(ST.
LOUIS) – Broke & Hungry Records, the St. Louis-based country
blues label that last month released Back
to Bentonia, the critically acclaimed debut CD by Jimmy
"Duck" Holmes, has reached a national distribution deal
with Burnside Distribution Corporation in Portland, Oregon. The
arrangement will greatly expand the label's reach within the United
States by making its CDs available to both independent and chain
music retailers.
"The
response to Back to Bentonia has been overwhelming," said Jeff
Konkel, president and founder of Broke & Hungry Records. "But
without a strong distribution partner in the United States, it would
be next to impossible for the average blues fan to walk into a record
store in Phoenix or Boston and find a Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes release
nestled between CDs by Slim Harpo and John Lee Hooker. Thanks to
this arrangement with Burnside Distribution Corporation, that scenario
becomes a lot more likely. We're thrilled to be involved with a
distributor of their caliber."
According
to Bill McNally, owner and general manager of Burnside, the feeling
is mutual. "This relationship is a perfect fit. While Burnside
distributes many different genres of music, blues is one that is
closest to our hearts. Back to Bentonia is the type of project we
delight in dealing with. Many of the great unknowns of yesteryear
are still active but the average consumer is unaware of them or
if they do know of a release, it is very difficult to obtain. The
benefit of a national distributor is that all accounts, large and
small – from chains to independents – have availability
for their customers. Burnside Distribution looks forward to this
new relationship with Broke & Hungry Records with their Jimmy
'Duck' Holmes project and their future efforts."
Burnside
Distribution will also handle the distribution of Broke & Hungry
Records' next CD, Meet Me In The Cotton Field, an exciting country
blues release by Terry "Big T" Williams and Wesley Jefferson.
The disc is tentatively slated for an August release.
Back
to Bentonia and future releases from Broke & Hungry Records
will continue to be available through the label's Web site at www.brokeandhungryrecords.com.
