Don't miss a rare opportunity to hear some real blues right here in Middlebury when legendary guitarist Bill Simms Jr. guitar, joins forces with local harmonica player Mark Lavoie. This free concert takes place on Sunday, April 10 at 8:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
The Blues has many distinct origins and sounds: Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, West Coast Blues, East Coast Blues, Rhythm and Blues, and on and on, each with its own unique flavor. If you ask Simms what type of Blues he plays, his answer is simply, "I play the Blues."
Simms grew up in Ohio. At age 14, he turned professional when he joined the Jacksonian Blues, a rhythm and blues band considered the top in Ohio. He left the band to attend Ohio State University where he majored in music. He had the privilege to play with many great Blues and R&B legends that performed at the University. He learned his lessons well sitting in the piano chair of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Freddie King, the Ojays, Jerry Butler, and many more.
In 1971, Simms joined The Four Mints, a doo-wop rhythm and blues group. Some of their songs made it to the charts, including "You're My Desire" and "Row My Boat." The group traveled the country, opening for the mega-bands of the 1970s such as Gladys Knight and Earth, Wind and Fire. In 1976, Simms left The Four Mints to explore other musical venues. Incorporating his vast musical expertise and love for world music, he founded The Lamorians, an avant-grade jazz band that relied heavily on traditional African drumming.
In 1988, Simmms came full circle and returned to the Blues. He founded his own band, Bill Simms and the Cold Blooded Blues Band, serving as both lead guitarist and lead vocalist. In 1999 his much-awaited CD Bill Simms was released on Warner Brothers records to coincide with a 10 hour PBS special.
At Middlebury, Simms performs with local musician Mark Lavoie. A resident of Bristol, Vermont, Lavoie has been playing the harmonica for decades. He was a protégé of Sonny Terry in the early 1970s.
This concert is sponsored by the Department of Music, the Office for Institutional Diversity, and Wonnacott Commons.