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| Powers and Shields Headline Mother's Best Music East Coast bluesman Michael Powers and Helena's own Lonnie Shields headline the Third Annual Mother's Best Music Fest on Saturday, June 7, in historic downtown Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. Mother's Best Music Fest's eclectic take on the variety of music produced throughout the Delta, from its blues to its rockabilly, country, and Americana sounds, is inspired by a 1940s radio show on station KFFA 1360-AM that featured musical innovators from throughout the Delta region, including Doctor Isaiah Ross. As a testament to this variety, this year's performers include Dave Riley, Delta blues great Sam Carr, guitarist Sterling Billingsley, the old-time music of the Skirtlifters, Steve Cheseborough, the rhythm and blues of James "Gone For Good" Morgan, K.M. Williams & Washboard Jackson (formerly Trainreck), Delta rockabilly great C.W. Gatlin, the rhythm and blues and jazz of Live Soul, featuring saxophonist Phillip Stackhouse, and the crowd-pleasing Live Wire Band. James Brown, Bo Diddley and Michael Powers Five-time "Blues Music Awards" nominee, Powers is acclaimed for his electric guitar skills and mastery of songwriting and vocal interpretation. "More than anyone else, anywhere, " Billboard magazine has said, "Powers represents the future of the blues." He started his first band while in high school, and soon became guitarist and vocalist for the Ad Libs, who scored a cult hit with "Boy From New York City." In the 1970's, Powers' band, Moonbeam, was a regular on the New York circuit and opened for James Brown and Bo Diddley. After the band's breakup, Powers later performed and recorded with musical greats John Lee Hooker, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, and Chuck Berry. Lonnie Shields Singer-songwriter and guitarist Shields, a native of West Helena, was raised in the gospel music of the church and formed his first rhythm and blues band at 15. Later, in the company of Jelly Roll Kings Sam Carr, Frank Frost, and Big Jack Johnson, Shields focused his guitar playing directly on contemporary blues. His debut album, "Portrait, " on the Rooster Blues label was one of the critically-acclaimed discs of 1992. Events are slated at Cherry Street Pavilion from noon to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call the Delta Cultural Center at (800)-358-0972 or visit the DCC online at http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |