HOW TO FIND US - Blues Festival

HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AND PATRONS
FOR THEIR 20 YEARS OF KINDNESS
Kittrell Tucker
Michael Wingate
Bobbi Sonefeld
Bill Thorpe
Bill Giles
Bill Wagner
Kevin Woodward
Myra Cox
Mac Montgomery
Steve Ringer
Richard Layman
Jeffrey Bloom
John Pittman
Cathy Alexander
Jeff Koob
Maria Madeo
Tom & Deb Holloway
Richard Merritt
Charlie Merritt
Anita Gotwals Graves
Tony Bissell
Curtis Best
Jane Patton
Gerrit Jobis
Wernher Wiebach
Willie & Patty Durkin
Gene Graves
Dominic Como
Thad Myers
Pamela Graves Murray
Debbie McDaniel
Scottie MacRae
Wendy Brinker Taylor
Pete Hein
Stephanie Graves-Swann
Timothy Graves
Michael Miller
Tim & Nancy Bradshaw
Sarah Scarborough
Ferd Sumner
Greg Seminoff
Rick Penado
Steve Gulley
Carl Steen
Forever and always:
Jules Pernell
Paul Pittenger
Rick Salane
Dan Bliek
Ed Buddin
Judy Handly
friendships,
non-mainstream tastes!
BACKSTORY Fortunate
SPECIAL HONORARY PERFORMANCES BY LEGENDS
,,the blues
doctor,,
drink small
skipp pearson
plus eddie turner
AND The trouble twins
AND
carolyn wonderland
The rev. peyton,s
big damn band
MILL BILLY electric
Lakota John & KIN
Help us by saying thank you
to our generous SPONSORS
IT’S BEEN A WILD AND CRAZY RIDE!
A ride that began 24 years ago when three
friends lamented the fact that so many blues
and folk-music artists were bypassing their
hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. One of
the three, Jay Crouch, posed a simple question.
“Why don’t we put on some shows ourselves?”
Chris Judge and Geoffrey Graves exchanged
glances and said, “Why not?” And with that,
Word of Mouth Productions was born. Since its
inception, WOMP has grown to encompass a
loving network of friends and family who share a
sense of community and love of live music. Over
the years it has presented dozens of solo shows
as well as 19 Blues Festivals in Columbia’s King
Park. Nevertheless, no one could have imagined
in 1991 that all these years later WOMP would
stage its 20th Blues Festival in Columbia. But here
we are, joyously presenting our 20th free concert,
and it’s been a privilege and honor to bring these
shows to the Midlands of South Carolina. WOMP
has retained its grassroots spirit, and its network
of friends continues to grow. So with love and
affection, we thank everyone who’s helped us
along the way, we hope you enjoy the show,
and we’ll see you further on down the road. n
Guest Emcee: Clair DeLune
Host of Blues Moon Radio / WUSC-FM
and author of South Carolina Blues:
(Images of
America)
from Arcadia
Publishing
(available
for purchase
during today’s
festival)
WOMP SHOWOGRAPHY 1991-2015
Geoff Achison • Alligator Wine • Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues •
Etta Baker • Carey Bell • Tab Benoit • Big Sam’s Funky Nation • Rory
Block • Roy Book Binder • Randall Bramblett • Skeeter Brandon
& Hwy 61 • Eden Brent • Brock McGuire Band • Lonnie Brooks
• Nappy Brown • Eddie Burks • Michael Burks • R L Burnside •
Henry Butler • Campbell Brothers • Kenny Carr & The Tigers • Martin
Carthy & Dave Swarbrick • Paul Cebar • The Cedar Creek Boys •
Cephas & Wiggins • Chulrua • Clara’s Velvet Dress • Eddy “The
Chief” Clearwater • Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen • The Crude Earles •
Cultivation • Guy Davis • Katherine Davis • D.B. Bryant Band • Delta
Moon • Delta Swagger • The Dixieland Codgers • Dr. Dixon • Donna
The Buffalo • Gibb Droll • The Dudes • Elliott & The Untouchables
• Jim Errante • Fat Back & The Groove Band • Cool John Ferguson
• Damon Fowler • Anson Funderburgh with Sam Meyers • Paul
Geremia • Griff • Dennis Gruenling • Guitar Shorty • Len Graham &
Cathal McConnell • Jim Hadley • John Hammond • Harper • Corey
Harris • Alvin Youngblood Hart • The Holmes Brothers • The House
Band • Danielle Howle • Vasti Jackson • Samuel James • Wanda
Johnson • Richard Johnston • Jeff Liberty Band • Jorma Kaukonen •
Keb’ Mo’ Leo Kottke • Smokin’ Joe Kubek with B’Nois King • Lakkota
John & Kin • Sonny Landreth • Rosie Ledet • The Lee Boys • Lil’
Ed & The Blues Imperials • David Lindley • Walter Lineger • Little
Whitt & Big Bo • Shelley Magee & The Bad Deeds • Tommy Malone
• Bob Margolin • Mill Billy Blues • Mill Billy Electric • John Mooney
• Moreland & Arbuckle • Big Bill Morganfield • Danny Morris • Pete
Morton • Nat King Kong • Naz & The Falsehoods • Tracy Nelson
• The Nields • New Legacy Duo • Paddy O’Brien • Tim O’Brien
• Bobby Parker • Skipp Pearson • Tom Principato • Buddy Ray &
Frank Smoak • Rakish Bubban • Paul Rishell & Annie Raines • Duke
Robillard • Robin Rogers • Roy Rogers • Tommy Sands • Son Seals
• Savoy Brown with Kim Simmonds • Andrew Scotchie & The River
Rats • The Shades • Eddie Shaw and The Wolf Gang • Slap Wore
Out • Magic Slim & The Teardrops • Drink Small • Chris Smither •
Toni Spearman • Speed Limit 35 • the subdudes • Reggie Sullivan
• The Alexis P. Suter Band • The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band •
Hubert Sumlin • Swamp Cabbage • Otis Taylor • Jimmy Thackery •
Dave Thompson • The Elaine Townsend Blues Band • Eddie Turner
• Joe Louis Walker • Rev. Marv Ward & The Blues Disciples (and
Congaree) • The Watersons • Jack Williams • Johnny Winter •
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz • Carolyn Wonderland • Craig Wright • WSNB
HOW TO FIND US
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial Park
in Five Points
2300 Greene Street
Columbia, SC
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
CONTRIBUTING SUPPORTERS
For more detailed information about our
festival, including history, archives,
stories, photo galleries, and more, please visit
www.wordofmouthproductions.org
Join the WOMP community on Facebook!
No coolers please, concession sales
help keep our festival FREE. Please visit our
$1 DONATION STATION, complete our survey,
and offer a smile for the contributions and
support of more than 100 friends and volunteers.
Through the years, Word of Mouth Productions has
hosted more than 50 shows, produced 20 Annual
Blues Festivals, and brought more than 125 recording
artists to Columbia audiences. Our multi-cultural
festival enriches the local arts environment, enhances
our collective sense of community, and attracts
music lovers from across the country.
P.O. Box 50105
Columbia, SC 29250
803-708-4500
Program printed by
We recycle. Help us keep the park clean!
WORDOFMOUTHPRODUCTIONS.ORG
www.sun-inc.com
www.hardwaregraphics.com
Word of Mouth
Productions is a non-profit
corporation registered
with the IRS and SC
Secretary of State’s Office.
All donations are
tax deductible.
NFoESToKISVnOAFLF!
KIC
Lakota John & KIN
MILLBILLY
electric
Freddie Vanderford
Brandon Turner
Franklin Wilkie
T.J. j eter
Rickey Godfrey
An old soul with a passion for the blues, Pembroke,
NC’s Lakota John Locklear is a prodigious blues
guitarist of Lumbee and Lakota lineage. He and
his musical family Lakota John & Kin (his mama
Tonya, dad Sweet Papa John, and sister Miss
Layla) carry on the tradition of the country blues
masters and harmonics of the Piedmont styles.
Reflective of their heritage, they also preserve
their Native American roots and music. n
,
the Rev. Peyton s
1
PM
big damn band
5
PM
Carolyn
wonderland
Austin blues-rocker Carolyn Wonderland is a
genre-bending singer/songwriter/pianist/
trumpeter/guitarist. She began performing solo
as a teen in Houston and later with her band
the Imperial Monkeys. While firmly entrenched
in the blues, Wonderland sports a diverse range
of other influences – country to zydeco, surf to
Latin, boogie to jazz – she has performed with
such like-minded predecessors as B.B. King,
Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, the Allman Brothers,
Delbert McClinton, and Buddy Miles. Wonderland,
whose powerful voice garners comparisons
to Janis Joplin, has never forgotten where she
came from. Blending the hard-won lessons of her
life with stories from the world’s most beloved
songwriters, she creates a musical menu of
sustaining, satisfying songs as food for thought to
her legions of fans. Carolyn is a tireless advocate
for the homeless and for peace. From classic
blues licks to gospel crooning and her famous
whistling to peace anthems, Wonderland spends
every ounce of energy in her 5’4” frame to bring
her music and spirit to the masses. n
8
30
PM
skipp
pearson
Thales Thomas “Skipp” Pearson, SC’s legendary
Ambassador of Jazz Music, played professionally
at the age of 14, and led his first commercial band
at 15. Pearson spent 4 years in the U.S. Air Force
before launching a 30-year music education
career. He has shared the stage with renowned
musicians, including Sam Cooke, Wycliffe Gordon,
Patti LaBelle, Chris Potter, Otis Redding, Patti
Austin, Fred Wesley, Dick Goodwin, Ron Westray,
Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti and many others.
In 1998, Skipp was inducted into the S.C. Jazz
Music Hall of Fame. The state Senate and House
of Representatives have honored his extraordinary
career and contributions to the world of jazz
music. In 2003 Pearson received the state’s highest
artistic honor, the distinguished Elizabeth O’Neill
Verner Award for individual artistic excellence. n
Folk Heritage Award winner singer/harmonica
player Freddie Vanderford, guitarist Brandon Turner,
drummer T.J. Jeter, Franklin Wilkie on bass, and special
guest guitar wiz Rickey Godfrey are Mill Billy Electric.
Over time the band has honed it’s musical style as
mainstays of the Upstate music scene. Born and
raised in SC mill towns and ingrained with an affinity
for traditional blues, the band is sometimes referred
to as The Travelin’ Wilburys or The Highwaymen of the
Piedmont. Heavily influenced by “front porch pickers,”
their unique take on Piedmont-style blues, country,
gospel, and folk music has established Mill Billy Electric
as regional favorites, performing before sold out crowds
and packed houses near and far. n
7
PM
9
3
PM
15
PM
FESTIVAL HEADLINER
& SPECIAL HONOREE
the blues doctor
The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band bridges genres
and eras with intensity and effortlessness buoyed
by the Rev.’s supercharged six-string virtuosity — a
unique style inspired by their Delta blues heroes,
but taken to new, original heights. Strong on
authenticity, the band blends blues, ragtime, folk,
country, and other traditional styles with the modern
energy of do-it-yourself, homespun, punk-fueled
rock. Performing tunes plucked from their lives
and community, it’s a mix that’s won fans from all
corners of the Americana, blues, and rock worlds.
Blending the foundational playing of great country
bluesmen with early-rock vigor and licks played
by old-timey fiddle players of the 1920s and ’30s,
the band bangs out machine-gun rhythm, ladles in
generously sinuous licks, and tosses off fluent fills
and accents. “We believe in the stories we’re telling
and in the way we play,” says the Rev., “and on stage
or off, there’s nothing fake about us.” n
eddie turner
AND THE
tRoUble TwiNs
Otherworldly. Scorching. Polyrhythmic. Chilling. All
have all been used to describe the ethereal guitar
playing of Eddie “Devil Boy” Turner. His style is an
amalgam of the Afro-Cuban rhythms of his heritage
and the influences of his native Chicago blues, jazz,
R&B, and psychedelic rock. The Cuban-born singer/
guitarist cut his teeth in several rock, punk, and R&B
bands contributing to his incomparable spacey-yetresounding solos. An ever-evolving artist, Turner
runs the gamut between blistering
guitar to deep Delta Blues, with
chops and techniques developed
over the course of his unique genremelding career. Turner first picked
up a guitar at the age of 12 and
his music showcases the diverse
influences of the Afro-Cuban
sounds of his homeland and the
deep blues of his adopted country.
A diverse blend of rock, voodoo
blues, and R&B peppered with
African rhythms, Turner‘s music
moves the feet while simultaneously
haunting the soul. You can call
Eddie Turner a bluesman (we do),
but the guitarist-singer holds a
much deeper pedigree in his diverse
love of rock, funk, and jazz. n
drink small
Drink Small (his real name) was born in 1933 in
Bishopville. Known worldwide as “The Blues Doctor,”
he plays virtuoso blues guitar, two-fisted piano, and
sings Southern roots music in the biggest, deepest
bass voice in the blues. He is a recipient of the S.C.
Folk Heritage Award and enshrined in the S.C. Music
and Entertainment Hall of Fame. The breadth of
his repertoire is fascinating in itself, but even more
impressive is his depth as a performer in any chosen
genre. He may suddenly shift from solo acoustic blues
to a smooth soul ballad with horns to who-knowswhat. He can be gruff and rough, clean and modern,
or light and bouncy, altering his voice and guitar to
suit the mood. Rated one of America’s top gospel
guitarists before turning to blues in the late ‘50s, Small
started out “boogalooing on Saturday, hallelujahing
on Sunday” by playing guitar at house parties and
in church, later joining the Spiritualaires, a gospel
group that performed at the legendary Apollo
Theater. His expressive sound falls right between
B.B. King and Bo Diddley. But, Drink’s got something
extra: his gospel background
gives his music a reverence
and mouth-watering soulfulness. Earlier this month, Drink
was bestowed the National
Endowment for the Arts
National Heritage Fellowship
for his artistic excellence and
contributions to our nation’s
traditional arts heritage. n
www.wordofmouthproductions.org