Welcome to Jazz Em' Up. I love, love, love jazz and blues. This site not only features some of the greatest artist from the Washington, DC area; it also has some of the best of the "old school" and upcoming jazz musicians around. Anybody and everybody is allowed to join. Don't be shy. If you have an artist you want to see profiled, just give me a shout. Heard any groovin sounds, have any jazz related videos, or want to promote your CD's or events? By all means add them here; but, remember, no nudity, violence, offensive material or language, etc., etc. Pretty soon you will be able to sell your CD's, videos, or whatever right here. So, let your friends know about us. But, most of all, just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Haitian Relief: Please Get Involved

As I am sure most of you have heard, an earthquake measuring 7.0 hit Haiti. The casualty numbers are currently not known, but it is expected to be astronomical. Mass graves are starting to appear at refuse sites throughout the country. For a nation that is already marked the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, one can only imagine the impact that this quake will have for years to come. If you would like to make a contribution, here is a Haitian relief organization started in 2005 by Haitian-born Grammy award winner, Wyclef Jean, http://www.yele.org. Please dig deep into your heart and give.

If you are looking for a loved one in Haiti, please visit CNN:
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=381628&hpt=C1



Here are additional reputable charitable organizations for Haitian relief:

Catholic Relief Services, http://catholicrelief.org;
World Food Programme, www.wfp.org;
International Organization for Migration, www.iom.int;
Population Services International, www.psi.org;
Pan-American Development Foundation, www.panamericanrelief.org;
Save the Children, http://www.savethechildren.org;
The American Red Cross, www.redcross.org;
Food for the Poor, www.foodforthepoor.org;
World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.worldvision.org;
Care Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.care.org;
Samaritan's Purse Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.samaritanspurse.org;
UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.unicef.org;
Global Giving Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.globalgiving.org;
World Food Program Haiti Earthquake Relief, www.friendsofwfp.org

SPOTLITE: Joe Williams

On December 12, 1918, Joseph Goreed was born in the small farming town of Cordele, Georgia. Abandoned by his father when he was an infant, Joseph and his mother, Anne Beatrice Gilbert, moved in with her parents until she raised enough money to move to Chicago - with the hope of starting a better life for her family. Joseph remained with his grandmother in Georgia, until at the age of four, Anne had saved enough to have Joseph, her mother, and sister move to Chicago.

Living in Chicago opened a whole new world of music for Joseph. He was surrounded by the sounds of Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway to name a few. As a teen, Joe taught himself to play the piano, and started his own Gospel group, The Jubilee Boys. While in his mid-teens, Joe started making money as a solo performer. It was during this time Joe acquired his mother's permission to changed his name from Goreed to Williams.

It was famed clarinet and sax player, Jimmie Noone, who gave Joe Williams his first break in 1938, when he asked Joe to perform with his band. As time went on, Joe was heard on radio stations across the country, and performing with top musicians such as the Les Hite Band, Fats Waller, and Louis Armstrong. In 1942, he was a replacement vocalist for a short period with Lionel Hampton. Joe's real big break came when, in 1954, he was hired by the Count Basie Orchestra -- where he remained until 1961. His signature song, "Everyday I have the Blues," hit number two on the R & B charts.

After leaving the Basie Orchestra, Joe started performing solo on the international jazz circuit. In 1955, Joe Williams won Downbeat Magazines, New Star Award, international critics' poll for Best New Male Singer, as well as their readers' poll for Best Male Band Singer. In 1983 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- next to Count Basie. In 1992, he was admitted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Other achievements include: Ebony Lifetime Achievement Award (1993); NEA Jazz Masters (1993); Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame (1995); and ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame (2001). His acting career included the lead in 1975 in Cannonball Adderley's musical play Big Man in Carnegie Hall. He also played the character Grandpa Al on the Cosby show.

Joe and his wife, Jillean and some of his closest friends and collaborators, created the not-for-profit, "Joe Williams Every Day Foundation". Its aim is to provide support for music and musicians, especially those in jazz, and to create career opportunities for deserving young talent.

On March 29, 1999, at the age of 80, Joe Williams collapsed and died just a few blocks from his home. He walked out of Sunrise Hospital, in Las Vegas, Nevada, without the knowledge or consent of hospital staff. He had been admitted for a respiratory illness.

SPOTLITEr>

Coming soon, Whammie nominee, L'Atonya Mari