This Week In The Blues: June 7 - June 13, 2026

HEY BLUES FANS

Here's the latest episode of "This Week In The Blues" for the week of June 7 - June 13, 2026.

Some of the highlights include Slide guitar master Derek Trucks, blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and one of the most powerful figures in blues history Howlin' Wolf.

Keep in mind that there's so much more that happened this week in the blues. If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
https://bigtrainblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Photo credits (if known) and past episodes are posted on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BigTrainBlues

Here are links to a few of the artists or songs we've referenced in this week's episode:

The MASTER of Blues Slide Guitar - Derek Trucks - https://youtu.be/3I2jnA8L4xU?si=ik6VCV5sbNu20Bzg

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - "Shotgun Blues" - https://youtu.be/CMJiHcfWRW0?si=Ytzj4nRfTzPci3bZ

PLEASE CONSIDER joining the Blues Society of Oklahoma and helping them continue their mission - https://bluessocietyoklahoma.com/membership/

ALSO - Join me every weekday from 12:15pm-12:45pm CT to watch a live stream on Facebook of the longest running blues radio show program. https://www.facebook.com/DeltaCulturalCenter 

We’ll have a new episode next week – we’ll see you then!

ARE YOU A FAN OF BLUES HISTORY? US TOO!

 If you want to know more about these artists or other things that happened this week in the blues, be sure to visit our website or follow our Facebook page:

     https://bigtrainblues.com

     https://www.facebook.com/BigTrainBlues

Transcript

On June 7, 1930, Cow Cow Davenport recorded “Casey Jones Blues,” transforming a well-known train disaster ballad into a dynamic piano blues performance. His rolling left-hand boogie-woogie rhythm and sharp accents created a locomotive feel that matched the song’s story. The recording highlights a transitional moment in blues, blending ragtime precision with emerging boogie-woogie patterns. Made during a prolific recording period, the session helped cement Davenport’s reputation and influenced the evolution of piano blues and later rhythm and blues styles.

Slide guitar master Derek Trucks was born June 8, 1979. He displays a command of slide guitar styles running the gamut from blues to classic R&B and early rock & roll to classic jazz. He is the nephew of longtime Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks. Trucks began playing guitar when he was nine, and shared stages and sat in with the likes of Buddy Guy and the Allman Brothers Band by the time he was 12. Trucks later married blues guitarist Susan Tedeschi and the pair continue to record and perform as the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Born June 9, 1984, Anthony "Big A" Sherrod represents modern Clarksdale, Mississippi blues. Known for his showmanship, he often plays beyond the stage, engaging audiences up close. A product of the Delta Blues Museum education program, he later became a teacher there, helping mentor young musicians. "Big-A" tours internationally while carrying forward the authentic sound and spirit of Mississippi blues.

Howlin' Wolf was one of the most powerful figures in blues history and was born June 10, 1910. Towering in both size and sound, he helped transform Delta blues into electrified Chicago blues over a four-decade career. Known for his raw voice and commanding stage presence, he could thrill and unsettle audiences at once. His influence earned him induction into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Blues singer Bonnie Lee was born June 11 in 1931 and known as "The Sweetheart of the Blues". With her powerful sweet voice, Bonnie Lee was a longtime fixture of Chicago's contemporary blues scene as well as one of the last surviving links to its postwar heyday. She is best remembered for her lengthy working relationships with Sunnyland Slim and Willie Kent becoming a legend on the North Side blues circuit. She was one of the last of her genre, the big-voiced woman blues singer fronting a Chicago band.

June 12 marks the Birthday of blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd!! The Shreveport native began playing at age seven, figuring out Muddy Waters ’ licks from his father’s record collection despite never taking a formal lesson. Signed to a major-label record deal at the age of 13, he’s been nominated for five Grammy Awards, has received two Billboard Music Awards, two Blues Music Awards, and two Orville H. Gibson Awards.

Blues guitarist Lafayette Thomas was born June 13, 1928. He rose from Louisiana roots to become a key figure in the up and coming blues scene in San Francisco. After early work with Jimmy McCracklin, he recorded widely under multiple names and backed numerous artists. Nicknamed “The Thing” for his acrobatic style, he influenced a generation of West Coast players. Thomas remained active into the 1970s before passing away on May 20, 1977, leaving a lasting mark on electric blues guitar.

Alright blues fans, if you want to know more about these stories or other things that happened this week in the blues, then head over to BigTrainBlues.com and explore the archives. Better yet, follow us