Ponderosa Stomp report

Mississippi's L.C. Ulmer, circa 80, was joined on stage by three burlesque dancers. He was glad to pose backstage with a couple of them for me.

From left: Lil Buck Sinegal, Lazy Lester, Warren Storm and James Burton. Lazy Lester, whose recording "Pondarosa (sic) Stomp" provided inspiration for the annual event, was joined on stage by legendary guitarist James Burton (Elvis, Ricky Nelson), and swamp popper Warren Storm, who played drums behind Lester, Slim Harpo and others at Excello Records back in the '50s and '60s. Storm also had a great set of his own, backed by the Haunted Hearts. Lester was one of many artists at the Stomp backed by the wonderful band led by guitarist Lil Buck Sinegal, which included Buckwheat Zydeco (aka Stanley Dural) on the organ.

One of the rawest and wildest sets of the Stomp was turned in by Houston guitarist Little Joe Washington

Mobile, AL resident Lil Greenwood, who recorded R&B in the late '40s and '50s before becoming Duke Ellington's vocalist, sounded and looked great at 83. Hopefully her performance at the Stomp will be a springboard for a career revival

British blues/R&B researcher John Broven, center, chaired a panel featuring Joe Bihari of Modern Records (left) and Marshall Chess, the son of Chess Records owner Leonard Chess. Bihari discussed traveling the Deep South with his talent scout Ike Turner back in the early '50s, and recalled that he never shook a deejay's hand unless he had a $100 bill folded in it. Chess recalled growing up at the Chess studios with artists including Etta James, Chuck Berry and Sonny Boy Williamson 2. Broven has a thick new book out called "Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Indepdendent Rock'n'Roll Pioneers," which appears to provide the most comprehensive analysis of the recording industry in the decades following WWII. Visit johnbroven.com for more info.

On a freeform panel (from left) Dr. John, drummer Bob French, and arranger Wardell Quezergue discussed topics including New Orleans drummers, the failure of labels to pay royalties, and how relatively little recognition Quezergue has received for his arrangements of songs recorded by artists such as Jean Knight ("Mr Big Stuff"), Dorothy Moore ("Misty Blue") and King Floyd ("Groove Me").

For the next year the historic Cabildo on Jackson Square, which houses the Louisiana State Museum, is hosting the exhibit "Unsung Heroes: The Secret History of Louisiana Rock'n'Roll," which was co-curated by the museum and the non-profit Ponderosa Stomp Foundation. The sizable exhibit contains panels on topics including swamp pop, the Louisiana Hayride, rockabilly, garage bands and New Orleans R&B and soul. Above is Fats Domino's Steinway baby grand piano that was salvaged from his home in the 9th Ward

Soul vocalist Sir Lattimore Brown, who recorded some wonderful singles for labels including Sound Stage 7 back in the '60s, getting a kiss from his beautiful daughter Wraquel, who he hadn't seen in decades. The picture was taken outside of the Banks Street Bar in New Orleans, where Brown performed last Monday night. He was backed by Oxford's own Wiley and the Checkmates, who also backed Brown (and Bobby Patterson) at the Stomp on Wednesday.