Johnny Rawls - SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
Show starts: 7PM at Goodfella's

Johnny Rawls was born in Columbia, Mississippi in 1951 and raised in Purvis and Gulfport, Mississippi.  He acquired an early interest in music when hearing his grandfather play the blues guitar one Christmas morning.  He began playing professionally while still in high school with such stars as ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor, Joe Tex and the Sweet Inspirations.  In the mid-70's, Johnny went to work for OV Wright as Wright's band director.  After Wright's death in 1980, Johnny led Little Johnny Taylor's band until 1985, when he began touring as a solo artist and made his first solo recording under the Rainbow label.

Recording under Touch Records, Rooster Blues, Rock House, Reach and JSP Records, Johnny has done it all from producing, songwriting, horn arranging, Rhythm, Lead and Bass guitar, keyboard, vocals and background vocals.  Johnny started his own record company, Deep South Soul, in 2002 and has released his CD's Lucky Man, Live in Montana, and The Best of Johnny Rawls.  His newest CD entitled Heart and Soul was released in October 2006 and has been nominated for "Best Soul Blues Album of the Year (2007)" by the Blues Foundation .  No Boundaries was released under the TopCat, Catfood and Deep South Soul labels in 2005.

Johnny has appeared on the cover of the April 2002 Living Blues Magazine and has been nominated four times for the W.C. Handy Award.  His most recent award came from the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame for RB Male Vocalist of the Year 2006.

Johnny has performed at the Chicago Blues Festival twice, The Russian River Blues Festival, The King Biscuit Blues Festival, The Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, Poconos, as well as festivals in Sweden and Poland.  He tours constantly, playing well over 200 dates a year.  He can also be heard on XM radio's Bluesville.  Whether he is playing in a small club or a large blues festival, Johnny gives it his all and the crowds love him!

Additional biographies can be read at:  All Music Guide, Catfood Records, Russian River Blues Festival, and the Liner Notes to My Turn to Win.

Show starts at 7 PM - Goodfella's Pub & Pizza in Pekin (Map) 

 


Check out our LOCAL BLUES EVENTS page for a complete list of upcoming events

The River City Blues Society Would like to Wish HIP POCKET the best of luck on their journey. Thank You for entertaining us.

Hip Pocket announces this will be their final year. With  more than two decades of performing  they will close with a New Years Eve Bash reuniting many of the 38 members of the band as we reach our 25th year together.

After 5 CDs, hundreds of performances, a double DVD, 3 Presidential Inaugural performances, and sharing the stage with some of the best musicians in the world the final chapter is about to be written. They have always wanted to end this while they still had some energy and felt they  sounded good and people continued to enjoy what it was they were doing…and still have some musical merit… after 25 years it will be time to move on to something else. With so many members and different priorities coming into view the riggers of rehearsing and traveling are taking their toll….and they want to go out on our own terms.  We wish them all the best of luck.



Membership Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7pm. The Next Meeting will be Thursday September 9th at 7:00pm at Goodfellas in Pekin.

2010 RCBS Officers & Committee Chairs

President - Kirk Sheckler

Vice-President - Joe Huff

Treasurer - Drew Nash

Secretary - Traci Johnston

Promotions - Jari Hilpipre

Entertainment - Scott Gregory

Education - Tom Watson

Membership - Earl Wolfe

Newsletter - Kirk Sheckler & Jari Hilpipre

Click Here For Contact Information

RIP • Former VP Don Ashurst • 1944-2009

With a heavy heart the River City Blues Society passes on the

news of the death of our former society vice president Don Ashurst.

Read More Here...

Two days of great Blues Music plus Musician Workshops, Blues Alley featuring artists & merchandise vendors, Blues Foods from BBQ & Cajun to Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Brats & Beers!