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blues
festival
Let
the artists rock on
The 23rd Annual Long Beach Blues Festival gives music lovers
a chance to sample some of the world’s best jazz and blues
artists.
Saturday’s
Performers
Ben E. King began his career with the Five Crowns in 1958,
according to a press release. After joining the Five Crowns,
which eventually became the Drifters, the hits started rolling
in. Some of his greatest hits include “There Goes My Baby,”
“Dance With Me,” and “Stand By Me.”
King is excited about performing at the Blues Festival, said
Randy Irwin, King’s manager.
“This is our first year doing it,” said Irwin. “I know that
he is looking forward to doing it.”
• Otis Rush, along with Magic Sam, are credited for developing
the “west side” guitar style in Chicago, according to a press
release provided by American Legends Music Agency International.
“I’m excited to be performing at this year’s Long Beach Blues
Festival and I look forward to seeing my fans in California,”
Rush said.
• Renowned blues and soul singer Arthur Adams was born in
Jackson, Tenn., and has been performing in front of audiences
since the 1950s.
This will be Adams first appearance at the 23rd Annual Long
Beach Blues Festival.
“This year I was fortunate enough to be invited,” Adams said.
“This is my first time [performing at the Long Beach Blues
Festival],” Adams said. “It’s a very thrilling event.”
• Robert Cray began performing in 1974 in Eugene, Ore. Cray
has released 13 albums and collaborated with Eric Clapton,
John Lee Hooker and Tina Turner as well as others.
Joining Cray on-stage will be his band mates Jim Pugh on keyboards,
Karl Sevareid on bass and Kevin Hayes on drums.
• Eye cancer at age 1 left Jeff Healey blind. He began playing
guitar by holding the guitar flat on his lap, a unique style
that became his trademark.
The “Jeff Healey Band” consists of Jeff Healey on vocals and
guitar, Joe Rockman on bass and Tom Stephen on drums.
• Also on the bill for Saturday is the funk band “The Ohio
Players.”
Originally formed in 1959 as “The Ohio Untouchables,” the
band has gone through many line-up changes and side projects
to get to where they are today.
The current Ohio Players line-up features Leroy “Sugar” Bonner
on guitar and vocals, James “Diamond” Williams on drums and
vocals, Clarence “Chet” Willis on rhythm guitar and vocals,
Robert “Kuumba” Jones on percussion Ronald Nooks on keyboards,
and Darwin Dortch on bass and vocals.
The band’s albums include; “Pain,” “Pleasure,” “Skin Tight”
and “Ouch.” Their last new release was 1988’s “Back.”
Staff reporters Luis Pena and Phil Witte compiled this information.
Sunday’s Performers
Los Angeles native Etta James began singing as a child gospel
prodigy at the age of 5, when she sang in her LA Baptist church
choir. Her soulful collection dates back to the early 50s,
when she was brought into the limelight at just 14 by famous
R&B legend Johnny Otis.
But things really began to take off for the talented songbird
when, in 1960, she signed a contract with Chicago’s Chess
Records. During the 15 years she remained on the label, James
released such old favorites as “All I could Do Was Cry,” “Something’s
Got A Hold Of Me” and “Tell Mama.”
Tyrone Davis, a native of Mississippi, is best known for his
classic Pop and R&B hits from the early 1960s, such as:
“Turn Back The Hands Of Time,” “A Woman Needs To Be Loved”
and “One Way Ticket.”
His big break came almost by accident, when a Texas disc jockey
played the flip side to one of his first singles that was
not going anywhere in the charts. That song, “Can I Change
My Mind,” went on to hit the top of the Billboard charts,
crossing over from the R & B to the Pop charts.
Guitarist, singer and songwriter Roy Gaines will join the
blues legends to perform forceful vocals that accompany his
awe-inspiring guitar rhythms.
His first instrument was the piano, later switched to saxophone
after realizing all the girls were paying closer attention
to his brother, who played sax in his band.
Gaines’ album, “Lucille Work For Me,” released in 1996 followed
by his 1998 release of “Bluesman For Life,” which provided
Gaines with the long overdue recognition he deserved.
Jazz veteran Mable John is a Louisiana native, who moved to
Detroit and began her 40-year music career working as secretary
to Bertha Gordy, mother of Motown Record Corp. founder Berry
Gordy.
John was the first female to be signed to Motown’s newly created
Tamla label in 1959 and has performed alongside Billie Holiday,
B.B. King and David Newman.
Rock ‘’N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ike Turner makes his
way to the 23rd Annual Jazz Festival Sunday.
Born Nov. 5, 1931 in Clarksdale, Miss., Turner formed the
band Kings of Rhythm after learning to play the piano in the
1940s.
Turner was inducted into the Rock ‘’N’ Roll Hall of Fame in
1990 and has received a Grammy nomination for “Here and Now,”
released May 2001.
Grammy award-winning blues artist Dr. John brings his unique
brand of music to the blues festival.
Also known as the
Knight Tripper, Dr. John has played piano and guitar since
his teenage years in New Orleans and began his career in the
1950s as a backup player for Sonny and Cher.
Dr. John won a Grammy in 1989 for “Makin’ Whoopee,” a duet
with Rickie Lee Jones and another Grammy in 1992 for his album
“Goin’ Back to New Orleans.”
Staff reporters Jo Appleton and Ryan May compiled this
information using press releases and web sites.
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Intersound
The Ohio Players are a featured band that is
scheduled to perform Saturday. The band was originally formed
under the name “The Ohio Untouchables.”
Henry
Diltz
Dr. John is one of the artists playing Sunday.
He is also known as the Knight Tripper and has played back
up for Sonny and Cher.
Blind
Pig Records
Arthur Adams will bring his funky, soul, blues
guitar to the festival. A dynamic performer, Adams, radiates
electric charisma with his extraordinary fretwork.
N.E.
Photo & Design
Ben E. King is one of six bands scheduled to
play Saturday. King’s song, “Stand By Me,” went No. 1 on the
charts when it was first released in 1961.
Jonathan
Nourok
Otis Rush, Etta James and Roy Gaines rock the
house at a previous Blues Festival. All three artists are
on the lineup for the 2002 festival.
Margaret
Malandruccolo
The Jeff Healey Band will play the first day
of the Blues Festival. Jeff Healey is vocals and guitar, Joe
Rockman is on bass and Tom Stephen is on drums.
Jay
Blakesberg
Robert Cray is playing Saturday at the 23rd
Blues Festival. Bandmates on-stage include Jim Pugh on keyboards,
Karl Sevareid on bass and Kevin Hayes on drums.
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