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5th Annual Island of Blues Festival

Presented by ELCO Performing Arts Center at Elkhart's Island Park

August 25, 2007

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Outdoor blues festival featuring Blues Inc., Big James & The Chicago Playboys, Shirley King, The Inner City Blues Band and Tab Beniot. Blues Inc. Comprised of some of the areas finest musicians, Blues Inc. features Steve Harris on guitar and vocals, Eric Atkins on saxes, Johnny B. Gayden on bass, and Dan Degucz on drums. Steve is a veteran of the Michiana music scene having performed most recently with Catman and the Allnighters and currently also performs with the legendary Whistle Pigs. Eric also performs with The Whistle Pigs and is without a doubt one of the great sax men in the area. We are especially proud to have recently added the legendary Johnny B.Gayden to the lineup. Johnny is undeniably one of the greatest Bass players on the planet having spent 15 years with Albert Collins' Icebreakers, is a 7 time W.C. Handy Award nominee and played on the 1986 Grammy Award winning "Showdown" recording with Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray. Dan Degucz is one of the areas most respected drummers and also performs with The Whistle Pigs. This experience guarantees an exciting, professional show every time. Relying on professional equipment and professional attitudes, Blues Inc. offers an unforgettable musical experience every night. Big James & The Chicago Playboys "Big James" Montgomery got his first taste of the blues when as a young teenager he would stand outside of a club on the southside of Chicago and listen to B.B. "Big Voice" Odum sing with Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. Eventually, he was allowed to sit in with the band and as the old saying goes, "The rest was history." "Big James" has recorded 2 solo projects on the independent Jamot Music Label. The first entitled "Funkin' Blues" received rave reviews from musicians, critics and the general public from all around the globe. The newest release entitled "If It Wasn't 4 Da Blues" is proving to follow suit! Shirley King The daughter of the legendary B.B. King, vocalist Shirley King carried on the family tradition to become a favorite among Chicago's North Side blues club denizens. Born September 26, 1949 in West Memphis, Arkansas, she pursued a career as an exotic dancer before turning to the blues in 1991; a year later she and harpist Chicago Beau recorded her debut LP, Jump Through My Keyhole, a showcase for her husky wail. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide The Inner City Blues Band Leon Robinson formed The Inner City Blues Band after his first tour with Stanley "Buckwheat Zydeco" Dural Jr. The long bus rides prompted many a discussion between Leon and Buckwheat; the topic of those discussions centered around musicians returning to their roots. Prior to working with Buckwheat Zydeco, Leon has performed in many Top 40 R&B Bands and had (and still has) a double-digit career in radio. Tab Benoit With all the makings of an American music icon, Tab Benoit has become one of the premiere roots stylist of the century. Tab has paid his dues as a road troubadour playing 250 nights a year performing at venues across North America, honing his guitar chops and becoming part of Louisiana folklore and legend.