June 23rd, 2010
Marquise Knox was nomiated for two Blues Blast Awards by the folks at IllinoisBlues.com. The 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards ceremonies will be held at Buddy Guys’ Legends in Chicago, Illinois, October 28th, 2010. The awards ceremony will feature music by some of the artists nominated. Tickets for the event will go on sale in mid August at http://www.TheBluesBlast.com. The 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards are presented by Blues Blast Magazine.
In early May, a group of Blues music industry professionals including music writers, managers, musicians, Blues Blast Magazine staff and other industry professionals nominated the best of 2010 Blues music in eight categories. Now fans get the final say by voting for their favorite artists! Voting continues through August 31. To vote, please click here!
December 10th, 2009
Marquise Knox Nominated For Best New Artist Debut!
The Blues Fondation has nominated Marquise Knox and ManChild for a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. Joining Marquise are Greg Nagy, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Monkey Junk, and The California Honeydrops.
The Blues Foundation will present the 31st Blues Music Awards on May 6, 2010, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. Performers, industry representatives and fans from around the globe will have the chance to celebrate the best in Blues recording and performance from 2009. For more info, please visit www.Blues.org.
August 26th, 2009
In 2009, there’s abundant signs of younger musicians taking up the various forms of American blues, and some of them certainly show promise, but for our money, the hands-down player to watch on planet Earth who has yet to reach a 21st birthday is St. Louis singer/guitarist/harpist/songwriter Marquise Knox.
August 20th, 2009
According to The Roots Music Report (https://www.rootsmusicreport.com), Marquise’s debut album MANCHILD is making progress on the blues radio charts. Debuting at #46, MANCHILD is currently charting at #26.
Roots Music Report is the number one independent music chart in the world that compiles radio airplay data from over 400 terrestrial radio stations around the globe that play all forms of roots music, so that each week you can see which independent artists are being played the most by what stations. Here is the link to the chart.
July 7th, 2009
This is the first blues release from APO since Big George Brock’s “Heavyweight Blues” – and has the wait been worthwhile? Yes it has!
In Marquise Knox, APO have unearthed a sixteen year old blues talent blessed with the voice and licks (guitar/harmonica) of someone twice his age. The fact that he is also a talented songwriter – is backed on this set by one of his mentors, Michael Burks (and his band) – is cousin to Big George Brock and the late Bennie Smith – and cites Hopkins, Hooker, BB and Albert King, and Muddy Waters as his prime influences, are further reasons to be excited about this release.
The set opens with “Love Makin’ Machine” on which Knox sounds like a vintage Jimmy Johnson – his powerful and deeply soulful baritone riding an insistent organ and harp riff replete with searing guitar that grows in intensity throughout the track. “You Put Me Down” is a funky shuffle in the Magic Slim mould – “She’s The One” sounds like a “funked-up” RL Burnside with vocals moaned over a mesmerising guitar riff and trashcan drums – whilst “Sometimes I Wonder” with it’s brooding vocals, sparse drumming and weeping guitar has a distinct Muddy feel.
Big George Brock’s “Problem” is delivered in an intensely brooding style reminiscent of Magic Slim and Guitar “Junior” Johnson replete with percolating organ – whilst “Juke Joint Blues” and “Clock On The Wall” are delivered in a grinding Elmore James style. Muddy’ s “You Need Love” pays tribute to a major influence whilst also permeating it with a slice of John Lee Hooker – Muddy’s influence again coming to the fore on “Living To Die” a tale of frustration that also shows glimpses of the influences of Jimmy Johnson, Joe Louis Walker and Lurrie Bell.
Add in the deeply brooding Muddy inspired “Ice Storm” which was written, like many of these tracks, in the studio – and in response to an Ice Storm that was ravaging Salina at the time of the recording session – and you have a set that I can unhesitatingly recommend.
(www.aporecords.com)
Rating 9
Mick Rainsford
Blues in Britain Magazine
http://www.blueprint-blues.co.uk/