Lloyd Gregory introduces Ronnie Stewart and Big Cat and gets them to elaborate about the history of Blues and about their own background. This group performs and tells stories about Black Music in America. Enjoy this lively show!

Ronnie Stewart is the Executive Director of the Bay Area Blues Society. He explains that "The Bay Area Blues Society" is a non-profit, 501 © (3) organization dedicated to the perpetuation of Blues, Jazz and Gospel as an indigenous American art form. He tells us: "We are dedicated to the preservation, promotion and representation of this American folk music and cultural forms of Blues, Jazz and Gospel as they took root in African-American communities."

Lloyd Gregory gets Ronnie and Big Cat to share many anecdotes. Ronnie Stewart knows every major Blues musicians and generously shares stories of his own experiences.

All over the Bay Area there are communities such as Oakland, Hayward-Russell City, Pittsburg, Richmond, and Vallejo which all deeply rooted in these classic forms of Black Music.

For the past 22 years, the Bay Area Blues Society has surpassed all other blues society's who focus on just Blues festivals and membership. We have reached out within our community, as well as expanded to other communities, to present the rich musical heritage of the Blues, American's only true home-grown art form.

Ronnie Stewart annually organized the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show honors blues, jazz and gospel artists for their contributions to the art form called blues. The Hall of Fame is held in March but commemorate Black History Month. Events held in conjunction with the WCBHF event include concerts, lectures on the history of blues and panel discussions.

In the 2008 West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Award the inductees included Pintop Perkins, Ray Taliaferro, Joel Dorham, Coke Escaveto, Adolph Jacobs, Freddie Hughes, Ferdinand "Fat" Washington, The Continental Club, The Passions, The Hawkins Family (Edwin, Tramaine, Walter) and Nate Dove. The feature artist was Nick Harper. There were many other guest performers. MORE

The Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lady Esther of Esther Orbit's Room and Frosine Phillips.

Eldrige "Big Cat" Tolefree sounds like one of the classic blues singers and is able to bring all the emotions that make Blues so compelling. He brings back the beat, rhythms and sentiments that have made this music an American and probably internationally beloved music genre.

After you enjoy him in the video you may his photos of him in concert.

06/06 -- Mississippi Valley State U. w/BB King
Greenville, Mississippi
5:00PM -- TBA

06/07 -- Novato Art & Wine Festival w/Tia Carroll
Downtown Navato, California
12:00PM -- TBA

06/07 -- Santa Monica Seirra Country Club
1600 Sea Cliff Drive, Santa Monica, California
9:00PM -- $150-2000

06/08 -- Los Compdres w/Greg Richmond
Downtown Napa, Napa, California
6:00PM -- $10

06/12 -- Sacramento Fine Arts Center
5330 Gibbons Dr, Carmichael, California
6:00PM -- $30-$50

06/13 -- Art Council Fundraiser,
999 Crestview Ave, Spanish Hills Country Club
8:30PM -- $70-$300

06/16 -- Live Webcast Show w/Tia Carroll
Expression New Media, Berkeley Campus
9:00PM -- Open To Public

06/19 -- Music In The Park w/Tia Carroll
Lincoln Park, Tracy, California
5:00PM -- FREE

06/22 -- The Old Princeton Landing Super Jam!
460 Capistrano Road, Pacifica, California
3:00PM -- FREE

06/28 -- Monterey Blues Festival (Garden Stage)
Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, California
2:00PM -- PLEASE CALL

07/04 -- Red, White & Blues Festival
Alameda County Fair ground, Pleasanton, California
2:00PM -- $10

07/06 -- Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, California
1:00PM -- $25

07/09/2008 08:30 PM - Biscuits & Blues w/Tia Carroll
3714 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, California
8:30PM & 10:30pm -- $15

07/11 -- The Bistro: Blues Festival Kick-Off Party
B Street & Mission, Downtown Hayward, California
9:00PM -- FREE

07/12 -- The Bistro: Blues Festival After Party
B Street & Mission, Downtown Hayward, California
9:30PM -- FREE

07/13 -- Hayward Russell City Blues Festival
B-Street @ City Hall, Downtown Hayward, California
2:00PM -- $25-$35

07/13 -- Los Compdres w/Greg Richmond
Downtown Napa, Napa, California
7:00PM -- $5

07/24 -- Orange County Performing Arts
12852 Main Street, Garden Grove, California
6:00PM -- $15

07/26 -- Alameda Art & Wine Festival w/Tia Carroll
Downtown Alameda, California
10:00AM -- $TBA

07/30/2008 12:00 PM - Summer Noon Concert Series
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Downtown Oakland, California
12 NOON -- FREE

08/05 -- National Night Out Concert w/Tia Carroll
Downtown Concord, California
6:00PM -- FREE

08/16 -- Pleasanton BBQ, Chilli & Blues Festival
Pleasanton Fair Ground, Pleasanton, California
2:00PM -- TBA

08/28 -- Oakland Home Grown Blues Series
City Hall Plaza, Downtown Oakland, California
5:00PM -- FREE

08/31 -- Oakland Art & Soul Festival (Blues Stage)
12th & Broadway, Downtown Oakland, California
3:00PM -- TBA

 

For more info call Eldrige "Big Cat" Tolefree (510) 776-9727