 Bennie
Smith appears regularly at BB's Jazz Blues & Soups where he consistently
delivers a stunning display of guitar driven R&B featuring many
of St. Louis finest musicians. Bennie was recently diagnosed with
lung cancer and undergoing treatment to extend his life and allow
him to continue performing. The St. Louis Blues Society has arranged
a legacy concert to record this elder statesman and capture the performance
on film as a testament to Bennie Smiths command of his chosen instrument
and the endurance he maintains against the tolls of time.
ST.
LOUIS -- For more than 50 years, St. Louis native Bennie Smith has
been delivering his world-class brand of blues guitar to Mound City.
From Ike Turner, to Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, to Matt
“Guitar” Murphy, Smith’s innovative and distinctive
style has brought him on stage with some of the greatest blues talents
of the 20th Century. It’s also garnered him a loyal audience,
not only in St. Louis, but internationally, where Smith has toured
extensively. Deemed the “Dean of St. Louis Electric Guitars,”
Smith is often cited as the blues musician most responsible for
the St. Louis sound.
So
it is that on Sunday, July 16, 2006, many of St. Louis’ best
musicians will gather to honor Smith at the “Bennie Smith
and the St. Louis All Stars Legacy Concert.” Smith will be
joined on stage for a night of down home urban blues by such St.
Louis greats as Rich McDonough, Tom Maloney, and Gus Thornton, to
name a few.
Hosted
by St. Louis’ flagship venue for blues, BB’s Jazz, Blues
& Soups, the show will be recorded for an upcoming DVD that
chronicles Smith’s peerless musicianship. Sound engineers
will also cut a live CD recording of the show, and limited edition
posters featuring the fine art photography of Bill Greensmith will
be available for purchase. Advance sales of the DVD and CD will
also be available. Both the DVD and the CD will hit the streets
at a release party scheduled for Sunday, August 20, 2006 at BB’s
Jazz, Blues & Soups.
At
72 years old, Smith has given his life to the blues; it’s
time to say thanks.
•
WHEN:
7:00 P.M. TIL’ CLOSE SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2006
•
WHERE:
BB’s JAZZ, BLUES AND SOUPS, 700 South Broadway, St. Louis
•
WHAT: “BENNIE SMITH AND THE ST. LOUIS ALL
STARS LEGACY CONCERT,” A SHOW TO HONOR THE MANY MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
OF BENNIE SMITH
FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: JOHN MAY AT 314.330.6773
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