Jason Peverett, Dave Peverett’s son, who I met in Florida when I was gigging there with the Rod Price Band, runs a music and comment website site called the The Peverett Phile:

http://thepeverettphile.blogspot.com/  in which he comments on various events in America but always includes a musician interview. He did one with me which he published last Sunday and as it was the first time I’d visited the site  I have to say I really enjoyed it and I will be checking it out on a regular basis from now on. He is also going to do one with Chris Youlden and probably Mel Wright our Waydown drummer. Continue reading →

I recently managed to delete a number of emails without answering them or saving the contacts so I hope that anyone who is awaiting a response will get back in touch. In particular I need to respond to the Greek blues interview request and to the information on Chris Youlden’s “Nowhere Road” album. Apologies to both senders of their particular emails.

With regard to other matters, Mel Wright informs me that he managed to get Bernie Pallo’s obituary in the online Guardian and to read it, the link is as follows:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2012/jan/15/bernie-pallo-obituary

It’s a good tribute to Bernie’s life.

I’ve just received the contract for our gig in September for the Banbury blues festival “Blues Attic Revisited” on Saturday September 8^th  at 8p.m. until 9.20p.m. in the theatre at The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury, Oxon. OX16 5QE I am looking forward to it as I have fond memories of the Blues Attic days. As I’ll be 75 a month later perhaps I’d better start thinking of another Birthday Bash while I’m still in full charge of a my faculties. Or at least I think I am. Now how did I lose those emails?

About ten years ago I injured a shoulder whilst performing some vague sort of flexibility exercise in one of my less sensible moments. (Yes, I too, occasionally have them).and lately it’s been getting worse so a medical check up and ultrasound scan showed the problem to be a badly torn tendon. A couple of injections at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have done the trick. Well almost, because I did a bit too much dancing with Gigi, at a Meals on Wheels Christmas Dinner and Dance in Cricklewood, which undid some of the good. However it’s improved since. I just have to temper the dancing, I guess.

Continue reading →

The funeral of  guitarist Bernie Pallo took place  at nine o’clock in the morning but despite the early hour, there was an excellent turn out. Friends and family came over from France to join many of his colleagues from Meals on Wheels and fellow musicians were there in force. His brother Jean talked of the early days when he and  Bernie were encouraged by their father to study music. They both started on piano accordion but their musical paths diverged eventually. I also said my piece and was followed by Bill Peters from Meals on Wheels. Continue reading →

Bernie  Pallo’s Funeral will be at 9 am on Tuesday 15^th November at the West London Crematorium, Harrow Road next to Kensal Green Cemetary. Buses 52 and 18 stop nearby and Kensal Green underground is the closest tube station. Unfortunately Chris Youlden is too ill to make it. The following day a few friends, including Gordon Smith and I, will collect his ashes and spread them according to his wishes.

I have arranged a wake gig at the Elephant and Castle, Elgin Avenue W9 on Wednesday evening starting at 8.30. The pub is at the Harrow Road end of Elgin. The line-up is Gordon Smith on guitar and vocals, Jim Mercer bass and vocals, Dino Coccia on drums and myself on harp and vocals.