This is one night in Milwaukee WI way back on 12/23/98. Stokes was my first hero and mentor in the art of the blues, soul and American roots music. He taught me to sing and play the guitar. He taught so many musicians. Stokes never truly got his due. I had recently located to NYC, and at 21 years old I decided to come home for Xmas and lick my wounds. Luckily I scheduled a set at my training and proving ground of my teens, the Up and Under. This was a spiritual place. Hubert Sumlin used to hang there, local legends like Jim Liban, Billy Flynn, and Harvey Scales would walk out on the bar and holler. This was a real joint. and an incubator. Thanks to former owner Mike Kostel it became my school for music.When I turned 16 I go a "job" as a bar back, which was really just a way for me to be in there without my parents. Eventually my band got an every Thursday slot, coveted back then, but eventually the big city came calling and I had to move on. I tried many times to get Stokes to come sit in with my band out Gregg Allman on the many times we swung through. But we never got him down to the shows. 
On this recording you will also hear two of my favorite players from the Brewtown scene (who are still laying it down) Kevin Allen on bass and Dave "DC" Cornette on drums. You will also here the great Milwaukee Slim on vocals on "Going to New York" and "Tore Down", this man sounded exactly like Jimmy Reed, a tremendous presence. 
Stokes was the best of all our locals. He was equal to Magic Sam or Buddy Guy easily. But he never got a shot at fame. Heres one night, and one time when we had a chance to play a show together as leaders, this was a sort of graduation ceremony for me. Im so proud to have known =him and so happy this recording exists. This was record using a little Tascam tape recorded that was laying on the bar! My producing partner and audio wizard Charlie Martinez digitized this and tried to bring it back to life over a dozen years ago. On the occasion of Stokes passing I've decided to let it slip out of my private collection and into the world at no cost... We love you Stokes, wherever you may be, rave on! 
Scott Sharrard 12/5/19

Last Goodbye

Eric Finland

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