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Upcoming Performances

THREE ARTISTS WHO GRACED OUR STAGES RETURN TO THE MOTOR CITY

For 31 years Labor Day Weekend has been spelled J-A-Z-Z in Detroit. With over 100 performances spanning four days on six stages extending from Hart Plaza's waterfront up Woodward Avenue to Campus Martius, the Jazz Fest is one of our city's most important and enduring cultural institutions. Two of our favorite artists are playing the Fest this year.

Jason D. Williams honed his chops on Beale Street with the legendary Memphis Slim. His performance at the Redford Theatre during the 6th annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival threatened to bring down the rafters. The performance and interview footage can be seen on our DVD Boogie & the Blues Diva.
Jason D. returned for our intimate 11th Fest last year and tore up the stage at Callahan's Music Hall.
Jason D. Williams will tear up the Detroit International Jazz Festival's Chase Main Stage in Campus Martius on Sunday, September 5th, from 5:45 to 7:00pm.

New Orleans writer, producer, arranger, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Allen Toussaint was inspired by Professor Longhair and later Fats Domino. As a producer for Minit Records in the 60’s, Toussaint played a primary role in defining the New Orleans R&B sound. He has written hundreds of songs that have been hits for everyone from Herb Alpert (Java) to the Rolling Stones (Fortune Teller). Allen performed at the 10th Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival in 2008.
Allen Toussaint will perform solo on the DJF's Chase Main Stage   Monday, Sept. 6th from 5-6:30.

KENNY NEAL AT CALLAHAN'S!

Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Kenny Neal is the son of reknown bluesman Raful Neal. He grew up surrounded by music and steeped in the tradition. Kenny performed for us on the stage of the Royal Oak Music Theatre in 2005 and can be seen on the DVD Gen2 Blues. Make sure to see him in the intimate atmosphere of Callahan's, THE home of the blues in SE Michigan.

Kenny Neal performs at Callahan's Friday Sept. 10th at 8:00pm.

Deroit Blues Society Headstone Project

In 1911 Sylvester Russell wrote a eulogy for George Walker in the Chicago Defender, “See That His Grave’s Kept Green.” In 1927, two years before he died at the tender ago of 36, Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded the classic, “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.” Compliance with these requests is difficult when graves are poorly marked or not at all, and this is sadly the case for too many of the greats who made vital and lasting contributions to our musical and cultural heritage.

The goal of Detroit Blues Society’s headstone project is to properly and respectfully mark the graves of Detroit Blues Legends. The project began in 1997 by marking the grave of Son House. Others beneficiaries include Clarence and Curtis Butler (The Butler Twins), Calvin Frazier, and Big Maceo Merriweather.  This year’s goal is to provide headstones for “Mr. Bo” Collins and “Uncle Jesse” White. We urge you to support DBS’s efforts by attending one or both of their fundraising events, at Cliff Bell’s in downtown Detroit this Sunday March 28^th, and at Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills Sunday April 18^th.

Uncle Jessie White is particularly dear to us at the AMRF. He was a performer at our very first Motor City Boogie Woogie Festival in 1999, and we are blessed to have captured the performance and an interview conducted by Mr. B for our archives. During the tumultuous year of 1967 Uncle Jessie began hosting weekend long house parties and jam sessions at his home on 29^th Street in Detroit. The sessions continued through 1971 and are legendary for the local and national talent that passed through to play at the famous house. Uncle Jesse was a revered mentor and teacher to many and a fixture in the Detroit Blues scene. His 29^th Street Blues Band performed for 20 years at the Attic Bar. Uncle Jesse passed at the age of 87 on January 29, 2008.  

Mr. Bo was a fixture in the Detroit blue scene from the 50's through the 70’s, performing with Washboard Willie, Little Sonny Willis, Eddie Burns and John Lee Hooker among many others. His best known composition, 1966’s  “If Trouble Was Money,” was recorded by Albert King and Charlie Musselwhite among many others. Mr. Bo succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 63 on September 19, 1995.