FOR MISSISSIPPI BO'S UPDATED PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE PLEASE GO TO: CADILLACZACK.COM
Being born in the same hometown as blues titans Robert Johnson, Hound Dog Taylor, Hubert Sumlin, Guitar Slim and Furry Lewis can't possibly hurt when you are also destined to become a great bluesman yourself. Curtis Williams (later to be known as Mississippi Bo) was absolutely born and bred into this music. His older brother even ran a juke joint in the deep back woods where white lightnin' was plentiful. It is in this environemt that young Bo hung out and eventually learned to accompany Guitar Slim's brother, who Curtis states "could sing just like anybody who had a hit record out... Bobby Bland, Muddy Waters. He was tough!". At that point Bo just played guitar, but later he would go on to sing a lowdown simmering style that you are hard pressed to find anywhere these days. After a brief stint in New York in 1969, Bo eventually took the bus all the way to Los Angeles where he has remained until the present. For the last forty years, Bo's been singing and playing his deep, searing gutbucket style in all the taverns in south central, rarely travelling out of town. His singing and picking style have been likened to Jimmy Reed and Guitar Slim. Bo is often accompanied by his longtime friend and manager, Cadillac Zack on his performances.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE (MAY 15, 2007)
Hello, Friends and Club and Festival Talent Buyers -
Seven years ago, I discovered an authentic, 60 year-old, black bluesman from the South named Mississippi Bo (whom Smokey Wilson still calls his favorite!) Originally from Greenwood, Mississippi (home of Hound Dog Taylor and Hubert Sumlin), Bo has lived in South Central, Los Angeles for the last thirty-eight years. Let me just tell you the guy sings as great as Jimmy Reed and plays as fiery a guitar as Guitar Slim! I will go out on a limb and declare that he's literally the only real, “undiscovered†bluesman left in this town. T-Bone Walker is dead! George Harmonica Smith is dead! Shakey Jake Harris is dead! Johnny Guitar Watson is dead!
... but Mississippi Bo is alive!!!
One can’t help but get depressed when a request for booking authentic blues acts is sometimes met with indifference or a promised gig that never materializes. But most grim is when an artist like Mississippi Bo gets passed over for yet another guitar-centric blues band with “average†vocals.
Luckily, there's an opportunity now for an exciting down-home, scorching blues performer that audiences will totally adore.
In the past, I've brought out internationally-known artists such as Eddy Clearwater, Elmore James, Jr., Chick Willis, Louisiana Red, Carey Bell etc. and you have been very generous with bookings. Those shows went very well and for that I thank you, heartily.
But this current houserockin', band is tighter, more exciting, confident, entertaining, and even funnier than all of those other acts... because we have really perfected a wonderful, gutbucket, “belly-rubbin'â€, "boogie-til-ya-puke" show that one would otherwise only see on a Saturday night, in a Mississippi juke joint that's about to catch fire and collapse!!!!!
Dear wonderful club owner, please give this deserving, four-piece band a chance on a weekend; not just a weekday playing to 17 people. This band needs to be heard!
Now's a great chance to book a legitimate, old-time bluesman with a heavy drawl like Muddy Waters (!), who actually dated Jimmy Reed's sister!!! After Mississippi Bo is gone, there will be no authentic bluesmen left in LA, just blues players. Audiences recognize and appreciate the difference.
We implore you. Please give Bo a shot on a weekend for just $500. You will save a bundle, not having to hire an out-of-town act. We will turn the place out by pumping it on our 3,000 person e-mail list and give your "regulars" a show they will not forget.
You own a terrific blues club. Authentic blues is dying. Please give your audience the real deal, Mississippi Bo.
We would sincerely cherish the opportunity.
Humbly,
Cadillac Zack
PS: Until I get the live multi-track recordings we made over the last six months at Harvelle's, these rough, unmixed studio cuts I have are the only examples of Mississippi Bo's music.Plain MySpace Layouts by Iron Spider
