Valley Morning Star
After 63 years playing the blues, Texas Johnny Brown says they haven't changed a bit.
"When they started singing the blues it was melancholic just like it's melancholic today," said Brown in a phone interview.
The 81-year-old blues guitarist is scheduled to perform at Blues on the Hill Saturday evening at McKelvey Park.
Although the Rio Grande Valley is known for conjunto and tejano sounds, Brown says he's ready to bring his blues flavor to the Valley.
"Music is kind of national and international. You can speak things with your music that you can't say with your mouth," said Brown.
The music veteran began his professional career in 1946. He began mostly as a sideman accompanying Amos Milburn and the Aladdin Chickenshackers. During the '50s and '60s, Brown toured with Bobby "Blue" Bland and Junior Parker.
But it wasn't until the '90s that Brown released his debut album "Nothin' But The Truth" in 1998, which garnered Brown several blues awards. His follow-up "The Blues Defender" received rave reviews in 2002.
When asked how his passion has lasted for so long, Brown says it starts with survival and his love for blues.
‘It's an ongoing thing because there's something strange and different happening everyday," said Brown.
"There's not really an end to the things that you can talk about and there's a story that you can tell. If it doesn't happen to you it happens to someone else."
And there's no stopping the Houston native.
"...The love that I have for it and the feeling I have for it. I want to continue it for as long as possible. With my music I try to reach whole generations if I can -- the young and the old and all in-between." said Brown.
Also Playing:
Bryan Lee: Originally from Wisconsin, Bryan Lee became a longtime staple in New Orleans. He is known for his Chicago-style blues. The blind blues guitarist, sometimes known as "Braille Blues Daddy Bryan Lee," has performed with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and for B. B. King. "I really feel the good Lord has blessed me with this gift and if I can reach 2 or 3 people in an audience I feel I have done a good job," said Lee on his MySpace page.
FOR YOUR INFO:
Who: Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band, Texas Johnny Brown, Big Brucey & The Max-Tones, Rudy Calera Blues Revue, The Cliff Hanger Blues Group
Time: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday June 20th
Where: McKelvey Park, Harlingen. 1325 77 Sunshine Strip.
Cost: Free
No outside food or beverages allowed
