Thursday, August 18, 2011

Eddie Kirkland Benefit

Eddie Kirkland, one of the last performers from Detroit’s classic blues era, died in February at the age of 88 in an automobile accident in Florida.  Kirkland, a singer-harmonica player-guitarist, was born in Jamaica but moved to Detroit as a teenager and played with John Lee Hooker and Otis Redding, among many others. Kirkland, who later relocated to Macon, Ga., was still actively performing.
The Detroit Blues Society reports that the tragic accident has left Kirkland’s family in serious financial straights and has stepped forward with a benefit to aid his family in their time of need. The benefit will be held from 7-11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 at Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills.

VIDEO: Eddie Kirkland rocks it in 2010
This event is co-sponsored by the Detroit Blues Society and Eddie's family in Michigan and Georgia and features an outstanding lineup of talent, all who played with Kirkland at some point during his long career,
Scheduled performers include (in order of appearance): Danny Kroha; RJ's Rhythm Rockers with Paul Carey, Harry Oman, Mike Marshall and Cee Cee Collins; The Party Stompers with Mike Hurtt, Adam Stanfel, SR Boland and George Katsakis; and Harmonica Shah with Jeff Grand, Tino Gross and Chris Rumel. Betty Brownlee will be a special guest and the show will be emceed by Willy Wilson, who hosts the “Motor City Is Burning” show on CJAM 99.1 FM.
Donations will be accepted at the door with all proceeds going to Kirkland’s family. Some of his local family will be in attendance.
Donations by check can be made out to: Estate of Eddie Kirkland, and mailed to: Estate of Eddie Kirkland, c/o Detroit Blues Society, P.O. Box 488, Goodrich MI 48438.
For more info, click www.detroitbluessociety.org and click on “Blues Calendar.”
To send info to the JB Blues blog, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment