Dr. Joel Rudinow: Blog

Hoy Hoy, Music Fans!  Here’s our latest release, written by  “Champion Jack” Dupree, whose colorful story is both unique and representative of a generation of early blues piano players. Born William Thomas Dupree in 1908-10 in New Orleans (the precise date is unknown), orphaned at the age of 2 (plus or minus) when both of his parents are killed in a house fire, later discovered to have been set by the Ku Klux Klan. Growing up in the New Orleans Colored Waifs’ Home for Boys, Dupree got his first piano lessons, and snuck out to run with the Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indian tribe as “spy boy”, and do his fair share of sneaking into “adult establishments” to watch the older piano players.  At age 18 he took up boxing, fought a total of 107 professional bouts, and won the Indiana state lightweight title, earning the nickname “Champion Jack”.  In 1940 he began a recording career that produced over 100 sides released [...]

 

Coming to Ellis Auditorium on the Petaluma campus of Santa Rosa Junior College Monday, March 5.  Among the city of New Orleans’ distinctive contributions to American and world musical culture is a rich and highly original tradition of piano music. In this musically illustrated lecture Dr. Joel Rudinow surveys the New Orleans Piano Tradition from the ragtime era through post-war rhythm and blues and rock’n’roll to the present. Sponsored by Santa Rosa Junior College Arts & Lectures.  Free and open to the public, Monday, March 5, 1:30 pm, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma, CA

 

Just heard from our friend DJ Jellyroll Justice that he's playing 'The Ears Are On Strike' on his show at radio station WWOZ in New Orleans - truly a high honor!

Whassup Pussycat Records is pleased to announce the digital release of the NEW SINGLE by Dr. Joel Rudinow & Rude Notes Galore  - "The Ears Are On Strike" - a rarely played and seldom heard instance of exotic voodoo funk written by the great Dr. John (Mac Rebennak).