Music Tonight: This Friday and Saturday, the Cincy Blues Society is presenting its annual Winter Blues Fest in its new location — four venues (the old Harry's Pizza space, the old R&B Cafe spot, The Drinkery and Below Zero) in Over-the-Rhine (after several years in Northern Kentucky). If you want to get in the mood, tonight at Arnold's you can check out the Cincy Blues Society's new every-Tuesday "Bluesday Tuesdays" series, featuring various Blues artists from the area. Tonight's performer is eclectic veteran writer/guitarist John Redell (who has played with such groups as Voodoo Blues, The Flock and Shepherd's Pi). Showtime is 7 p.m. and there is no admission charge. (Click here for more on the Blues Fest.)—-
Momentous Happenings in Music History for February 7
On this day in 1969, TV changed for'never when the variety series This Is Tom Jones (after the pilot aired a month earlier) began its run on ABC. According to the resource site ctva.biz, the first episode found the lovably cheesy vocal stylist from Wales singing tunes like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Danny Boy" (there's some breadth!), while special guests The Moody Blues did "Ride My Seesaw" and "Departure" and Mary Hopkin and Joey Heatherton also appeared. For the funny, Tom welcomed guests Richard Pryor and Peter Sellers (again — what breadth!). Other diverse guests who appeared during the show's two-year run included The Who, Wilson Pickett, The Hollies, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Little Richard, Janis Joplin, Liza Minnelli, Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers (with The First Edition), Charley Pride, Tom Paxton, The Muppets and Ella Fitzgerald.
Here's The Who's appearance (also from ’69), with the band knocking out a version of "Pinball Wizard," followed by Jones rocking out his hit "It's Not Unusual."
Born This Day: Musical movers and shakers born Feb. 7 include: Legendary Jazz/Ragtime pianist/composer Eubie Blake (1887). Soul/R&B/Rock & Roll saxman King Curtis (1934); Country/Pop superstar (real first name: Troyal?!) Garth Brooks (1962); Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland (1975); My Morning Jacket bassist Tom "Two-Tone-Tommy" Blankenship (1978).
Louisville's My Morning Jacket were recently announced as the big headliners for their hometown Forecastle music fest's 10th anniversary event (July 13-15). The band will also help curate the three-day fest. Tickets are onsale now here. Click below for a video press release about MMJ's exciting involvement with the festival this year.
