Libby Rae Watson
Libby Rae Watson grew up in Pascagoula, MIssissippi a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. She became captivated by Blues music when in her teens after stumbling across a songbook in a local music store. It was full of songs and photos of Blues greats! Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotten.... legends of the early Blues. It was the beginning of a life long infatuation of the music, the people who made it, and the culture of her own State. She later searched for and became friends with several Blues musicians. She was mentored by the great Sam Chatmon who was the last surviving member of the Mississippi Sheiks. "I didn't plan to go 'find' the Blues. The Blues found me. I've been consumed by it for over 40 years! Like Sam Chatmon said, “ The Blues is my daily occupation!”
*Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola Blues Challenge* 2013 2nd place 2014 Winner, 2015 Winner
*International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN* 2014 and 2015 semi-finalist. 2018 FINALIST!
2016 Musician of the Year by the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola
2017 Winner of the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola Blues Challenge, along with duo partner, Wes Lee as Sweet ‘n’ Salty. Wes was a finalist in the 2017 IBC in Memphis.
2018 International Blues Challenge Finalist with duo Sweet ‘n’ Salty and Wes Lee.
2019 National Women in Blues Showcase in Memphis, TN
2019 Listed on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster at www.arts.ms.gov/artist-roster
2019 Participant in a Mentorship Grant to study under Bluesman Earl ‘Little Joe’ Ayers in Holly Springs, MS
2019 Amal Blues Festival in Sweden
APRIL 2020 Released SHE SHIMMY, featuring Bert Deivert, a world class Blues mandolin player…and many other instruments! The cd is up for a Blues Blast Magazine Awards nomination. The cd features other Blues greats like Eric Bibb and Charlie Musselwhite.
After Covid cancelled 2 overseas trips, she finally perform Ed in Switzerland at the Blues Rules festival in Crissier in 2022.
2022 also brought her back to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, performing with the Hoodoo Men.
Libby Rae Watson has played many festivals and music venues throughout the South and Canada... New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Juke Joint Festival, to name a few. In 2013, She toured the Maritimes of Canada with famed Canadian blues man, Doc MacLean.
Since 2012, Libby Rae tours as a solo performer, and with various configurations with fellow musicians Rambling Steve Gardner, Bill Steber, Austin Walking Cane, Walker T. Ryan, Sam Rorex, Sammy Baker and Wes Lee as the Jericho Road Show, The Stoop Down Rounders and the Hoodoo Men. In 2019, she collaborated with Blues mandolin player, Bert Deivert, for a tour in Sweden. This resulted in a new cd released in 2020 called SHE SHIMMY!
Several shows were planned for 2020 until COVID hit. We’re still busy working on new music!! Hope to see people in real life in the next year or so!
Flash forward to 2022…several gigs starting to book. Switzerland, Memphis, New Orleans, Tallahassee! Many more around Mississippi as festival season cranks up!
“Songster Libby Rae Watson has a certain musical innocence yet a raw sultriness and an inner beauty that comes through the music and a reverence for those who inspired her. - www.countryblues.com -”
“Very few know about Libby Rae, which is a shame! I can compare her with Jo Ann Kelly with a similar repertoire. She’s a great talent with equally great vocals and some catchy fine guitar playing!
-Ingemar Karlsson-”
“We choose Libby Rae Watson to be among our 2015 Top 10 List of Mississippi Musicians you need to see!
-THE SIP MAGAZINE-”
“2016 BLUES ARITIST OF THE YEAR
Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola in appreciation of Libby Rae’s contribution to Our Mississippi Delta Blues Music Heritage
-Janet Webb, MDBSI”
'Sweet 'n' Salty' - Libby Rae Watson
'Times Ain't Like They Used to Be'- The Jericho Road Show Vol. 3 - Both available on cdbaby
“I Done Told Ya” - Sweet ‘n’ Salty - duo with Wes Lee. Available at wesleemusic.com
“She Shimmy”- new release with Bert Deivert, Sweden’s top blues Mandolin player. Coming up in April 2020!!!
Click music note at bottom of page for link to some of the music and Facebook
CONTACT INFO email - libbyrae@libbyrae.com
WEBSITE www.libbyrae.com www.reverbnation.com/libbyraewatson
Connect on Facebook Libby Rae Watson/musician page
DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL. CLARKSDALE, MS. PHOTO BY PETER LEE
Mississippi Blues Artist- Libby Rae Watson - photo @ 2017 Steven W. LIkens
SHACKSDALE MOTEL, THE BIN music venue, Clarksdale, MS
photo by Marianne Walters Todd - LEGENDS MAGAZINE
2016 Americana in Mississippi Tour with the Jericho Road Show - Lft to Rgt- Rambling Steve Gardner, LRW, Wes Lee, and Bill Steber. Mary C O'Keefe Cultural Center, Ocean Springs, MS
photo by KRISTI MILLER-LEE
Sam Chatmon Blues Festival 2018 Hollandale, MS photo by Euphus Ruth
NEW CD!!!! SHE SHIMMY!! Order info below!
NOW AVAILABLE ON MOST STREAM8NG APPS,
Hard Copy CD- $15 - www.paypal.me/libbyraewatson - PLEASE BE SURE AND PUT YOUR ADDRESS ON THE ORDER - For Overseas orders, please ask before ordering.
Downloads Only - $9 - www.paypal.me/bertdeivert
Link below to listen to the title song!
www.soundcloud.com/bert-deivert/she-shimmy
NEW CD!!!! SHE SHIMMY!! Order info below!
Hard Copy CD- $15 - www.paypal.me/libbyraewatson - PLEASE BE SURE AND PUT YOUR ADDRESS ON THE ORDER - For Overseas orders, please ask before ordering.
Downloads Only - $9 - www.paypal.me/bertdeivert
Link below to listen to the title song!
www.soundcloud.com/bert-deivert/she-shimmy
