| Award-winning blues singer Janiva Magness will join legendary soul/blues singer Bobby Rush, award-winning blues singer and harmonica player Billy Gibson, and renowned blues drummer Tony Braunagel of the Phantom Blues Band in Bluzapalooza, the first blues concert to go to a war zone to entertain U.S. troops. Bluzapalooza will perform for troops stationed in Southwest Asia, April 1-9.
Magness is winner of the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Artist of the Year. She has seven solo recordings to her credit and has made countless guest appearances on other blues artists' CDs. Performing more than 200 nights a year at clubs, festivals and concert halls throughout the world, Magness' stage presence is legendary.
Bobby Rush is a 50-year veteran of the stage and is known as one of the most exciting and creative artists in the R&B/Blues arena. Rush calls his music "folk funk" to describe its unique blend of modern and traditional blues. Over the decades, he has continually updated his sound by incorporating new musical genres, including Chicago blues, soul, funk, reggae and hip-hop.
Billy Gibson has received numerous blues awards, including 2005 Beale Street Entertainer of the Year. He has recorded five solo albums and has made guest appearances on numerous blues artists' CDs.
Tony Braunagel has worked as a blues drummer since the mid-60s. He has toured and recorded with the likes of Eric Burdon, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler and Bonnie Raitt. In 2000, after several years of touring with Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, Braunagel produced the Grammy award-winning album, "Shoutin' in Key."
Bluzapalooza was conceived and produced by John Hahn and Steve Simon. Hahn is a well-known blues songwriter and producer and is Shemekia Copeland's manager. Simon has produced blues concerts and festivals for the past eight years, including the world-renowned St. John Blues Festival in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"This tour is about paying tribute to the men and women who leave their families and their homes to defend the honor, freedom and rights of the United States of America," said Simon.
In addition to providing first-class blues entertainment to the troops, the Bluzapalooza tour will be giving away blues CDs and T-shirts. "All of the major blues record labels have donated CDs of their artists for us to give away to the troops while we're on tour," said Simon.
"This blues tour is the first of its kind, and Armed Forces Entertainment is proud to be able to offer this caliber of musical entertainment to our troops," said Army Captain Trevor Garrett, Armed Forces Entertainment circuit manager for Southwest Asia. "Experiencing this show will be like going to see a world-class blues festival back in the United States."
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Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment.
Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
To learn more about The Connection, visit www.myspace.com/bluzapalooza.
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