2006 has started with a bang! This is a milestone year for us. January marks the 10th anniversary of our move to Florida from Ohio; we had toured here every year since 1988, but our Florida tours got longer every year until we finally made the move to St. Pete in 1996. It’s been a fantastic ten years!

Another milestone occurs this month when we play at GULFPORT ON THE ROCKS (Gulfport, FL) on March 17th. Liz played her first gig at this venue on March 17th, 1976, so this show will mark her 30th year in the music business.

Also, February 14th is the 20th Anniversary of our record label, UPRIGHT RECORDS. We released “Bluesy Atmosphere” August 1st, 1986, and have gone the full gamut from vinyl LP’s to cassettes to compact discs over the past 20 years.

Some of you may have seen us on Channel 14’s coverage of our BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS performance (November, 2005), which has aired a number of times since then. This was also featured in the ST. PETE TIMES. Further, we received a very good album review of our LIVE FROM ST. PETE CD in the February BAYSIDE NEWS.

Liz & I had a fine time performing at the 1st Annual Zephyrhills Chalk Art Festival on February 4th, despite the heavy rains earlier in the day. They’ve already booked us for next year’s festival on February 10th, 2007, so mark your calendars!

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is now hosting the FLORIDA BLUES EXHIBIT featuring DIAMOND TEETH MARY. The exhibit features a wide variety of photos, music samples, clothing and memorabilia from many of Florida’s blues artists, including Tampa Red, Mary McClain, Rock Bottom, T.C. Carr, Ray Charles, and many others. Liz & I performed at the exhibit’s VIP Grand Opening on February 2nd and may do another concert there soon.

Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive at all of our new gigs this year. Because of great crowds, our two weekly house gigs at the FRIENDLY FISHERMAN (Madeira Beach) on Sundays and at DAVE’S AQUALOUNGE (Gandy Blvd.) on Thursdays have been extended through the spring. Please check out our DATES page for our full schedule – hope to see you soon!