4th Annual Cleveland Blues Festival Returns To PlayhouseSquare 3/5

The Cleveland Blues Festival, a high-energy concert event featuring world-class blues entertainers, celebrates its 4th Anniversary with a return to PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre March 5th at 7 pm. Always a show that has audiences dancing in the aisles, this year's Festival performers include: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1992 inductee Bobby "Blue" Bland, Denise LaSalle, Floyd Taylor, Sir Charles Jones, Theodis Ealey and Clarence Carter.

Now on sale, Cleveland Blues Festival ticket prices range from $41.50 to $51.50, and are available at PlayhouseSquare's Ticket Office; at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.

Meet the 4th Annual Cleveland Blues Festival stars:

Bobby "Blue" Bland, a Rosemark, Tennessee native began his career locally, singing with gospel groups and frequenting the city's famous Beale Street where he became associated with a group of ambitious aspiring musicians named, not unnaturally, the Beale Streeters. As his solo music career took off in the 50's, Bland climbed the charts with big-band blues singles, including "Farther Up the Road" (1957) and "Little Boy Blue" (1958) which reached the US R & B Top 10. But Bobby's unique voice was most clearly exhibited on a series of 1960 releases including "Cry, Cry, Cry", "I Pity the Fool", and "Turn On Your Love Light", which became a much-covered standard. He was unducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 1992.
Denise LaSalle, a native of Belzoni, Mississippi, achieved her first major success in 1971 when her self-penned song, "Trapped By A Thing Called Love", reached #1 on the national R&B chart, #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was awarded the gold disc award for 1 million sales. Follow-ups "Now Run and Tell That" and "Man Sized Job" also made the R&B Top Ten. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Denise released a string of critically acclaimed albums including Lady in the Street and Right Place, Right Time. LaSalle appeared at the Long Beach Blues Festival in 1984 and 1993, and also performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival in '93. Her 1997 album Smokin' In Bed was an astonishing commercial success. She continues to work as a live performer, particularly at festivals, and more recently has issued more gospel-tinged material.
Floyd Taylor, the son of the "Godfather of Soul", Johnnie Taylor, is following in his father's musical footsteps. Joining his father's tour in the early 70s to watch and learn from a seasoned veteran, Floyd has performed with stars including Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Bobby Womack, among many others. In 1998, Floyd was voted Entertainer of the Year by the Chicago Blues Society. Following the passing of his father, the musical torch was handed to Floyd who joined Malaco Records seventeen years after Johnny began with them. His 2002 release, appropriately titled Legacy pays tribute to his father in each note as his voice sounds practically identical to his father's.
Sir Charles Jones, the Ohio-born, Alabama raised "King of Southern Soul" is a self-taught writer, arranger, producer and engineer that has embraced a genuine passion for music, ranging from jazz to fusion; Gospel to blues. In his early career, Sir Charles Jones worked under the guidance of Marvin Sease, and throughout his career has won countless awards including the American Blues Network's International Entertainer of The Year from 2001-2004; two-time recipient of Album of the Year (2002-2003); and two-time recipient for the B.B. King Achievement Award (2003-2004). Sir Charles Jones is described to have "a versatile style and wide range of vocal ability; with just a touch of smooth rhythm melodic melodies, and the cry of love, pain, happiness, fun times, and the sincerity of commitment".

Theodis Ealey is truly multi-talented; having accomplishments as a Blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and above all, entertainer. Theodis would earn industry recognition for his innovative style and authentic Mississippi flavor when he was the recipient of the 1997 Mo' Better Blues Male Artist of the Year Award and 1994 Male Vocalist Top Star Award. He has had six critically successful Blues albums and also crossed music genres and performed as a featured vocalist with Hip-Hop Group Ghetto Mafia "On Da Grind", further expanding his fan base. His electrifying stage performances also opened doors to Hollywood. Theodis appeared in the NBC Movie of the Week "A Kiss To Die For," the Emmy-winning HBO special "Miss Evers' Boys," the major motion picture "The Fighting Temptations," and as well as nationally-run commercials. His latest album "Stand Up In It" was a runaway success as the #1 Single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales Chart for five consecutive weeks, and debuted as #5 on Billboard's Blues Album Chart.

Clarence Carter, a blues artist who was blind from birth, was raised in Montgomery, Alabama where he taught himself to play the guitar. His solo career took off in 1967 with the release of "Slip Away" and "Too Weak to Fight," which reached #6 and #13 on the pop charts, respectively. His best-selling 1970s single "Patches" reached #2 in the U.S. and was nominated for a Grammy in 1972; the disc sold over one million copies and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. In the 80s and 90s Carter's strong soul sound found an audience with the hip-hop community.

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