Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 8:00 pm

at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia

Jerry Ricks Scholarship Fund Blues Concert

Benefit concert in memory of the late Philadelphia bluesman.

A J. P. DeVann production co-sponsored by Crossroads Music.

For more information, call 215-625-8426.
To purchase tickets, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/34841?prod_id=5868 or call 1-800-838-3006.

Lineup includes: Kool Jazz & The Blues Avenue Band, Joe Becton & the Cobalt Blues Band, Jim Ford Blues Band, Angel Scott, George Bonds & Band, Denise Kink, Robin Watkins/Ain’t Misbehavin’, Leroy Foster & Bad Bidness Band, Tony Giles Sound/mic/CD, Go for Broke Blues Band, Hazelita Fauntroy, Clef Club Youth Ensemble.

“Philadelphia” Jerry Ricks (1940-2007) was born in Philadelphia and began playing guitar as a teenager while working at the Gilded Cage Coffeehouse, where he learned his first blues chords from traveling musicians including Lonnie Johnson. He later accompanied and learned from greats including Brownie McGhee, Guitar Wilson, Skip James, Rev. Gary Davis, Buddy Moss, Champion Jack Dupree, Sonny Terry, Memphis Slim, Mickey Baker, Blind John Davis, Willie Mabon, Washboard Slim, Furry Lewis, Big Joe Williams, Son House, Lonnie Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Elizabeth Cotton, Rev. Robert Wilkins, Mississippi John Hurt, Mance Lipscomb, Jesse Fuller, Sleepy John Estes, Sammy Price, Robert Pete Williams.

A five-time WC Handy Award nominee, Ricks recorded a dozen albums, appeared at most of the major blues festivals in the United States and in Europe, where he lived for nearly 20 years, was featured on TV and radio around the world, and conducted seminars on the history of blues. He also was an assistant researcher for Ralph Rinzler and Mack McCormick on a field research project for the Smithsonian Institute and taught guitar at the University of Colorado.

Following Ricks’ death in 2007, his family established a scholarship to support music lessons for young Philadelphians interested in the blues and proceeds from this event will support the first recipient of this award.

Tickets are $35 for premium seating, $25 for general admission, and $15 for students.