Rory Block . . .

     

Aurora "Rory" Block (born November 6, 1949, Princeton, New Jersey, United States) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.

 

Aurora Block was born in Princeton and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the influence of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, such as Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, and John Sebastian, tempted Block to study classical guitar. At the age of 14, she met guitarist Stefan Grossman, who introduced her to the music of Mississippi Delta blues guitarists. Block began listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians; then she traveled to Berkeley, California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.

 

After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music industry in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers, such as "Terraplane Blues" and "Come on in My Kitchen". Block has won five W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998) and three for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999, 2007). She also won NAIRD awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album of the Year" in 1994 for Angel of Mercy and again in 1997 for Tornado.

 

    

Angel of Mercy, Turning Point, and Tornado were filled with her self penned efforts. However, Mama's Blues, Ain't I A Woman and When A Woman Gets The Blues, featured songs written by Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Lottie Beaman, and Mattie Delaney.

 

Block continued to tour, although not as heavily as earlier, and she was often accompanied by her son Jordan Block, who also played on her albums. She remained busy in the early part of the 2000s, releasing six albums, including a live recording. 2005's From the Dust drew decent critical reviews, as did 2006's The Lady and Mr. Johnson.

In 2010, Block released her autobiography in .pdf format and a limited print run titled When A Woman Gets The Blues.

 

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Discography:

• 1967
  How to Play Blues Guitar
  Elektra
  324
  Credited as "Sunshine Kate", with Stefan Grossman, reissued in 1978 as Kicking Mule 109
• 1975
  Rory Block
  RCA Victor
  0733
• 1976
  Rory Block (I'm in Love)
  Blue Goose
  2022
• 1977
  Intoxication, So Bitter Sweet
  Chrysalis
  1157
• 1979
  You're the One
  Chrysalis
  1233
• 1981
  High Heeled Blues
  Rounder
  3061
  Recorded at Bearsville Sound Studios, Produced by John Sebastian
• 1983
  Blue Horizon
  Rounder
  3073
• 1984
  Rhinestones & Steel Strings
  Rounder
  3085
• 1986
  I've Got a Rock in My Sock
  Rounder
  3097
• 1987
  Best Blues and Originals
  Rounder
  11525
• 1987
  House of Hearts
  Rounder
  3104
• 1990
  Color Me Wild
  Alcazar
  1003
  Children's album
• 1991
  Mama's Blues
  Rounder
  3117
  Live
• 1992
  Ain't I A Woman
  Rounder
  3120
• 1994
  Angel of Mercy
  Rounder
  3126
  1994 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
• 1994
  Women In (E)motion
  Tradition & Moderne
  107
  Live, 1988
• 1995
  When A Woman Gets The Blues
  Rounder
  3139
  1996 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
• 1995
  Turning Point
  Munich
  145
• 1996
  Tornado
  Rounder
  3140
  1997 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
• 1997
  Gone Woman Blues: The Country Blues Collection
  Rounder
  11575
• 1997
  The Early Tapes 1975-1976
  Alcazar
  111
• 1998
  Confessions Of A Blues Singer
  Rounder
  3154
  1999 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
• 2002
  I'm Every Woman
  Rounder
  3174
• 2003
  Last Fair Deal
  Telarc
  CD-83593
• 2004
  Sisters & Brothers
  Telarc
  CD-83588
  With Eric Bibb and Maria Muldaur
• 2005
  From The Dust
  Telarc
  CD-83614
• 2006
  The Lady and Mr Johnson
  Rykodisc
  RCD 10872
  2007 Acoustic Blues Album of the Year
• 2008
  Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute To Son House
  Stony Plain
  SPCD 1329
• 2008
  Country Blues Guitar - Rare Archival Recordings 1963-1971
  Guitar Workshop
  SGGW103
  With Stefan Grossman, reissue of How to Play Blues Guitar plus 16 additional tracks

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The next artist on my “Hot List” is  Joanne Shaw Taylor (born 1986, England) is a British blues guitarist and singer, who was discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16. She has released two studio albums to date; a third, entitled Almost Always Never, was released on 17 September 2012.

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Until next time, remember to help “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .

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MUSICIAN by Night

GOD Save “The Blues”