Lew Jetton
Encyclopedia
Lew Jetton is an American
blues
guitarist
and singer, who also spent many years as a meteorologist and local television personality. He was born in Humboldt and raised near Trenton, Tennessee
.
in 1981, he worked in radio at WIRJ
(AM)/WZDQ-FM in Humboldt, Tennessee from 1982–1983, moving to television as a weathercaster/news reporter at WBBJ-TV
in Jackson, Tennessee
. He also spent a short stint as a sports anchor at WBBJ, before moving to WPSD-TV
in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989 as weekend news anchor/meteorologist. Jetton is a second cousin of the late Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nat Caldwell of the Nashville Tennessean. Although very popular with viewers, Jetton left WPSD to work in marketing.
and The Dirt Daubers
. Upon the departure of "Fast" Layne Hendrickson, the lead singer of the band, Lew was recruited to become the frontman of the band, while mentored by friend and Chicago Blues Legend Snooky Pryor in nearby Ullin, Illinois
.
Working and touring as a regional band in the Midwest and Mid-South
, Lew Jetton & 61 South shared billings with blues greats including Luther Allison
, Koko Taylor
, Little Milton
, Chuck Berry
, Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials and many more. Lew Jetton & 61 South released two albums: State Line Blues (2000) and Tales From A 2 Lane (2006). State Line Blues was the fourth best Independent Blues Release in the United States by Real Blues Magazine. Tales From A 2 Lane was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by the Kentucky Blues Society, a "Pick to Click" by XM Satellite Radio
Bluesville (Channel 74), which kept Jetton originals "Waffle House Woman" and "I Been Cheated" on their hot playlist throughout most of 2006. Tales From A 2 Lane was also selected one of the top Independent Blues Releases by Real Blues Magazine.
In 2007, the band re-released 2000's State Line Blues, which was also picked up as a "Pick to Click" on XM's Bluesville, with "Gettin' Colder," "State Line Blues" and "Homegrown Tomato" receiving the most airplay.
Lew Jetton & 61 South continue playing festivals and clubs and touring extensively in the Midwest and Mid-South. occasionally venturing to other regions.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer, who also spent many years as a meteorologist and local television personality. He was born in Humboldt and raised near Trenton, Tennessee
Trenton, Tennessee
Trenton is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,264 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Gibson County, and its third largest city.-Geography:Trenton is located at ....
.
Career
After graduation from college at Middle Tennessee State UniversityMiddle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
in 1981, he worked in radio at WIRJ
WIRJ
WIRJ is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Humboldt, Tennessee, USA, the station is currently owned by John F. Warmath....
(AM)/WZDQ-FM in Humboldt, Tennessee from 1982–1983, moving to television as a weathercaster/news reporter at WBBJ-TV
WBBJ-TV
WBBJ-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Western Tennessee licensed to Jackson. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter on Potts Chapel Road in unincorporated Eastern Madison County. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 7 and...
in Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
. He also spent a short stint as a sports anchor at WBBJ, before moving to WPSD-TV
WPSD-TV
WPSD-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Kentucky's Jackson Purchase, Southern Illinois, and the Missouri Bootheel. Licensed to Paducah, Kentucky, the station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter in Monkeys Eyebrow, Kentucky...
in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989 as weekend news anchor/meteorologist. Jetton is a second cousin of the late Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nat Caldwell of the Nashville Tennessean. Although very popular with viewers, Jetton left WPSD to work in marketing.
Music
In 1994, while still working in local TV, he began playing guitar with the Blues band 61 South, based in Paducah, Kentucky, which featured, among others, Col. J.D. Wilkes, of Th' Legendary Shack ShakersTh' Legendary Shack Shakers
The Legendary Shack Shakers are an American punk blues band. They are inspired by punk, Delta blues, rockabilly, Texas polka, gothic rock, and other traditional Southern music genres, formed in Paducah, Kentucky in the mid-1990s...
and The Dirt Daubers
The Dirt Daubers
The Dirt Daubers are an American Old-time trio. They are inspired by blues and other traditional Southern music genres. The group formed in Paducah, Kentucky in 2009. The frontman for the band is J.D. Wilkes of the Legendary Shack Shakers. Their self-titled debut album was released on October 13,...
. Upon the departure of "Fast" Layne Hendrickson, the lead singer of the band, Lew was recruited to become the frontman of the band, while mentored by friend and Chicago Blues Legend Snooky Pryor in nearby Ullin, Illinois
Ullin, Illinois
Ullin is a village in Pulaski County, Illinois, United States. The population was 779 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ullin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
.
Working and touring as a regional band in the Midwest and Mid-South
Mid-South
Mid-South may refer to:*The East South Central States*The region centered on the Memphis and Little Rock MSAs, including portions of West Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northeastern Arkansas, as well as the Missouri Bootheel and extreme northwestern Alabama; see Memphis metropolitan...
, Lew Jetton & 61 South shared billings with blues greats including Luther Allison
Luther Allison
Luther Allison was an American blues guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas and moved with his family, at age twelve, to Chicago in 1951. He taught himself guitar and began listening to blues extensively. Three years later he began hanging outside blues nightclubs with the hopes of being...
, Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor sometimes spelled KoKo Taylor was an American Chicago blues musician, popularly known as the "Queen of the Blues." She was known primarily for her rough, powerful vocals and traditional blues stylings....
, Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials and many more. Lew Jetton & 61 South released two albums: State Line Blues (2000) and Tales From A 2 Lane (2006). State Line Blues was the fourth best Independent Blues Release in the United States by Real Blues Magazine. Tales From A 2 Lane was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by the Kentucky Blues Society, a "Pick to Click" by XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
Bluesville (Channel 74), which kept Jetton originals "Waffle House Woman" and "I Been Cheated" on their hot playlist throughout most of 2006. Tales From A 2 Lane was also selected one of the top Independent Blues Releases by Real Blues Magazine.
In 2007, the band re-released 2000's State Line Blues, which was also picked up as a "Pick to Click" on XM's Bluesville, with "Gettin' Colder," "State Line Blues" and "Homegrown Tomato" receiving the most airplay.
Lew Jetton & 61 South continue playing festivals and clubs and touring extensively in the Midwest and Mid-South. occasionally venturing to other regions.
External links
- Lew Jetton and 61 South Official Website