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Eric Gales—A Tribute to LJK—Provogue Featuring Buddy
Guy, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa & more

Eric Gales’ “A Tribute to LJK” is a fiery, heartfelt homage
to his late brother Manuel ‘Little Jimmy King’ (LJK) Gales,
a Memphis blues virtuoso whose legacy deserves far
more spotlight. With an all-star lineup including Buddy
Guy, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa,

Roosevelt Collier, and Josh Smith, Gales re-imagines LJK’s
originals through a modern blues-rock lens that’s both
reverent and electrifying.

The album opens with 'You Shouldn’t Have Left Me', introduced by Manuel’s twin
brother Danuel in a spoken-word tribute. It’s a swinging, horn-laced blues burner

with Gales’ rich vocals and unhurried, soulful guitar phrasing. 'Rockin’ Horse Ride',
featuring Kingfish, is a wah-wah drenched groove-monster, while 'Don’t Wanna Go
Home’ with Bonamassa delivers pure feel-good swagger.

'Something Inside of Me’ slows the pace with piercing emotion, and 'It Takes a Whole

Lot of Money’ unites Gales, Bonamassa, and Smith in a tight blues-rock showcase.
The closer, 'Somebody', featuring Buddy Guy and Roosevelt Collier, begins
acoustically and builds into a cathartic crescendo—Guy’s vocals adding gravitas
and grit.

Co-produced by Bonamassa and Smith, the album balances polish with warmth,

never losing its live-in-the-room feel. Gales’ mission is clear: to keep LJK’s music
alive and introduce it to a new generation. Mission accomplished.

Ian K McKenzie

Billy Branch—The Blues Is My Biography—Rosa’s

Lounge Records

Billy Branch’s “The Blues Is My Biography” is a
masterful, deeply personal statement from one of
Chicago blues’ elder statesmen. Produced by Larry

Batiste, the album features two distinct recording
sessions—one in California, one in Chicago—and guests
like Shemekia Copeland, Bobby Rush, and Ronnie Baker
Brooks.

Branch’s harmonica work is as expressive as ever:

jubilant on ‘Ballad of the Million Men’, fragile on ‘Toxic Love’, and mournful on the
instrumental ‘Return of the Roaches’. His vocals, often overshadowed in past
releases, shine with clarity and conviction. Tracks like ‘Harmonica Man’ and ‘Call
Your Bluff’ offer lyrical snapshots of his life, while subtle touches of reggae, hip-hop,
and soul keep the sound fresh.

This is not just a blues album—it is Branch’s legacy, lived and sung.

Ian K McKenzie