It’s hard to believe it’s already November & the holidays are fast approaching. Our CDs, shirts, & DVDs make special gifts, and we ship anywhere. Please visit our STORE Page for easy ordering.
On June 30th, Liz went into Clear Track Studios in Clearwater to record on Randy “Bluesman” Hock’s new project. In addition to Liz on vocals & piano and Randy on bass, the other musicians included STEVE ARVEY on vocals & guitar, PUG BAKER on drums & HANA LI on vocals. In one afternoon, they completed four tracks: 1) “Honky Tonk Rhythm,” 2) “Just Ain’t Good Enough,” 3) “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” & 4) “Living The Life Of The Blues.” Parts of this recording session can be seen on YouTube (search “LIZ PENNOCK”)
Liz & I thoroughly enjoyed RINGO STARR in concert with his Allstar Band at Ruth Eckerd Hall on July 13th. This was our first experience seeing a Beatle LIVE, & we weren’t disappointed. The band, which included Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter & others, played for 2 hours straight to a packed house, & they played alot of Ringo’s Beatles hits as well as his solo classics.
Liz & I did 15 shows on our six-week 2010 Summer Tour from July 26th through September 7th. The first gig of the tour was in Bloomington, Indiana for the 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT CONCERT on July 29th. Thanks to CRAIG BRENNER, fine piano player, for booking us for this cool event. It’s the first time we’ve had a giant poster of us on the sides of city buses! We surprised Craig by staying in town & going to his gig with THE RAGIN TEXANS at the Bluebird on July 31, where Liz sat in on piano.
Next, we played a House Party for LES REYNOLDS & friends in New Albany, IN on August 1st. It was a treat to see Louisville blues afficionados KEITH & PEGGY CLEMENTS there after many years. We played Liz’s “Last Song” & “Boogie Woogie Staircase” in memory of Mary Gregory, dear friend & Frequent Fan. It seemed fitting that we were in her home state of Indiana when we got the sad news that she passed away July 31. Our love & sympathy go out to son Terry & the family. She surely is missed at our gigs.
Then, we were off to Cincinnati, Ohio for the “BEATING THE MELANOMA BLUES” Fundraiser at the Frisch Estate on August 5th, followed by the annual Piano Party in Cincy on August 6th. Great times, great food, & loads of fantastic piano players and music!
We performed at the CINCY BLUES FESTIVAL (Arches Piano Stage) on Saturday, August 7th, our 16th year at this fave festival. There were two nice surprises at the fest this year: Liz’s entire family (her mom & all 4 siblings)) showed up- the first Cincy fest for some of them. Liz’s brother Rodney & niece Jessica were even captured in a photo along with other fest attendees on Metromix’s website. The other special guest was John Burns M.D., Liz’s eye surgeon from Columbus, Ohio whom we hadn’t seen since 1993; it was his first time ever to hear us live & his first blues festival, as well!
August 20 marked our 25th year of playing ATWOOD YACHT CLUB in Ohio, our longest running gig. Mama Blues, son Drew & wife Kristen from VA were there, plus many members from way back in 1985.
Among our other shows, the next festival we did was a very special event: THE DIAMOND TEETH MARY BLUES & ARTS FESTIVAL in Huntington, West Virginia on August 27th. Coordinated by CHRIS SUTTON (guitarist & singer for C&S RAILROAD) and sponsored by the West Virginia Blues Society among others, this event featured West Virginia blues musicians, and was also the unveiling of Diamond Teeth Mary’s HISTORICAL MARKER at Heritage Station, where Liz & I had spread Mary’s ashes almost ten years ago to the day! You can see a photo of Mary’s marker on our GALLERY Page.
The following day (August 28th), we performed at EARTHSTOCK: MOTHER EARTH FOODS 35TH ANNIVERSARY in Parkersburg, WV, where we saw many old friends & shared the stage with longtime friends MIKE MORNINGSTAR and RICKY ROBERTS.
The final gig of the tour (Sept. 4th) found us in Nitro, West Virginia at CASTAWAYS for the first time. You know a gig’s gonna be good when, upon our arrival, guys are lined up to help us load in our equipment! Chris Sutton also sat in with us here before the terrific audience, & our old friend STEVE POLING from Parkersburg, surprised us by showing up after many years, wearing a vintage Liz & Doc beret!
This summer Liz’s song “BLUE ILLUSION” reached #8 on the charts at MusicTampaBay.com Internet Radio. At this writing, her song “BLUES LOVING WOMAN” is at #35 and moving up the charts. Also, Randy Bluesman Hock’s song “LIVING THE LIFE OF THE BLUES” featuring Steve Arvey on guitar/vocals & Liz on piano is at #6. Listen & vote!
October found us playing 3 Florida Festivals: Gulfport’s 100th Birthday Bash on the 9th, our 8th year at Jazz Up Dunnellon on the 16th, and Pigz in the Z’Hills BBQ & Blues, Zephyrhills on the 30th.
On October 22nd, Liz had her long-awaited eye surgery (DCR) in Tampa to replace one of her glass artificial tear ducts, her first replacement since 1993. To her relief, stitches were removed last Friday & her black/purple eye is almost faded. Thanks to all for the well wishes!
On this Veteran’s Day, we’re grateful for the sacrifice of our Veterans & soldiers, and especially thinking of our nephew David Pennock who just arrived in Korea for a year’s deployment in the Army. Brings back memories of the year I too served in the Army in Korea many years ago.
We are also most thankful to all of you for your love, friendship & support of our music this Thanksgiving. Whether you’re in the crowd, buying a CD, DVD or shirt, or requesting our songs on the radio, it means the world to us. Wishing you Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & New Year!
