Detroit's Queen of the Blues performs at 94th birthday celebration

ALBERTA ADAMS

RJ SPANGLER

Singer Alberta Adams, Detroit’s Queen of the Blues, performed with the RJ Spangler Trio in front of an appreciative crowd on Tuesday at the Southfield Public Library during a celebration of her upcoming 94th birthday in July. Her performance was part of the library's Jazz & Blues series, sponsored by the Friends of the Southfield Public Library and the Detroit Blues Society. Tuesday's program was also sponsored by the Jazz Foundation of America. The crowd enjoyed a set by the RJ Spangler Trio (drummer RJ Spangler, guitarist Ralph Tope and keyboardist Duncan McMillan) before Alberta's performance.

RALPH TOPE

Other upcoming concerts at the Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen, include the Dwight Adams Quartet (July 20), Brazil & Beyond (Aug. 17) and the Rev. Marc Falconberry and his Blues Band (Sept. 21). The concerts start at 6:30 p.m.

Trumpeter Dwight Adams has been one of Detroit's top horn players for years and is a mainstay in Stevie Wonder's touring band. Brazil & Beyond, led by bassist Rich K, plays traditional Brazilian and Latin music. Falconberry, an outstanding blues slide guitarist, will perform a solo acoustic set, followed by a high-powered electric set with the full band.

DUNCAN McMILLAN

Admission is $3, payable in cash at the door. Children under 12 are admitted free. 

For info, click www.southfieldlibrary.org, or call (248) 796-4200.

To see a video of Alberta Adams performing at the library, click here.

 To contact JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com.