Intrepid Artists is excited to welcome late night Television Musical Icon/Musical Director and Band leader for The Conan O’Brien Show and The Tonight Show for over two and a half decades Mr. Jimmy Vivino aka Jimmy V.

While Jimmy has always considered himself “a blues man with a job” he is probably best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist, and bandleader while his experience in the music business predates that by 20-plus years.

Jimmy V has produced bands, led bands, and recorded with a countless number of rock and roll and blues artists for five decades including the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Johnnie Johnson, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland, Lil’ Ed Williams, Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Dion, Laura Nyro, Bob Margolin, Lowell Fulson, John Sebastian, Joe Louis Walker, and Al Kooper to name a few. When not producing, recording, or touring with other artists Jimmy still tours the country and the world with his own band and is due to release a new blues album later on this year (2022).

Jimmy is currently touring as a 4-piece band; however, he can be packaged as a solo, duo, 4-piece, and up to a 7-piece band.

“This record definitely reflects happier times and good solid dose of classic blues!”, says Popa from his studio full of guitars in the Hudson Valley. “I specifically included covers like Hoochie Coochie Man and Dust My Broom to show respect for the Fathers. Willie Dixon has always been my idol, you know.”

But the real gems here come in Popa’s original compositions. “Equal Opportunity” is a light hearted sing along that celebrates the feminine at a time when it is seriously needed. And songs like “Fly Away” and both versions French and English of “Why You Wanna Make War?” Are big standouts! There is more than an ample amount of pure guitar bliss on this record and slide guitar on tracks like “Tonight I’m Gonna Be the Man” add flavor to a savory mix!

Rest in Peace Kevin Hopkins February 25, 1980 – March 4, 2022

Dear Friends of Intrepid and Friends of Kevin Hopkins,

This is the hardest note I have ever had to write. It is with the heaviest of Hearts that I must break the news to all of you that our Beloved K Hop, Kevin Hopkins, has left this earth. Kevin passed away on Friday, March 4, at 12:42pm EST.

His heart stopped the morning of February 25 on his 42nd birthday and he was found unresponsive. He lost oxygen to the brain for an undetermined amount of time and while paramedics were able to miraculously revive his heart to transport him to the hospital, the damage was already done and he showed little to no brain activity. He had been on life support since then and Friday we were informed of Kevin’s passing.

I think it goes without saying we are all devastated over this tragic loss of life. K Hop was our comrade for the past 15 yrs. Jake in our office had known Kevin for 20 plus yrs. We have all been grieving hard since we received the news and this is something that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. With that said K Hop LOVED Intrepid, LOVED his job, LOVED the Artists he represented, and had STRONG BONDS with many of the promoters he worked with. He would be extremely upset with all of us if we did not honor his legacy by going out, looking adversity in the eye, and proceeding to kick it’s ass. This is the way K Hop rolled! It is the way Intrepid Rolls.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to assist Kevin’s family as they deal with the effects of their beloved husband and father’s passing. Money donated will to go directly to helping his wife, Kristin, and his two sons, Hunter, 6, and Wilder, 5:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-kevin-hopkins-family?qid=3341930d0a6431e5e8328d4725bd210a

Any amount you can contribute will be greatly appreciated.

Please keep Kevin and his family in your prayers and know that life is precious.

If you would like to leave messages, share stories, or reminisce about Kevin please visit the Intrepid Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=4740070892708640&id=118949298154179

God Bless,
Rick Booth
President
Intrepid Artists Int’l Inc.

On Tuesday, March 8, the four-decades-running tradition of the Austin Music Awards returned to celebrate the best and brightest locally-sourced music of the past year.

Carolyn took home two awards, Best Blues Band and Best Guitarist.

In addition to taking home her two awards Carolyn also performed as part of a fundraiser presented by the Society for the Preservation of Texas Music, The Austin Chronicle, and Capital Metro for the essential artist-serving nonprofit the SIMS Foundation.

Congratulations Carolyn!

Completion of Leave the Light On, the group’s studio debut, reflects three-years of sheer determination to coordinate schedules of a group consisting of Memphis’ most in-demand artists, in addition to navigating the unforeseen impact of a global health crisis on the entire music industry.

Though the maturity and dexterity of the orchestra members shone loud and clear on the group’s first release, the sophomore effort refines and elevates the group’s presentation, employing a clarity and quality complementary to the veteran musicianship within Love Light’s ranks.

Tossing the songbook aside in favor of mostly original tunes, Love Light proves their staying power and reinforces an outlook pointed toward the future while honoring the context of their collective musical past.

“The Love Light Orchestra is lightning in a bottle.”

– Scott Barretta, Living Blues

Intrepid Artists Int’l wants to congratulate All of the 2022 Blues Music Award Nominees! We especially want to recognize those we represent and send a Big Congrats out to our 33 Artists Nominations in 17 different categories.

All Intrepid Nominees listed below

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year –
Eric Gales
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Band of the Year –
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials

Song of the Year –
“Fragile Peace and Certain War”
written by Carolyn Wonderland
“Holler If You Hear Me”
written by Jeff Schoedl & Mark Solveson
(Altered Five Blues Band)
“I’d Climb Mountains”
written by Selwyn Birchwood

Contemporary Blues Female Artist –
Vanessa Collier
Carolyn Wonderland

Soul Blues Female Artist –
Kat Riggins

Instrumentalist: Bass –
Larry Fulcher

Instrumentalist: Guitar –
Laura Chavez (Nikki Hill / Vanessa Collier)
Eric Gales

Instrumentalist: Horn –
Marc Franklin (Love Light Orchestra)
Regi Oliver (Selwyn Birchwood)

Instrumentalist: Vocal –
John Németh
Curtis Salgado

Album of the Year –
Altered Five Blues Band, Holler If You Hear Me

Contemporary Blues Album –
Curtis Salgado, Damage Control
Altered Five Blues Band, Holler If You Hear Me

Best Emerging Artist Album –
Veronica Lewis, You Ain’t Unlucky

Blues Rock Album –
Mike Zito, Resurrection
Popa Chubby, Tinfoil Hat

Blues Rock Artist –
Albert Castiglia
Ana Popovic

Contemporary Blues Male Artist –
Selwyn Birchwood
Mr. Sipp

Soul Blues Male Artist –
John Németh
Curtis Salgado

Instrumentalist: Drums –
Danny Banks (John Németh)

Instrumentalist: Piano –
Mike Finnigan (Phantom Blues Band)
Dave Keyes (Popa Chubby)
Veronica Lewis
Jim Pugh (Phantom Blues Band)

We are booking dates now for 2022.

The Full List of Nominees can be found at:
https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/

On Monday, December 20, award-winning vocalist and musician Curtis Salgado, the man NPR Music calls “an icon” with “a huge voice,” will launch the emotionally riveting video of Always Say I Love You (At The End Of Your Goodbyes). The original song – a heartfelt, soulful ballad with a moving, universal message of loss and the redemptive power of love – is a featured track on his 2021 Alligator album, Damage Control.

The video – which visually follows the song’s narrative and includes Salgado’s passionate performance – was recorded in Salgado’s hometown of Portland, Oregon in April 2021, and directed by Joshua James Huff. According to Salgado, “The song is about closure. And when someone you know and care about passes on, you might wonder when was the last time you saw them and what were your final words together. Was it something you now regret or something heartfelt and positive? Life is uncertain and finite. That’s why I always try to say, ‘I love you,’ at the end of my goodbyes.”

Alligator founder and president Bruce Iglauer says, “This is one of the most beautiful and moving songs and performances I’ve ever heard, and the video perfectly captures the power and passion of the story and the soulfulness and subtlety of Curtis’ performance.”

Damage Control is being hailed as the best album of Salgado’s long career. Produced by Salgado, Damage Control is packed with soul-searching, street-smart, vividly detailed, instantly memorable songs. With a career spanning more than three decades, Salgado, a six-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Soul Blues Male Artist Of The Year (most recently in 2021), is a one-of-a-kind talent whose music is as compelling as his story. From co-fronting The Robert Cray Band to leading his own band (and recording nine solo albums) to helping transform John Belushi into “Joliet” Jake Blues to touring the country with Steve Miller and Santana, he is a true musical giant.

Click Here To View Video

Inspired by the variety and abundance of music in her parents’ collection, it makes sense that Kat’s own music is peppered with hints of R&B, soul, country, gospel, hip-hop, and rock-n-roll. Make no mistake; however, Kat Riggins is undeniably a BLUES WOMAN! She travels the world with the sole mission of keeping the blues alive and thriving through her Blues Revival Movement.

She has been vocally compared to Koko Taylor, Etta James and Tina Turner to name a few. While obviously influenced by those icons, Mrs. Riggins has a voice and delivery all her own. Full of power, rasp and grit she can belt out one of her contemporary blues originals one minute, then deliver a tender, sultry standard the next. She does this all while making each person in her audience feel as if she is speaking directly to them. Blues Revivals are interactive and personal no matter how large the crowd. This intimacy is what makes every Blues Revival a memorable experience…not only for the audience, but also for Kat.

Order Eric’s new release Crown out January 28, 2022 at:

https://smarturl.it/Eric-Gales-MLG

The Altered Five makes music with swaggering, bruising, barrelhouse grit! A 2018 Blues Music Award nominee, this Milwaukee-based quintet released its latest album, Holler If You Hear Me, on Blind Pig Records. Recorded over five days in Nashville, TN and produced by three-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, the 13 original tracks showcase the band’s deft songwriting, frontman Jeff Taylor’s mighty baritone voice, and the intuitive musical interplay of the longtime bandmates. Harmonica ace Jason Ricci also joins the group on five tracks. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

With the reviews for the new record already pouring in, Look for The Altered Five to make a Huge Blues Rockin’ Splash in 2022!!! Lookout! CANNONBALL!