Southern California Blues Society: SCBS Events

 

Our Next Big Event:

LA Juke Joint Blues Fest 2010

This years Juke Joint event is officially on the calendar.  Event will take place at The Cellar in Long Beach.

In prior years artists such as Curtis Jack Griffin, Sonny Green, Bobby Warren, Marguaret Love , Mississippi Bo, Joyce Lawson, Mary Dukes, Bobby Warren, Jamie Powell, Dr. Hank, Hollis Gilmore, Ray Brooks, Joe Kincaid's Soul Brothers and Southside Slim have all entertained us. 

MORE DETAIL COMING SOON !!

Make sure you are on our Email list or better yet, become a SCBS member today to take advantage of discount tickets to this event and all other SCBS events of at least 20% and ensure you are one of the first to receive all the details.

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New Years Eve Blues Bash 2010

  

Good times were had at Nicks Taste of Texas, in Covina this past New Years.

Check out the line up and take a look at our photo page that captured the fun and fantastic entertainment we enjoyed while bringing in the new year!!  

 

Rod Piazza & Honey Piazza 

Surprise guests and what a treat it was for our Blues Fans !! 

Finis Tasby 

Finis Tasby was born in Dallas, Texas in 1940,and grew up immersed in the vital Texas blues traditionAs a bass player, he worked with many of the greats, including B.B. King, Percy Mayfield and Big Mama Thornton. But it is as a vocalist that Finis really comes into his own, and in the '70s he made his first recordings as a front man. It was during this period that he also formed a lifelong friendship with blues great John Lee Hooker, with whom he often performed locally

 

Jumpin' Jack Benny  http://jumpinjackbennyblues.com/

Benny Cortez himself brings his signature all out, in your face frontman performance to the stage, while smoking hot guitar work from Tony “Fingers” Naranjo and a rhythm section most bands dream about , explains the amazing popularity of this group. Combining elements of Traditional Blues, Soul, Funk and R&B, their audiences cant help but get up and boogie as they are are left mesmerized by they’re performances.

The 44s http://www.myspace.com/the44sband

"The majority of blues bands are known for their front man first and the rest of the band second. Not so with The Forty-Fours (44\'s). This is truly an ensemble group with each musician carrying fully each quarter of their musical load. Johnny Main handles the guitar and vocals, Mike Turturro provides the bass, J.R. Lozano completes the backbeat with his vintage Ludwig drums and Tokyo born Tex Nakamura dances around the music with his sweet soulful harp playing" -- P. Sardone (Southland Blues)

LA Jones  http://www.lajones.com/

One of the most entertaining showman on the scene, L.A. Jones is sure to please.  Check out this guy playing left-handed AND right-handed guitars in the same set!  A true original personality and a killer deep blues guitarist!

Johnny Dyer

Born in Mississippi in 1938, early on Johnny Dyer absorbed the subtlety of phrasing & easy swinging chops that are at the core of all the great blues harp players.  These elemental qualities were ingrained so early that they're completely automatic & natural in Johnny's playing.  Add to that a voice as rich as Mississippi mud, and you've got a bluesman who is about as heavy as they come these days. This seasoned veteran has no gimmicks, no special effects - just straight-ahead, comin' from the soul blues guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Sherry Pruitt

Sherry Pruitt, also known as Sistah Sherry, is a longtime Southern California blues singer who has toured internationally with numerous bands and performed locally with Deacon Jones, The Terraplane Project and guitarist Gregg Wright, among several other projects. Her 2003 Big City Blues CD recorded with guitarist Makoto Miyashita was noted by the Southern California Blues Society as the year’s Best Self-Produced CD. Pruitt has shared the stage with many legends, including opening for Koko Taylor. Her powerful vocals have been heard on TV and film including Heaven’s Fall and Fox TV’s Standoff.

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PAST EVENTS:

 

International Blues Competition

Congratulations to The Leff Rogers Blues Band this years Regional IBC Winner

The 2010 International Blues Challenge was the 26th year that Blues musicians from around the world competed for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. With the mission to find the best unsigned blues band, this annual competition is held worldwide on a regional level by The Blues Foundation's 170 affiliated organizations.  

Our regional competition took place on Saturday, November 14 2009 and was a fantastic day of Blues from our Southern California Bands and a real treat for our Blues Fans.   

Each of this years participants are member bands of the Southern California Blues Society and have shown their support to our organization and to our mission of promoting the Blues in the Southern California community, please, in turn, show them your support at local venues when they play. 

For a complete list of SCBS member bands please visit our links page.

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BATTLE OF THE BLUES DIVAS

First Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Benefit Concert

Those lucky enough to have got a ticket to this sold out event, enjoyed a very special evening including performances by Kimberly Allison, Francesca Capasso, Teresa James, Catherine Denise, Jean Shy, Marguaret Love, Joyce Lawson, Shelley King Fisher, Linda Miles, Ava Dupree, Yve Evans, Sherry Pruitt, Barbara Morrison and the legendary Joe Kincaid and the Soul Brothers Band.

Proceeds went to support the Avon Cares for Life program in partnership with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.  

BARBARA MORRISON  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ1mKj10B04

JOYCE LAWSON http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Zsaoav3Us

FRANCESCA CAPASSO & KIMBERLY ALLISON 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaR4LF5NV-s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg53LEKquqQ&feature=related

JEAN SHY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksx_WORsfdY&feature=related

TERESA JAMES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdb6xSO88-Y&feature=PlayList&p=B41B76DD1C4B3C47&index=28

CATHERINE DENISE  www.catherinedenise.com

SHELLY FISHER www.forkplay.com

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CHICAGO BLUES LEGENDS CONCERT

Those in attendance were glad they came !!!  An incredible evening was enjoyed by our SoCal Blues Fans when two great Chicago guitarists heated up the stage at The Cellar in Long Beach.  Eddie Taylor Jr., started the night and we quickly knew what a treat we were in for,  Eddie Taylor Jr. is one of the few torch-bearers of real authentic blues,  he comes from an amazing lineage.  His father was one of the most important architects of urban blues guitar, having been Jimmy Reed's main guitarist throughout the 1950s and 1960s.  Eddie has mastered his father's guitar and vocal style perfectly and expanded upon it.  Our next set was Eddie C. Campbell, 70 years old and still rockin' he brought down the house and had us out of our seats dancin' to his magic sound. Eddie C. Campbell showed us he can sing and rock the house every bit as deeply as his old buddy, Magic Sam.

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26TH ANNUAL TOPANGA BLUES FESTIVAL

THIS YEARS SHOW SOLD OUT!! Get your tickets early next year.

The Topanga Festival started in 1984 to celebrate the second anniversary of the Southern California Blues Society's existence.  26 years later this annual celebration continues where we and our fans could come together to celebrate our passion for blues.  Over the years headliners of our beloved festival have included those who have gone on to legend status and others who should have. This event remains a favorite for those who not only love great blues music, but those who want to enjoy a day in one of the most picturesque venues in Southern California. The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, a 300 seat outdoor theatre nestled in a rustic vale in Topanga Canyon, it is one of the most intimate scenic spots for live performance that you will experience.

This year the festival’s headliner was the legendary Phillip Walker. Born in Louisiana and raised in Texas, he has played and toured with a diversified roster of talent such as Clifton Chenier, Fats Domino, Memphis Slim, Percy Mayfield, and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. A little trivia note: He once replaced the late Jimi Hendrix as the lead guitar for the Little Richard Band. He plays it all, from soulful blues to rocking sounds that will make you want to dance. 

Also featured was soul sensation Jackie Payne. Payne completed several world tours as lead vocalist with The Johnny Otis Show and for many years was lead singer for the veteran show band, The Dynatones. He’s played with such greats as T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Freddy King, Gladys Knight and Etta James. 

Jake LaBotz is a Chicago born American Blues singer-songwriter who learned his guitar licks in the windy city from the likes of Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis, Honeyboy Edwards and Homesick James. His Delta slide guitar leaves no doubt that he learned from the best. Those in attendance agreed it was a great performance. 

The Los Angeles-based Phil Gates Band kicked off the festival. This talented band won the local International Blues Challenge sponsored by the Southern California Blues Society. They then went on to compete in the finals in Memphis, winning the Beale Street Blues Award.

SAVE THE DATE:  27th Annual Topanga Blues Festival scheduled for May 2, 2010

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THE SIX STRING SHOWDOWN

The only all out blues guitar festival in Southern California that features some of the greatest living blues guitarists on one stage! 

This years line up included:

Junior Watson
For a video preview go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SBntGgWrdE&feature=related
One of the world's best kept scerets he rarely plays in Southern California .  Junior has done what all great artists have done: melting diverse styles to create a style all his own.  Besides his complete mastery of blues and swing he often adds his own cartoon-like twist to everything he plays. You'll never know what he will do and when asked he doesn't know himself. 

Kirk Fletcher
For a video preview go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PGPhaWCgYY
Kirk Fletcher is only 32 years old, but this young man has won more accolades in recent years than almost anyone else. He gets an ovation after every fleet fingered solo, with his uncanny ability to take every flight completely over the top, as well as playing low down funky rhythm.   
LA Jones  www.lajones.com
One of the most entertaining showman on the scene, L.A. Jones and his band The Blues Messengers are sure to please.  Check out this guy playing left-handed AND right-handed guitars in the same set!  A true original personality and a killer deep blues guitarist!
Jeff Ross
This guy can play blues, jazz, country, gypsy music and everything in between!   This guy is a show unto himself. 
Dave Melton
A mainstay with the Mamas Boys in downtown Long Beach for a decade, Dave’s not only a major local favorite, he's one of the world's greatest standard-tuned slide players. 
Cadillac Zack  www.cadillaczack.com
Cadillac Zack is the only So Cal guitarist who really faithfully sticks 100% to the mid-1960s West Side Chicago sound.  Having cut his musical teeth in the 1990s in the Windy City, it was there that he shared stages with Otis Rush, Magic Slim, and was taught by Little Smokey Smothers (who's only other student was the great Elvin Bishop).   
Andy Walo www.andywalo.com
After five years on the Chicago Blues scene, Andy relocated to Los Angeles , CA in 1997. where he co-led local Blues-band The Mama's Boys for two years.  Walo formed his own band in 2002, showcasing original songs in the Classic Blues/Rock vein of Free and Led Zeppelin coupled with Classic, Funky Chicago Blues.  He won the International Blues Challenge regional finals in 2007.
Dangerous Darryl opened the show with a rare acoustic set.
Dangerous Darryl first attained prominence in 1988 when he won the Long Beach Blues Festival Talent Search. A multi-instrumentalist, he plays guitar, harmonica, Dobro and lap steel.

Performers of this years show were backed by Deacon Jones and Chris De Soto, both on Hammond B-3 AND an all-star rhythm section which included, Mike Hightower and Schoolboy Junior on bass Johnny Minquez on drums and a smorgasbord of others.

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LA JUKE JOINT BLUES FESTIVAL

The first two incarnations of this festival were performed in 2003 and 2005 for the Santa Barbara Blues Society and were hugely successful, with over 300 blues fans in attendance.

Those festivals featured real deal, yet obscure blues greats from the South Central scene including:

Sonny Green, Joyce Lawson, Mary Dukes, Bobby Warren, Jamie Powell, Missisippi Bo, Dr. Hank, Dangerous Darryl, Curtis Jack Griffin, Hollis Gilmore, Ray Brooks, Joe Kincaid's Soul Brothers and Southside Slim.

This year's line up was fantastic: Curtis Jack Griffin, Sonny Green, Bobby Warren, Marguaret Love , Mississippi Bo and a dozen other amazing guest singers backed by the Cadillac Zack Band featuring Deacon Jones.

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