Local legends will fill the air of Baton Rouge with the city’s most soulful music at the 11th annual Baton Rouge Blues Week, which will run tonight through Saturday.
The week opens 7:30 p.m. tonight at Phil Brady’s Bar and Grill on Government Street with a jam session featuring Rudy Richard, Henry Gray, James Johnson and Tabby Thomas.
Linda Hopkins, 81-year-old blues legend, will headline the event. The Tony Award winner maintains a five-octave vocal range and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Every time I even think about her I get emotionally charged,” said Johnny Palazzotto, Blues Week organizer and creator and former University student. “I know she’s still got some kick in her, and I’m happy to bring her to Baton Rouge.”
Other local blues stars, including Lazy Lester, Tab Benoit, Tabby Thomas, Henry Gray and others will perform at Phil Brady’s and SoGo Live throughout the week, celebrating this year’s theme:
“Bring the Blues Home.”
“The sad thing about Baton Rouge is that there hasn’t been much of a business community to get the music on track,” Palazzotto said.
He said while events such as Blues Week help promote the industry, not enough people are involved to make it as strong as it should be.
To honor locals for their work in the blues industry, the Slim Harpo Awards will recognize Lazy Lester, Tab Benoit and Zia Tammami on Thursday night at Phil Brady’s, Palazzotto said.
The awards ceremony is in memory of notable blues musician James “Slim Harp” Moore, who has played with several of this week’s performers such as James Johnson and Rudy Richard.
“The blues are truly the origins of American music,” Palazzotto said. “Baton Rouge is in the middle of the most musical 125 miles on Earth.”
He said Baton Rouge is the blues center of those 125 miles between New Orleans and Lafayette, so he wanted to create something to show that to the world.
“I was trying to find a way for people from around the world to come to Baton Rouge to experience the blues, heritage and culture here,” Palazzotto said. “On every level, Baton Rouge has great music. There’s a terrific rock ‘n’ roll community and a historic blues community.”
 
 
Contact Julie Chance at [email protected].