WELCOME BACK Music Lovers!!  Happy 2010 to you all.

I am so excited to be able to kick off the 2010 Season with a dear friend and extraordinary veteran musician, Mr. Michael Pickett as our first guest of the year.

On Monday, January 11th, at 8:00 pm, please join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and Johnny ” I have a Buddy Rich Band” Collin,  for the Frankie & Johnny Radio Show at www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny.

Toronto , Mississippi. Whenever I read this on Michael Pickett’s website, it always gives me a chuckle because B.Pulford who whoever he might be, was one accurate SOB. He goes on to describe Michael’s  music as a ‘ unique fusion of sensibilities, driven by his thumping delta guitar rhythms, muscular harmonica and gravel and chains voice which  is, at once, traditional and relevant”.  YES YES YES …Hell YES!!!.

Furthermore, Pulford states that, “Never content to merely be a musical archivist, Pickett effectively deconstructs and reconstructs those seminal blues, born on the delta, to serve his own singular purpose; writing songs that are authentic both in substance and performance.” I heartily concur!

Through 30 years of musical innovation, reinvention and growth, Michael has emerged as a preminent solo artist whose music drips with  authenticity. Michael has created a genre of music that goes beyond the blues, and I am not sure it requires a name except as humans we like to ‘profile’ and place people and things into compartments. Can you say AMAZING GRACE!

It’s funny the moments that alter ones life and for Michael Pickett it was a harmonica given to him by his grandmother and a television performance by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee that hooked him on music for life. To say he was inspired would be an understatement. They have fueled these past 30 years with the kind of  love, passion and single minded focus that  took us to the moon and back.

Michael and his National Steel Duolian

Blessed with an uncanny musical sponge for a brain, I am convinced that Michael Pickett could play a toothpick and give it soul and groove.  

In the 70s, 80s, and 90s Michael established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music.

Professionally he has been recognized by his peers with a

Canadian Music award for  Blues Album of the year with his Conversation with the Blues CD,

Maple Blues Award for Best Harmonica Player of the Year award and  Blues with a Feeling Award

 Jazz Report Award- Best Album of the year for Blues Money Cd.

Real Blues Awards, Several awards for Best Song, best singer

Michael also garnered another Maple Blues Award and took home the :

Acoustic of the year Award-04

Entertainer of the year

Electric Act of the year with The Michael Pickett Band in 01.

If you don’t know his face, you may recognize his voice from his 7 year run as the voice of Budweiser beer, his harp and voice ARE the  THE BUDMAN!!!   

Michael has played with and/or shared the stage with Big Mama Thornton . John Lee Hooker . James Cotton . Jeff Healey . Bo Diddley . Koko Taylor . Downchild Blues Band . John Hammond . Matt “Guitar” Murphy . Doug Kershaw . Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith . Snooky Pryor . Sunnyland Slim . Lazy Lester . Tom Rush . Josh White Jr . Rory Block . Matt Minglewood . T.Graham Brown . Kentucky Headhunters . Hubert Sumlin . Taj Mahal . Muddy Waters . Son Seals . Big Bill Morganfield . Robert Cray . Buddy Guy . Jon Cleary . Tea Party . Anthony Gomes . Gary Nicholson . The Players . Fortunate Sons, Colin Linden, Brian Stoltz, George Porter Jr., Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, The Nighthawks, and more.

House concert for peace, 2008

Tonight Michael will be joined by his wife and long time Manager/Publicist Louise  Pickett, to offer an intimate and upclose look at living life married to the Music Business.  

A musical veteran, Michael has never worked a day in his life  doing anything else.  

This is an incredible  opportunity for his fans, and  those who want to quit their day jobs to make music, to get up close and personal. Call in and speak to Michael and Louise by dialing 646) 378-0358 or join us in the chat room during the show. click on www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny to listen live or to download the archive version as an MP3 after the show.

In this girls humble opinion, Michael Pickett is a talent who should never be missed LIVE but if you can't get to Mississippi, Toronto then going to www.michaelpickett.com is the next best thing.

Michael  will steal your breath away with raw lyrics and jaw dropping “how does he do that’ playing.