Bobby
Parker – he can pierce your heart and soothe
your soul - ‘He inspired me to play guitar’ said Carlos Santana.
Deitra Farr
– one of Chicago’s top female
vocalists – fiery, energetic and soul stirring!
(Louisiana Red - see above) – from the Deep South - this
‘Giant of Blues’ plays and sings with raw emotion.
Three superb American blues artists are together with ....
Otis Grand & The
Big Blues Band …. A night of red-hot blues!
BOBBY PARKER
This man is
living R & B history. From Maryland via Washington DC. “He’s one of the
few remaining guitarists on this planet who can pierce your heart and
soothe your soul. He inspired me to play guitar.” said Carlos Santana.
During the 1950’s,
Bobby started out working with the doo-wop group Otis Williams and The
Charms. During the decade he played lead guitar with Bo Diddley, toured
with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Laverne Baker, Clyde McPhatter and The
Everly Brothers, as well as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard!
In the 60’s Bobby recorded “Watch your Step” – a hit both in the US and
the UK and subsequently covered by Spencer Davis Group, Dr Feelgood and
Santana. He performed continuously in the States for the next 20 + years
and along the way inspired a few young English performers – John Lennon,
Steve Winwood, Robin Trower and Robert Plant - ..”the best stuff I’ve ever
heard…” In the 1990’s Bobby headlined the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues
Festival and recorded his albums “Bent Out of Shape” and “Shine Me Up”.
He’s a regular visitor to Europe, touring Amsterdam, Belgium and France.
At last he’s making a rare visit to the UK appearing as a special guest on
The American Festival of The Blues. Don’t miss him.
DEITRA FARR
Fiery, energetic and
soul stirring describes this woman – considered one of Chicago’s top
vocalists - she’s been nominated for so many awards, she’s losing count!
Deitra began her career in 1975 singing in local soul bands before
deciding that “blues” was where her heart lay. She did her apprenticeship
performing with a number of blues legends, including Sunnyland Slim and
Louis Myers before joining Mississippi Heat as their lead singer for 3
years. By 1997 Deitra wanted a solo career and after having guested on 8
previous CDs, produced her first solo album “The Search is Over.” Not
only is Deitra a great singer, she’s also a published writer, poet and
songwriter somehow fitting into her busy career a BA in Journalism. A
frequent visitor on the European blues circuit, Deitra has toured
throughout Italy, Norway, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland – in fact
everywhere!! She makes a very welcome return to
the UK.
LOUISIANA RED
He’s been called “The
Giant of Blues”. Born in the Deep South of the USA and strongly
influenced in his early career by Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins and
Arthur Crudup – Louisiana Red discovered his own voice, his own style and
his very own form of expression. In a career spanning over half a
century, this fine artist has played with just about every major bluesman
you can name. His albums have been called masterpieces by critics and in
1983 he won a W.C Handy Award as best traditional blues artist. Louisiana
Red is not a man who’s hanging on to the past, he’d rather talk about his
latest CD project, a new song or a new guitar lick. He is constantly
creating, always searching for another expression of the blues. Whenever
he appears on stage, whether in a small intimate club or in front of
10,000 people at a festival, whether playing classic Chicago or down-home,
‘gutbucket’ Delta styled blues, Red’s deep blues voice displays raw
emotion, intensity and enthusiasm for the songs he loves.
OTIS GRAND
Otis knows the blues
from down-home Texas or Rocking R’n B to West Coast Jump to the
contemporary sound of the new Millennium. He has gained a reputation as a
man not ashamed to express his opinion. He’s the same way with his
guitar. There’s nothing tentative about the way he plays. Otis lets it
all out. When he picks a note or bends a string it’s right there, it’s in
your face as if he’s saying, “This is what I feel.” If great blues makes
you move, you may just need restraints to listen to his music. He’s won
armfuls of awards over the years. He’s recorded a number of excellent,
acclaimed albums and, on stage, his continuing love of music and
performance is obvious. It’s been said of Otis that “he is the living
link between past performers and today’s young musicians.” It’s entirely
appropriate, therefore, that this exceptionally talented guitarist, with
his red-hot, seven-piece Big Blues Band (featuring some of the best horns
in the country) should be the house band for The American Festival of The
Blues.
