michael packer: News

Coming home after a great gig in Philadelphia (Moon Saloon) Eddie Jackson and Michael Packer survived a severe traffic accident on the Jersey turnpike. Eddie's car was totaled but fortunately no one was hurt. Thank God! So needless to say it was a nice reunion of the band @ the Turning Point this past Saturday. Great crowd, great venue and great to be alive! The show must go on......

The Michael Packer Blues Band Live @ Lucille's NYC CD is now being promoted to radio stations by the highly regarded radio promoter Todd Glazer Promotions.Expect to hear some Michael Packer blues on a radio station near you.

RANDOM CHANCE RECORDS WILL BE PRESENTING A CD RELEASE PARTY ON TUESDAY MARCH 11 @ 8PM @ BB KINGS (LUCILLES) 237 WEST 42ND STREET NYC IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW RELEASE ' BLEECKER-BOWERY ' SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE PINETOP PERKINS PIANO PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE ' DAVID MAXWELL '. THIS A FREE EVENT SO COME OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR ME. I AM GOING TO MISS YOU.GOD BLESS YOU! REST IN PEACE AND I AM GLAD YOUR FINALLY GOING HOME TO BOSTON....I LOVE YOU......MICHAEL PACKER

LIVE @ LUCILLES NEW YORK CITY IS # 47 ON THE ROOTS MUSIC REPORT BLUES CHARTS. THE CD IS RECEIVING NATIONAL AIRPLAY AND ' CORINNA, CORINNA TRACK #2 FROM THE CD WILL BE FEATURED ON ' BLUES DELUXE ' SYNDICATED BLUES SHOW TO OVER 100 STATIONS ACROSS AMERICA.

THE REISSUE OF THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BLEECKER-BOWERY CD (RANDOM CHANCE RECORDS) IS AVAILABLE @ FINE RECORD STORES EVERYWHERE TODAY JAN.22. DISTRIBUTED BY CITY HALL RECORDS IN THE U.S AND CANADA, IT IS ALSO DISTRIBUTED IN 6 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND MEXICO. DIGITALLY DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY IODA.

WELL 2007 IS GONE BUT WE HAD A GOOD YEAR. LAST NIGHT WE PLAYED @ THE DOCK SIDE PUB IN LAKE MAHOPAC, NY TO A REALLY FUN AND APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE TO BRING THE NEW YEAR IN. THE CHRISTMAS DAY GIG @ BB KINGS IN NYC WAS A BLAST. IT WAS SO CROWDED WE COULDN'T STOP PLAYING. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR WAS OUR ANNUAL MINI-TOUR WITH PETE BEST ( THE ORIGINAL BEATLE) AND ' THE SUNNY SIDE OF ME ' RELEASE PARTY ' LAST SUMMER @ BB KINGS WITH DAVID MAXWELL JIMMY VIVINO AND SANDY ALLEN . ALSO THE BLUES FESTIVAL IN WARWICK, NY WAS MOST ENJOYABLE WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2008 WITH THE RELEASES OF BLEECKER-BOWERY ON RANDOM CHANCE RECORDS, LIVE @ LUCILLE'S NYC ON IRIS MUSIC GROUP RECORDS AND THE LIVE @ SWEET RHYTHM ON WOODSTOCK RECORDS. WE ARE ALREADY STARTING THE NEW YEAR ON THE GOOD FOOT. LIVE @ LUCILLES NYC IS #8 ON THE EMUSIC TEXAS BLUES CHARTS ALONG WITH SUCH LEGENDS AS ROBERT JOHNSON AND JOHN LEE HOOKER. WE ARE ALSO GETTING NATIONAL AIRPLAY COAST TO COAST. WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXCITING 2008 AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! --- MICHAEL PACKER

MICHAEL PACKER BLUES ON YOU TUBE. FROM THE ARCHIVES,FILMED @ CHICAGO BLUES (NYC) IN 1999. GO TO THE LINKS SECTION OF THE WEBSITE AND OPEN YOUTUBE.ENJOY!

THE MICHAEL PACKER BLUES BAND WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY, SAFE AND PEACEFUL HOLIDAY. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DAY @ BB KINGS (LUCILLES), 237 WEST 42ND STREET, NYC @ 8PM. GOT THE HOLIDAY BLUES COME DOWN AND WILL FIX THAT FOR YOU. IT'S FREE TO GET IN. PEACE & LOVE!!!

REST IN PEACE LUCKY. I LOVE YOU

THE LIVE @ LUCILLES CD WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY ON EMUSIC BY THE IRIS MUSIC GROUP/THE ORCHARD AND IS LISTED #5 ON THE EMUSIC BLUES CHARTS AND #2 ON THE TEXAS BLUES CHARTS BEHIND JOHN LEE HOOKER @ #1. THE CD IS ALSO #14 ON THE RHAPSODY COUNTRY BLUES CHARTS. MORE INFO COMING SOON ON THIS RELEASE.

THE BAY STREET SALOON LOCATED @ 523 BAY STREET, STATEN ISLAND NY. IS OPENING THE DOORS ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 1, 2007 @ 7PM TO THE BLUES AND WHAT A SHOW IT'S GOING TO BE.....SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ARE INTERNATIONAL BLUES STARS MICHAEL HILL, BASSIST PETE CUMMINGS, GUITARIST CHAZ DEPAOLO, THE MICHAEL PACKER BLUES BAND, QUEEN TIPSY AN BLUESNYC. THE SHOW WILL BE FILMED FOR CTV BY GUY POWELL. FOR MORE INFO CALL GARY @ 718-442--1050

IT WAS AN HONOR TO MEET SID BERNSTEIN ( THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE BEATLES TO AMERICA) @ THE RODEO BAR IN NYC LAST NIGHT WHEN WE OPENED FOR BEATLE PETE BEST. TRULY A MEMORABLE NIGHT. WE HAD SOME GREAT GIGS WITH THE PETE BEST BAND, THE REAL McCOY, THE TOWNE CRIER AND THE RODEO BAR. 2008 WE ARE GOING TO LIVERPOOL TO PLAY THE IPO FESTIVAL AND THE CAVERN COURTESY OF CASBAH MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU PETE, PHIL, ROAG, TONY, PAUL, TERRY AND ROAG JR. FOR A GREAT 2 WEEKS OF ROCK & ROLL.

WE WILL BE DOING MORE SHOWS WITH PETE BEST THE ORIGINAL BEATLES DRUMMER. THE PETE BEST BAND WILL BE INVADING STATEN ISLAND, NY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH @ THE REAL McCOY AND WILL BE @ THE RODEO BAR IN NYC ON MONDAY OCTOBER 1, THE TOWNE CRIER CAFE OCTOBER 7TH AND BACK @ THE RODEO BAR ON OCTOBER 8TH. MORE INFO GO TO www.petebest.com

The Michael Packer Blues Band returns to Savannah's, Albany N.Y. Saturday Sept.15 and on Sunday October 7 marks the return of former Beatle Pete Best for an engagement @ The Towne Crier, Pawling N.Y. Also The Michael Packer Blues Band have been chosen semi-finalists in the Jersey Shore Blues and Jazz Society's regional IBC regional competition with the winner going to Memphis, TN for the International Blues Challenge in February 2008.. Michael Packer's cover of ' All Along The Watchtower ' has been included in a Dylan covers compilation released on the Iris Music Group as well as a Lennon -McCartney song 'I've Just Seen A Face' included in a Beatles covers CD.The ' Live @ Sweet Rhythm' CD will be released on Woodstock Records home to the late,great Rick Danko of the Band and our friends Prof. Louie and the Crowmatix. So summer is almost gone and it was fun but can't wait for the changing of the leaves.

THE MICHAEL PACKER BLUES BAND WILL BE PERFORMING WITH COMMANDER CODY AND WOODSTOCK RECORDS PROF. LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX @ THE BLEND BAR, 17 CHESTNUT STREET, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY THIS COMING SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH. SHOW STARTS @ 8PM. DON'T MISS THIS GREAT NIGHT OF MUSIC. (CHECK CALENDAR)

We want to thank everybody who came out to the party @ BB Kings last Sunday. It was something else. The band smoked with the help of Jimmy Vivino and David Maxwell. The session was recorded live so expect a release soon. We not only played blues but also started the night off with a country-folk feel courtesy of Sandy Allen who made the trip from Rhode Island. Lots of guests Dave ' Snakeman ' Runyan, Felix Cabrera, Billy Schroder gave it there all. Unfortunately songwriter 9 year old Gabby Kasper fell asleep @ the club. A little past her bedtime but was awakened by her mom for her song ' The Sunny Side of Me. A special thanks goes out to Alan and Bonnie Lorber, Rick Congress for coming out and sharing the evening with us. We will be back @ BB Kings on Halloween so get ready for some black magic and the blues.

THIS SUNDAY AUGUST 19TH 8PM @ BB KINGS 237 WEST 42ND STREET NYC THE MICHAEL PACKER BLUES BAND WILL BE THROWING A PARTY FOR THE NEW ' SUNNY SIDE OF ME' CD. SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE GUITARISTJIMMY VIVINO WHO HAS BEEN RECEIVING RAVE REVIEWS FOR HIS WORK WITH LEVON HELM. WORLD CLASS BLUES PIANIST DAVID MAXWELL, SANDY ALLEN FROM PAPA NEBO AND FREE BEER. BLUES HARPISTS FELIX CABRERA AND DAVE ' SNAKEMAN' RUNYAN, GABBY KASPER THE 9 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO WROTE THE LYRICS FOR ' SUNNY SIDE '. THIS PERFORMANCE WILL BE RECORDED LIVE SO COME ON DOWN AND BE A PART OF SOME MUSICAL MAGIC!

BLIND PIG RECORDING ARTIST, BLUES GUITARIST BILL PERRY PASSED AWAY ON TUESDAY JULY 17TH. HE WAS ONLY 49 YEARS OLD. I FIRST MET BILLY @ RICHIE HAVENS TOONTOWN STUDIO IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY. TO REALLY SEE HOW VERSATILE BILLY'S GUTAR PLAYING WAS CHECK OUT RICHIE HAVEN'S ' RESUME' ' ALBUM. TRULY REMARKABLE. THE MUSIC WORLD HAS LOST A GOOD ONE. GOD BLESS!.....MICHAEL PACKER

WE ARE SET FOR A GREAT NIGHT OF MUSIC @ BB KINGS BLUES CLUB AND GRILLE ON SUNDAY AUGUST 19TH. FEATURED PERFORMERS INCLUDE JIMMY VIVINO FROM THE CONAN OBRIEN SHOW, DAVID MAXWELL, JAMES COTTON'S PIANO PLAYER, FELIX CABRERA ON HARP, SANDY ALLEN MEMBER OF PAPA NEBO AND FREE BEER. MORE GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED. WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED IT IS GOING TO BE ONE GREAT NIGHT!.... ALSO COMING UP WE WILL BE PERFORMING @ THE BLEND BAR IN RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY ON SEPTEMBER 8TH WITH COMMANDER CODY AND PROF.LOUIE AND THE CROWMATIX.... PETE BEST AND THE BOYS FROM LIVERPOOL RETURN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH US @ THE TOWNE CRIER IN PAWLING, NY ON OCTOBER 7TH... WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! KEEP ROCKIN!

Background singer Patty Darcy Jones passed away on June 16th, 2007. She starred in the Broadway show ' Smokey Joe's Cafe'
and sang backup for Cher, Bette Midler and on my first Free Beer album produced by Brenden Harkin. She also recorded a fantastic version of one of my songs ' Run Wild '. Patty was blessed with a remarkable voice and talent. I was lucky enough to have experienced that talent first hand.Thank you Patty for being a part of my life and God bless you!..........MICHAEL PACKER

THE TITLE TRACK ' THE SUNNY SIDE OF ME ' LYRICS BY 8 YEAR OLD GABBY KASPER IS THE MOST REQUESTED SONG IN THE HISTORY OF WEQX FM RADIO IN ALBANY, NY!. ALBANY'S #1 ALTERNATIVE ROCK STATION.

Sir Paul McCartney is to appear in a 5 minute promotional film to promote the former Beatles bandmate Pete Best's Liverpool, England's Casbah Coffee Club where the fab 4 once hung out before they became super stars. The venue was recently named an historic building by the English Heritage.... McCartney admits he was thrilled to take part in the publicity campaign. The commercial includes appearances by McCartney, Pete Best, Rory Best and Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon's first wife. This is a marvelous first step in the healing process for our good friend Pete Best and for Paul too. . CHEERS! .....MICHAEL PACKER

Summer is almost here and we are gearing up for it. Memorial Day weekend we are in Albany NY performing 2 Borders Books in-stores and will be back @ Savannah's.In June we return to The Pine Tavern, Orphan Annies and do our first gig with the Dough Boys @ Crossroads in New Jersey and August we are back @ The Dockside Pub in Lake Mahopac, NY, The Downstate Blues Festival @ The beautiful Warwick Valley Winery in Warwick NY and later on that month @ BB Kings Blues Club and Grill in NYC for a ' Sunny Side of Me ' CD Release party. So come and hangout and enjoy some Summer fun and sunshine with us.

I only met BB (Bernie) once @ Orphan Annies in Sterling New Jersey.My band was there to showcase @ one of his Sunday blues jams. There hardly was anyone in the club but BB was still up there swinging, getting into his zone.After my band played, I talked to him and he liked what he heard BB told me he would give the owner of the club the heads-up.Well thanks to Bernie it evolved into a regalar gig for my band @ Orphan Annies. Bernie passed away this past Sunday and will surely be missed.This is just another example of why people should go out and support live music and especially local musicians. Life is short. Thanks Bernie and I am sure you have a packed house up there in heaven. Keep rockin......MICHAEL PACKER