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SHIRLEY KING

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"Daughter of the Blues" is Shirley's live album packed with high energy and soul. The musicians on this album shine throughout the fourteen selections. The guitar work of Phil Armetta and Kenneth "Hollywood" Scott is incredible! Armetta's hot licks on Preston Foster's "Got My Mojo Working" and "Woke Up This Morning" (B.B. King-Jules Taub) are wonderful! Scott's sweet, tantalising licks on "Tell Mama" (Daniel -Carter-Terrel) and "Aggravation" (S. King) build excitement. winding around King's vocals.

Keith Hudson. Michael Sterling and Melvin Robinson. Jr. set up a strong, driving rhythm section. Charlie Kimble, "Big James" MontgOmery and james Mayfield round off the band with some great horn playing! The Stevenson High School Jazz Band also plays on three selections. "The Thrill is Gone." "Everyday I Have the Blues," and "Why I Sing the Blues."

Like her father B.B. King, Shirley has talent, charisma and energy to spare. From traditions to originals, her singing and stage antics fire you up with passion and soul.

She says. "I grew up around the stage watching my dad become famous, but I never imagined I'd become a blues singer too". She admits that having a legendary father helped her get through every door she knocked on. But it was her talent, charisma and high-energy stage presence that got her invited back.

Born and raised in Memphis TN, Shirley began singing in the church choir at the age of nine. When she was 13 she met another music legend - Etta james. Young Shirley was so impressed by Etta's performance that she looked to her as a musical role model. Ruth Brown and the late Mahalia Jackson also greatly influenced the fledgling singer.

Shirley has played in blues clubs and festivals throughout the world. She has also worked with kids as the artist-in-residence with the highly acclaimed Urban Gateways Arts in the Schools Programme at Chicago Public Schools. Shirley always rocks the house whether it's a museum. an on-campus performance or a classic blues club.

"Crown her the 'Sisters of Showmanship· ... King is the master of getting the crowd excited" - Winnipeg jazz Festival.

"She blew my mind, she was like Etta James. Koko Taylor and B.B. King all rolled into one" - Charles Hayden Vue Weekly

SHIRLEY KING

at the Blues Saloon, November 29, 1996

To put it simply, Shirley King is a wonderlul blues entertainer. She knows anyone can sit at home and listen to a record, but when they go out to a club they want to be entertained. And entertain is what she does from the moment she starts singing.

During her first number she was already out in the audience getting her soon to be new fans riled up and into the show. She improvises on the floor based on the needs of the moment and the attitude of her audience. She was sitting on laps, joking with patrons. and oh yeah she was also doing a great rendition of Muddy's song ... without even a microphone at certain points ... such a powerlul voice.

She was toying with the audience throughout her long version of Hoochie Coochie ... at one point she sang "I'm 36,24 .. ." and then put her hands on her hips and grinned at the audience as she finished off with ... 58. and a whole lot more ... By this time she had the entire audience in the palm of her hands screaming for more.

Shirley believes a live show has to be a perlormance and she knows she has to give her audience more than they expect, more than their moneys worth. "I want to feel it" she says. "I want to come down into the audience and get right into their face." Interacting with her audience is very important. A live show is more than just listening to the same songs done the same way on an album she says. The audience comes to be entertained and boy does she know how to.