September 20, 2005

Grammy Award-winning bluesman Keb’ Mo’
returns to UCSB Campbell Hall

Summary Facts:

• Keb’ Mo’
• One of the leaders of the acoustic blues revival
• A three-time Grammy Award winner
• Eight-time Blues Foundation W.C. Handy Award winner
• Thursday, October 27 / 8 pm
• UCSB Campbell Hall
• General public: $45 / UCSB students: $19
• Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535

Bluesman Keb’ Mo’ returns to Santa Barbara after his stunning sold-out 2002 show on Thursday, October 27 at 8 pm in UCSB Campbell Hall. Mo’s self-titled debut record was named one of the five best blues albums of the 1990s by Rolling Stone. This three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist has crafted a mix of acoustic blues, soul, R&B and rock, a blend of the traditional with pop sensibilities that showcases his warm personality and graceful musicianship. In a concert review the Houston Chronicle claimed that Keb’ Mo’ “brought the wandering blues spirit of Robert Johnson into the age of the contemporary singer-songwriter. Other than Taj Mahal, whose smoky voice Mo’s sometimes recalls, there aren’t many younger black artists devoted to keeping rural blues alive. But Mo’ also writes originals as compelling as any contemporary singer-songwriter....in a perfect world, Mo’ would be a big star.”

When the United States Congress proclaimed 2003 as the “Year of the Blues,” Keb’ Mo’ was a huge part of the celebration. He was the host of Public Radio International’s nationwide broadcast of the thirteen-part The Blues: The Radio Series. Mo’ appeared in the Martin Scorsese film Feel Like Going Home as part of the PBS series The Blues. Martin Scorsese presents The Blues: Keb’ Mo’, a compilation of hand picked songs by Keb’ Mo’ from his catalogue, was one of the twelve individual artist recordings, along with CDs featuring Muddy Waters and Bessie Smith, that was part of the “Year of the Blues” project.

On his latest release Peace...Back by Popular Demand (OKeh/Epic Records), Mo’ interprets nine classic songs of social conscience from the Sixties and Seventies—from Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” to Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding”—and adds one stirring new composition of his own. “If my music can cast even a shadow of peace and understanding on humanity,” says Keb’ Mo’, “well...that will be pretty cool!”

Born Kevin Moore, he grew up in Compton, the beleaguered area of Los Angeles better known as the birthplace of West Coast rap and hard-hitting groups like NWA than as a home for the blues. Moore didn’t immediately discover his affinity for the blues, getting his first serious taste of the music business playing with former violinist for Jefferson Starship Papa John Creach in the early 1970s. Moore also worked for a time as a songwriter for A&M Records.

It was in the 1980s that Moore turned to the blues, playing in the Whodunit Band in Los Angeles, traveling to Mississippi to learn directly from veteran Delta bluesman Eugene Powell, and gigging with blues greats like Albert Collins, Big Joe Turner and Jimmy Witherspoon. He also played blues musician characters in LA stage productions, one based on Robert Johnson and another adapted from writings by Zora Neale Hurston. This theater experience would help him to write the score for Thunder Knocking on the Door, a blues musical that opened in New York City in the summer of 2002.

In 1994 his debut release Keb’ Mo’ was embraced by the critics and public alike; Amazon.com wrote, “Unlike many of the great bluesmen, the personable Moore doesn’t aspire to be evil or even rebellious; he writes terrific songs and performs them with talent and charisma.” His second record Just Like You won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Entertainment Weekly claimed, “Mo’ breathes new life into archetypal African-American musical forms.” His third album, Slow Down, also won a Grammy, cementing his reputation as a major creative force in contemporary blues.

His releases The Door and Big Wide Grin prove he can pull off the nearly impossible—he has recorded happy blues music. Grin is a family album, even featuring Mo’s son, 13 year-old Kevin Jr., who added vocals to a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” Mo’ won the Best Contemporary Blues Album award at the 2005 Grammys for his album Keep It Simple.

Keb’ Mo’ is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by the Goleta Valley Voice and KTYD 99.9 FM. Arts & Lectures’ Roots Series, of which this concert is a part, is sponsored by Fredric E. Steck and Kelly Le Brock. Tickets are $45 for the general public and $19 for UCSB students who must show valid ID at ticket purchase and the evening of the show.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
George Yatchisin at (805) 893-3494.