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San Luis Obispo Blues Society Check out these upcoming events! Big Jack Johnson with Karen Tyler Saturday, April
8, 2000
Saturday, May
20, 2000
Saturday, July
22, 2000
SLO Vets Hall,
Grand Avenue at Monterey Street,
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NOW SHOWING
Saturday, February 26, 2000
Big Jack Johnson
Big Jack Johnson was born in Clarksdale Mississippi in 1940. Unlike many musicians who left Mississippi for Chicago in the 1950s and ‘60s, Johnson stayed in the Delta playing juke joints and house parties. He was relatively unknown outside of the Delta until the release of his first solo albums in the early 1980s. His music is deeply rooted in traditional Delta blues, yet contains elements of funk, soul, and country.
Encouraged
by his musician-father, Big Jack became a proficient guitar player at an
early age. By the age of 13, he was playing in his father's bands.
In the ‘60s and ‘70s, he played and recorded with several bands, and released
the critically acclaimed album “Rockin’ the Juke Joint Down” with a band
called the Jelly Roll Kings. In the late 1980s, he released two solo
albums (“The Oil Man” and “Daddy, When is Mama Coming Home?”) that expanded
his audience outside of the Delta. His most recent CDs (“All the
Way Back” and “We Got to Stop this Killin’”, MC Records) have received
W.C. Handy nominations.
Big Jack occupies a special niche in the blues world. He rose from the Delta to create his own contemporary style of blues. His guitar style rooted in the Delta and is accompanied by his big, husky vocals. His musical lyrics focus on social themes (like domestic issues, urban violence) that describe contemporary situations plaguing American society.
“Anyone familiar with Jack’s shows knows that no one quite equals him in live performance. Here is a real blues man…the real deal with all of the legendary power, command and excitement. Jack Johnson remains a too-well-kept secret from all but the purest fans.” (Larry Hoffman)
Karen Tyler
Karen Tyler is an award winning singer, songwriter and guitarist. Influenced by acoustic blues greats such as Memphis Minnie, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Blind Willie McTell, Tyler approaches the blues from a traditional perspective, while carving out her own niche in contemporary blues. Karen’s 1997 CD “Lovin’ the Blues Too Long” (Rocket Cat Music) has received airplay throughout the country and great reviews. The Delta Snake Blues News awards in '98 had Karen Tyler in the top five for Best Female Acoustic Artist, Best Acoustic Guitar Player, and Best Acoustic Blues CD.
From
the deserts of Arizona, to Austin Texas, and now to our own Paso Robles,
Tyler has studied, played and lived the blues. Her voice is a powerful
instrument, one that blends and soars with both depth and clarity.
Her vocal abilities are equaled by her guitar prowess. When the guitar
takes the lead, her approach may include finger style romps, deep soulful
groves, or upbeat Texas swing, each showing her mastery of the acoustic
tradition of the blues. She writes all of the songs she performs.
Her songwriting is strong on melody, with lyrics that are clever and insightful,
but most of all honest.
Karen has scheduled several appearances to announce
her new CD “Alone & Blue”. Karen will appear on the Dave Congalton
show (KVEC920AM) on Thursday, February 10 at 11am and Sonnie Brown's Minstrel
Show (KCBX FM) on Saturday, February 12 at 2pm. A CD release
party will be held at 6:30 pm on Saturday February 19 at Castoro Cellars
in Templeton. This party will feature guest musicians, food from
Bon Temps, and good wine. Tickets are $5.50 and are available at
Boo Boo Records in SLO or Limelight Music in Atascadero.
