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Galactic was born in the early '90s, after two Washington, D.C. punks – guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio – relocated to New Orleans and found themselves intoxicated by the sounds of the scene that nurtured The Meters, Professor Longhair, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. Armed with the rhythmic tradition of its hometown, the six-piece future funk outfit has spent over a decade tearing through venues across the world, leaving hordes of die-hard Galactic junkies in its wake. Constantly weaving modern and retrospective styles into its own trademark jazz-funk-rock fusion, Galactic has created a far-reaching canon informed by ongoing influence from a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, blues, pop, and electronica. [more]
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 Frederick “Toots” Hibbert is one of the true architects of reggae, so much so that "Do the Reggay," a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. Their sound is a unique, original combination of gospel, ska, soul, reggae and rock. Toots grew up in May Pen, Jamaica singing gospel music in a church choir, moving to Kingston in 1961 at the tender age of sixteen. In Kingston, he formed a vocal trio with Henry “Raleigh” Gordon and Nathaniel “Jerry” McCarthy and recorded their first album, Never Grow Old - presenting the Maytals, for legendary producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1962. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing led to instant success for the release, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming gospel trio, The Wailers. [more]
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Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee Dottie Peoples’ passion for music was first sparked by summer visits during her childhood with her grandmother, Big Mama, in Alabama. A fixture in the church and choir, Big Mama one day promised Dottie that one day she would be a singer too – and what a singer she would be. Her first break came after a Dorothy Norwood performance in Peoples’ hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Norwood invited Peoples to join her on the road, a tour where Norwood’s group was opening for The Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder. [more]
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After touring in support of their 1993 masterpiece Anodyne, the seminal alternative country band Uncle Tupelo split over long-simmering creative differences between co-leaders Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy. Tweedy recruited some of the band to form Wilco, while Farrar teamed up with original Tupelo drummer Mike Heidorn to form Son Volt, the closer continuance of Tupelo's sound and musical legacy. Joined by brothers Jim (bass) and Dave Boquist (guitar, fiddle, banjo, steel guitar), the band released its debut album, Trace, in 1995. It was greeted with much critical acclaim, offering a set of stark and subtle songs that drew from traditional country, folk and roots rock. The single “Drown” was successful on both college and rock radio, and the band subsequently added Eric Heywood (mandolin, pedal steel) for its second album, 1997’s Straightaways. [more]
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Growing up in the swamplands of northern Florida, Grey comes from a long tradition of Southern storytellers, and his songs often use the loss of his natural surroundings and the marginalization of the Southern culture he grew up in as a metaphor for universal truths. Like his songs, his rich, soulful vocals are forceful and commanding, seemingly old beyond his years. And the music, from gritty funk to juke joint romps to contemplative country soul to blistering rockers, brings it all home with danceable grooves and melodic freshness. [more]
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Since its inception in 1971, the Seldom Scene has thrived on playing bluegrass a little differently than everyone else. If other bands used a fiddle, the Seldom Scene used a dobro; if others relied on old standards, the Seldom Scene played rock classics like J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.” Through skilled musicianship and an urban approach to bluegrass, the Seldom Scene has become one of the most influential bluegrass bands of the last 30 years. The band derived its name from its once a week performances in the early years at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. Early albums like 1975’s Live at the Cellar Door set the pace for progressive bluegrass while defining their unique sound. [more]
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After the success of the Dirty Dozen proved that New Orleans marching band music could be experimental and contemporary, the floodgates were opened for a new wave of brass music. Imagine blending the sounds of Mardi Gras funk, rock and reggae, shrinking that idea into a seven-piece ensemble, then adding a hip-hop sensibility plus a hundred years of New Orleans jazz tradition. The result is the Louisiana sound known as the Soul Rebels; rapping, soul-shouting, and blasting out an assault of what is not exactly jazz, not exactly R&B, but undeniably one of the hottest dance sounds around. [more]
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The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself. [more]
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For more than four decades, General Johnson has been delivering his brand of Carolina beach music infused with R&B to the masses. The General has run the gamut from penning Grammy Award-winning singles like "Patches" to recording a duet of "Rock Away Beach" with legendary punk rocker Joey Ramone. In the late '60s, the General formed Chairmen of the Board with saxophonist Ken Knox and vocalist Danny Woods. Together they've recorded such classics as "Carolina Girls," "Gone Fishing," and "You Got Me Dangling On A String." General Johnson and the Chairman of the Board have also been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame. [more]
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For decades The Embers have been making music by playing a mix of rhythm and blues and heart and soul. Rhythm and blues became the foundation and essence of soul music and the Motown sound, but in the coastal regions of the southeast, the name that applies is "Beach Music". They've been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and were named North Carolina's Official Musical Ambassadors. They've opened for the Rolling Stones, done commercials for Budweiser and Pepsi, played the Olympics and President Clinton's inauguration, and created the soundtrack for endless summers. [more]
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During their early years, the music of Uncle Mingo was heavily influenced by the powerful funk of Parliament and James Brown, the latter of whom they met in the early ‘90s. As time evolved and music changed, Uncle Mingo continued to pack venues in their hometown of Charleston and throughout the southeast, while adjusting their sound to more of a pop-influenced funk rock. The band now plays only a select few shows each year, keeping their services in high demand. They’re currently recording new material, which will be unleashed on the public for the first time at ChazzFest. [more]
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A Charleston native, Quiana was one of the top 49 finalists on the second season of American Idol. In 2004, she toured with Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson as a background vocalist. She has performed on a number of national television shows including Saturday Night Live, Jay Leno, The View and The Today Show. She has opened for well-known jazz and R&B artists such as Phil Perry, Alphonso Blackwell, Paul Taylor, Keith Sweat, The Dolphins, Wayman Tisdale, Mike Phillips and Ann Nesby. Local audiences also recognize Quiana as one of the original stars of The Serenade Show and the lead vocalist with Brazil at Mitchell’s on the Market. In addition to performing, she is the owner of The Voice Box, where she teaches voice to aspiring singers. [more]
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The Magnolia Singers preserve the rich tradition of Gullah music and spirituals. In the tradition of the call and response, the Magnolia Singers invite audiences to join the universal experience of hope that is the Gullah spiritual's central theme. Through Gullah spirituals, audiences also experience America's most authentic music. Jazz, blues, ragtime, gospel and soul music all have their roots in the rhythm and improvisational style of Gullah music. The Magnolia Singers capture this collective experience as singers branch out in the course of a single song, each varying verse, tune and tempo, to weave a tapestry of music. [more]
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Charleston-based blues circuit guitarist/singer Davis Coen's latest accomplishments include original instrumental music on the DVD release of Martin Scorsese's PBS special The Blues; backup guitar on Dare You To Do it Again, the latest album by the recently deceased "Queen of the Mississippi Hillcountry Blues Singers" Jesse Mae Hemphill; regular airtime on XM Satellite Radio Channel 74 (Bluesville), achieving #1 position for the week of July 8th, 2006. Coen has shared a bill with or opened for many classic blues artists such as James Cotton, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, Big Jack Johnson, North Mississippi All-Stars, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Eddie Kirkland and Britain's John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. [more]
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