ROCKPORT BLUES SUMMIT
Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson has emerged as the bona fide leader of the West Side guitar style with his unique blend of blues, soul and funk. His blazing guitar riffs and plaintive vocals leave no doubt that Johnson is a blues master at the top of his game. He served an apprenticeship with Muddy Waters (one of the last direct links!) and Magic Sam before developing his own signature style. “Guitar Junior” earned his moniker by performing blistering blends of single string playing on the electric guitar. Magic Sam immediately signed him upon hearing the teenage “Little Junior” sing Sam Cooke’s “Somebody Have Mercy” at a club on Chicago’s West Side in the early ’60s.
Singer and harp man Sugar Ray Norcia’s career kicked into high gear in 1979 when he formed the original Sugar Ray & the Bluetones with guitar giant Ronnie Earl, and it has stayed there ever since. They backed Big Walter Horton, Big Joe Turner, Jimmie Rogers, Otis Rush, JB Hutto & countless others in the early ’80s all over the North East. In 1991 Norcia hooked up with Roomful of Blues and toured the world with the 11 piece band, appearing on their Grammy-nominated Turn It On, Turn It Up!
Mike Welch has been on the international blues scene for 15 years, and he’s only about 30!! Dubbed “Monster Mike” by Dan Ackroyd at the opening of the first House of Blues club some 15 years ago, Mike has seen his career move through three distinct phases already, from young teen phenom in the mid 1990s, to in-demand session guitarist, to a deep, soulful artist whose early promise has been fully realized working with Sugar Ray and solo projects.
Luther is at the top of his game and the pinnacle of his legendary career. Sugar Ray is nothing short of an icon in the New England blues scene, and “Monster Mike” is blazing his own distinct path. It’s the Blues baby, don’t miss it!
Tickets:Â $25, $35, $39
*Additional fees apply
Good Morning Gloucester 