Jim Crow’s Shadow

Description

Eccentric Memphis songwriter Wally B Ford founded The Lizzard Kings in 1995, following the release of the critically acclaimed studio recording Lizzards Like Me. In 1995-1996 the band gigged the Memphis area and recorded Matter of Time for indie label Psychorock. With a history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse and finding the Memphis club scene difficult to navigate, Ford retreated to rural West Tennessee for a few years, dropping songwriting and performing altogether. After moving back to Memphis, Ford continued to collaborate with songwriter Eddie Dattel, which led to their role as primary songwriters for Daddy Mack Blues Band from 2010-2015 and the release of four critically acclaimed blues CDs. At this time a new version of The Lizzard Kings was assembled. After performing for about a year or two, Memphis singer Charles Ponder assumed the role as front man, leaving Ford to focus as guitarist and musical director for the group. With a background in both Beale Street blues and musical theater, Ponder gave the band a new energy, leading to bookings at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale and a coveted slot in the International Blues Challenge in 2019. Having written a batch of new songs, Ford and Dattel brought the band into the studio in early spring to begin a CD project. Jim Crow s Shadow was one of the first tracks recorded, an eerie foreshadow of events that would take place in the United States a year later. Other songs with social and political implications include Pennsylvania Avenue Blues, Big *, Black & Blue and the unplugged gem Red, White, Blue & Green. On the lighter side, Love Shuffle and Curve Appeal are both clever and entertaining. Highway Blues, an earthy and intoxicating blues track, features Memphis slide guitar guru Brad Webb in fine form. The band dives deep into the groove on So Gone, So Long and demonstrates musical finesse on the soulful ballad It s Over Now, which features Ghost Town Blues Band s Taylor Orr on lead guitar