted, and now I look forward to sharing these songs with everyone. Let’s jump into the deep end.