Music in their hearts and soul: A love of the blues unites performers Keb' Mo', Sam McClain and Sista Monica, Wes Smiderle writes Final Edition

The flash of National Steel guitar and his slick fingerpicking style may mark Keb' Mo' as a musical traditionalist, but the singer- songwriter offers Delta blues with a twist. When he first began pursuing a music career in his early 20s, Mo' still considered roots blues as "somet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Ottawa citizen (1986)
Main Author Sam McClain and Sista Monica, Wes Smiderle
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ottawa, Ont Postmedia Network Inc 06.07.2000
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Summary:The flash of National Steel guitar and his slick fingerpicking style may mark Keb' Mo' as a musical traditionalist, but the singer- songwriter offers Delta blues with a twist. When he first began pursuing a music career in his early 20s, Mo' still considered roots blues as "something old folks listen to." He played stints in Top 40 cover bands, only occasionally performing with a blues combo. After a chance encounter in an L.A. recording studio, Mo' found himself a member of the back-up band for Papa John Creach, a blues-rock violinist who played with Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna. "I'd go see his jazz band on Monday nights, and I'd bring my guitar and sit in, start playing the blues. He ([Quentin Dennard]) would look over the drums and holler, `Keb' Mo!' " Mo' recalled. "It's like if I was playing jazz, I could be [Kevin Moore] -- but if I was gonna play the blues, I had to be Keb' Mo'."
ISSN:0839-3222