Bob Corritore & Friends - Ernestine Blues
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- 4 min read
Release date: April 10, 2026
VizzTone/SWMAF Records
By Robin Zimmerman
As harp master and blues ambassador Bob Corritore approaches his milestone 70th birthday, he continues to go full steam ahead with his mission to bring memorable recordings to the masses. With a multitude of blues friends from every corner of the country coming to his Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Corritore can capitalize on these appearances and coordinate incredible recording sessions.
His latest endeavor, Ernestine Blues features a stellar cast of today’s finest musicians including Mississippi natives Johnny Rawls and the late Pat Thomas, Chicago blues stalwarts Oscar Wilson, Bob Stroger, Charles Wilson, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, Willie Buck and Billy Flynn as well as female vocalist favorites like Teeny Tucker, Tia Carroll and Carla Denise. These amazing artists were all recorded between 2023 and 2025.
With such a wide-ranging roster, it’s not surprising to find Corritore going beyond his traditional Chicago blues comfort zone and exploring the roots and extensions of the music he has devoted his life to. This thirteenth release under the moniker, “Bob Corritore and Friends,” Ernestine Blues delves into southern soul, R & B, down-home Delta blues and other genres. The result is sixteen masterful tracks that beg to be played on repeat.
During a recent phone interview, Corritore said “I feel like this is a very engaging album with each of these songs telling their own story, and each chapter in Ernestine Blues taking you to a completely different place.” Corritore also had high praise for all the talented musicians he worked with on Ernestine Blues and added, “I’m always attracted to great vocalists that can really deliver a song and make you feel it.”
The impassioned performances featured on Ernestine Blues run the gamut. There’s a sassy Teeny Tucker strutting her stuff on “Shoes” and B.B. King’s former drummer Tony Coleman laying down the groove with an upbeat “How’d You Learn to Shake it Like That,” on the album’s opening track. Then you’ve got Johnny Rawls serving the sweet tea about his love of easy-going Delta living on the self-penned “I Love the South” while Sugar Ray Rayford takes a heavy-hearted turn on “Blind Man Cry.” Corritore said that “Blind Man Cry” flowed in a very “happenstance” way with Rayford seizing on an arrangement that Jimi “Primetime” Smith came up with “and we just constructed it on the spot.” He added that, “Sugar Ray dug deep into his soul with a song that’s a metaphor for so many things in life.”
While the Texas-born Rayford called upon his gospel roots on “Blind Man Cry,” Corritore also saw to it that several Chicago-based artists received their due. Oscar Wilson of the Cash Box Kings showcases his range with a soulful and beautiful rendition of Joe Tex’s “She Might Need Me,” and then settles back into an unhurried Jimmy Reed vibe on “Down in Mississippi.”
Corritore’s former employer and longtime running partner, the 88-year-old Willie Buck is showcased doing Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More,” where he is joined by Waters’ former bandmate, Bob Margolin on guitar. Corritore lauded Buck for his purity in preserving the real deal Chicago blues sound. Not to be outdone, 95-year-old Bob Stroger takes his turn with the show stopping “Pretty Girls Everywhere” which he “nailed” in one take.
Ernestine Blues also serves as an introduction of sorts for Carla Denise. After moving to Phoenix from Chicago, she contacted Corritore, and they immediately began collaborating. The former Mississippi Heat frontwoman’s vocal range is featured on three tracks including the toe-tapping “Wild as You Can Be” and her standout performance on “Troubles on Your Mind.”
Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention Tia Carroll’s wonderful reimagining of the title track, written by the great Sam Cooke and first released in 1963 as a B-side to Patience Valentine’s “Unlucky Girl.” Corritore had the gut feeling that “this song is so fun and melodic, it was begging for a remake.” His instincts proved to be correct with gospel singers, Eboni McDonald, Diamond Porter and Yolanda Tharrington adding just the right dash of old-school vocal sass to “Ernestine Blues.” Corritore also singled out Doug James’s vintage sax magic and Anthony Geraci’s sweet piano work for adding some extra snap to this track.
With five decades of producing quality blues recordings under his belt, Corritore remains the ultimate team player who is well-aware of the collaborative nature of producing these albums. After giving props to longtime co-producer, Clarke Rigsby as well as his “right-hand man” Jimi “Primetime” Smith, Corritore gave a special shout-out to the legions of talented musicians (all included in the liner notes) who made Ernestine Blues possible.
As Corritore approaches 70, his harmonica work and production savvy on Ernestine Blues shows that he is at the top of his game. He said his formula is simple; remain true to the melody, serve the song and let his harp complement and adapt to each artists’ unique style. It’s this unselfish mentality that enables Corritore to hit a home run with every one of his much-anticipated record releases.
As one who is driven to preserve blues history and special “moments in time,” Corritore’s lineup of blues recordings, play a key role in keeping the music front-and-center for generations to come. And Ernestine Blues is yet another “keeper” from Bob Corritore’s long string of incredible collaborations.
About the Author: Blues enthusiast Robin Zimmerman, a.k.a. Rockin' Robin, writes a Blues Blog and is a regular contributor to Chicago Blues Guide
To buy the music, visit: https://www.amazon.com/
For t-shirts and personalized autographed CDs:
website: www.bobcorritore.com