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Legends of Chicago Blues - Chicago Blues TrioOscar Wilson, Jimi Primetime Smith, Bob Corritore
A trio of powerful Chicago blues musicians with incredible musical pedigrees who are responsible the most acclaimed real deal house rocking and soul quenching Chicago blues of recent times.
True blues fans won’t want to miss Southside Chicago born Oscar Wilson, the lead singer of the much-loved Alligator Recording artists “The Cashbox Kings”. Fellow Chicagoan, Westside born Living Blues Magazine cover star Jimi “Primetime” Smith, the son of Jimmy Reed’s one time drummer, songwriter and manager Johnnie Mae Dunston.
Jimi’s 2023 album “The World In A Jug” with our third legendary member Chicago born Bob Corritore, the fabled blues harmonica ace, record producer and owner of Phoenix’s legendary The Rhythm Room is tearing up the blues world with much critical acclaim and high charting radio play. Joining forces for a rare set of UK dates – the real deal Chicago blues played by the real deal musicians is coming to the UK!
Jimi “Primetime” Smith
“Plays guitar that stings behind his rich vocals” Blues Roadhouse
Jimi “Prime Time” Smith was born in Chicago in 1959 His mother, Johnnie Mae Dunson aka; The Big Boss Lady,” worked alongside blues legend Jimmy Reed, as his song writer, drummer and manager. He began playing guitar at age 12 under the teachings of Jimmy Reed, Hubert Sumlin and Eddie Taylor and spent his teenage years playing around the blues clubs of Chicago with the likes of Big Walter Horton, Floyd Jones, Playboy Vinson, Sunnyland slim, Jimmy Johnson, Queen Sylvia, Playboy Benson, Eddie Taylor, Fenton Robertson, and many more Chicagoland blues legends.
After decades of success with bands such as R-Section, Lynwood Slim and The Shuffles, Big Walter Smith and The Groove Merchants, True Blue, and Jimi Prime Time Smith and the Primetime Players, 2023’s “The World In A Jug” Album with Bob Corritore has seen an incredible response form the blues community and heaped attention on this great figure. Goldman magazine writes “10 rollicking slices of pure raw organic Chicago blues”
Oscar Wilson
“Huge, emotive vocals” Forbes Magazine
Blues with a feeling is something that Wilson has known about from an up-close-and-personal perspective ever since he was a young child growing up on the south side of Chicago on 43rd Street in a six-room apartment split by two families. His talent was undeniable from the get-go, as Wilson was virtually born to play and sing the blues. His mother knew a lot of bluesmen like Junior Wells and Big Smokey Smothers and Elmore James … Little Mack Simmons, Honeyboy Edwards who all used to come their house Friday night fish fries and would sit there and play. As a little boy, he was always more interested in what they were doing than anything else. Now the highly acclaimed front man of the much-loved Alligator Records Recording artists, The Cashbox Kings, where his vocals not only the icing on the cake of this highly popular outfit but also the albums have showcased his knack for powerful and humorous song-writing.
Bob Corritore
“Corritore is a master of the Chicago sound and his lead and backup harp work here add tons of conviction and soul” Rock And Blues Muse USA
Born in 1956 in Chicago, Bob cut his teeth sitting in on Maxwell Street with John Henry Davis and others until old enough to attend blues clubs. He hung around great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher, and Carey Bell, and received harmonica tips and encouragement from many of them. He would regularly see the Aces, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, Smokey Smothers, and in many cases became personal friends with these blues veterans. Corritore worked with Tail Dragger, Big Moose Walker, Willie Buck, Louis and Dave Myers, in the late 70s and early 80s. He also produced his first recordings during that time, taking unheralded harmonica greats such as Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks into the studio to produce their now classic debut albums. Now owner of the Rhythm Room in Phoenix and the producer of a huge catalogue of powerful albums if real dal blues with a huge array of blues giants Bob is considered one of the most important pillars of the USA and international blues scenes.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance,Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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