 |
| Bobby Bland at the 2004 Pocono Blues Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock |
Headlining will be the great Bobby Bland. Bland has been one of the most prominent blues singers for over fifty years with countless classic recordings. He has been honored by The Blues Foundation by being inducted to The Blues Hall of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Rhythm and Blues Foundation who awarded him a Pioneer Award. Bland had 23 top ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts including Farther Up the Road, I'll Take Care of You, I Pity the Fool and Turn On Your Love Light. The English Ace label labelled a compilation of some of his classic Duke Recordings simply as The Voice.
In more recent years, Bland has been recording for Malaco and continues to produce timeless and soulful blues recordings including Members Only, You've Got to Hurt Before You Heal and a terrific cover of Ain't No Sunshine. Bland has long been a favorite in the Washington DC area, and it is a coup for the Blue Bird Festival to be featuring him this year.
 |
| The Orioles at Wilson Plaza, Washington DC in 2010. Photo © Ron Weinstock |
Also on the line-up on the outdoor stage will be Clarence Carter. Carter, like Bland, has been a mainstay on the southern soul-blues circuit for decades with such classic recordings as "Patches" and "Strokin'." Local favorites Bobby parker and The Orioles will be among those performing on the main outdoor stage. There will also be a full program of blues also at the the Nap Turner Stage located in Queen Anne Fine Arts. Performers on this stage include Daryl Davis, Phil Wiggins, Little Bit A Blues featuring Warner Williams & Jay Summerour, and The Jewels.
It promises to be a terrific day of blues and congratulations to Prince George's Community College for continuing this terrific annual event.
You will hear Blues that you just hear enough of anymore. This is the music your parents and grandparents listened to and loved when they were growing up.
ReplyDelete