James McMurtry is an American rock and folk rock/americana singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and occasional actor. He performs with veteran bandmates Daren Hess, Cornbread, and Tim Holt. His father, novelist Larry McMurtry, gave him his first guitar at age seven.
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Southern Avenue
Southern Avenue is a dynamic, Grammy-nominated blues and soul band from Memphis, Tennessee, celebrated for carrying the Southern soul legacy into the 21st century. The band’s formation is a story of serendipity, bringing together diverse backgrounds to create a sound that is both deeply traditional and refreshingly modern. The band is most notably composed of Israeli-born guitarist Ori Naftaly and the Memphis-native Jackson sisters: powerhouse lead vocalist Tierinii, drummer and vocalist Tikyra “T.K.,” and percussionist, violinist, and vocalist Ava.
The group formed in 2015 and quickly made a name for themselves, reaching the finals of the prestigious International Blues Challenge in 2016. This rapid success led to a historic signing with the newly reactivated Stax Records—the first time in 40 years a Memphis band had been signed to the legendary soul label. Taking their name from a Memphis street running to the original home of Stax Records, Southern Avenue proved to be a fitting choice to represent the city’s rich musical heritage.
Their self-titled debut album in 2017 received critical acclaim and earned them the “Best Emerging Artist Album” award from the Blues Foundation. The album’s success fueled a rigorous touring schedule across the US, Europe, and Australia, allowing them to cultivate a devoted fanbase and hone their electrifying live performance. Their follow-up album, Keep On, released in 2019, featured more pronounced funk influences and earned them a Grammy nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues Album”.The band’s musical style is a seamless and spirited blend of genres. The foundation is rooted in gospel music, a heritage brought by the Jackson sisters, whose natural harmonies and soulful delivery give the band its core spiritual sound. Tierinii’s vocals, often compared to the confident and gutsy style of Chaka Khan, are a magnetic force that energizes audiences. This soulful intensity is paired with Naftaly’s intricate, raw guitar work, which he brought to Memphis after immigrating from Israel in search of authentic blues. The result is a gritty, infectious, and contemporary take on American roots music.Beyond their captivating sound, Southern Avenue is known for their uplifting and message-driven songs. Their music aims to transmute negative feelings into a sense of freedom and jubilation, creating a powerful and positive connection with their listeners. This ethos extends to their live shows, which are praised as dynamic and inclusive experiences that celebrate the communal power of music. The band’s latest album, Family, released in 2025 on Alligator Records, was recorded at Memphis’s historic Royal Studios and continues their tradition of crafting universal, heartfelt songs that bring people together.Southern Avenue’s journey from a serendipitous meeting to a Grammy-nominated act is a testament to their talent and hard work. They have successfully blended traditional Memphis sounds with a fresh, modern perspective, establishing themselves as a vital voice in blues and soul music today. -
Deanna Bogart
Deanna Bogart
When it comes to Deanna Bogart, everyone wants to claim her as their own — her hometown, her fans, her fellow musicians and even her instruments. She’s that good–and that good-natured.
Born in Detroit, Deanna spent her early years in Phoenix and New York City, climbing on any available piano bench to plunk and play with preternatural panache. Around the age of six, she was “gently removed” from the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for playing piano by ear instead of learning to read music. While in middle school, Deanna yearned to play the saxophone. Typical of those times though, she was told, “Girls play the clarinet, not the sax.” Thankfully for us all, that tide has changed.
Today, Deanna Bogart is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and multifaceted musician whose fans value the diversity of her genre-free zone. As a bandleader/singer/songwriter/producer/pianist/sax player, Deanna combines the best of boogie-woogie, contemporary blues, country and jazz into a splendid blend she calls “blusion.”
Deanna’s fusion of blusion — spontaneous, sophisticated, fearless and fun — has garnered her three consecutive Blues Music Awards’ Horn Instrumentalist of the Year for 2008, 2009 and 2010 and an endorsement contract with Rico Reeds. She has won, at last count, more than 20 Wammies, the music awards for the hotly contested Washington, D.C. region.
Recognized for her dazzling keyboards, soulful saxophone, smoky vocals and cut-above songwriting, Deanna easily wins the hearts of fans on land and at sea on chartered cruises. She is a featured player in the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue, jamming with Tommy Castro, Magic Dick (founding member of the J. Geils Band), as well as prominent guitar slingers. Deanna remembers well her early years as a budding musician and is an avid educator and mentor, sharing her insight and wisdom with students of all ages.
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Allen Toussaint
in memorium
Artist Biography by Steve Huey
Producer, songwriter, arranger, session pianist, solo artist — Allen Toussaint wore all these hats over the course of his lengthy and prolific career, and his behind-the-scenes work alone would have been enough to make him a legend of New Orleans R&B. Thanks to his work with numerous other artists, Toussaintbore an enormous amount of responsibility for the sound of R&B in the Crescent City from the ’60s on into the ’70s. His productions kept with the times, moving from rollicking, earthy soul in the ’60s to gritty, rambunctious funk in the ’70s. As a composer, Toussaint proved himself a consistent hitmaker, penning more than a few gems that have since become R&B standards and been covered by countless artists working in many different styles. In keeping with that across-the-board appeal, Toussaint worked in some supporting capacity for a wide variety of rock and blues legends, particularly from the ’70s on. On top of all that, Toussaint waxed his own records from time to time, enjoying a creative peak in the ’70s with several albums that highlighted his laid-back vocals and elegantly funky piano work. Even if he wasn’t always the most visible figure, Toussaint‘s contributions to New Orleans music — and to rock & roll in general — were such that he earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
