More photos from our US road trip

Here is a final batch of photos from the US road trip.
On our first full day in the States the UK group had lunch in Long Island with music writer John Broven, who has just published the revised edition of his ground breaking 1974 book Rhythm and Blues In New Orleans. It happened to coincide with my birthday. It was a significant one as well. John is standing back left. Also in the picture are John Howard, Nick Cobban, Dickie Tapp, Mick Wakeling, Sally Tapp, Gordon Fleming, Brenda Gunn.

After the Long Island doowop weekend we spent a day in Manhattan. Here's one of me at the 9/11 memorial. It brought back memories of the day in 1999 when I saw Alex Chilton and the Box Tops perform a free show in the shadow of the old towers.

On a day off from the Viva Las Vegas festival we visited Red Rock Canyon on the outskirts of town. L-R: Nick Cobban, Noah Shaffer, John Howard, Alan Lloyd.

On our final night in Las Vegas we visited the City Lights club, which featured some great blues and soul from Bobby Jones and Monique Brewster.

And here's one of the lovely Monique, who has a fantastic voice.

On our way south from Las Vegas we had a tour of the Joshua Tree National Park.

Staying in San Diego, we took a day trip across the Mexican border to Tijuana, where we dressed up in ponchos and sombreros. L-R: Dave Thomas, Nick Cobban, John Howard, Alan Lloyd.

This is the motel where Sam Cooke was shot dead in 1964. Actually it was on the parking lot next door. What a waste of a great life.

On our last night in Los Angeles we had a great evening visiting three blues clubs recommended by Allan Charmin' Larman, who was accompanied by Eli Paperboy Reed, who wowed audiences at all three clubs. This is one of the singers at the first of these, Bells Blues Workshop, which takes place in a garage in south LA every Sunday.

We moved on to La Louisianne, a smart bar and restaurant where soul singer Sonny Green takes the stage each week.

Here's a photo of Eli Paperboy Reed at La Louisianne.

Final stop on the night was the Pure Pleasure Club, which featured several acts and a lively crowd. Here is Madame Dee.

Here's another of the singers at the Pure Pleasure.

Finally, here are a few photos of me with some of the artists I saw on the trip. Firstly, at the Doowop Weekend, Chris Montez, who was holding a poster of his first UK tour in 1963 which had the Beatles low down on the bill. I saw that show in Croydon,

Here's one with Kathy Young, best known for A Thousand Stars.

And here's Jay Siegel, lead singer of the Tokens.

At Viva Las Vegas, here's one of me with rockabilly singer Johnny Knight.

At Bell's Blues Workshop, here's Eli Paper Reed.

And here's one with Sonny Green at La Lousianne.