Local blues performance prelude to Memphis competition
By NATALIE JORDAN, The Daily News,
Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:19 AM CST
Two of Russellville’s talented musicians will soon be off to take part in the International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tenn. But before they ease on down the road, they’ll show off their skills for Russellville audiences.
The Russellville Blues Society is set to have a 2009 kickoff Saturday with a performance by blues musicians Michael Gough and John Martin.
“This is a warmup for John and me for the blues festival, and I am looking forward to that,” Gough said. “I’m excited, optimistic. I can’t wait. It’s our second season. Last year was an experiment and we got good community response. We’re hoping for a good turnout (Saturday).”
The kickoff party will be from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the old Russellville movie theater - currently being restored by Main Street Russellville, a group that helps to revitalize and preserve downtown. While the event doubles as a sponsor appreciation party - with free admission for sponsors and donors - general admission is $10.
In addition to the duet performance from Gough and Martin, attendees will also get to hear the Michael Gough Group, comprised of musicians Martin, Ed Dansereau, Gary Smoot, Ryan Stiles and Grammy winner Curtis Burch.
“I’m looking forward to playing with the guys I’m playing with,” Gough said. “We haven’t played together in awhile.”
The event coincides with the society’s first-ever fundraising campaign, said Joe Gran Clark, a founding volunteer of the society. He said while last year’s events were primarily funded by donations, they’re trying to start off this year with a more organized fundraising campaign.
With commitments from presenting sponsors, such as Russellville Arts Council and Blue Grass Cellular, and event sponsor Logan Memorial Hospital, Clark said they are confident they will reach their $12,000 fundraising goal.
“We want to make these concerts a neighborhood community service type event,” he said.
Last year, the Russellville Blues Society was established by Clark, Gough, Russellville Schools educator Samara Smith and Michael Morrow, leader of the Western Kentucky African American Heritage Center. The goal of the society is to provide authentic live music in Russellville, Clark said.
“And we had a very successful first year with three outdoor concerts,” he said.
The concerts were in the yards surrounding two restored historical buildings that formed the “nucleus” of the Western Kentucky African American Heritage Center - a museum and research complex, Clark said.
“It’s a unique spot to hear and see music,” he said. “We try to create an atmosphere consistent with ... where the blues was sung and played 50, 60 years ago.”
The first summer concert, Clark said, had an attendance of about 300 people. The last one had about 1,000 people.
The summer concerts are put on in memory of Mary Ann Fisher, a former Russellville resident who sang with Ray Charles, Clark said. She also had a romantic relationship with him, and the song “Mary Ann, Mary Ann” is about her, Clark said.
“She was known as ‘The Songbird of the South,’ ” he said.
This year, Clark said they are hoping to continue and expand. The goal is to have four outdoor concerts as part of the Mary Ann Fisher concert series, including a gospel event “because gospel and blues are so closely connected,” he said. They are also hoping to do some indoor events.
“We’ve got something fun and creative going on here,” he said.