 Cover of Living Blues Magazine Issue #199 February/March 2009
Living Blues is America's oldest and most authoritative blues magazine. Founded in Chicago in 1970, Living Blues has set the standard for blues journalism around the world. From its first issue, which featured blues legend Howlin’ Wolf on the cover, Living Blues has provided fans with insightful, in-depth stories on such legendary blues artists as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, and John Lee Hooker.
Living Blues #199 features Chester Chandler aka. Memphis Gold on the cover. Chandler’s deep Memphis roots date back to Rev. Robert Wilkins and years of playing in legendary Memphis deep blues bands like the Fieldstones and the J.J.’s Blues Band. Today Chandler lives in Washington, D.C., just played at one of the Presidential inaugural balls, and is set to break out after recovering from a nearly fatal accident.
 Cover of Blues and Rhythm MagazineIssue #233 October 2008 Blues & Rhythm was first published in July 1984 continuing the tradition of blues magazine publishing in the UK, which dates back to the early 1960s with magazines such as R&B Monthly, Blues World, Shout! and the daddy of all blues magazines, Blues Unlimited www.bluesandrhythm.co.uk Chester Chandler, better known as Memphis Gold, stands with one foot in the past and one foot in the present...Chandler could be one of the youngest (and one of the last) to have picked cotton on the Dockery and Stovall plantations. Appreciative of his roots, yet too young to be completely anchored in the past, his original music moves forward with funky rhythms, odd chord changes and structures, and his own idiosyncratic view of life.  Cover of Jefferson MagazineIssue #147 January 2006 Jefferson Magazine is the World's oldest Blues magazine, covering artists from around the globe. www.jeffersonbluesmag.com View whole article on the Jefferson Magazine website.  Bluesman Memphis Gold Presented With Custom ES-335 in D.C. (Gibson website) - On Tuesday, March 3 at Blues Alley in Washington D.C., Gibson recognized D.C.-based Delta Bluesman Memphis Gold with a Gibson Custom ES-335. The award was presented by Bill Wax, Program Director and show host of Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville, on behalf of Gibson. “I can finally play a guitar that I have dreamed of playing since I was a young boy,” said Gold. ”I feel like I am a part of the Gibson family. I take great pride in having such a wonderful instrument and will play it proudly the rest of my life.” Memphis Gold was recognized for his contribution to the blues and for his perseverance in getting back to his music after a tragic work-related accident in January ’08. His remarkable comeback has included a recent appearance with Sly Stone, Harold Melvin’s Blues Notes and George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at the Heroes Red, White and Blue Presidential Inaugural Ball and a cover story in Living Blues, the nation’s oldest blues publication. “I want to thank Gibson for not only allowing me to have the opportunity to help honor Memphis Gold,” said Wax, “but that they realize the importance of the blues musicians who continue to work night after night with very little recognition or financial gain. It says worlds about Gibson and their commitment to music.”  MTV News- War Vets Honored At Heroes Red, White and Blue Military Ball"...and the night was a huge success, with performances by Parliament Funkadelic mastermind George Clinton -who is renowned for his wild live shows - David Banner, Memphis Gold and others..." This was the official Inaugural Ball for the US Military and paid tribute to our wounded veterans. Held at the Warner Theater in DC, artists on the bill included George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars, Ben Vereen, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes in addition to special guests Larry King, Stevie Wonder, Isaiah Washington and others. Living Blues Magazine #200 - Gator Gon' Bitechu Review "...actually it sounds more like the kind of raw-edged, delta-driven roots-blues that erupted out of Memphis and Chicago in the '50s and early '60s. Catfish Creeper is a straight-ahead broomduster featuring some spine-tingling slide ( unfortunately the credits are vague about exactly who's playing what where); I Shoulda Known is set to a Wolfian single-chord modal vamp. My two Kcandys (sic) witty melds blues and rockabilly ideas (Jay Summerour's swirling harp accompaniment keeps things grounded throughout), while the horn-flavored title song struts and boogies like and old school Beale Street sport. Do You Still Want Me? is based on the well-known Woke Up This Morning/ Teeny Weeny Bit rhythmic and melodic pattern; I Was Born In Memphis and Squeaky Wheel feature off-center, loping patterns reminiscent of Willie Dixon's song writing style. Throughout, though, everything sounds fresh and newly conceived-between the impeccable musicianship of all concerned and his own deep-running, life affirming enthusiasm for the music and its message. Chandler's music breathes life and meaning into virtually everything it touches. Chandler's voice is grainy, powerful, and unerringly sure; his keening timbre makes everything he sings sound urgent and focused. The hard driving Louise Fanniemae Brown finds him coarsening his timbre a bit more than usual to evoke James Brown-a reference made explicit by the hard-funk guitar comping ( Probably from Chandler himself)...one of the most well executed, enjoyable, and pure-D bluesy releases to come down the pike in recent memory."- DAVID WHITEIS Roots Music Report- 5 stars, "This blues man can sing!" Blues Art Studio- I like to think of local guitarist Memphis Gold (real name, Chester Chandler) as the stealth bluesman. He’ll blow into town without much fanfare, totally mesmerize the audience with his sophisticated blues licks, and then suddenly vanish for months at a time, leaving his new-found fans still wondering just who was this masked man..."The Prodigal Son" without reservation deserves a hearty “thumbs up” and will be a welcome addition to anyone’s blues library. Budweiser Low Country Blues Bash- This is definitely a must-see act if you want your blues upbeat and high-spirited. Mary4Music Blues CD Reviews- I am absolutely astounded by this mans playing. "BIG LEG WOMAN" is the first track that slowed it down to some real low down blues. This track alone would earn MEMPHIS GOLD the right to call himself a blues man. His vocalizing and guitar work is perfect. |
|
|
|
