The 6th Annual 2005 Kansas City

Chuck Haddix of KCUR Fish Fry fame will receive a literary award for his book Kansas City Jazz.

Ben Kynard will receive the Kaw Valley Arts & Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award for his career in music. Ben Kynard is the composer of the jazz and blues standard “Red Top.”

The 6^th annual Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival is expanded to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday. New additions to the festival include a main stage Saturday Acoustic Morning sponsored in part by the Cross Currents Culture Unlimited organization of Kansas City, and a Gospel Sunday.

At the conclusion of last year’s festival, a new festival president, Chris Wright, was named. As the executive director of Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities and helping the festival for the past five years by writing grants, Chris was asked to take on even more of a challenge as president. With his help through a grant, The National Endowment will fund the festival for a second time for the Arts.

The festival has received many accolades and praises from our own community, and from around the world. The 2004 festival was one of the best attended and most successful ever and was recently recognized as the Best of Wyandotte 2004.

With this said, we are still badly under budget for this year; our overall budget is very thin. We continue to struggle finding the monies to hold the event each and every year. Our aspiration, to benefit the community and the musicians, is well received by many around the world, but it takes money to advertise. Word of mouth has always been our main advertisement. We would like to thank the press for their continued generosity¾without their help, the festival would not continue to grow at such a swift pace. Nearly 10,000 fans enjoyed the two-day event last year. This year it will be more important than ever before. Again we ask the press to continue to help just by letting the listeners and readers know that we are open for business. Please help spread the word. We are the festival that puffs like the little train going uphill on a bare bones budget.

Friday, June 24th, Main Outdoor Stage

Scotty is the bandleader. This band’s emergence on the Kansas City blues scene has been quick and bright over the last three years. Look for this group to really shine in years to come. Ron Teamer was born and raised in KCK. After moving away for a while, he is now again a resident of KCK. In 2005, Ron Teamer represented KC in the international band contest in Memphis. Both of these gentlemen are very talented and friendly with great smiles. The festival is officially started with a headlining act.

Bill Carter is KCK. He was born and raised so close to our festival grounds, it was his backyard. A veteran of the 3^rd Street clubs back in the day, playing sax and various horns, today he is known as a guitar player and a singer. Bill was featured recently in Living Blues Magazine. Occasionally Bill receives overseas calls to come play his blues on festival stages to warm audiences. Let’s welcome Bill Carter back home to KCK.

This act features Millie Edwards, Geneva Price, Myra Taylor, and Lori Tucker. Myra Taylor, now 88 years young, is the true KCK member. She grew up at 8^th and Oakland in the 1920s. These women form a quartet of laughs, joy, and talent, and are in high demand for social gatherings and events throughout the city these days. Millie Edwards is the leader and booking agent of the group. Do not let that fool you¾this lady can really break loose into a song and bring tears to your eyes. Lori Tucker and Geneva Price round out the quartet, with solid blues and ballads numbers of their own. All women are truly front leaders. Bill Maness referees on keyboards.

Lester “Wizard” King may be the best guitar bluesman in Kansas City. His ability to feel the soul of his instrument sets him apart from others playing the same six strings. Albert King once mentored Lester, and it shows. Lester says he just wants to keep learning his craft. He cites many influences to his own style. He is now learning to play the slide. This man can take your head off with his clean runs of the guitar neck. Welcome him back to the festival for a fourth time.

Doug Hemphill will be a special guest on this show. Doug has played lead guitar with King Alex’s band the Untouchables for well over 20 years.

Linda Shell has been a mainstay in Kansas City for the past 25 years. Her mother’s blues club, “Blues Alley,” was her training ground for the blues. She is a veteran of the southern soul/blues chitlin’ circuit. Linda at times has based herself out of Chicago, Oakland, and Atlanta while out on extensive tours. In 1996, Red Hot Records released “Under The Influence” CD to great acclaim. Recently Linda Shell has made tour stops to the Poconos Blues Festival in Pennsylvania, and Blues Estefette in Holland. Get ready to jump out of your chair and dance yourself into a boogie with Linda Shell!

Bobby Rush was the PBS blues series unofficial spokesman to the nation in 2003. Every night of the series began with a promo for the blues series featuring Bobby Rush for the week. The Memphis-spotlighted show on that very same series transformed his career virtually overnight. Bobby Rush has over 50 years of performing to his credit. He is in high demand worldwide with too many honors to name. He brings the small club show to a large festival audience better than any blues act you have ever seen. You cannot help but to move, dance, and sing right along with him. Bobby Rush alone would be enough¾then add his shake dancers and the street will explode. His classics include “Chicken Heads,” “Sue,” “What’s Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander,” and many more. The Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival brings you the hottest chitlin’ circuit act today…from Jackson, Mississippi¾Mr. Bobby Rush.

Bobby Rush 601-355-6340 or www.bobbyrush.net

Saturday, June 25th, Acoustic Morning Main Outdoor Stage

(Sponsored in part by Cross Currents Culture Unlimited)

We are pleased that the Cross Currents have joined our festival team for a second year to present the acoustic folk blues element. Many thanks to Bill Clause, and to all of the Cross Current Culture Unlimited members for their generous help.

This group is an acoustic string band with an eclectic repertoire ranging from Gypsy swing to hillbilly jazz. They play music by Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, David Grisman, Van Morrison, Miles Davis, originals and more. Some sources are well known and some are drawn from a rich tradition of acoustic jazz and folkloric traditions ranging from the Middle East to South America. Rick Mareske (vocals, guitar, and steel pans) has been playing guitar for over 35 years and steel drums for a few. His guitar is a hand-carved arch top, which he and his father built, and his pans were made by Panyard. Bill Woodhouse (vocals, mandolin, and guitar) has been playing mandolin for 25 years and guitar for 35 years. Sam “The Man” (acoustic bass) is a classically trained French horn player, but couldn’t play Hendrix on it. He turned to acoustic bass for fun and blisters.

They are a refreshing, old-time acoustic jug blues band. Their framework consists of acoustic and resophonic guitars, washboard, mandolin, bass, harmonica, and piano. The band covers material from artists such as Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Mississippi Sheiks, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, Bo Carter, along with originals.

The Rain Dogs are: Jim Herbert, born in KCK, on vocals and guitar; Karla Peterie on vocals, washboard, mandolin, and guitar; Mike Roarke on piano, vocals, and harmonica; and Phil Smith on vocals and bass.

Danny Cox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1942. He started singing as a youth in a church choir. As an 18 year old, he began his professional music career in 1960 performing on a Hootenanny Folk Tour. His first trip to Kansas City was in 1963. On that tour, he was not allowed to stay downtown at the Muehlebach Hotel because he was black. So instead he was transported across the river into Kansas City, Kansas, for his lodging. For the past 35 years, KCK has been his home. Danny Cox has recorded for ABC Dunhill, Casablanca, MGM, and others. Danny partnered a company called Good Karma Productions, which managed the acts of Brewer and Shipley, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and his own career. Danny was at one time a part owner of the Cow Town Ballroom. These days he is busy writing jingles and working with childrens’ theatres. We are blessed to have back the one the only Danny Cox.

Sparky Rucker has over 35 years’ experience as a professional musician, historian, and storyteller. He has performed worldwide for festivals, colleges, and coffeehouses. Rhonda Rucker is a versatile performer, playing harmonica, piano, banjo, and adding vocal harmonies to their songs. James “Sparky” and Rhonda Rucker have been a regular act with the Cross Currents for several years. Let’s welcome them to the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival for the very first time, spoons and all.

Annetta "Cotton Candy" Washington plays the piano at the Fellowship Prayer Temple at 924 Osage on Sundays. She has been very active throughout the years on both sides of the state line. "Cotton Candy" can shout the blues with the best of them. She is the bandleader, and only men need to apply. Cotton says, “So many men and so little time. I just love men. ”Cotton has been singing the blues since the 1970s. Her real background is in the church. Cotton is a small woman with a booming blues voice. . . so let the good times roll!

Everette DeVan is the most soulful Hammond B3 player in town. He is very appreciated by his fellow musicians and fans alike. Three years ago, Everette was invited to stay in Japan for six months straight playing gigs six days a week. A real gentleman who impresses everyone he comes into contact with. When he came to Kansas City in 1968, 3^rd Street was one of his first training grounds. “There were some great blues being played on 3^rd Street. Kansas had a lot of clubs with great music.” Whether you like jazz or blues, Everette DeVan is sure to please your soul.

The Scamps are simply Kansas City legends with nearly a million years between them of musical experience. Music is not a hobby with these guys¾it is a passionate way of life. They are one of the pioneering 1940s Rhythm ‘n’ Blues acts. They’re big hit in 1950, Red Hot put them on the charts. It is a real pleasure to bring these guys back to the festival for a third time. The Scamps formed in 1946 in KCK to become a commercial recording and touring act. The current lineup includes: Lucky Wesley on bass, Arthur Jackson on tenor sax, Eddie Saunders on alto sax, Wallace Jones on drums, and original member Rudy Massingale on piano. It is historic every time The Scamps hit the stage¾the blues get jumpin’!

Their special guest will be jazz legend Ben Kynard. Ben will receive the coveted special Lifetime Achievement Award from Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities. Ben Kynard wrote the famous jazz and blues standard Red Top while with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in the 1940s. Ben Kynard was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas.

Leon Brady runs a youth music school at 13^th and Central in Kansas City, Kansas. A long-time influence on thousands of music students in KCK, Leon Brady will bring his best students to the festival. Look for Leon Brady in his festival booth recruiting even more students, who will fill our stages in years to come. Thanks, Leon Brady, for all that you do¾our ears love you.

3:05 PM Lee McBee and the Confessors, w/special guests Lonesome Hank and Tom “Trashmouth” Baker

Lee McBee holds court every Sunday night at B.B.’s Lawnside Bar B.Q. on 85^th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Lee is a resident of Lawrence, Kansas. He toured out on the road traveling the blues circuit at one point as the lead singer and playing harmonica with Mike Morgan and the Crawl. Truly Lee McBee is one of Kansas City’s best bluesman. Lonesome Hank and Tom “Trashmouth” Baker, two more not so shabby harmonica men in their own right, will join him. Lonesome Hank is a KCK resident of the past dozen years. Hank can really swing and jump the blues. Tom “Trashmouth” Baker has a long association with KCK dating back to the 1960s. This will be Tom’s fourth time back on the festival, and the first time for Lee McBee and Lonesome Hank. Blow those harp’s fellows, “Blow Wind Blow.”

D.C. Bellamy is Club Paradox’s favorite son. He has made an eight-year run of weekly shows at the venue. Our festival centers around Club Paradox which was named by Men’s Journal Magazine as one of the top six blues juke joints in the country, and Mr. Bellamy had a lot to do with that distinction. D.C. Bellamy first came to Kansas City with Abb Locke in 1989 from Chicago. D.C.’s late half-brother Curtis Mayfield was a huge inspiration to him. After being a sideman for many greats for over 35 years, the spotlight has shifted¾his time was overdue to be a star on the world blues scene. His reviews for his 2000 release Water to Wine have all been fabulous, including Billboard Magazine with their top rating. On Monday nights at Club Paradox you can see D.C. Bellamy do his thing in front of eighty people; Saturday afternoon, the street will be rockin with D.C. Bellamy on the main stage outside of Club Paradox in front of thousands!

A special homecoming is what we have planned for Chick Willis. He was once a resident here in Kansas City, and was involved in owning a club called “Blues Alley” in Kansas City, Missouri located at 39^th and Jackson. Blues Alley featured many national touring acts, including the host man himself, Chick Willis. Chick was an original member of the Kansas City Blues Society. These days he lives in Georgia. Chick said, “Kansas City will always be my home. I have lots of friends in KC, and I want to see them all.” Chick Willis is known worldwide for his hit “Stoop Down Baby, Let Your Daddy See.” The record sold over three million copies on its way to becoming a smash hit. He has worked with a real who’s who of the blues¾the list is long. Get ready to laugh and have fun with the Stoop Down Man, Chick Willis.

Ida McBeth is our first Festival Queen. She grew up a mere three blocks away from the festival stage at 3^rd and Parallel. Ida said, “My mother instilled good values for our family. We grew up on 6^th Street. I was the only one in the family that was gifted with music. My mother always insisted that I dress and look well. She worked hard to support us kids. I owe the world to my mother. It will be special for me to come home to Kansas City, Kansas. I graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1971. It means so much to be the queen of the festival.” Ida has represented Kansas City well throughout the years, always in demand for KC Chiefs games, corporate black tie affairs, and almost any grand occasion here in the city. Ida is the bandleader and the boss of her act¾a real businesswoman that is all class. Her repertoire includes Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and R&B. Ida has played throughout the United States and overseas in Europe. Kansas City look out. The Queen is in the house¾in the house in KCK¾her old stomping ground.

Reverend Royal Scott of the Walnut Boulevard Baptist Church is the main contact for Gospel Sunday. He can be reached at 913-334-3807 (home) and 913-269-5493 (cell). Alternate contact for Gospel Sunday is Dawayne Gilley at 816-247-2316.

"Always Celebrating Kansas City Blues Heritage"