Joey’s poll from yesterday asking “WHICH IS A BIGGER EMOTIONAL HIT FOR YOU, THE LOSS OF DAVID BOWIE OR PRINCE?” struck a powerful chord in me. It feels like the greatest musicians of our era are dropping so fast we can’t even keep track. Case in point: Lonnie Mack (blues/rock guitar pioneer and major influence on Stevie Ray Vaughan) also died yesterday.  So what do we do? One response is for Vickie and me book as many of our idols as quickly as possible and rush out to see the ones who are too big for the venues we book. It’s beginning to feel like a race against time.

At the same time, we think it’s important to showcase young artists, who might become the next Prince or Bowie or any of the dozen other greats who have left us over the past year. To that end, we produce several “rising star” shows a year — and our next one is a Rockin’ Blues Benefit next Saturday, April 30 at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre to raise money for Harborlight Community Partners.

In addition to featuring three of the region’s top talent: Delta Generators, Willie J. Laws Band and Danielle Miraglia, this show has some profound significance: 1) It’s the last Delta Generators Show with Craig Rawding fronting the band — and 2) We will auction off a guitar (thanks to Guitar Center) signed by all the artists to raise money for Harborlight Community Partners.  This will likely be the last guitar — perhaps the last thing ever — signed by all the current members of the Delta Generators.

If you live in Gloucester, you may have seen Danielle Miraglia here. In 2014, we brought her to Gloucester for the first time to perform with James Montgomery at a benefit for The Open Door, then again at the Cape Ann Solstice with Allen Estes and Charlie Farren.  She’s also been at the Rhumb Line.

On Sunday morning at 9AM, Danielle will be Aurelia Nelson’s special guest — and her only guest — on her North Shore 104.9 radio show Curtain Up.  You’ll hear Danielle perform some of her songs along with a tribute to her favorite artist, Prince.  Now, Danielle isn’t one of those people who waited until yesterday to honor Prince.  Here’s a transcript of an interview she gave 10 years ago in Boston Beats:

Question: “If you could play on stage with anyone alive, who would it be?”

Danielle: “Oh, Prince. Even though I would be completely intimidated by him, and probably just faint. And he’s my height, so it would work.  All his dancers are really short, because they can’t be taller than him or it would just look funny.  I don’t have to play anything, I’ll just roll around on stage.  I’ll just hold onto his leg.  You can put that in print if you want.”

Check out Danielle at Gloucester’s UU Church fundraiser here (by Cape Ann TV):