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| Trudy Lynn |
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| The Mighty Org |
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| Holland K. Smith |
BLUES FOR FOOD BENEFIT, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13TH, THE SHAKESPEARE PUB, 14129
MEMORIAL DRIVE, HOUSTON, TX 77079
CONTACT: SONNY BOY TERRY, OFFICE: 713.869.7746, MOBILE: 713.822.0437,
EMAIL: SBT@SONNYBOYTERRY.COM SBT@HOUSTONHARMONICALESSONS.COM WEB SITE:
WWW.SONNYBOYTERRY.COM WWW.SHAKESPEAREPUB.NET
BLUES COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR 21ST ANNUAL BLUES FOR FOOD BENEFIT FOR
HOUSTON FOOD BANK
By Ida Mae McLemore
Here it is, once again folks BLUES FOR FOOD 2011 is upon us. Every year, on
the second Sunday of November the Houston blues community takes their
perpetually joined hands and moves over for their next great cause at
Houston’s oldest blues club, The Shakespeare Pub. Ironically located on
Memorial Drive in west Houston and always benevolent to the blues, The
Shakespeare Pub has hosted BLUES FOR FOOD since it’s inception in 1991. This
year, BLUES FOR FOOD takes place on Sunday, November 13th at Shakespeare
Pub at 14129 Memorial Drive with a dynamic array of Texas blues talent from
Holland K Smith from Dallas, Erin Jaimes and Chris Ruest from Austin to The
Mighty Orq, Trudy Lynn, Tommy Dardar and Texas Johnny Brown, all hailing
from Houston and the gulf coast. Music kicks off at 1PM and goes until the
wee wee hours of 2AM.
Initially, BLUES FOR FOOD was the brainchild of lowdown blues singer and
KPFT 90.1FM Sunday morning deejay Big Roger Collins. Big Roger, who despite
the suit and tie image, was a rough edged bluesman who could sing so loud,
he would overdrive most any microphone creating a mad rush to the sound
system when he stepped up on a stage. Aside from being a radio deejay and
band leader, Roger was known for years producing many benefits and revues in
the region. Hired regularly by the blues-friendly Shakespeare Pub, Roger was
able to use his voice on KPFT to publicize his causes and gigs. As history
recollects, BLUES FOR FOOD started in 1991. Big Roger, known as the “king of
benefits” would bring his BBQ pit and kettles cooking all night in the
parking lot. As funky as BLUES FOR FOOD started out, it was a also formal
charity right off. Representatives from the Houston Food Bank would go on
KPFT then drop by the day of, endorsing BLUES FOR FOOD while making sure
the truck for donations was always dropped off. Roger would have every blues
and zydeco band in town on the bill from young acts like DA and the
Prosecutors to Sweet Mama Cotton, Joe Guitar Hughes, Mean Gene Kelton, Lonny
Mitchell, The Zydeco Dots and Pete Mayes. Admission was any can or bag of
non perishable food items or cash and patrons were served free soul food BBQ
or perhaps some very interesting gumbo by Big Roger himself when he wasn’t
singing or emceeing. It was in many respects, a big chaotic beautiful mess
of music, intense partying and mayhem all for a great cause.
With all the regular promotion and sponsorship from KPFT’s Sunday blues
shows, plus a nightclub like The Shakespeare Pub, who supported the music
with open arms, and many of the most relevant blues musicians on the Texas
scene, BLUES FOR FOOD is now an institution, where the entire Houston blues
scene takes stewardship, pride and fiduciary responsibility to keep the
annual tradition of BLUES FOR FOOD going for many years to come.
Fast forwarding to 2011, in all it’s years, BLUES FOR FOOD has raised close
to 200 thousand pounds of non perishable foots items and over 100 thousand
dollars in cash while serving over 40 thousand plates of BBQ to
participants. As each year passes BLUES FOR FOOD keeps growing. It’s now
officially sponsored by Beans Café, KPFT 90.1 FM, Music News, The Houston
Blues Society and Shakespeare Pub’s patrons serving food and loading the
truck while vendors chip in donating items for the silent auction and
raffles. The Shakespeare Pub has seen four owners now, but BLUES FOR FOOD
keeps on keepin’ on bringing new life and inspiration to the Houston blues
tradition. New owner Kyle Soltis is as committed as ever. BLUES FOR FOOD
even has its logo design, banners, posters and T-shirts to commemorate the
event.
Big Roger Collins died in 2000 and former Joe Guitar Hughes sideman Sonny
Boy Terry now coordinates the music. All day, bands are showcased in 30
minute sets and perform as if lives depend on it, because well, in a sense,
lives do depend on it. Music fans and benefactors get a huge bang for their
buck with top drawer performances of deep Texas blues from bands hell bent
on taking house. Yes, this is a huge block party of sorts but feeding
families, children, the elderly and even the homeless reminds us all this is
serious business. It’s just human nature for people to step up even more if
we all know our charity is making a real difference. Everyone has a serious
good time. That friends, is what BLUES FOR FOOD is all about.
So please join us on Sunday, November 13th at Shakespeare Pub’s 21st annual
BLUES FOR FOOD FEST. If you have never been part of the Houston blues scene
and would like to check it out, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
The line up bands is as dynamic as it is intense from start to finish with a
healthy representation of up and comers, seasoned musicians and legends. You
can visit www.houstonbluessociety.org or www.shakespearepub.net for more
details. Shakespeare Pub is located at 14129 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX
77079. You may also call 281.497.4625.
Here is the list of bands and their time slots for the whole day:
1PM – 1:30PM – THE MIGHTY ORQ SOLO ACOUSTIC
1:45PM – 2:15PM – HOLLAND K SMITH BAND (DALLAS)
2:30PM – 3PM – DON KESEE AND THE BLUESMASTERS W/POPS STEWART, PEE WEE
STEVENS
3:15PM – 4PM - ERIN JAMES BAND/CHRIS RUEST (AUSTIN)
4:15PM – 4:45PM - TEXAS JOHNNY BROWN AND THE QUALITY BLUES BAND
5:00PM – 5:30PM - STEVE KRASE AND THE IN CROWD/TRUDY LYNN
5:45PM – 6:15PM – JONN RICHARDSON/RICH DELGROSSO BAND
6:30PM – 7:00PM – SONNY BOY TERRY BAND
7:15PM – 7:45PM – JOHN MCVEY AND THE STUMBLE W/TOMMY DARDAR
8:00PM – 8:30PM – MOJOFROMOPOLIS
8:45PM – 9:15PM – SNIT’S DOG AND PONY SHOW
10PM – 2AM - SPARE TIME MURRAY AND THE HONEYMAKERS’ WORLD FAMOUS BLUES JAM
W/SCREAMIN KENNY, LITTLE TERRY ROGERS, MARK DUFRENE, OTHERS. ALL BLUES
MUSICIANS WELCOME.
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