Kings Tour with Chicago Blues Legend Jody Williams
September 22, 2006
| Chicago Blues Legend JODY WILLIAMS ~ Northwest Tour Chess recording artist Jody Williams will be making select Northwest appearances in October, teaming up with Portland’s own blues powerhouse, Rose City Kings. The “architect of electric blues guitar,” Jody joined Howlin’ Wolf’s band as a teen in the early 50’s, playing alongside Hubert Sumlin. He later led Bo Diddley’s band and recorded on Vee-Jay sides with Billy Boy Arnold. As the first great string bender on the Chicago Blues scene, Jody provided the stylistic bridge between B.B. King and T-Bone Walker (two of his principle influences) and young firebrands Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, both of whom absorbed his innovations and licks as they modernized the idiom. He gigged behind Memphis Minnie and Elmore James, shared a flat with Otis Spann, and later toured with West Coast piano great Charles Brown. As a key Chicago session guitarist whose singular tone, imaginative chord changes and boundless creativity set him apart from his peers, Jody added the essential guitar fire to some of the era’s greatest blues recordings. Then, in the 60s, Jody walked away from music, took a job in the emerging electronics field, and never looked back. It took some strong persuasion to pull him out of this 30-year hiatus. But Jody Williams reemerged onto the music scene with the Dick Shurman-produced album Return of A Legend, which in 2002 became the vehicle to re-launch his career. In 2004, he released “You Left Me in the Dark.” Williams once again teamed up with Shurman to record material that continues to show his strength as a songwriter and a master of Chicago Blues guitar style. Jody Williams has since received numerous awards and recognition, including: • Blues Foundation Howlin’ Wolf Award, 2005 • 2005 Living Blues Award for Best Musician, Guitar • 2005 Living Blues Award for Best New Recording/Contemporary, You Left Me in the Dark • 2003 W. C. Handy Comeback Album of the Year, Return of a Legend • 2003 Living Blues Critics Award for Come Back Artist of the Year “Williams comes back armed with a tone and style that’ll turn your head around.” - Guitar Player Magazine Portland’s Rose City Kings will be performing as Jody’s back up band on this tour. Known for its fresh approach to classic blues, Rose City Kings has invigorated the Northwest scene, already recognized as one of the best in the world. Formed in the spring of 2002, Rose City Kings consists of Daniel “Kolvane” Berkery on guitar and lead vocals, Roger Espinor on drums, Ron Camacho on bass, and Jeff “El Nino” Simonson on piano. Voted “Best New Act 2003” by Cascade Blues Association’s 1,000+ membership and “Best Contemporary Blues Act 2004,” Rose City Kings also represented the Northwest at the 2005 Blues Foundation sponsored International Blues Challenge, held annually in Memphis. The band’s first live recording, Holler Out for More, was released in June 2005 and follows two prior self-produced cds, Delta Hop in 2003 and Up On It in 2004. Albums contain all original tunes written by Kolvane, and the band’s music continues to receive global airplay. Last year, Victoria, BC-based Real Blues Magazine www.realbluesmagazine.com recognized the band as: Top West Coast Blues/Rock CD – Up On It – Rose City Kings – 1st place Top West Coast Blues CD – Up On It – Rose City Kings – 4th place Best Pacific Northwest Blues Band – Rose City Kings Best West Coast Blues/Rock Band – Rose City Kings With its combination of driving rhythms and soulful vocals, the band has become known for its well-crafted songs and rollicking crowd-pleasing performances. Rose City Kings’ country and Chicago Blues leanings take the listener to the core power of Blues, creating a unique contemporary sound. There is something familiar yet very new and exciting about this band, which continues to make a name for itself while receiving global airplay. “Rose City Kings filter traditional Blues from the Delta up to Chicago into their own distinctive toe-tapping, foot-stomping contemporary sound – rollicking, soulful original music to tug your heart and lift you up.” - CDBaby Band members are thrilled with the opportunity to perform with this Chicago blues legend. The combination of musical artistry – traditional and contemporary – will provide a performance not to be missed! |
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