'Low Down Blues' radio show celebrates
anniversary with two concerts
By THOMAS BOND
Get Out
Jan. 29, 2004

Though he's amazed that so much time has passed, Scottsdale's Bob Corritore has been sharing his favorite music with Valley radio listeners for two decades.

I turned around and 20 years had passed, says Corritore of his program, Those Low Down Blues, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The show airs 6 to 11 p.m. Sunday nights on KJZZ 91.5 FM.

While the DJ is modest about the milestone It's part of my basic nature, just loving the blues and wanting to pass on the music that I love to people, he says others are happy to provide perspective on the accomplishment.

I don't know of any show that's lasted that long especially on one station, says Arizona music historian John Dixon, who has 20 years of DJ and programming experience on various Valley stations. Its mind-boggling considering the ups and downs of all radio stations.

As president of the Phoenix Blues Society, Bill Mitchell knows what the show means to the community.

Clubs may come and go and musicians may come and go but for 20 years the show has been there for blues fans, he says.

KJZZ program director Scott Williams feels the same. It's an incredibly long run for any program, he says. It's a credit to the persistence and dedication of Bob Corritore to the blues. It really is his life and this is just one important aspect of it.

Corritore is much more than a blues DJ. He's also a gifted harmonica player with nationally released albums to his credit, an accomplished record producer and he owns the Rhythm Room the longtime hub of the Valley's blues community. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Those Low Down Blues, the club is hosting shows on Friday and Saturday night featuring national artists and local mainstays such as Big Pete Pearson.

It'll be great to be there, Pearson says. It's a struggle to keep the blues going here in Arizona and Bob is doing a great job keeping the blues alive. We need it. I hope he can keep the show going for another 25 or 40 years!

Corritore wishes for the same, saying, If God gives me strength, I'm there!

20th Anniversary Celebration of Bob Corritore's Those Low Down Blues With: CeDell Davis, Johnny Dyer, Henry Gray, Steve Cushing, Big Pete Pearson, Chico Chism and others
Where: Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday both non-smoking shows
How much: $10
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