Baton Rouge musicians are taking to social media to express their grief over the death of blues singer Mamie Porter.
“I am so sad to inform you all of the passing of Mamie Porter today,” Henry Turner Jr. posted late Saturday. “I have spoken with Smokehouse and we are asking that everyone give him space at this time. We are all sending condolences and prayers to the family.”
“Ever since I can remember Smokehouse and Miss Mamie Porter have been singing the gutbucket blues,” Jonathon “Boogie” Long wrote. “And they were always so kind, gracious and supportive of not only myself but the entire Baton Rouge Blues community. RIP Miss Mamie, you will be missed by your blues family.”
Porter and her husband, Smokehouse Porter, performed locally and regionally for 30 years. With their Gutbucket Blues Band, their deep-blues repertoire included standards by classic Louisiana, Chicago and Delta blues acts and downhome original songs. In 2018, the Porters received a Slim Harpo Music Award in recognition of their 25 years of singing the blues together…