Carnival of Soul

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It’s been another banner year for Shreveport-Bossier City musicians who’ve made their voices and instruments heard on local stages and around the world. 

On any given day, live music from indie artists is being played in concert venues, restaurants, bars, festivals, and other mainstage outdoor events and low-key stages throughout the region. 

Many have taken their acts out on the road to broader audiences, racking up critical praise, awards, recognition, and media play along the way. 

In 2019, major events heavy to uphold their reputation as places to catch homegrown acts have included Red River Revel, Mudbug Madness, Crawfest, Jazz in the Park, Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, and The State Fair of Louisiana. Furthermore, nightlife locales and eateries have cleared stages and spaces in their dining rooms to spotlight local and regional acts. 

Notable national and international performing artists have come and gone, packing out CenturyLink Center, the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, and casino theaters. But don’t underestimate the talent and showmanship of homegrown artists. 

No matter how far they go on tour or how high they rise on music charts, local artists find a way to come home to live, play, and/or celebrate their successes with the communities that supported them from the beginning.

In 2020, be at the forefront of the local music scene. Get to know the music performers and be in the front row of their next concert or festival set. 

No need to wait, listen to the local sounds right now at home, at work, or on your commute by listening to them on streaming platforms and buying their digital albums, CDs, and vinyl albums online and at local record stores. 

Also, check out the locals-only playlist on Spotify, Pine Bark, created and updated by Logan Lewis, lead singer-guitarist of Logan and the Legendaries.

To get you started on your Shreveport-Bossier City music binge, here’s a list of some of the local artists to drop new albums, singles, and music videos in 2019.:

• Seratones. (Soul Rock) “Power” album, available on Apple Music, Spotify, and seratones.band. 
• Quan-B. (Hip-hop/Rap) “Revive” album, available on Apple Music and Google Play.  
• Jimmy Wooten. (Rock/Blues/Country) “Shine” EP, available at Rick’s Records and jimmywooten.net.
• Shayliff. (Rock) “No Fly Zone” album, available on Spotify and facebook.com/Shayliff/.
• Ouro Boar. (Afrobeat) “Low-Down, Dirty Crook” EP, available on Spotify, regional record shops, and facebook.com/ouroboar/.
• Good Spirits. (Rock) “I Am All These Things” debut album available at wearegoodspirits.com and facebook.com/goodspiritsound/.
• That Girl DJ. (Bass music/Open format) “That Girl DJ” EP, available on Spotify andfacebook.com/thatgirldj318/.

As 2019 comes to a close, take a look back on some of the year’s music news to make the pages of The Shreveport Times.:

Southern Soul Capital 

Last summer, Shreveport held firm to the title of the “birthplace of Southern Soul” – going head-to-head with Jackson, Mississippi, over the label.

Debates on the genre’s origin are ongoing with viewpoints changing depending on what side of the state line you’re on. However, Shreveport residents, music industry professionals, and government officials aren’t backing down. 

On July 9, Shreveport’s City Council passed a resolution laying claim to the title, “the official birthplace of the genre Southern Soul.”

Northwest Louisiana is brimming with music history and the musicians of today are steadfast on keeping the region the birthplace of stars.

Classics renewed

The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra renewed its contract with music director and conductor Michael Butterman through the 2022-23 season.

The city’s 71-year-old-symphony employs area musicians and provides musical accompaniment for local music and performing arts groups, including the Shreveport Opera and the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet. 

In November, the arts organizations moved back into their performance home after being displaced for more than a year for renovations. 

Riverview Theater and Hall reopened with ADA-compliant features and upgrades to the building’s lobby, auditorium, stage, backstage area and more. 

Critical reviews

In April, Michael Futreal, of the instrumental trio Twang Darkly, won the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s Critical Mass 7 performing arts competition.

The multifaceted musician received high regards from a national critic:

“Inspired by the mountain dulcimer associated with early Appalachian music, Futreal builds his own string instruments, then plays them in an improvisational style that finds a beautiful balance between melody and jazzy excursions fueled by whatever he’s feeling at the moment. I might call it Appalachian jazz, but he’s come up with a better name: rural space music.” —Manny Mendoza

Father & sons

The Blades, a Shreveport’s music family, celebrated milestones, career achievements, and set off on new journeys. 

In February, jazz percussionist, Brian Blade earned his second Grammy Award in Best Jazz Instrumental Album with The Wayne Shorter Quartet for the three-disc “Emanon.”

“Recognition is beautiful, but it’s also ultimately not the reason why we do it — but it is beautiful when it echoes back in that way,” Blade told The Times. 

In April, his brother and fellow renown drummer, Brady Blade, Jr. returned to the United States from his current home in Sweden. He brought with him a rising Swedish soul singer and his band, OSCAR-Soul Experience.

Brady Blade, Jr. is the producer of the band’s debut album, which they recorded in Colorado. After their session was complete, Blade brought the young musicians to Shreveport to make their Louisiana concert debut at Fatty Arbuckle’s Pub then an impromptu jam session with Buddy Flett and Pastor Blade at Twisted Root Burger Company. The band later performed in Lafayette and New Orleans. 

In May, the patriarch of the Blade family marked a milestone in pure gospel grandeur.

Pastor Brady Blade, Sr. the father of the drumming brothers turned 80 years old. Blade, Sr. is the founder and frontman of The Hallelujah Train choir and the 1970s-’80s live gospel showcase television program penned after the choir. A birthday concert was hosted at Blade’s church, Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport. Guest performers included the guest of honor, The Hallelujah Train choir, Sereca Henderson, Jon Cowherd and more.

Powerhouse sound

In August, Seratones, a Soul Rock from Shreveport, released their sophomore album, Power.”

Seratones members are frontwoman A.J. Haynes (vocals/guitar), Jesse Gabriel (drums), Adam Davis (bass), Travis Stewart (guitar), and Tyran Coker (keyboard). “Power” was recorded with producer Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant.

The album dropped with several music video releases, including the Shreveport-filmed video for the single, “Power.”

The critically acclaimed rising stars set off on another national tour, which included leading a second line procession then headlining at Red River Revel in October, in conjunction with Prize Fest/Louisiana Music Prize.

John-Henry Crawford

Cellist John-Henry Crawford, of Shreveport, won the IX International Carlos Prieto Competition in Morelia, Mexico in August.

Crawford received a $10,000 cash prize, a recording contract, and several concert dates around Mexico.

In September, Crawford – who’s attending Manhattan School of Music in New York – returned to his hometown with his century-old cello to open the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra’s 2019-2020 season with Tchaivosky’s 5th.

Louisiana Music Prize

The local indie music competition and showcase series Louisiana Music Prize returned as a part of the Prize Fest weekend.

The annual event rolled out a few new aspects throughout the year, including a Music Prize Live summer concert and locals unplugged series and the unveiling of the Music Prize Garage in downtown Shreveport. The all-ages concerts spotlighted local singers and musicians, including the 2017 Music Prize winners, Star Chamber.

The summer series led up to Music Prize’s main event, the Local Artist Discovery competition, in October. Five music finalists performed for a live audience and judging panel – that included Seratones’ A.J. Haynes, the first winner of the Music Prize in 2013.

The 2019 finalists were Chelsea Norman and the Daydreams, Hwy Lions, the Mansion Family, Moni, and The Outlaw Drosie Wales.

The audience choice winner was the hip-hop/rock collective The Outlaw Drosie Wales. The judges’ choice winner was rock band, Hwy Lions, who walked away with the Music Prize trophy and $2,500 check.

Gift of music

In the spirit of giving a hometown guitar hero made a charitable donation to area students.

James Burton, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and master of the Telecaster, donated 60 acoustic guitars to the music program at North Caddo Elementary Middle School in Vivian. The Caddo parish students welcomed Burton and gave thanks at a special ceremony at the school in September. The donation is a part of the guitarist’s support of music education, a mission of The James Burton Foundation.

“It truly changes the child’s life forever. It’s a universal language of the world—everybody loves music—and to be able to sit down and play an instrument is so much joy,” Burton told The Times.

Burton began playing guitar as a child and began his professional music career at age 14 with his first co-written and recorded song, “Susie Q.”

Hear Burton and his special guest musicians play live: The James Burton International Guitar Festival will present “A Louisiana Rockin’ Christmas” at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Margaritaville Casino in Bossier City. Tickets are $30 and are available at margaritavillebossiercity.com.

Bounce legend

Orville Hall hails from Hollis, Queens, neighborhood in New York but has called Shreveport his home for several years.

Hall is a nightclub manager with a plan in motion to create a surge in Shreveport’s independent film and entertainment industry, beginning with youth. Yet, the unassuming businessman has a deep-seated place in music history that’s changed the course of music since the 1980s.

Hall, also known as “Buggs Can Can,” and his rap partner, Phillip “Triggerman” Price, are members of The Showboys. In the late-1980s, the group recorded a single titled “Drag Rap” that has been sampled countless times for songs by New Orleans Bounce musicians, as well as pop artists including Drake, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé.

After decades of not being credited – or receiving royalties – Hall and Price were presented with The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) awards this summer. The music artists received three total Pop Music and R&B awards for Drake’s “Nice For What” and “In My Feelings.”

Hall shared his story with The Times about the creation of the 1980s hip-hop song, “Drag Rap” and how The Showboys went from being a myth to a legend.

In memoriam…

Each year, loved ones are lost and mourned. In 2019, Pastor Eddie Giles and Maggie Warwick were two local music icons who passed away but not before making great strides in history.

Eddie Giles — pastor, a radio announcer, and blues musician — died at age 80 in February. 

Giles, a Caddo Parish native, was known for his song “Losin’ Boy” and as the frontman for the group, Eddie Giles and the Jive Five.

Giles’ “Losin’ Boy” was recorded by Murco Records in 1967 and the single topped Billboard charts.

Giles’ career highlights include sharing the stage with Ike and Tina Turner and Jimi Hendrix.

Post-tour life, Giles dedicated himself to spiritual purpose as a church musician, deacon, then pastor. He served as pastor at Salem Missionary Baptist Church for more than 25 years.

Still, Giles kept his roots in music. For more than 40 years, he was a gospel announcer and program and music director for KOKA radio station, which won the 2012 Stellar Award as an outstanding gospel radio station.

“My life has been a fruitful life when I really look at how God has blessed me and where I am now. I have no regrets,” Giles said.

Maggie Warwick, co-owner of the Louisiana Hayride, died in March. The singer, songwriter, record producer, music publisher, and music executive was born in Synder, Texas. She spent many years as a Shreveport resident and local music and history advocate. Her efforts to preserve and support music’s history and its future led to the Foundation for Arts, Music and Entertainment of Shreveport-Bossier with her husband, Alton Warwick.

In 1997, the foundation raised the funds needed to save the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium – home of the Louisiana Hayride – from destruction and invest in the renovation of the downtown landmark and still operating venue.

Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statement about Warwick after her death.:

“Maggie lived life with everything she had. She made her mark on the music industry and used her talents as an internationally known singer, songwriter, and philanthropist to bring joy to others and make a difference in her community. Her passion for Louisiana’s music saved the original home of the Louisiana Hayride from destruction, ensuring that future generations will enjoy its charm and historical significance for years to come…”

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