***SOLD OUT SHOW***
Buy tickets here: https://lsdshow.brownpapertickets.com/
Don’t miss this very unique, intimate (limited to 150 seats) show featuring Larry McCray, Steve McCray, and David Winans II for an evening of Jimi Hendrix tunes, and other great music, all in honor of Black History Month. These three renowned musicians are going to show just how true that ole saying is (“The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock n’ Roll.”).
Besides performing a lot more of the Bluesy side of Jimi Hendrix, “LSD” will perform tunes like ZZ Top, Stones, Zeppelin, Neil Young, Clapton, and Freddie King - and some brand new Larry McCray songs. (You might even hear some Motown this evening - for all those ‘Valentines’ in the house.)
Opening this show will be one of Michigan’s finest young talented guitarists, Elden Kelly. You’ll get to hear some acoustic versions of Jimi and possibly some Motown before LSD fires up their amps.
This show will also include some mighty fine young aspiring musicians: Jacque Baldori and Lucas Holliday (lead singers of Tell Yo Mama) and MSU students Jeremiah Shackleford and Lowell Wolfe. These featured musicians have played the Blues before audiences all over the world and look forward to opportunities to educate folks about - as well as entertain them with - the Blues. This show will be one of those opportunities.
Larry, Steve, and David will be helping pass this important part of the African American experience - Blues (which had a baby they call ‘Rock n Roll’) on from one generation to another generation or two. No doubt this show will be highly entertaining, but it’s also intended to be highly memorable especially for all of the young musicians who’ll be sitting in on some songs now and then.
(Although Larry and Steve McCray don’t need much of an introduction as they are so well-known and well-loved by folks who appreciate and enjoy Blues music) here is a bit of background info about the featured artists Larry McCray, Steve Mc- Cray, and David Winans II, tonight’s special guest Elden Kelly, and each of the other young talented musicians on the program:
“The musical powerhouse known as Larry McCray has stood on the frontlines of the contemporary American Blues scene for nearly three decades now. Possessing an unmistakably biting and simultaneously distinct and cascading tone to his fluid guitar playing and an expressive and full baritone voice, (in 2014) McCray has performed at over 56 Blues festivals throughout the world and is constantly expanding his formidable reputation to wider international acclaim.” The Review (Bay City)
“Steve McCray has been the backbone of the Larry McCray Band from the beginning. Larry believes Steve is the most talented musician in the family. He plays drums, guitar, and is an excellent vocalist." Delta College’s “Mid-Michigan Remembers Stories About Us”
David Winans II brings his high-energy bass playing and vocals to Lansing from the Motown itself, Detroit. He comes to us by way of one of the finest musical families in all of Mid-Michigan, the famed Gospel family, the Winans. David grew up in Detroit during the 60s when African-American music migrated from churches into the mainstream.
“We weren’t allowed to bring rock ‘n roll records into the house, so I got a job as an usher at Cobo Arena,” said Winans. He got to see Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, and Gentle Giant perform live which helped influenced his career as a progressive, multi-talented musician and vocalist. Of all the many various styles of music David performs, his favorites are probably ‘Prog-Rock’ and straight-ahead ‘Classic Rock’.
David has won seven Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Songwriter, Outstanding Instrumentalists and Outstanding Performance. He teaches voice as well as works with many young folks as he helps them develop their singing talents. One magazine describes David’s musicianship as follows: “From progressive musical sonatas to strains of haunting melodies, enigmatic time signatures and humorous riffs, all melded with an intrinsic waft of gospel and R&B and flavorful bits of jazz, Detroit based rocker David Winans II has effervescent energy that ensnares ears”. We’re so glad David is here with us as a very special guest performer.
Elden Kelly is one of the finest skilled solo guitarists in Michigan as well as being a seasoned jazz improviser, bandleader, composer, and songwriter. He also is an in-demand recording artist, entertainer, and an active educator.
Elden often uniquely mixes classical, world music and jazz. He performs in an amazing ensemble of musicians (right here at UrbanBeat several times) who perform incredible “world music” and are known as “Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet Featuring Elden Kelly”.
We’ll have a very rare opportunity to enjoy Elden Kelly’s creative and distinctive guitar playing as he opens this evening’s show with a brief set of some acoustic renditions of Jimi Hendrix and maybe even a little bit of Motown.
Jacque Baldori studied music at Valparaiso University and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts for Jazz Studies where she learned to refine her craft in Jazz and Blues and found her true love in commercial music. She is a percussionist as well as a vocalist. She is a major part of the talented and spirited “Tell Yo Mama” and contributes original songs to the group’s repertoire. Like many of the musicians on today’s program, Jacque comes from a family of musicians.
Lucas Holliday’s vocal influences include legendary soul singers such as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and James Brown. His musical influences also include an eclectic mixture of big band, British Invasion, Motown, and funk. “Luke” was a popular 2017 contestant on NBC's reality show "The Voice”. Drawing from many styles of music, Lucas has formed his own testament to rhythm and blues, glimpses of which he reveals on-stage amidst the powerhouse of Tell Yo Mama. When paired with the silken melodies and harmonic dexterity of Jacque Baldori, the effect leads to a captivating array of songs.
Jeremiah Shackleford is a sophomore at Michigan State University studying Communications. Jeremiah, born and raised in Detroit, attended school at the Marvin L. Winans Academy for Performing Arts in Detroit. Jeremiah has worked with Larry and Steve McCray a half dozen times already and is well-liked and respected by them and looks forward to performing with “LSD” (and all the other fine musicians) for this special show. He started playing guitar in the 6th grade. He’s performed on the same stage as renowned Gospel artists Lee Williams, Joe Ligon (Mighty Clouds of Joy), and Tim Rogers.
Lowell Wolfe is also a sophomore at Michigan State University where is enrolled in the acclaimed Jazz Studies program. Like all the musicians on today’s program, Lowell performs many various styles of music.
Lowell has seen Bob Dylan (often with his dad) 25 times. Look for him at the next “Nicky Z Productions” show when he’ll perform with the “Jerry” McCray Band when the Larry McCray Band performs an evening of lots of Jerry Garcia Band and Grateful Dead music. Look for that one in the springtime.
Corey Ingraham is the bass player for the Larry McCray Band and the musical director for this show. We’re looking forward to him sitting in on a song or two. He’s been a great addition to the band and brings so much professionalism, creativity, and great ideas. This young man is also an active and highly sought-after church musician.
UrbanBeat is a small intimate venue which showcases all sorts of unique and eclectic styles of live music. It provides one with a cool opportunity to experience live music in a comfortable and relaxing setting.
We hope you’ll come to enjoy a very unique and memorable evening of live music featuring some of Michigan’s finest musicians as they continue to pass this distinctly African-American expression of music from one generation to the next generation of talented aspiring Blues/Rock/R&B/everything musicians.
The promoter-facilitator of this event is Nick Zabrodsky who enjoys advancing the kingdom of God ‘one party at a time’. He does what he does out of his love for God and for his fellow man. Oh yeah, and also out of his love for music.
“Too much of everything is just enough!” (Grateful Dead)
“The Blues had a baby and they called it ‘Rock and Roll’.” (Muddy Waters)
