koko Taylor News

For the past 25 years, Freddye Stover aka Miss Freddye has been singing the blues throughout her Western Pennsylvania hometown of Pittsburgh.

'Johnny has played with musical monsters— Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Koko Taylor, Hymie Shimansky. Okay, maybe not Hymie, but plenty of topnotch blues and rock musicians. The Claudettes are the culmination of it all, at this point, and he could stop here and have a legacy others would kill for.'

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced another event for the community, Bobbie's Summer Series, where on select weekends in August, Berkshire County's talented musicians and dancers will provide diverse entertainment for adults and children alike.

'I think everybody just needs to do what's in their heart and play what they need to play. I don't think the blues has to go any particular direction; I think everybody who creates in this genre need to do it their own way.' -- Albert Castiglia, on the future of the blues...

Award-winning vocalist Alexis P. Suter brings her hearty mix of blues, gospel, and blues-rock, along with her smoking-hot band, to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, March 14, at 9pm. Suter is especially known for her extraordinary bass/baritone voice; she includes Ruth Brown, Barry White, and B.B. King as her greatest influences.

The B.B. King Blues Band are thrilled to announce their new partnership with The B.B. King Estate. This joint venture now finds the two forces working together to bring the world The B.B. King Experience, the band's new working name. In addition to the upcoming world tour (dates listed below), the single 'Rock Me Baby' featuring George Benson, Tito Jackson and Claudette King will be released this summer.

Kat Riggins brings her Blues Revival tent to Gulf Coast Records. Happy to join the team with Guy Hale and Mike Zito in their hurricane of a journey with the new label. Mike Zito will be at the helm as producer in an undisclosed Memphis studio this week.

“I Think About You” is a country sing-along upbeat Christmas song about not being with someone you love during the holidays. And soon to be a Christmas favorite.

This Friday, Grammy-nominated artist, JANIVA MAGNESS, releases her new album, Change in the Weather: Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty, and finds herself at the nexus of re-invention and tradition. The album reframes 12 songs curated from the Creedence Clearwater Revival leader's catalog in Magness' soaring, soul-centered style. She follows a lineage of classic singers who have made albums devoted to exploring the work of a single writer within the Great American Songbook—such historic recordings as Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin and Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook.

The ninth Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival will be held on the Green on Saturday, August 17, from noon until 10:00 p.m. This year the annual free concert pays tribute to the 40th anniversary of the world's greatest jazz radio station WBGO and to the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival. An initiative by Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, it is made possible by the generous support of a long list of sponsors.

With her new Change in the Weather: Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty, the Grammy-nominated artist is at the nexus of re-invention and tradition. The album, to be released on September 13, 2019 by Blue Elan Records, reframes 12 songs curated from the Creedence Clearwater Revivalleader's catalog in Magness' soaring, soul-centered style. She follows a lineage of classic singers who have made albums devoted to exploring the work of a single writer within the Great American Songbook—such historic recordings as Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwinand Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook.

Alligator Records artists Coco Montoya and Tinsley Ellis will make a stop in Albuquerque on their current 'Blues Rock Titans' tour. Montoya and Ellis will each perform a full headline-length set at The Dirty Bourbon today, March 5, 2019. Legendary blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Coco Montoya will feature songs from his latest Alligator Records release, HARD TRUTH. He's currently at work on a new album due later this year. Tinsley Ellis is among the blues world's best loved, hardest working and most well-traveled statesmen. Ellis' latest release, 2018's WINNING HAND, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The two 'Blues Rock Titans' will also join forces each night for an unforgettable jam session. Concert information is as follows:

Alligator Records artists Coco Montoya and Tinsley Ellis will make a stop in Albuquerque on their current 'Blues Rock Titans' tour. Montoya and Ellis will each perform a full headline-length set at The Dirty Bourbon on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Legendary blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Coco Montoya will feature songs from his latest Alligator Records release, HARD TRUTH. He's currently at work on a new album due later this year. Tinsley Ellis is among the blues world's best loved, hardest working and most well-traveled statesmen. Ellis' latest release, 2018's WINNING HAND, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The two 'Blues Rock Titans' will also join forces each night for an unforgettable jam session. Concert information is as follows:

Few record labels have influenced the blues world as much as Alligator Records. And few people have worked with as many legends as Bruce Iglauer. After nearly half a century of a life immersed in the blues, now we get the whole, unvarnished story from Iglauer himself.

Black Ensemble Theater is adding two additional weeks to the run of Rick Stone the Blues Man written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. Rick Stone the Blues Man will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, now through September 9, 2018.

Black Ensemble Theater continues its 2018 Season (Movers and Shakers) with Rick Stone the Blues Man written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. Rick Stone the Blues Man will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, July 14 - August 26, 2018. 

Both Zito - who resided in St. Louis for 32 years - and Johnson, who produced Zito's new album, are from the city famously known as the Gateway To The West. 'A double shot of St. Louis musical heritage,' is how Ruf Records' founder, Thomas Ruf, refers to this unique double-billing of Zito and Johnson. For complete Mike Zito 'First Class Life' Tour Itinerary, please see below. 

As many of you know, Arena Stage's Artistic Director Molly Smith has been very active on a number of national social issues, including LGBT rights and gun control in addition to her exemplary artistic work. In this way, perhaps it's only natural that the headliner at this year's Arena Stage Gala on May 10th is not only a great singer/songwriter, but also an accomplished speaker and humanitarian.

Multi-Grammy nominee, Maria Muldaur, best known for her '74  mega pop hit, Midnight at the Oasis, has recorded  40 solo albums covering all kinds of American Roots Music, including Jazz and Big Band, Blues, Gospel, R&B and 'Bluesiana.' For this performance she'll be performing her special show Jazzabelle …An evening of Vintage Classic Jazz, & Naughty Bawdy Blues.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.