| July 4th, 2010 12:00pm - 8:00pm Alameda County Fair - Main Stage Pleasanton, CA Free with Admission to the Fair 707-647-3962 or 510 836-2227 |
Each year the Bay Area Blues Society and the Alameda County Fair work together to bring the public a great
line-up of notable performers who excel in their craft. This non-stop festival features outstanding blues and R&B
acts found throughout the country.
line-up of notable performers who excel in their craft. This non-stop festival features outstanding blues and R&B
acts found throughout the country.
BILLY & THE THRILLERS 12:00 P.M.
Billy Pigrum was born in La Grange, Tennessee a small town just east of Memphis. In those
days radio was king, blues was on the air and Billy was listening . As a teenager Billly
discovered the thriving world of the blues in Memphis clubs and jook joints. He met and
befriended many of the music's well known practitioners and counts B.B. King amongst the
friends he made there. Arriving in California in search of work in the early fifties Billy began to
manage some of the local bands in the bay area. Billy formed his own band , Billy and The
Thrillers. Over the years this band has featured many of the bay area's blues artists including
Sonny Lane, Johnny Sanford, Al Brown, Big Bob Deance, Lady Margaret, Carl Green, and
Beverly Stovall just to name a few. Billy and The Thrillers features Ernestine Barze on vocals.
Billy is an award winning guitar player, vocalist and bandleader who has been true to the blues
over the years and continues to bring you blues you can use.
Billy Pigrum was born in La Grange, Tennessee a small town just east of Memphis. In those
days radio was king, blues was on the air and Billy was listening . As a teenager Billly
discovered the thriving world of the blues in Memphis clubs and jook joints. He met and
befriended many of the music's well known practitioners and counts B.B. King amongst the
friends he made there. Arriving in California in search of work in the early fifties Billy began to
manage some of the local bands in the bay area. Billy formed his own band , Billy and The
Thrillers. Over the years this band has featured many of the bay area's blues artists including
Sonny Lane, Johnny Sanford, Al Brown, Big Bob Deance, Lady Margaret, Carl Green, and
Beverly Stovall just to name a few. Billy and The Thrillers features Ernestine Barze on vocals.
Billy is an award winning guitar player, vocalist and bandleader who has been true to the blues
over the years and continues to bring you blues you can use.
PURPLE SMOKE 1:00 P.M.
Purple Smoke is the name of the newest, vibrant R&B band in the Bay Area. The band is led by
vocalist Jesse Brown, a smooth baritone with a Brooke Benton, Jerry Butler delivery. Jesse has
appeared with the Manhattans, Ben E. King, Clarence Carter, and the O'Jays, just to name a
few. Among his many awards, Jesse is the recipient of the 2009 West Coast R&B Male
Vocalist of the Year Award. Purple Smoke's lead guitarist, Robert "Big Bob" Deante, has played
with Lowell Fulsom, John Lee Hooker, and Charles Brown. Purple Smoke is a band on the
move and definitely on the rise! Look out, if you're looking for BAD, they're smokin!
Purple Smoke is the name of the newest, vibrant R&B band in the Bay Area. The band is led by
vocalist Jesse Brown, a smooth baritone with a Brooke Benton, Jerry Butler delivery. Jesse has
appeared with the Manhattans, Ben E. King, Clarence Carter, and the O'Jays, just to name a
few. Among his many awards, Jesse is the recipient of the 2009 West Coast R&B Male
Vocalist of the Year Award. Purple Smoke's lead guitarist, Robert "Big Bob" Deante, has played
with Lowell Fulsom, John Lee Hooker, and Charles Brown. Purple Smoke is a band on the
move and definitely on the rise! Look out, if you're looking for BAD, they're smokin!
BIG DADDY CADE 3:00 P.M.
Big Daddy is the only B. B. King tribute show that the King himself has approved of. Big
Daddy strides out in his black and gold tuxedo jacket and black framed sunglasses looking
uncannily like a young B. B. King. He heats up the stage with "Rock Me Baby," sometimes
sounding more like B. B. King than the King does himself these days. With his expressive,
ringing guitar licks delivered with the style, sound, and spirit of the original, Big Daddy becomes
B. B. He has all the little mannerisms down, from how he moves on stage, addresses the
crowd, sings, and plays guitar. Big Daddy even closes out a song with a flourish on guitar,
leaving one last, echoing note to hang in the air.
Big Daddy is the only B. B. King tribute show that the King himself has approved of. Big
Daddy strides out in his black and gold tuxedo jacket and black framed sunglasses looking
uncannily like a young B. B. King. He heats up the stage with "Rock Me Baby," sometimes
sounding more like B. B. King than the King does himself these days. With his expressive,
ringing guitar licks delivered with the style, sound, and spirit of the original, Big Daddy becomes
B. B. He has all the little mannerisms down, from how he moves on stage, addresses the
crowd, sings, and plays guitar. Big Daddy even closes out a song with a flourish on guitar,
leaving one last, echoing note to hang in the air.
BILLY DUNN & BLUESWAY 2:00 P.M.
Billy Dunn is a song writer, vocalist, piano player, drummer and sax player. Dunn
started his long career in Russell City, California playing keyboard for the late-great big
Mama Thorton in 1959. Billy has played for the King of Rock and Roll, Chuck Barry;
Albert King, Lowell Fulson and Mr Excitement, Jackie Wilson. His current CD entitled
My Feet is Achin was one of the most talked about blues CD’s in years. Billy can sing
any style of blues and R&B and knows hundreds of songs. His stage show is one you
will never forget.
Billy Dunn is a song writer, vocalist, piano player, drummer and sax player. Dunn
started his long career in Russell City, California playing keyboard for the late-great big
Mama Thorton in 1959. Billy has played for the King of Rock and Roll, Chuck Barry;
Albert King, Lowell Fulson and Mr Excitement, Jackie Wilson. His current CD entitled
My Feet is Achin was one of the most talked about blues CD’s in years. Billy can sing
any style of blues and R&B and knows hundreds of songs. His stage show is one you
will never forget.
SONNY RHODES 6:00 P.M.
The last Living Texas Blues Legend Sonny Rhodes is one of the blues world's great original
characters. He delivers a smoking mix of contemporary blues. For the past four decades he has
garnered well deserved accolades from his contemporaries, peers, and fans worldwide. Sonny
is a genuine Texas bluesman, and is a unique artist who performs mostly original material. A
blistering instrumentalist, Rhodes is a gritty singer with a real passion for the music he
performs, one of the very few artists in the blues history who play the lap-steel guitar, an
instrument who that gives to his music a unique sound.
The last Living Texas Blues Legend Sonny Rhodes is one of the blues world's great original
characters. He delivers a smoking mix of contemporary blues. For the past four decades he has
garnered well deserved accolades from his contemporaries, peers, and fans worldwide. Sonny
is a genuine Texas bluesman, and is a unique artist who performs mostly original material. A
blistering instrumentalist, Rhodes is a gritty singer with a real passion for the music he
performs, one of the very few artists in the blues history who play the lap-steel guitar, an
instrument who that gives to his music a unique sound.
CARAVAN OF ALLSTARS 4:00 P.M.
THE BAY AREA BLUES SOCIETY CARAVAN OF ALL STARS is a powerhouse revue put
together to showcase some of the unsung heroes of West Coast Blues. The band consists of
Ronnie Stewart, lead guitar; Dalhart Johnson, bass guitar; Rich Forman and Funky Rob
Gordon, keyboards; Pacquettes and David “Stix” Boyette on drums; Carl Green, Geechi Taylor,
and James Nelson, the “Sweet Meat Horn Section”. Featured vocalists include Wylie Trass,
Teddy “Blues Master” Watson, Terrible Tom Bowden, and Ella Pennewell.
THE BAY AREA BLUES SOCIETY CARAVAN OF ALL STARS is a powerhouse revue put
together to showcase some of the unsung heroes of West Coast Blues. The band consists of
Ronnie Stewart, lead guitar; Dalhart Johnson, bass guitar; Rich Forman and Funky Rob
Gordon, keyboards; Pacquettes and David “Stix” Boyette on drums; Carl Green, Geechi Taylor,
and James Nelson, the “Sweet Meat Horn Section”. Featured vocalists include Wylie Trass,
Teddy “Blues Master” Watson, Terrible Tom Bowden, and Ella Pennewell.
ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS 5:00 P.M.
From his first recordings as a leader in 1967 fronting The Dirty Blues Band, through his
multiple W.C. Handy award winning releases with his current band The Mighty Flyers, to his
countless appearances both live and on record with the most revered names in the blues, Piazza
has established himself as one of the most influential living blues harp players. He’s
consistently surrounded himself with players who bring out the best he has to offer, and
epitomize the very best in blues: fresh, swinging, tasteful, exciting and creative. The core of
The Mighty Flyers has been together for over two decades, and developed the kind of musical
telepathy that simply cannot exist without years of experience on the bandstand and in the
studio. The Mighty Flyers are a well-oiled machine, with Piazza in the driver’s seat.
From his first recordings as a leader in 1967 fronting The Dirty Blues Band, through his
multiple W.C. Handy award winning releases with his current band The Mighty Flyers, to his
countless appearances both live and on record with the most revered names in the blues, Piazza
has established himself as one of the most influential living blues harp players. He’s
consistently surrounded himself with players who bring out the best he has to offer, and
epitomize the very best in blues: fresh, swinging, tasteful, exciting and creative. The core of
The Mighty Flyers has been together for over two decades, and developed the kind of musical
telepathy that simply cannot exist without years of experience on the bandstand and in the
studio. The Mighty Flyers are a well-oiled machine, with Piazza in the driver’s seat.
BOBBY RUSH 7:00 P.M.
Born Emmitt Ellis Jr. in Homer, LA., Bobby was the sone of a preacher man. In 1953 he
moved to chicago with his family and at the age of 13 formed a band which included greats
such as Freddie King, Luther Johnson, Bobby King and Luther Allison. Rush signed with
several labels such as Galaxy Records, Jewel, LaJam Record, Urgent Records and Malaco
Records. Some of his well known releases include Chicken Heads, Lovin' A Big Fat Woman,
ColdHearted Woman, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show and Hen Pecked just to name a few.
His many accolades include Best Live Performer, Best Soul/R&B Live Performer, Artist of the
Year and Blues Entertainer of the Year. The Mississippi Senate passed a resolution honoring
Rush for his musical career.
Born Emmitt Ellis Jr. in Homer, LA., Bobby was the sone of a preacher man. In 1953 he
moved to chicago with his family and at the age of 13 formed a band which included greats
such as Freddie King, Luther Johnson, Bobby King and Luther Allison. Rush signed with
several labels such as Galaxy Records, Jewel, LaJam Record, Urgent Records and Malaco
Records. Some of his well known releases include Chicken Heads, Lovin' A Big Fat Woman,
ColdHearted Woman, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show and Hen Pecked just to name a few.
His many accolades include Best Live Performer, Best Soul/R&B Live Performer, Artist of the
Year and Blues Entertainer of the Year. The Mississippi Senate passed a resolution honoring
Rush for his musical career.
| ARTIST LINEUP AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE |
| ARTIST SCHEDULE 2010 |
