Subject: BARRELHOUSE CHUCK

Sorry to report the death of our dear friend,

Chicago Piano Legend, H. Charles Goering..aka.. 

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK

July 10, 1958 - Dec 12, 2016

Cause of Death Prostate Cancer

Please read this story in the Chicago Tribune

There's tons of Chuck's videos on YouTube

Here's a link....Check it out! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cpnnd9k6iY

We met Chuck a decade or so ago.  We were listening to our buddy, OL HARV on the BLUES REVIEW-88.1 FM.  Chuck was his guest in the studio that day telling fantastic stories about his life in the blues and how he met and befriended the Chicago great piano legends like Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Pinetop Perkins, etc etc.  I told Sheila we had to meet that man!  He was playing that night at a local tavern, that was later to become, our favorite blues venue....The Legendary Midway Tavern in Mishawaka, IN.  The bar is operated by the Queen of the Blues, Albertina Wassenhove.We had an empty pretzel barrel on hand and Sheila suggested that I make him a tip jar.  I met him that evening and presented it to him....he said you made this for me?...you'd have thought that I had given him a new car.  I have never seen someone that was so appreciative!   We got acquainted and each time he came to town we made him some more artwork.   He had one of the largest collections of blues memorabilia in the country, photos, posters and THOUSANDS of records, 78's, Lp's, 45's, even 8-tracks.   Thru the years he started staying at our house whenever he was in the area...sometimes for gigs and sometimes just passing thru.  He'd call up and say: "I'm coming in town early so we can "make folk art" in the shop.   I've made him dozens of tribute plaques and shadow boxes to all of his idols.   I'll post some photos of some of them soon. He loved staying here in our "folk art museum"...and he loved Sheila's chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake.  There is a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. We love you Chuck! We last saw him and his lovely wife, Betsy, about 6 weeks ago at their home in Illinois

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqQqNEPLZ4IHERE'S ANOTHER FINE VIDEO ON CHUCK

CHUCK ALWAYS GAVE 110%

CHUCK in our LIVING ROOM

 

CHUCK and SHEILA at the Midway

THE LAST PIECE I MADE FOR HIM HE LOVED THE CROWN

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HIS FAVORITE TV SHOW - HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL

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I'll be adding lots more pictures of Chuck and some 

of the Artwork that I made for him...SOON!
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Dec 3th, 2016

Last night we were at the Midway Tavern to see the BRUCE KATZ BLUES BAND from the east coast.  We were happy to see our old friends keyboard master BRUCE  KATZ and guitar wizard CHRIS VITARILLO.  We met the band's new drummer RAY HANGEN that replaced former percussion man RALPH ROSEN.  We missed seeing Ralph but Ray is doing a great job in his place.

If this GREAT BAND comes to your area DON'T MISS THEM!

Check out BRUCE KATZ BAND website

Chris Vitarillo facebook

Ray Hangen's Facebook
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Our dear friend Barrelhouse Chuck, Chicago’s premier Blues Pianoman

has a NEW CD OUT….it’s a “MUST HAVE” for your collection.

ORDER  YOURS  TODAY at the link below

Barrelhouse Chuck is the only Chicago blues pianist to have studied under Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Detroit Junior and Little Brother Montgomery. Barrelhouse Chuck draws on this distinguished lineage to create a blues, boogie-woogie and barrelhouse piano style that places him at the forefront of this celebrated tradition. Chuck spent the next 16 years studying with the living legend, who Chuck called 'the great-granddaddy of all the blues piano players.' Through Sunnyland he met all the great blues musicians in Chicago, and often ended up playing with and hanging out with them. People like S.P. Leary, Smokey Smothers, Erwin Helfer and Little Brother Montgomery took Chuck under their wings.  He was a great student and now a seasoned journeyman piano master.

PRICES…………..In the USA…$14.ºº plus $3.ºº s/h

                        Overseas…..$16.ºº plus $11.ºº s/h

Send PayPal Orders to: barrelhousechuck@msn.com

—- OR —-

Make out checks and send orders to:

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK

P.O. Box 105 -  Libertyville 60048

It’s a GREAT ALBUM!

6 JUNE 2016

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK

CHICAGO PIANO MASTER

Down and out in Sweden

Our dear friend Barrelhouse Chuck recently made another trip to Finland and Sweden to entertain all his blues loving fans over there. He was accompanied by another great Chicago piano man, Erwin Helfer, Westside Andy (harmonica),  and Oscar Wilson (frontman for the CashBox Kings).  They had several sets in Finland...then Chuck was overcome with pneumonia and hospitalized.  He's still there recuperating.  He's asking for your thoughts and prayers.  He was to entertain at the great CHICAGO BLUES FEST next week.  He'll have to miss that gig, but perhaps, he'll be well enough to travel and be back home in Illinois with his lovely wife, Betsy, soon.  I painted this sign that Sheila posted on Facebook.

Sheila and I had a real treat Friday night at Albertina’s Midway Tavern.

First our long-time friend, Tom Moore and his brother David entertained with an acoustic session….David on guitar and Tom on harmonica and vocals.  It was a CD release party for their new “TRICKERATION” album. In addition to the two of them…lots of our other musical friends are featured…Barrelhouse Chuck, Erwin Helfer, Brad Ber, George Bedard, Steve Nardella, Ricky Nye, Jonny Viau…and lots more guest artists.  

Check their Website

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The “main event” Friday was Cincinnati Boogie-Woogie Piano man, RICKY NYE. (We hadn't seen our buddy for a couple years...don't stay away so long, Ricky)

He was backed by his regular bass wizard Chris Douglas….and was joined by…direct from Paris France…Anthony Stelmaszack (vocalist and guitar man) and Simon “Shuffle” Boyer on drums….from the Paris Blues Band.  That great band regularly backs up touring Americans while in Europe.  They play traditional American style blues....and they are exceptional!

RICKY NYE'S WEBSITE

CHECK HIM OUT ON YOUTUBE

It was a great evening being there with our friends, Ed, Jenni and Kevin.

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17 MARCH 2016

THE BLUES ACCORDING TO LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS 

I thought that you might like this 30 minute documentary by film maker LES BLANK featuring the legendary Texas singer/guitarist performing back in his hometown of Centerville, TX in 1968

LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS VIDEO

17 Feb 2016

B. B. KING - KING of the BLUES

Video narrated by Morgan Freeman

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If you have a full hour available to watch a video...you're in for a real treat

We just discovered a GREAT video on the life and times of the one and only

Riley B. King.   WATCH IT......you won't be disappointed. HERE'S THE LINK

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By the way...we have several pieces of B. B. KING ARTWORK available

LOOK HERE!  .....and then search B B KING

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10 Feb 2016

ERWIN HELFER CELEBRATES HIS 80th BIRTHDAY

with a concert of BLUES, JAZZ & BOOGIE-WOOGIE.

Was happy to read a couple stories last week in the Chicago Tribune about an old friend…Piano Great ERWIN HELFER celebrating his 80th birthday.  

Thru the years, Sheila and I have had the good fortune to meet and get acquainted with some GREAT blues musicians, that are great geniuses at the piano…but still so “down to earth” off the stage.  Erwin Helfer is in that category.

We were introduced to Erwin a few years ago by our good friend, BARRELHOUSE CHUCK, Chicago’s premier traditional Chicago Blues Pianoman.  Chuck promoted a PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA…three piano greats all in one package.  Chuck was jointed by Erwin and by LLUIS COLOMA: Barcelona, Spain’s Boogie-Woogie genius.  At that time Chuck was producing a CD by Lluis called: Rockin My Blues in Chicago.  (I was honored to have the album and attached booklet feature a dozen pieces of my artwork.)

Here’s links to the Tribune stories:

FIRST STORY on ERWIN

SECOND STORY ON ERWIN

ERWIN HELFER'S WEBSITE

LLUIS COLOMA'S WEBSITE

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK’S WEBSITE

ERWIN HELFER

BARRELHOUSE CHUCK 

LLUIS COLOMA - Barcelona, Spain

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WHILE YOU'RE HERE....

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR BLUES ARTWORK...Thanks!

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5 Feb 2016

We just got news that we'll be seeing an ol' Louisiana Blues buddy of ours, LARRY GARNER, on the TV trailer (promo) for the final season of History Channel's SWAMP PEOPLE. Larry's sitting on the porch playing and singing theme music for the show. Larry is acknowledged at one of the blues' best songwriters and a great story teller in his music.  Check his website, read his bio, watch some videos, (be sure to watch the bottom one) and buy an album....you'll love him!

  Here's a link to the trailer

Here's the link to Larry's Home Page

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I WANT TO APOLOGIZE for not keeping this page

up to date...I'll try my best to do better.

I'll catch up with the rest of

the shows we saw in 2015

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JULY 25, 2015 ....Midway Tavern....Mishawaka, Indiana

BILLY "STIX" NICKS - Motown Review

We're happy to say that Motown's number One drummer, Billy "Stix" Nicks is a resident of nearby South Bend.  Billy was the one and only drummer for the great Jr. Walker and the All Stars.   So we're fortunate enough to see him often here in the area.....he always puts on a GREAT SHOW....and you'd never believe that he's 81 years old.   He plays the same as when the All Stars band was in it's heyday. 

Here's BILLY with our friend ED BERRY.

Billy & Ed talked of their old band days.

Ed was long time guitar man and vocalist

with his band JERICHO

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SEPT 9, 2015 ....Midway Tavern....Mishawaka, Indiana

RICK ESTRIN and the NIGHTCATS

We have loved this great band since it was LITTLE CHARLIE and the Nightcats.  The great harp player RICK ESTRIN has always fronted the band. 

It  features J. Hanson on drums and Lorenzo Farrell on bass and organ.  Kid Andersen replaced Little Charlie Baty when he retired.

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OCT 3, 2015 ....Midway Tavern....Mishawaka, Indiana

WAYNE SHARP and the SHARPSHOOTER BAND

We've known Wayne since he was the long time B-3 Organ man for our old friend the late Michael Burks. Wayne still has nightmares reliving Michael dying in his arms of a heart attack in the Atlanta Airport as they were returning from an extended tour in Europe.  He later formed the Sharpshooter Band with his sons...Sean on drums and vocals....Grayson on guitar and vocals and friend Seadon Faulkner.   They played Saturday nite at the Midway and the next day Sheila and I had a pizza party for them at our house. They are a great band and great guys!

Wayne and Sean

Grayson

Our living room..that's Seadon on the left

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OCT 10, 2015 ....Midway Tavern....Mishawaka, Indiana

JUNIOR and the IGNIGHTERS

This is our favorite local - blues and rockabilly band. Junior Combs, guitar and vocals, Jesse Lee Scutchfield Bass & Vocals and Mike McCalment drums.

Sheila and Albertina gossiping

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JAN 9, 2016 ....Midway Tavern....Mishawaka, Indiana

ALBERTINA WASSENHOVE APPRECIATION DAY

Michiana's QUEEN of the BLUES

Finally Albertina was honored for all her efforts of KEEPING the BLUES ALIVE. Ol Harv's wife Armita, organized a day of appreciation. On a Saturday afternoon about 200 of her friends and customers came together to honor her.  She was overwhelmed that so many folks appreciated what she's done for the music scene here in the Michiana area. 

The stage was constantly filled with musicians

of many stripes jamming. As many as a dozen

 at a time...it was a GREAT TIME honoring a GREAT LADY!

Sweet Ray Burke presented her with

a bouquet of RARE BLUE ROSES

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THIS IS ALL FOR TODAY........Wednesday 13 Jan 2016

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