Sacramento, California is home to a vibrant blues scene, with many talented musicians and events that have been celebrated for decades. From Little Charlie Baty to RW Grigsby, the city has produced some of the most famous blues musicians in the world. The Sacramento Blues Festival and other events have also been instrumental in promoting the genre. In this article, we'll explore some of the most renowned blues musicians from Sacramento, as well as the events that have helped shape the city's blues scene.
One of the most renowned blues musicians from Sacramento is Little Charlie Baty. He is known for his acrobatic skill at biting his fingers and for his mastery of many musical styles, such as jumping, swing, surfing, rockabilly, jazz and slow and sour blues. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and has been a member of Mark Hummel's Harmonica Blowouts. Anson Funderburgh is another well-known blues musician from Sacramento.
He is a member of the band “Full Circle” which covers a variety of instruments and vocal styles. He has also been a part of The A List Jazz which offers services for private parties, corporate events, concerts, festivals and clubs. Wes Starr is another prominent blues musician from Sacramento. He is a member of the band “Keep On Truckin'” which performs Rock, Blues, Funk and R&B.
He has also been a part of The Speakeasies which plays soft acoustic jazz, swing from the 30s and 40s, classic soul and blues from the 50s and 60s. Mike Keller is another notable blues musician from Sacramento. He is a member of the band “Campbell's Jazz Soup” which plays a fun mix of jazz and swing from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s at events, parties, festivals and weddings throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Rusty Zinn is another famous blues musician from Sacramento.
He is a member of the band “Parlor Tricks” which plays a mix of swing, jazz standards, vaudeville and ragtime music. He has also been a part of The Mules which has been described as “contagious” and “a crossroads full of rhythms where the West Coast in the style of T-Bone Walker shuffles, Stax, the scorching soul”.Mark Hummel is another renowned blues musician from Sacramento. He is a member of the band “Greg Jacobs Quartet” which plays a selection of tasteful jazz standards and some original compositions. He has also been a part of Marina's musical events for non-profit and benefit organizations at the Torch Club.
RW Grigsby
is another prominent blues musician from Sacramento who has just been nominated for a Grammy Award.He is a member of Mark Hummel's Harmonica Blowouts which has backed nearly every major blues harp artist in the U. S. He has also been a part of Al Arnett's rhythm section that built the Sacramento blues scene. Harvey Mac Macknally is another famous blues musician from Cotton Plant, Arkansas but his music is pure Mississippi Delta blues. He has been a part of Johnny Heartsman's band which supported visiting stars such as Lou Rawls and Sam and Dave. Lena Mosley is another well-known blues musician from Sacramento who formed her own band called Lena Mosley & The Badd Shoes Blues Band.
She was featured on Mike Balma's CD entitled “The Sacramento Blues” which included 10 local blues bands. Janis Joplin was another prominent blues musician who left her mark on the Sacramento Blues scene before her untimely death in 2003. She was an active member of both the Sacramento Blues Society and Sierra Blues Society where she served on their board of directors. Mike Balma was an important figure in promoting the Sacramento Blues scene in the early 1980s when he volunteered for the Sacramento Blues Festival. He eventually became president of the Sacramento Blues Society in 1992 and designed most of their posters and t-shirts for their festivals. The Sacramento Blues Festival has been instrumental in promoting local talent since its inception in 1997. It has featured some of the biggest names in blues music such as The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allen Jackson, Tracy Byrd, Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton. The Heritage Festival is another important event that celebrates local talent in Sacramento. It features performances by local bands such as The Bits & Pieces Band as well as international acts such as Gene Chambers. In conclusion, there are many talented musicians who have come out of Sacramento's vibrant blues scene over the years. From Little Charlie Baty to RW Grigsby to Janis Joplin, these musicians have helped shape what we know today as modern day blues music.
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