Blues Open EOH 40th Season

RFH 2010, Cover Stories, HamilTunes

Tue, May 17, 2011

The Earlville Opera House opens its 40^th anniversary season with the Grammy-winning blues of the Joe Louis Walker Band on Saturday, May 28 at 8 p.m.

Joe Louis Walker grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco in the late fifties and early sixties. His influences include early years playing with Lightnin' Hopkins, Fred McDowell, Magic Sam and Earl "Zebedee" Hooker.

Recently voted Most Outstanding Guitarist by Living Blues critics, Joe Louis Walker is recognized for his original blues and for his passion that has revolutionized the art of the electric guitar. In his 2008 review for Honest Tune, Fred Adams notes: “It’s been said that only B.B. King has taken the blues further, and to more destinations, than Walker. With the release of Witness to the Blues, Walker proves to be just as vital as ever, continuing to redefine blues in the 21st century, just as he has throughout the past four decades.”

Writing for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange, Mark Tucker describes his most recent CD FAME: “Walker sings with a sassy upper register voice but plays like a combination of Jimi, Stevie Ray, Frank Marino, and one of his heroes, Buddy Guy…. the highlight is Walker and his guitar, and you get plenty of both, what with jumping vocals alongside a band that keeps the rhythms nailed and the atmosphere hot.”

This past December Joe Louis Walker was nominated for 3 Blues Music Awards: B.B King Entertainer of the Year, Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year, and Best Instrumentalist – Guitar.

This performance is sponsored by WAER-FM.

General admission is $18 and $16 for EOH members and students are discounted to $13. Premium seating in the first four rows is an added $5. For more information, or to reserve seats, call 691-3550.

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