What’s Going On?

Pierre had a long conversation with Talkin’Blues podcast. He talks about his fascinating childhood and eventual life-changing experience hearing blues harp player Big Walter Horton in 1969. He reviews his earliest musical influences, blues legends, and friends who welcomed him in Chicago.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW FROM MAKO’S PODCAST EDITED IN PRINTED FORM.

A Mississippi Heat YouTube (audio-pictorial) documentary was released. Pierre wrote the autobiographical song “Chicago Is My Home,” originally recorded on Delmark Records (Hattiesburg Blues, DE 795, 2008). Lurrie Bell leads the song on guitar and vocals. The backup band consists of Carl Weathersby (RIP) on rhythm guitar, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums, Spurling Banks on bass (RIP), Christopher “Hambone” Cameron on keys, and Pierre Lacocque on harmonica. You can see pictures from that recording session and from that era. As of July 2025, “Chicago Is My Home” has garnered 407,831 streams on Spotify.

A studio album is slated for February 2026. Pierre will travel to Argentina to record with Daniel Raffo and his King Size band. Special guests will also contribute. Pierre will provide the original songs. The project will be mixed and mastered in the US. More details soon!

Please join us in congratulating Inetta Visor for the prestigious Legendary Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. We also wish to single out new Legendary Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Michael Freeman and new Master Artists Brother John Kattke for his induction. The awards will be announced on Sunday, August 4th at the Buddy Guy’s Legends club.

Inetta Visor has worked with Mississippi Heat for 23 years, she appears on 10 of our CD’s, including our upcoming recording, Don’t Look Back. Inetta also appears on Delmark’s DVD, Live at Rosa’s. Inetta has given all she has to these projects. We are ecstatic for her. It is so well deserved. Thank you, Inetta, and thank you Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

Michael Freeman has worked his magic on 7 of our CD’s (including our upcoming CD, Don’t Look Back). Michael’s great ear, patience, his attention to detail, and his astute coaching are some of the reasons he is named to this most prestigious award. Thank you, Michael, and thank you Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

Brother John Kattke played guitar with us once in an International Festival in Caracas, Venezuela years ago when travel to that country was still open. It was a memorable show with members of the audience spontaneously joining in dance on stage with the band. Beautiful people! Brother John does stellar work on the organ, some Wurlitzer and piano (Johnny Iguana does most of the piano) on our upcoming LP and CD, Don’t Look Back. Another well-deserved award for a master performer!