New Issue of KUDZOO Magazine Published! Check it Out!

Issue (#30)  of KUDZOO features an exclusive interview with RUSTY YOUNG on 50 years of POCO music; a new interview with WAYNE BRUCE of HYDRA; archival interview with the late JIMMY FARRAR of Molly Hatchet; a memorial to RAY SAWYER of Dr. Hook;   the BLACKBERRY SMOKE homecoming, photos from ANGELUS, Plenty of CD Reviews, BOOK reviews, WINE reviews,  and DVD Reviews, recipes and much more, all for FREE!

READ IT HERE! 

The Best of 2018

KUDZOO is pleased to present our list of the TOP 15 album releases of the year.

1. Blackberry Smoke   Find a Light
The first best hope for the new generation of Southern Rock bands released yet another outstanding studio rocker.

2. Bruce Springsteen   On Broadway
One man. A guitar and a piano. Amazing.

3. Paul Thorn  Don’t Let the Devil Ride
The pride of Tupelo, Mississippi pulls out all the stops on his first ever all-gospel album. Hallelujah.

4. Cowboy   10’ll Getcha Twenty
The original band reunited for a new album ten years ago and thankfully it was finally released in 2018. Sadly, it would be the swan song for the great Scott Boyer.

5. Beau Weevils  Songs in the Key of E
Charlie Daniels had so much time on his hands (lol) he formed a second band with “Slidebilly,” Billy Crain. Just a great record.

6. Jimi Hendrix Experience   Electric Ladyland Deluxe
It was the year for 50th anniversary reissues, and this one is reigning champion. Excellent alternate takes, demos and a beautiful book. Celebrate Hendrix.

7. Pearl   Heartbreak and Canyon Revelry
Pearl Aday is much more than just Meat Loaf’s daughter, she is a fabulous singer and entertainer.

8. Earl & The Agitators  Shaken & Stirred
The side project of Roger Earl from Foghat, The Agitators turn in some awesome covers and originals, playing everything from rock and blues to country.

9. Billy F Gibbons  The Big Bad Blues
ZZ Top’s frontman Billy Gibbons delivers a second smoking solo record. Good stuff.

10. Boxmasters   In Stereo
      That prolific little ol’ band from L.A. put out another fab double-cd set in 2018. It’s so good, I heard a DJ refer to them as just “The Boxmasters” without saying “Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters.” Natch.

11. Buddy Guy   The Blues is Alive and Well
      Yes, they are! And so is Buddy! Amazing.

12. Cary Morin  When I Rise
       An amazing Native American singer-songwriter. Absolutely amazing.

13. Uncle Walts Band  Anthology: Those Boys from Carolina, They Sure Could Sing
They were from my hometown, Spartanburg, SC before moving to Austin. David Ball, the late Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood.The best. 

14. John Prine  The Tree of Forgiveness
It’s the most overused cliche in the world, but Prine ages like fine wine. His latest release is filled with genius.

15. Southern Halo   Just Like in the Movies
Three beautiful young ladies with harmony to spare and great songs. The “next big thing” in country music!  •

Passages 2018

I'm still dealing with the massive amount of losses within the KUDZOO community from 2017, and now another year has passed that brought even more sad and shocking passages. Among those we lost this past year were:

• Scott Boyer, of Cowboy (and the Decoys and solo) .  Died  February 13, 2018  from peripheral artery disease at age 70.

• Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame who wrote the timeless guitar lick that opens “Sweet Home Alabama” died August 22 from  Lung cancer at age  68

• Tony Joe White, Singer-songwriter of “Poke Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia” died  October 24 from a  heart attack at age  75.

• Jimmy Farrar, the second lead singer for Molly Hatchet (also of Southern Rock Allstars and Gator Country), died  October 29, of heart failure at 67

• Jeanie Greene, Backing singer for Elvis, Percy Sledge, Don Nix and many more as well as being an excellent solo artist and a member of Alabama State Troopers died August 19. 

• Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died Aug 16 from pancreatic cancer at 76.

• Burt Reynolds, actor/star of Smokey & The Bandit died September 6  at age 82 from a heart attack.

• Stan Lee, the legendary Marvel Comics creator died November 12 after a heart attack and respiratory failure at 95 years of age.

• Roy Clark, country music singer and guitar hero, star of Hee Haw, died   November 15  from pneumonia at age 85.

• Yvonne Staples of the Staple Singers died  April 15 at 81.

• Mickey Jones, drummer for Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Bob Dylan, & actor regular on Home Improvement, and in the film Slingblade died February 7 at  76    following a prolonged illness.  •

Consolodating Twitter

Twitter followers! Some of you may notice that I deactivated the Southern Rock Hall of Fame Twitter account. It was just too much to keep up with. Moving forward, all info of me, my writings, music, life and the Hall of Fame will be Tweeted from @buffalotribe    Thanks!  

New Issue of Kudzoo: Spreading the (Blackberry) Smoke!

Buffalo Drops New Album with a Lot of Help from His Friends

My new album is available!  MAKIN' IT BACK TO MACON was produced by legendary Capricorn Records producer Paul Hornsby (who also plays piano!) , and features special guests Tommy Talton (Cowboy), Billy Bob Thornton (Oscar and Golden Globe winning Actor/Director/Writer/Drummer/Singer), "The Georgia Songbird" EG Kight, along with drummer Towson Engsberg (Tommy Crain & The Crosstown Allstars), bassist Joey Parrish (Silver Travis Band), Guitarist Daniel Jackson (Silver Travis Band), guitarist Greg Yeary (Buff's long time band mate from Buffalo Hut Coalition) and Austin singer songwriter Billy Eli on acoustic guitar!

The album is available at CDBaby and soon on iTunes, Amazon and everywhere, or you can purchase directly from Buffalo if you'd like it signed! Just email Michael for details michaelbuffalosmith@gmail.com Southern Fried Americans, Southern Rock and Blues! Get you some!

Buffalo Releases New EP Recorded in Austin, Texas

The Austin Sessions

April 2018

The Austin Sessions (Dreaming Buffalo) is the first release from Spartanburg, SC artist Michael Buffalo Smith since 2005's Something Heavy. The four song EP contains songs written by Smith that include "Painting Her Toenails," a song written several years ago after observing his wife sitting on the front porch of their house late one night, sipping wine and painting her toenails. The only light available was reflecting from the huge Harvest Moon overhead, which inspired the song.

            "Empty Eyes" was written in the 1980's but never recorded for release until now, and "Karl Childers Blues" was written about the main character in Buffalo's favorite movie, Slingblade. The song is dedicated to Buffalo's buddy, the actor and screenwriter who created Karl, Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton.

"She Likes to Ride a Fatboy" is a song about a woman and her obsession over Harley Davidson motorcycles. What did you think it was about?

The session took place in Austin, Texas in December 2016 at Green Garage Studio, and was produced by local heroes Billy Eli and Jim Hemphill, both of whom also played on the album, along with Joey Parrish (Silver Travis Band) on bass and Michael McGeary (Jerry Jeff Walker) on drums.

     Smith has previously released five albums, and is a respected journalist and author, founder of Gritz magazine as well as Kudzoo magazine. His eighth book, From Macon to Jacksonville, will be published in October, and a new album, Makin’ it Back to Macon, produced by the legendary Paul Hornsby, will be released in May.

     The Austin Sessions EP is available for download from CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon , Google Play and other online outlets, and physical copies of the CD will be available by mid-April at CD Baby, Amazon or directly from the artist.

For review and airplay copies, write michaelbuffalosmith@gmail.com. Buffalo is also available for media interviews in support of the release.