Alligator Records Featured on Grammy.com

Long time 305 Spin client and specialty label founder Bruce Iglauer blows the candles out on a milestone anniversary and looks ahead.

Bruce Iglauer started Alligator Records in Chicago in 1971 with a $2,500 inheritance from his grandfather, and the loan of a down payment on a Chevy Vega from his mother Harriett so he could service retailers with an album by Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers in a time-honored fashion: out of his trunk.

For only $900, Iglauer produced the recording and subsequently pressed 1,000 copies — giving birth to Alligator Records.

This was more than a decade before there was either a Chicago Blues Festival — which Iglauer helped start in 1984 — or a dedicated blues GRAMMY category, which debuted in the form of Best Traditional Blues Recording in 1982.

Read Dave Helland’s full article on grammy.com at the link below:
http://www.grammy.com/news/alligator-and-arhoolie-keep-moving-forward

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival Prepares for 24th Year

Now is the time to plan to attend the 2011 Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival scheduled to take place in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi, August 12-14.  The Sunflower's 2011 festival is set to pay memorial tribute to celebrate the lives of the ‘Sunflower Family’ including six key figures contributing to the festival's success for more than two decades: James Alford, Michael James, Wesley Jefferson, Big Jack Johnson, Sarah Moore, and Foster 'Tater' Wiley. 

Don’t miss special performances planned by Blues Music winner Johnny Rawls and Grammy Award winner Dorothy Moore.  The Sunflower is celebrating its 24^th year as a free festival supported by grants, donations, and staged entirely by volunteers. For more information view the Sunflower website at www.sunflowerfest.org.  The website is maintained by 305 Spin of Sedalia, Missouri.

305 Spin Congratulates Alligator Records and Lonnie Brooks

305 Spin congratulates Alligator Records and legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks for being honored by the City of Chicago at the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival.  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel honored the 40th Anniversary of Alligator Records with a congratulatory letter presented to Alligator president and founder Bruce Iglauer on Sunday, June 12, at the Chicago Blues Festival.

Emanuel and the City Council also honored legendary Alligator recording artist, Lonnie Brooks, with a proclamation, declaring June 12, 2011 “Lonnie Brooks Day” throughout Chicago. The presentation took place in between songs during Brooks’ blistering set, and caught both Igaluer and Brooks by complete surprise.

In his letter to Iglauer, Mayor Emanuel stated, “Chicago is proud to be the home of Alligator Records. Guided by your vision and determination, Alligator Records has produced some of the finest blues talent.”
The Lonnie Brooks proclamation declares Brooks “a worldwide icon of Chicago blues” and “encourages all Chicagoans to recognize his many achievements and contributions.”

The Blues Festival’s Sunday evening main stage was turned into a virtual rollicking roadhouse as Brooks, along with Alligator stars Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, and Rick Estrin all celebrated Alligator’s anniversary. The overflow crowd was treated to an evening of raucous, hard-edged, house-rocking music.

Powerhouse singer Shemekia Copeland, who began her career on Alligator opened the show, and joined everybody on stage for the triumphant finale. In an emotional ceremony near the end of Copeland’s set, Cookie Taylor Threatt, daughter of the late Koko Taylor, presented Copeland with Taylor’s crown and declared Copeland the reigning Queen Of The Blues.

JH&A Store Fixtures, Your Premiere Source for Retail Supplies

JH&A Store Fixtures is a leader in the store fixture and retail display case industry.  They offer retail stores and distributors a wide variety of showcases, checkout counters, metal racks, grid panels and accessories, slatwall and accessories, store supplies and more in their 150,000 square foot warehouse facility in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Since 1976, JH&A has been providing the store fixture industry with quality products and unrivaled customer service.  Through their new website designed by Gremillion and Pou and programmed by 305 Spin, JH&A will expand the reach of their extensive experience and expert advice about retailing, one of the most competitive arenas for retail businesses today.  Check out the new site at www.jhafixtures.com.

Splash Pools and Spas

Splash/Artesian is a retailer of pools, spas, patio furniture, tanning beds, billiards, game tables, bar stools, pool supplies and play sets in Lancaster and York Pennsylvania, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Bossier City, Louisiana, and Jacksonville, Florida.

Silver Creek Long Distance

Lowest Pricing on Wholesale Long Distance is their pledge! Silver Creek Long Distance can help you from paying too much for your company’s long distance service. Silver Creek Long Distance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Budget PrePay, Inc. and was formed in 1996 with the vision of providing low cost prepaid home phone service to customers who could not obtain service through their local telephone company.

Sail Key West

Sail Key West is operated by Classic Harbor Line, which operates a series of classic style vessels in Newport, RI and New York City. In the winter months, they bring the 80-foot Schooner, Adriondack II (of Newport, RI) to Key West, FL, November through April.