Bill Wax on the Blues

For those who are unfamiliar with me, I was the Program Director and Host of Bluesville on XM Satellite Radio.  The channel was renamed B.B. King’s Bluesville in 2008.  I managed the channel from its inception until 2013, when I retired.  I also have over 35 years of experience in non-commercial radio, both as a host on various Blues and Rhythm and Blues shows and as Program Director at two stations: KOPN in Columbia, MO, and KBOO in Portland, OR. 

I never thought much about writing until they reached out to me about working on Roaming The Arts.  They were quite convincing, and I loved the concept for the website.  So here I am. I hope to promote contemporary blues musicians, as well as recognize those who have already left the stage.

Watch Bill tell his story on Time Signatures with Jim Ervin ( from Capital Area Blues Society – Lansing, Michigan)

There are two men in the music I want to highlight in our first post.

The first is David Earl, founder and owner of Severn Records, a label located near Annapolis, MD.  David passed on September 7, 2025, at the age of 57.  I first met David in the early to mid-1990s, when he started showing up at open mics with his guitar and eventually played in a couple of DC/Baltimore Blues bands.  In 1997, David began Echo Records and changed its name to Severn Records in 1998. The catch phrase for the label was ‘Roots Music for the 21st Century, and that is just what his label became.  His first three releases were Darrell Nulisch’s “The Whole Truth”, Big Joe Maher’s “I’m Still Swinging”, and Benjie Porecki’s “Servin’ It Up”.  His label has since issued over 60 discs.  Some of the artist who have recorded for Severn, an incredible roster, include:  Steve Guyger, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Lou Pride, Mike Morgan and the Crawl, Tad Robinson, Jimmy Earl, Kim Clark Organ Trio, Ola Dixon, Roy Gaines, Louisiana Red, J Street Jumpers, Nora Jean Burso, Roy Carrier, Bruce Katz, Alex Schultz, Buck Hill, Clarence Spady, Charles Wilson, Johnny Moeller, Mud Morganfield, The Nighthawks, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bryan Lee, and Ursula Ricks.  Below is a starter list of some of my favorite tunes from Severn’s catalogue: 

Roy Gaines – Hind Ends and Elbows

Darrell Nulisch -Leaving On the Morning Train

Clarence Spady – Just Between Us

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones – The Last Words of a Fool

Tad Robinson – Broken Hearted Man

Mud Morganfield/Kim Wilson – I Love the Life I Live

Ursula Ricks – My Street

The Nighthawks – Damn Good Time

Big Joe and the Dynaflows – How Come People Act Like That?

Steve Guyger – I’m Shakin’

Happy 100th Birthday B.B. King – September 16, 2025 (click link for a welcome rememberence)

The second musician I want to highlight is Sherman Holmes, the last man standing from the Holmes Brothers Band.  They were a roots blues music group that was active between 1975 and 2015.  They recorded 11 discs and won two Blues Music Awards.   Sherman turned 86 on September 29, 2025.  One of the most rewarding benefits of doing a radio show is that you never know who is listening.  Sherman’s cousin is a fan of my radio show on WPFW.  He heard me announce that I was going to play several tunes featuring Sherman and contacted Sherman so he could listen.  I, of course, was both honored and touched that Sherman might be listening.  I was also a bit intimidated that he might be listening.  After the show, I got a note to call Pinky Sherman, who lives with Sherman. They called to thank me for playing the tunes and remembering Sherman and the Holmes Brothers.  It made my week, and when Pinky told me Sherman was smiling, well, that makes it all worthwhile. Below is a starter list of some of the songs that Sherman sings lead on with the Holmes Brothers or from his solo disc called “The Richmond Sessions”:

Sherman Holmes/Joan Osborne – Dark End of the Street

Holmes Brothers – There’s A Train

Holmes Brothers – Promised Land

Holmes Brothers – If I Needed You

Holmes Brothers – If I Had a Boat

Sherman Holmes – I Want Jesus

Holmes Brothers – Something Is Missing

Thanks for reading and listening.

More About Bill

Search for Bill’s on air shows at: “Roots and Fruits” on WPFW 

Click here for posts of Roaming the Arts’ collection of Blues artists.