jo Staford

The rock era saw a few white female singers, like Janis Joplin, show they could sing the blues. But one who could outshine them all — Jo Ann Kelly — seemed to slip through the cracks, mostly because she favored the acoustic, Delta style rather than rocking out with a heavy band behind her. But with a huge voice, and a strong guitar style influenced by Memphis Minnie and Charley Patton, she was the queen. Born January 5, 1944, Kelly and her older brother Dave were both taken by the blues, and born at the right time to take advantage of a young British blues scene in the early '60s.

Country singer Jo Dee Messina has been voted top new female vocalist by the Academy of County Music, and walked away with the Country Music Association's Horizon Award. Before then she made her full-length debut into the music world with this 1996 self-titled album which was Produced byByron Gallimoreand well-known singerTim McGraw. It included hits like “Heads Carolina, Tails California”, You’re Not In Kansas Anymore”. Following up those hits with her 1998 sophomore album included the chart toppers- “Bye, Bye” and “I’m Alright” and “Lesson In Leavin”. With the renewed success of Jo Dee’s music coming to the forefront, Curb Records and Jo Dee Messina are releasing “Heads Carolin, Tails California”: The Best Of Jo Dee Messina. This will include a first time offering of all her hits on a limited-edition colored vinyl. The album will release on March 10th, 2023.

Jo Stafford was one of the Greatest and most popular Female Vocalists of the Pre-Rock and Roll era and beyond. Perfect diction, immaculate phrasing, and a tone as clear as a bell were Jo’s calling cards during a five-decade career. "It Had to Be You: Lost Radio Recordings" presents a treasure trove of 24 1950-1951 performances from The Carnation Contented Hour. Completely unreleased recordings featuring Jo interpreting songs, like “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, and “I’ve Got the World on a String”, that were big hits for other artists. These tracks come from tape sources, not transcription discs, and therefore are Studio Quality.