Robert Belfour, 5 p.m.
We
at the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival are proud to open the
2007 Tent Stage performances with Memphis' own Robert "Wolfman"
Belfour.
Robert, born and raised in the north-Mississippi area of Holly Springs and Red Banks, was heavily influenced by the blues broadcasts on WDIA radio. He would try to emulate the sounds he heard while sitting in his father's lap, playing Dad's old National guitar or by playing a one-stringed instrument he created with broom wire and his mother's snuff jars.
As a teenager, when Robert wasn't working, he could be found playing guitar at local fish fries for drinks, food, and tips.
Moving to Memphis in 1968 with his wife, Robert took up construction work and confined his playing to his front porch. By the late '70s, because of the crowds gathered at his porch and with his wife's encouragement, Robert began playing on Beale Street. It was there that blues scholar and producer Dr. David Evans heard Robert and convinced him to let Evans record him.
Touring dates followed, and soon Robert was playing stages in Europe and at major festivals worldwide. His two recent CDs on the Fat Possum label, What's Wrong with You and Pushin' My Luck, have also helped to bring his music to a wider audience.
So this is it, blues fans: your opportunity to experience the music of one of the last remaining traditional north-Mississippi blues greats!
Belfour will also present a workshop at 4 p.m. Saturday.
- Bob Covemaker
Paul Oscher, 6:30 p.m.
Paul
Oscher is the real deal; he learned his blues from the masters.
Oscher first came to national attention as Muddy Waters' harmonica player from 1967 to 1972, following in the footsteps of Little Walter Jacobs, Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Big Walter Horton. As Muddy Waters' harp player, Paul Oscher inspired a whole generation of blues harmonica players including Estrin, Portnoy, Delay, and Clarke.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Paul started playing the blues at the age of 12 when his uncle gave him a marine-band harmonica. By the time Paul was 15, he had hooked up with guitarist/singer Jimmy Mae and was playing professionally in soul revues at black clubs.
In the mid-l960s Paul met Muddy Waters backstage at the Apollo Theatre. Muddy came to New York without a harp player in 1967, and Paul sat in with the band. He played two numbers: "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Blow Winds Blow." Muddy hired him on the spot.
After that, Paul lived on the south side of Chicago in Muddy Waters' house along with Otis Spann, who taught Paul the piano. Paul learned the guitar by looking over the shoulders of Muddy and Sammy Lawhorn.
In 2006, Paul won two Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C. Handy Awards): album of the year, for his latest release Down in the Delta, and acoustic artist of the year.
Oscher will also present a workshop at 4 p.m. Sunday.
- Bob Kieser
For more information, visit (http://www.pauloscher.com).
Big Bill Morganfield, 8:30 p.m.
Blues lovers the world over revere Big Bill's late father, McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters.
Born in 1956, Big Bill Morganfield didn't take up the challenge to follow in his father's footsteps until several years after Muddy's death in 1983. When he realized he wanted to delve into the world of blues, he purchased a guitar, intending to pay homage to the legendary Waters. That tribute was six years in coming, years that Morganfield spent teaching himself how to play guitar. Finally, he performed with Lonnie Mack before a thousand people at Center Stage in Atlanta.
Bill went on to establish a contemporary blues group but soon abandoned the idea. Dissatisfied with the music he was making, he pulled back from performing to further hone his skills. He studied traditional blues and also learned how to write songs. During this time Morganfield, who holds degrees in English and communications, supported himself by teaching.
The years of dedication and hard work paid off with Morganfield's debut album, Rising Son, released in 1999 to popular and critical acclaim. Bob Margolin, Waters' guitarist, served as producer and also played on the album. Featured were several of Waters' bandmates, including drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, piano player Pinetop Perkins, and harmonica player Paul Oscher. The following year, Bill won a W.C. Handy Award as best new blues artist.
Ramblin' Mind, Morganfield's second album, features Taj Mahal and Billy Branch. His most recent release, 2005's Blues in the Blood, showcases Bill's songwriting skills. Come hear for yourself that blues really is in Big Bill Morganfield's blood!
- Amanda Coulter
For more information, visit (http://www.bigbillmorganfield.com).
Nappy Brown with Bob Margolin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Mookie Brill, 10:30 p.m.
Nappy
Brown can be seen as the link between the down-and-dirty blues of
Muddy Waters and the smooth but powerful Southern soul of Otis
Redding. Anyone who caught his act at the FloodFest in 1993 can tell
you that. And this year he'll present his crowd-pleasing best along
with Muddy Waters' guitarist, Bob Margolin; Muddy's drummer,
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith; and bassist Mookie Brill.
Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp was born on October 12, 1929, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nappy Brown's earliest musical influences were blues and gospel. As a youngster he performed in several gospel groups, but he moved to R&B when an appearance in Newark, New Jersey, led to a recording contract with Savoy Records in 1954, which signed him to compete with shouters such as Roy Brown, Wynonie Harris, and Big Joe Turner.
A deep-voiced, highly individual and energetic singer, Nappy soon became famous for his wild stage antics. Touring with the likes of Little Richard and Jackie Wilson, Nappy always got the crowds involved in his performances, often getting in the audience down on his knees and singing or dancing with the ladies.
Between 1955 and 1959, Brown appeared over and over on Billboard's R&B charts. But probably the song that had the biggest impact for Nappy was a tune he wrote and recorded but is best remembered as a hit for Ray Charles: "Nigh Time Is the Right Time."
- Karen McFarland
For more information, visit (http://www.alligator.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=47).
