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THE TRUTH OF THE BLUES - BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ... Our Company is PD Productions based in the South West of the UK, but here isn't where our journey into the blues began.... It all started, way back in the 1980’s in a small town bar in Louisiana; it was like travelling back in time, dusty, rickety tables, chairs, and a bare wooden floor. Sat on a little platform was a lady and a guy with a guitar, and then the lady began to sing the blues. I could have closed my eyes, although I didn’t realise it at the time, I could have been listening to Ma Rainey or Bessie Smith. Quietly listening, and with encouragement from others we joined with the, ‘Tell us your story' - and oh yes, we know.
We knew and felt the songs were telling us of a deep sadness, if you will the truth of the blues, borne of a deprivation, beyond our comprehension. I was listening to the 'Blues' long before that, but never really understood, until then, what was meant by 'Feeling the Blues' ... Each time we produce ‘Backtracking’ we try to show our love and respect for the people and the lives these songs are about, this deprivation, sadness and misery. We are honouring them by keeping their presence and their simple music alive and well.
Each time, we are inviting our listeners to journey back with us in time to the abomination of slavery, the depth of the spirituals and of course the expressive, authentic blues from all those years ago. Our research and journey since that day has been a discovery of the ‘Blues’ that never ends, of a culture and history that has faded in the mists of time, but remains there, sleeping for us to find. We're honoured and privileged to share with you this great music and its history, back a hundred years and beyond, a genre so rich, so vast so diverse and so real.
Now based in Somerset (UK) What started all those years ago with a handful of blues tracks, a few faded photographs and books has grown exponentially with the help of our good friends, Alan, Terry, my dear friend, Graham, the ‘Doc’ my late cousin Len (Houston) and Bob (Humble Texas) the never ending patience of our group and so many people from around the world, far too many to mention, Backtracking has become a library of music and resources so vast it’s often difficult to keep track of it all, as it continues to grow.
Our radio production, ‘Backtracking’ is available to blues stations around the world, totally free and non contractual. We upload the latest production to subscribing stations direct from our UK offices every Thursday. We cordially invite you to visit our website and review the latest show, we hope you will choose to join our friends around the world, as we go ‘Backtracking’ to the Roots of the Blues’ Back, to where it all began.
David R Howard – PD Productions (UK)
Get in touch at: ... syndicatingtheblues@gmail.com |
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Every Friday we have the blues: 28th March 2025 - Thank you for visiting with us, we cordially invite you to review and download the current production below. 'Backtracking' is a result of our research a journey of discovery that never ends, and our love of the Blues. All this simply because the music, the history and the culture of the blues never ends. We're honoured and privileged to share the music within the genre of the Blues back in time a hundred years and beyond, a genre so vast and so diverse.
Backtracking is streamed online and is broadcast worldwide. It's free to join the 'Backtracking' time machine - Get the authentic blues on your radio station ..... |
| Featured on Backtracking .. |
- The lady sings the blues.
- Blues on the Bayou.
- Gospel blues train.
- Featured artist of the week.
- Spirituals – The blues connection.
- Prison work songs.
- Myths and Legends of the blues.
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The Blues Club Showcase ...
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Diunna Fay Greenleaf...We are honoured and delighted to include Diunna as a good friend and associate of PD Productions.
Diunna was born in Houston, Texas, United States. Her parents, Ben and Mary Ella Greenleaf (née Travis), were religiously devout and involved in gospel music. Her early musical influences included Sam Cooke, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Koko Taylor, and Aretha Franklin. Before her musical career, Diunna obtained a degree in Mass Communications at the Prairie View A&M University. Diunna and her backing band, Blue Mercy, have performed on the international stage for a number of years. In 2005, they took part and triumphed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis,Tennessee. Check out Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy. |
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Current production .... Walking down Beale Street
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Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately 1.8 miles. It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of blues music. Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are major tourist attractions in Memphis. Festivals and outdoor concerts frequently bring large crowds to the street and its surrounding areas. |
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Review / Download page ..... Moods in Shades of Blue
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Listening to Ella Fitzgerald's Blue's in the Night, we’re reminded just how diverse blues really is and so, must be added to our never ending collection, sometimes sad, sometimes upbeat and full of joy. Shades of Blue can make you cry or make you sing, it can stir a memory long forgotten. In fact, because of its often abstract nature, it can be almost whatever you want it to be.
People so often focus on just one aspect of the Blues and that's a shame. Traditional blues, whatever they are, the great artists of today and the simple classic blues of a 100 + years ago. We gather blues music in every form from around the world, it's what we do, naturally, and all aspects have a corner at PD Productions. |
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Featured artist of the week .... Doc Clayton
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Doc Clayton was born Peter Joe Clayton, April 1898. He was a blues singer and songwriter.
He was born Peter Joe Clayton in Georgia and moved to St. Louis as a child with his family. He had four children and worked in a factory in St. Louis, where he started his career as a singer and could also play the piano and the ukulele. Clayton recorded for Bluebird Records in 1935, but only two tracks were issued. Pete's entire family died in a house fire in 1937; following this, he descended to alcoholism.
To pursue his music career, Peter moved to Chicago; where he recorded for Decca Records. Later he would return to Bluebird, recording with Robert Lockwood, bassist Robert (Ransom) Knowling, pianist Blind John Davis, and Lester Melrose in 1941–42. He also recorded for Okeh Records at this time. Among his songs were Cheating and Lying Blues' 'Pearl Harbor Blues' written after the Pearl Harbour events of 1941, and 'Moonshine Woman Blues' which became a chart hit for B. B. King under the name 'The Woman I Love' in 1968.
He recorded tunes 'Hold That Train, Conductor' and 'I Need My Baby' in 1946, also both covered by King. Most of his later recordings featured Blind John Davis on piano. He was a regional sales success and played regularly in Chicago nightclubs with Lockwood and Sunnyland Slim. Document Records released all of Peter's output  recordings between 1935 and 1942 on one CD. Slim worked as 'Dr. Clayton's Buddy' in his debut recording session 1947. In the same year, Willie Long Time Smith recorded 'My Buddy Doctor Clayton'
Peter died of tuberculosis on January 7, 1947, in Chicago, shortly after his second recording session. Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red attended his funeral. He was buried at Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
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Copyright: PD Productions ... All rights reserved .. Registered 2021 |
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