5 Up-and-Coming Blues Music Artists You Need to Know
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Are you a fan of the blues? If so, you’ll want to check out these five up-and-coming blues music artists. From traditional to contemporary, these artists are sure to please any blues lover.
Keb’ Mo’
Keb’ Mo’ is a three-time Grammy Award-winning blues musician. He is a modern day bluesman who is keeping the blues alive and accessible to a new generation of fans. His music is a blend of traditional blues, R&B, and folk music.
Biography
Keb’ Mo’ is a three-time Grammy Award-winning blues musician. He was born in Los Angeles, California, and his real name is Kevin Moore. Keb’ Mo’ started playing guitar when he was eight years old, and he was influenced by the music of such artists as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. He released his self-titled debut album in 1994, and he has since released a total of eleven studio albums. His most recent album, ” Blues America,” was released in 2016.
Music
The blues has been around for a long time, and it shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, it’s only getting stronger as more and more artists are bringing their own spin to the classic sound. Here are five up-and-coming blues music artists you need to know.
Keb’ Mo’
Originally from Los Angeles, Keb’ Mo’ is a three-time Grammy Award winner who has been credited with revitalizing the acoustic blues sound. His music is a mix of blues, gospel, jazz, and pop, and he often uses his lap steel guitar to create a unique sound. Keb’ Mo’ has released 13 studio albums, and he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.
The California Honeydrops
The California Honeydrops are a soul and R&B band from Oakland, California. Their sound is heavily influenced by 1960s New Orleans R&B and they often use horns and percussion to create a lively sound. The band has released four albums, and they frequently tour the United States and Europe.
Pokey LaFarge
Pokey LaFarge is a singer-songwriter from Missouri who blends early jazz, country blues, western swing, and folk into his own unique sound. He has released eight studio albums and has toured extensively throughout the world. Pokey LaFarge was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Traditional Folk Album.
Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson is a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas who has been active in the music industry since the early 1970s. She is known for her socially conscious lyrics and her beautiful voice. Gilkyson has released 21 albums, including her most recent release, 2018’s Secularia.
John Nemeth
John Nemeth is a blues harmonica player and singer from Boise, Idaho. He draws influence from Chicago blues, soul music, R&B, and rock & roll to create his own unique sound. Nemeth has released nine albums over the course of his career and he won the Blues Music Award for Best Harmonica Player in 2013.
Shemekia Copeland
With her powerful and soulful voice, Shemekia Copeland is one of the most exciting blues artists today. The daughter of the late great Texas bluesman Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began her career singing backup for her father. She has since released five albums, including her latest, Uncivil War. Shemekia Copeland is a force to be reckoned with, and you need to know her.
Biography
Shemekia Copeland (born in Harlem, New York, United States on February 16, 1979) is an American blues musician. The daughter of the late blues musician Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began her performing career as a child singing with her father. By the age of 16 she had begun touring nationally as his opening act. Her 2000 debut album Turn the Heat Up established her as a Force to be reckoned with in the contemporary blues world. Since then she has released five more albums and earned a GRAMMY nomination, five Blues Music Awards, and the coveted Koko Taylor Award from the Chicago Blues Foundation. She has performed at The White House, Carnegie Hall, Beacon Theatre and on Oprah.
Music
When it comes to the blues, there are a lot of great artists out there. But, if you’re looking for something new, check out these five up-and-coming blues music artists.
Shemekia Copeland: The daughter of the late blues legend Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland has been making a name for herself in the blues world since 2000. Her powerful voice and emotive songwriting have won her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
Gary Clark Jr.: Hailed as one of the most promising guitarists of his generation, Gary Clark Jr. draws from a wide range of influences, from classic blues to contemporary R&B. His debut album, Blak and Blu, was a commercial and critical success, earning him a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Mighty Joe Young: A fixture on the Chicago blues scene for decades, Mighty Joe Young is a master of the electric guitar. He’s played with everyone from Muddy Waters to Bonnie Raitt, and his own recordings are steeped in the tradition of the Chicago sound.
down on Beale Street”: In 2016, Jackie Venson won first place in the prestigious International Blues Challenge, solidifying her place as one of the rising stars of the blues world. Her blend of R&B, soul, and jazz makes for a unique take on the genre.
Pokey LaFarge: With his old-timey sound and dapper style, Pokey LaFarge is like a time machine transporting listeners back to the early 20th century. He’s toured with Mumford & Sons and Willie Nelson, and his latest album,, Manic Revelations, was hailed by Rolling Stone as “a triumph.”
Guy Davis
Biography
Now in his early 60s, Davis is the son of actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, and he began his own performing career as a teenager in off-Broadway productions. He appeared in several films throughout the 1980s, but it was his work in the 1989 Spike Lee joints “Do the Right Thing” and “Mo’ Better Blues” that helped to launch his career as a musician. In the years since, Davis has released a dozen albums and been nominated for five Grammy Awards. His most recent release, ” Kokomo Kidd,” came out in 2016.
Music
The blues is a genre of music that has its roots in American folk music. The blues has been a major influence on several other genres of music, including jazz, rock and roll, and country. The blues is characterized by its unique, melancholic sound and its ability to tell stories about the everyday lives of its listeners.
Despite its origins in the United States, the blues has been adopted by musicians all over the world. There are many different subgenres of the blues, each with its own distinct sound and style. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the genre, and many young musicians are reinventing the blues for a new generation of listeners.
If you’re a fan of the blues, or if you’re just curious about this genre of music, here are five up-and-coming blues artists that you need to know:
1. Guy Davis
Guy Davis is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from New York City. Davis is one of the few remaining artists who is keeping the traditional acoustic blues alive. He is an accomplished musician, and his songs often deal with social issues such as racism and poverty.
2. Shemekia Copeland
Shemekia Copeland is a Blues singer from Harlem, New York. Copeland comes from a musical family – her father was the legendary Blues musician JohnnyCopeland. Shemekia Copeland’s music often deals with personal themes such as love, loss, and heartbreak.
3. Tedschi Trucks Band
The Tedschi Trucks Band is a group from Jacksonville, Florida that combines elements of Blues, Rock, and Jazz. The band is led by husband-and-wife duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. The members of the band are all virtuoso musicians, and their live shows are known for their high energy and improvisational style.
4. Debra Power
Debra Power is an Australian Blues singer who fuse traditional Blues with contemporary influences such as Hip Hop and R&B. Power’s songwriting often focuses on personal themes such as love, loss, heartbreak, and identity.
5 . Jarekus Singleton 5 . Jarekus Singleton lawyer-turned-musician from Clarksdale , Mississippi . Singleton ‘ s music blends traditional Blues with modern Hip Hop , R&B , and Rock influences . His songs often deal with personal themes such as love , loss , heartbreak , and identity .
Otis Taylor
If you’re a fan of the blues, then you need to know about Otis Taylor. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Taylor is a self-taught musician who started playing the banjo at the age of 12. He later switched to the guitar and began performing in various blues clubs in the area.
Biography
Otis Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who has been creating his own brand of trance blues since the early 1970s. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Taylor was exposed to a variety of music including country, rock, folk, and blues. These disparate genres all informed his unique sound which often features socially conscious lyrics delivered in a hypnotic fashion. In recent years, Taylor has seen a resurgence in popularity due in part to some younger fans who were turned on to his music by their parents or grandparents. If you’re looking for something a little different in the blues genre, Otis Taylor is definitely an artist you need to check out.
Music
The blues is a genre of music that has its origins in the American South. The style is characterized by its use of blue notes, complex chord progressions, and often personal lyrics. It evolved out of the work songs and spirituals of African American slaves and sharecroppers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One of the most popular forms of blues music is the 12-bar blues, which is a musical form that uses a repeating chord progression of 12 bars. The 12-bar blues is the backbone of many popular songs in multiple genres, including rock, pop, soul, and R&B.
Otis Taylor is an up-and-coming blues artist who is quickly making a name for himself in the music world. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Taylor began playing guitar and singing at an early age. He was influenced by the likes of Muddy Waters, Lead Belly, and Howlin’ Wolf.
In 1998, Taylor released his debut album Blue Eyed Monster, which was met with critical acclaim. He has since released eight more albums, including his most recent effort Fantasizing About Being Black in 2020.
If you’re a fan of the blues or are simply looking for something new to listen to, be sure to check out Otis Taylor’s music. You won’t be disappointed.
North Mississippi Allstars
Hailing from Hernando, Mississippi, the North Mississippi Allstars are a band that is keeping the blues alive and well. Formed in 1996 by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, the band has gone on to release eight studio albums and tour the world. If you’re a fan of the blues, then you need to check out the North Mississippi Allstars.
Biography
The North Mississippi Allstars are an American rock band formed in 1996 by brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, programming). The band has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. Their sound is a unique blend of Hill Country blues, modern rock and Southern soul.
The North Mississippi Allstars released their debut album, Shake Hands with Shorty, in 2000. The album earned them a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. They have released seven additional studio albums: 51 Phantom (2001), Electric Blue Watermelon (2005), Hernando (2010), World Boogie Is Coming (2013), Prayer for Peace (2017), Up and Rolling (2019) and Keys to the Kingdom (2021).
Luther Dickinson is also a member of the supergroup The Word, along with John Medeski, Robert Randolph and Chris Chew.
Music
The North Mississippi Allstars are an American southern rock/blues band formed in 1996 by brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, programming). Sam Carr (bass) and Chris Chew (bass) complete the lineup. The group began their musical endeavors in Hernando, Mississippi. They have recorded and performed with many well-known artists, including Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, Steve Cropper, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and George Clinton. The band has released eight studio albums and four live albums. Their latest studio album “Prayer for Peace” was released in May 2017.
The North Mississippi Allstars are known for their unique blend of southern rock, blues, and country music. Their musical style has been influenced by a wide range of artists, including the Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ry Cooder, and Little Feat.
