1963: Mike Leadbitter launched Blues Unlimited, the first international blues magazine, with Simon Napier at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. Wrote for my former Bexhill Grammar School colleagues in debut issue with article on Louisiana record man Jay D. Miller. Contributed to BU until 1984.
Blues Unlimited team, 1964: l-r, Neil Paterson, Simon Napier, JJB, Graham Ackers, Rose & Mike Leadbitter, Anna & Dave Williams.
1974: Co-published “Walking to New Orleans” with Blues Unlimited (as Blues Unlimited Books) after being badgered by Leadbitter. A U.S. edition was licensed to Pelican Books of Gretna, La., retitled “Rhythm & Blues in New Orleans.”
1970s-80s: Many LP liner notes/compilations for Ace, Charly, EMI, Flyright, Pathé Marconi, Sonet and others.
1983: Pelican Books published follow-up, “South to Louisiana.”
1985-92: Co-editor Juke Blues with Cilla Huggins and Bez Turner.
1991 on: After Midland Bank career, joined Ace Records of North London under Ted Carroll, Trevor Churchill and Roger Armstrong. Among Ace CD releases were B.B. King box set (with Colin Escott); and “Golden Age of American Rock ‘n’ Roll” (jointly), “Cajun Classics,” “Teen Beat,” Excello-Nashboro and Modern Downhome (with Dave Sax) series. Also 4-CD “The Excello Story” (Universal/Hip-O) and Fats Domino box with Alan Warner (EMI).
2003: Compiled and produced 50th anniversary tribute double-CD, “Hy Weiss presents Old Town Records” (Ace). This release sparked the final research process and writing of “Record Makers and Breakers.”
2006-08: After some 250 CD compilations and co-compilations, left Ace Records and finished “Record Makers and Breakers.”
2009: Publication of “Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ’n’ Roll Pioneers” (University of Illinois Press)
2016: Publication of revised and updated 3rd edition of “Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans” (Pelican Books)
2019: Publication of revised and updated 2nd edition of “South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous” (Pelican Books)
2021: Publication of “New York City Blues: Postwar Portraits from Harlem to the Village and Beyond” by Larry Simon, John Broven editor (University Press of Mississippi).
2021: Editorial assistance with book accompanying Jay Bruder’s “R&B in D.C.” Bear Family box set.
2022: Editorial assistance with Tim Hoover’s book, “Soul Serenade: King Curtis and his Immortal Saxophone” (University of North Texas Press).
2023: Two-part feature for Now Dig This magazine, “The Apollo Lifts Off Again” (NDT 486) and “The Apollo Rocks and Rolls” (NDT 487), following a tour with Larry Simon of the fabled theatre, arranged by Apollo archivist Brad San Martin.
JJB with Larry Simon at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem, 2023
Awards
1982: Honorary Member of Louisiana Music Commission, presented by Crowley record man J.D. Miller (see picture right)
1993: “Iry LeJeune: Cajun’s Greatest” Ace CD (from Goldband) selected as An Outstanding Folk Recording by American Folklife Center, The Library of Congress.
1995: Louisiana Hall of Fame induction.
1998: Real Blues Magazine Best U.S. Swamp Pop CD Release (Vintage or Reissue): “Cookie and the Cupcakes: Kings of Swamp Pop” (Ace)
2000: Ace Records award, jointly with Rob Finnis and Trevor Churchill, for combined CD sales of 100,000 for the “Golden Age of American Rock ‘n’ Roll” series.
2010: “Record Makers and Breakers,” ARSC Certificate of Merit.
2011: “Walking to New Orleans” inducted into The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame.
2014: Part of the John Broven record collection with archive acquired by Library of Congress.
2017: Slim Harpo “Legend” Award in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
2020: “South to Louisiana,” ARSC Award for Excellence: Best Historical Research in Recorded Country, Folk, or Roots Music.
Lectures and Seminars
1984: University of Liège. "Charley Patton and Mississippi Blues: The Influences on Louisiana Country Blues".
2006: Satchmo Festival, New Orleans. "Louis Armstrong and Rock 'n' Roll".
2008: Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans. Joe Bihari of Modern Records, with Jim O'Neal; and Louisiana swamp pop (with Johnnie Allan, Sam Montalbano, David Rachou and Harry Simoneaux).
2009: Panels at Ponderosa Stomp and Jazz Fest, New Orleans. Joe Bihari inverview at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland.
2010: Panels at Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans: Floyd Soileau, Johnnie Allan and Leroy Martin (with Mike Hurtt), and Dave Bartholomew (with Dr. Ike).
Dave Bartholomew interview at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland.
New Orleans R&B presentation to EMI Records, New York. "Golden Crest Records and the Huntington Station Connection" at Huntington Library and Three Village Historical Society, Setauket, NY.
2011: "Record Makers and Breakers" presentation at the Global Popular Music Business Conference, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Interview session with Joe Bihari of Modern Records, ARSC Conference, Los Angeles.
2012: "Golden Crest Records and the Huntington Station Connection" with Shelley Broven, Long Island Museum, Stony Brook, NY
2013: "Born to be a Record Man". Interview session with Donn Fileti, Relic Records, at the ARSC New York chapter, Harlem, NY.
2014: Presentation on the Cosimo Code website with Red Kelly at Suffolk County Community College, Selden, Long Island.
2015: French Quarter Festival, New Orleans with Fred Kasten, Red Kelly, Deacon John and Allen Toussaint.
Ponderosa Stomp Conference, New Orleans with swamp-popper Gene Terry.
2016: The Blues Unlimited Connection with Bill Greensmith, ARSC Conference, Bloomington, IND. "Fats Domino Meets Satchmo", Satchmo Summerfest, New Orleans. "Long Island in the 60s: Golden Crest Records", Long Island Museum, Stony Brook, NY.
2017: Ponderosa Stomp Conference, New Orleans: interviews with Willie West and Sam Montalbano, Montel Records
2018: Tribute to Bobby Robinson, ARSC, New York chapter, Harlem, NY.
2019: The Fabulous Wailers and the Founding of the Northwest Rock 'n' Roll Sound, ARSC Conference, Portland, Oregon.
2021: Editorial assistance with book accompanying Jay Bruder’s “R&B in D.C.” Bear Family box set.
2022: Editorial assistance with Tim Hoover’s book, “Soul Serenade: King Curtis and his Immortal Saxophone” (University of North Texas Press).
2023: Two-part feature for Now Dig This magazine, “The Apollo Lifts Off Again” (NDT 486) and “The Apollo Rocks and Rolls” (NDT 487), following a tour with Larry Simon of the fabled theatre, arranged by Apollo archivist Brad San Martin.
John Broven and Joe Bihari (Modern Records) at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, 2009. Courtesy Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Broadcasting
BBC Radio London: “Honky Tonk” with Charlie Gillett; “Echoes” with Stuart Colman
BBC London, Radio 2: “Paul Jones R&B Show”
Jazz FM and BBC Radio Kent with Helen Mayhew
NPR, USA: “In the Mood” with Rex Doane; WFDU, New Jersey: “Sounds of Blue” with Bob Putignano; WRFU, New Jersey: “Big Beat Show” with Lou Rallo; WRHU, Long Island, NY: “R&B Serenade” with Frank Gengaro & Gordon Skadberg; Radio Hilversum, Holland; WAMU 88.5, Washington, D.C.: “Home Town Special” with Jay Bruder.
Local radio and television in New Orleans and South Louisiana.