Clay Center presents famed blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd live March 26
Release Date:
3/10/2010 11:00:00 AM
Dateline (city):
Charleston
Contact:
Katie Wootton
kwootton@theclaycenter.org
Clay Center presents famed blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd live March 26
(Charleston, W.Va.) 3/10/10 – Labeled a guitar prodigy at a young age, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has lived up to the hype and then some. His blues rock skills have landed him multiple Grammy nominations, four number one blues albums and a string of hit singles. Audiences will experience his music live and on stage when he performs at the Clay Center Friday, March 26 at 8 p.m.
Born in Louisiana, Shepherd grew up on the blues. From age seven he had a guitar in his hands and kept at it for five years until he was invited on stage by New Orleans bluesman Brian Lee. It was then that he decided to focus on music as his career. Shepherd formed his own band and gained exposure through club shows and radio conventions.
In 1995, while Shepherd was still in high school, he and his band exploded onto the national scene with the debut album, Ledbetter Heights. With such songs as “Deja Voodoo” and “Aberdeen,” the album became an instant success, selling half a million copies by 1996 and claiming the number 1 spot on the Billboard chart for five months. Shepherd’s next two albums, Trouble Is… and Live On, were nominated for Grammy awards and sold more than a million copies.
On his 2004 record, he produced hits such as “The Place You’re In” and “Alive” as he took most of the album’s lead vocals for the first time. “I cut my teeth as a blues artist,” says Shepherd on his Web site. “My first three records mixed my styles, and the last one, ‘The Place You’re In,’ was a pretty heavy dose of rock and roll. So this became a perfect time to present a solid dose of the blues.”
Shepherd’s latest endeavor, Ten Days Out, includes a compelling documentary film and accompanying live CD. Shepherd embarked on a ten-day trek into the heart of America to visit blues veterans in their homes, backyards and local clubs for an intimate and intense look into the world of blues. His guests on the project include some of the most renowned blues artists – B.B. King, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Hubert Sumlin; some artists whose careers reach back to the earliest days of blues – Pinetop Perkins, Henry Townsend and Honeyboy Edwards; and some of the least known yet most astonishing players – Cootie Stark, Neal Pattman and Etta Baker.
With Ten Days Out, Shepherd continues his love affair with America’s homegrown music, introducing fans to a varied lot of his blues predecessors. The goal was to get intimate recordings in intimate places while maintaining authenticity. Shepherd’s work creates an emotional connection between the listener and the performer.
This performance is sponsored by Laurance Jones in support of the Childhood Language Center. It is part of the Clay Center Presents 2009-2010 season. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and can be purchased online at www.theclaycenter.org, by phone at 304-561-3570 or in person at the Clay Center box office.