The Historic Heard Opera House brings the blues Friday, March 22, featuring Walker Smith Band.
Walker Smith began playing music on the south side of Chicago as a young boy in his elementary school band. Not long after he discovered B.B. King and the Blues and began to immerse himself in the local music scene. In Chicago the scene at that time was raw electrified urban Blues.
Find tickets ($20) online at Square.Site.
Smith saw up close and personal the likes of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Lefty Dizz, Sugar Blue, Dion Payton and many, many others! Now hooked on the frenetic energy of the music, Smith sought to teach himself the electric guitar and began his own “Blues Mission” the title of his first band. In the late 80’s Smith took a job at Washburn Guitars as customer service manager and that position would change his life.
Many of the guitar company’s Artist Endorsees, were Blues players among them Gatemouth Brown and Jimmie Lee Robinson. Walker quickly befriended these artists and thus had a ready made mentor pool comprised of some true heavyweights of the Blues. “I actually got invited to the grand reopening of Chess records, Blues Heaven foundation by Marie Dixon, wife of Willie Dixon” states Smith.
“That Washburn job really was a God send for me, it opened so many doors!”
In 1995 Smith & his south side band Tight Rhythm caught the attention of Chicago Blues Legend Jimmy “Fast Fingers” Dawkins and was quicky signed to Dawkin’s own label Leric Music in Chicago. Smith relocated to Florida in 2001 and started the Walker Smith Group that twice has represented the Suncoast Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge (2007 & 2010) His CD “Ahead to the Past also won “Best Self Produced” CD for the SBS! While at the IBC in 07, Walker Smith Group were the first winners of “The Beale Street Blues Kings” competition his most cherished title to date because they were voted in by the Beale St. Merchants Association of Memphis.
The judges were comprised of Beale Street club owners! In 2010 Smith signed to Blue Skunk Music in Chicago and continues to play Blues all over the world including recently two years abroad.
Back in FL fans anxiously await the release of Smith’s next CD which promises to move the artist to the next level.
The Opera House is located at 106 W. Oak St. Arcadia FL, 34266.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call: (863) 444-6570.
Email: [email protected].
Online: Facebook.com/OperaHouseArcadia.