Boz Scaggs to Play Ridgefield Playhouse, 5/15

Grammy Award winner, former Steve Miller Band guitarist and current member of super-group, The Dukes of September (featuring Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald), Boz Scaggs will be in concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, May 15, at 8 p.m. This special event includes an open bar and tastings courtesy of Whole Foods Marketing of Danbury beginning at 7:15 p.m. for all ticket holders. He is perhaps best known for his artistry as a singer, songwriter and guitarist and for his multi-Platinum hits "Lowdown," which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, "Lido Shuffle," "What Can I Say" and the ballad "We're All Alone," which became a worldwide hit for Rita Coolidge. With Memphis, his first studio album in five years, Scaggs looks back to his roots -- musically and biographically. "Rainy Night in Georgia", "Corinna Corinna" and "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl" are featured classics. A casual listen to the Boz Scaggs discography makes one thing obvious: He is both a musical seeker and a man of sizable talent with explorations in blues and R&B, rock and jazz, which have produced lasting work and an acclaimed career with an enduring respect among musicians. The Bar and Grille on 7 will pour a free glass of house wine with dinner the night of this show when tickets are presented. This event is part of the Xfinity Rock Series, No.?109 Cheese & Wine Art, Wine and Jazz Series?and is underwritten by AcousticMusic.org.

Scaggs' guitar and voice provided his self-described "ticket to ride" as he left the States to travel in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He developed a club following in Sweden and began his recording career there in 1965. Curiosity along with yearning for a Blues and R&B band brought him to San Francisco in 1967. After a stint with fellow Texan, Steve Miller, on several albums, he signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records and debuted with Boz Scaggs, produced by friend and Rolling Stone founder, Jann Wenner. That record featured the renowned Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Duane Allman and the slow-burn-to-high-heat track, "Loan Me a Dime". Critical acclaim followed, as did a long-term relationship with Columbia Records. Boz recorded seven records for Columbia including Moments, Boz Scaggs and Band, My Time, and Slow Dancer, and featured songs such as "We Were Always Sweethearts", "Dinah Flo", "You Make It So Hard", and "Slow Dancer".

His multi-Platinum moment came in 1975 with his release Silk Degrees, which featured the hits "Lowdown", which won the Grammy Award for "Best R&B Song", "Lido Shuffle", "What Can I Say" and the ballad "We're All Alone", which became a worldwide hit for Rita Coolidge. Following Silk Degrees was Down Two Then Left, Middle Man and Hits, a compilation that featured the as-yet-unrecorded "Miss Sun" and the song from the motion picture Urban Cowboy, "Look What You've Done To Me".

After a music hiatus in the '80s, Boz Scaggs began chapter two of his career. An invitation by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen to join his New York Rock and Soul Revue teamed Scaggs up with Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, Michael McDonald and Charles Brown among others. Scaggs also signed a contract with Virgin Records and made an album of original material, Some Change, and then the Grammy-nominated Come on Home, a collection of R&B classics and originals featuring a crack rhythm section with horns.

In addition to touring extensively with his own band, Scaggs continues to work with Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald as The Dukes of September. Within that collaboration, throughout his career and especially evident in Memphis, Scaggs' unique voice and trademark sound make clear his abiding respect for a wide spectrum of American roots music.

For tickets ($125 mezz. /balc., $135 orches., $175 Gold Circle Meet & Greet), call or visit the box office at The Ridgefield Playhouse, (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.