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| Blind Lemon Blues in New York "Blind Lemon Jefferson was the voice of Black America, " August Wilson said upon seeing a workshop of "Blind Lemon Blues." Now for the first time, New York will have a chance to pay homage to the man who emerged in the 1920s as the biggest selling country blues singer. "Blind Lemon Blues, " a new musical by Akin Babatunde and Alan Governar, celebrates Jefferson's legacy and profound influence upon the development of American popular music from Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 25 at The Theatre at Saint Peter's, 619 Lexington Ave. Jefferson was a blind street musician who played his guitar with a tin cup tied to its neck at the corner of Elm Street and Central Avenue in Dallas, Texas until a Paramount Records scout discovered him. Between 1926 and 1929, Jefferson made more than 80 records. "Blind Lemon Blues" combines elements of traditional blues, gospel, R&B, soul, doo-wop, and rap to evoke the enduring legacy of Jefferson and his contemporaries: Blind Willie Johnson, Lillian Glinn, Hattie Hudson, Bobbie Cadillac, Lillian Miller and Leadbelly. The cast includes: Benita Arterberry, Akin Babatunde, Timothy Parham, Sam Swank, Tony Award winner Lillias White, Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples Yarbrough. Babatunde also provides direction, choreographic staging and musical arrangements in association with Cavin and Alisa Peoples Yarbrough. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |