Legendary blues musician joins up with Holysmoke Band
When Steely Dan first released “Deacon Blues” in 1977, their intent was to tell a semi-autobiographical story of Fagan and Becker’s desire to become blues musicians. They probably didn’t anticipate anybody truly earning the title, especially with the academic credentials to back it up. But Clark White’s done just that, with Deacon Bluz and the Holysmoke Band.
True, we’ve covered Deacon Bluz and the Holysmoke Band before here at The Pulse. But with his return to Ross’s Landing this upcoming Saturday, I think our readership could stand a reminder: Deacon Bluz and the Holysmoke Band is one of the few remaining blues bands in the southeast that plays pure, unadulterated, traditional blues.
Since 1997, Clark “Deacon Bluz” White, BA, MA, PhD, has directed the band of professional musicians. White is renowned and in demand as a speaker, consultant, artist and educator of all things blues. He’s taught at Michigan State, Temple, Northeastern, Brown, and his alma mater, Morehouse College. He was a visiting scholar at the W.E.B. DuBois Center for African American Studies at Harvard University and the Delta Cultural and Research Center at Mississippi Valley State University.
Suffice it to say, Deacon Bluz knows his blues, and it becomes evident in his skillful direction of Deaconbluz and the Holysmoke Band.
White is also the nationally-known educator of “Blues in the Schools” programs, open to everyone from K-12 schools, colleges and universities, senior citizens, and the general public. Whatever your curriculum requirements are, Deacon Bluz will meet them, and whatever your expectations are, Deacon Bluz will exceed them.
Deacon Bluz and the Holysmoke Band
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Ross’s Landing
100 Riverfront Pkwy.
riverfrontnights.com