NEW ALBUM
We are excited to announce that Mississippi Heat is recording its 14th album the week of October 25th to the 27th at the V.S.O.P. studios, where Madeleine (2022) was also recorded on the band’s label, Van Der Linden Recordings. There are 3 Grammy Award Winners on this album!
The project highlights world-class vocalists Sheryl Youngblood, Inetta Visor, and Daneshia Hamilton. The band consists of guitarists Billy Flynn and Giles Corey, pianist Johnny Iguana, drummers J. Rock and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (Terrence Williams – 12 years with the band – cannot appear this time but remains committed to the band and right-hand man), organist John Kattke, and bassists Brian Quinn and Big Mike who also sings one of Pierre’s songs. To top it off, there are horns and background singers.
Grammy Award Winner Michael Freeman returns as Pierre’s co-producer. This will be their 7th project together. Matt Hennessy, VSOP’s wonderful sound engineer, is assisting them on the project.
“CHICAGO IS MY HOME” ON YOUTUBE
A new Mississippi Heat YOUTUBE (audio-pictorial) documentary was released in September. “Chicago Is My Home” is an autobiographical song written by Pierre. It was originally recorded on Delmark Records (Hattiesburg Blues, 2008).
Lurrie Bell leads the song on guitar and vocals. The backup band consists of Carl Weathersby on rhythm guitar, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums, Spurling Banks on bass (RIP), Christopher “Hambone” Cameron on keys, and Pierre on harmonica. You can see lots of pictures from that recording session as well as from that era. As of early October, “Chicago Is My Home” has garnered close to 340,000 streams on Spotify.
LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL (4 SHOWS)
Pierre will appear as a Special Guest with Dave Weld and The Imperial Flames (November 11TH to the 18TH) at Lucerne Blues Festival.
INTERNATIONAL BLUES PROJECT (VOLS. 1 & 2)
Stay tuned for a couple of Mississippi Heat’s International Recording Projects slated for 2024 and beyond. “Vol. 1: Buenos Aires, Argentina” is in the works with the Daniel Raffo Blues Band; and “Vol. 2: Europe” is in the early planning phase for 2025.
LIVING BLUES NOMINATION
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MISSISSIPPI HEAT’S BAND LEADER PIERRE LACOCQUE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A 2023 LIVING BLUES AWARD IN THE MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN (HARMONICA) CATEGORY.
MADELEINE AVAILABLE NOW!!!
Our recording, Madeleine (April 2022), is submitted for a Grammy as well as for a Blues Music Award. It has climbed to the #3 spot on the Living Blues Charts. The worldwide critical reviews have been full of praise, agreeing that the album is our best.
We are pleased to announce that we are preparing for a new recording in 2023. Our lead singers Sheryl Youngblood, Inetta Visor, and Daneshia Hamilton will be featured. Stay tuned!
ORDER CD – U.S. SHIPPING ORDER CD – INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
“There are no weak moments on this consistently entertaining (release).”
–Living Blues Magazine (#278)
May 2022, pp. 41-42
Bill Kopp
“[Mississippi Heat] is proving once again why they’re at the forefront of the music in the Windy City. Madeleine should bring Mississippi Heat major awards when all’s said and done. It’s an outstanding collection of contemporary blues.”
–Marty Gunther
Blues Blast Magazine
“This is by far the best blues record I’ve heard this year to date.”
–Art Schuna
Host of Two for the Blues, WORT-FM, Madison, WI
“It’s the thirteenth time around for Mississippi Heat and we are all in luck with the special delivery of Madeleine, one of the band’s best and most personal efforts.”
–Greg Easterling
Chicago Blues Guide
