Lazar Bear Productions and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company our proud to present The Hawaii Rhythm and Blues Mele ‘08 featuring one of " Chicago’s Legendary Blues Super Stars" James Cotton and his Band. The Hawaii Rhythm and Blues Tour will play four shows in the Hawaiian Islands. James Cotton’s amazing career from opening for Sonny Boy Williamson, playing with Muddy Waters in Mississippi Juke Joints, the many years of playing / touring with his bands garnered by numerous Grammy nominations has brought this amazing show man to SuperHarp legend status. His audiences are still on their feet, they enjoy themselves as much as he does, and there are still standing ovations night after night. You will have a memorable evening with an international treasure and a true Living Legend of the Blues. The year 2007 is Cotton’s 63rd year in the entertainment business. What an amazing adventure this man is experiencing with his little harmonica. Congratulations SUPERHARP!

SUPERHARP LEGEND & GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
JAMES COTTON

James Cotton (called Cotton by his friends) was born on the first day of July,1935, in Tunica, Mississippi. He was the youngest of eight brothers and sisters who grew up in the cotton fields working beside their mother, Hattie, and their father, Mose. On Sundays Mose was the preacher in the area’s Baptist church. Cotton’s earliest memories include his mother playing chicken and train sounds on her harmonica and for a few years he thought those were the only two sounds the little instrument made. His Christmas present one year was a harmonica, it cost 15 cents, and it wasn’t long before he mastered the chicken and the train. King Biscuit Time, a 15-minute radio show, began broadcasting live on KFFA, a station just across the Mississippi River in Helena, Arkansas. The star of the show was the harmonica legend, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). The young Cotton pressed his little ear to the old radio speaker. He recognized the harmonica sound AND discovered something - the harp did more! Realizing this, a profound change came over him, and since that moment, Cotton and his harp have been inseparable - the love affair had begun. Soon he was able to play Sonny Boy’s theme song from the radio show and, as he grew so did his repertoire of Sonny Boy’s other songs. Mississippi summers are ghastly, the heat is unrelenting. He was too young to actually work in the cotton fields, so little Cotton would bring water to those who did. When it was time for him to take a break from his job, he would sit in the shadow of the plantation foreman’s horse and play his harp. His music became a source of joy for his first audience. James Cotton’s star began to shine brightly at a very early age.

Special Opening guests:
Willie K. & the Maui Tribe Blues Band,
Opening the entire Tour, with a special appearance by Travis Haddix on Jan. 31

“He’s an amazing guitar virtuoso, a Hawaiian Jimi Hendrix; he’s Gabby Pahinui, Andres Segovia and Eddie Van Halen rolled into one. Willie can mimic seemingly any style, moving easily between screaming Stratocaster, sweet slack key and jazzy almost baroque, acoustic 12-string.” The Honolulu Weekly

Raised on Maui, Willie Kahaiali`i (a.k.a.Willie K.) has been playing music and entertaining audiences since the age of 10. His father Manu Kahaiali`i, one of Hawaii’s most respected musicians, recruited Willie and his brothers to perform in his band. From the very beginning, Willie was influenced by and exposed to a myriad of musical genres; from the Hawaiian, Jazz, and early R&B he heard at his father’s side, to the sounds emanating from the radio and TV from musical giants such as B.B. King, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, and Willie Nelson. It is no wonder why Willie has evolved into such an eclectic and charismatic singer/songwriter/entertainer. By his high school graduation, Willie was playing in as many as 8 bands from country and western, salsa, rhythm and blues, rock, and of course Hawaiian. A few years later he moved to San Francisco determined to make it in the music scene there.

After several years in California, Willie gained some notoriety opening for groups such as Cecilio and Kapono, but after one too many earthquakes, decided to return home. Back on Maui, with renewed determination, Willie focused on recording an album of his own. His first three albums changed the direction of contemporary Hawaiian music. He swept up Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (The Hawaiian Grammy’s) from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, and continued to record for a new company, Round Island Records. After two more recording efforts, he took a break from recording his own music and teamed up with a new talent, Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom. He has produced three albums with Amy for The Mountain Apple Company. He earned 2 more Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Producer of the year, while Amy won Album of the Year, Female Vocalist, Song of the Year, and Hawaiian Album of the Year awards.

In 1999, while working on Amy’s new album, Willie filled the studio with his own music. Between takes and on breaks, Willie kept the recorder going and finished a Christmas album, “Willie Kalikimaka.”

“Willie Kalikimaka” reflected Willie’s favorite songs for the season and fulfilled the public’s demand for his version of “O Holy Night” recorded some years back as a single. “Away in a Manger” was almost completely recorded when Willie K ran into Willie Nelson on Maui. The conversation resulted in a duet on this incredible rendition of this Christmas classic and an experience that will be etched into Willie K’s musical career. The common language of music created an instant friendship. “Willie Kalikimaka” ended up being the biggest selling Christmas CD in 1999 and hit local sales charts at the #1 spot, beating the new recordings of Mariah Carey and Santana, while rising to #11 on Billboard Magazine’s Worldbeat charts.

Post 911 message of Hawaiian peace, performed in the vein of Bob Marley’s Redemption song. Purely Barefoot Natives, Willie K.

The beginning of 2000 also brought forth a new CD, “The Uncle In Me”, which compiles the best of Willie’s music into a single recording. The songs, which have been Willie’s trademark pieces, have been unavailable on the market for years. “The Uncle In Me” brings these songs back to the ears of Willie K fans, digitally re-mastered to highlight the musical and vocal talents of Willie K.

The end of the century and millennium brought some very exciting changes for Willie K. After 5 years devoted to the advancement of Amy Gilliom’s career, Willie has decided to re-launch and pursue his own solo career again, while also developing other talent. In December, Willie announced the formation of his new company, Maui Tribe Productions – an independent entertainment enterprise. Willie has played with and/or opened for such musical giants as B.B. King, Santana, Al DiMeola, Willie Nelson, Prince, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Elvin Bishop, Bonnie Rait, Jackson Browne, Mick Fleetwood, George Benson and Jimmy Buffet just to name a few! Willie has garnered national attention with appearances on VH-1 “100 Greatest Love Songs,” Extra, and performing the halftime show on Monday Night Football’s Jets vs. Raiders game. In February 2004, Willie was featured at the NFL’s Pro Bowl Halftime show. In 2004, Willie received his first Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Amy Gilliom for their “Amy & Willie Live” CD.

Visit: http://www.williek.com

TICKET OUTLETS
Kauai: (Info: 808-337-9234) - Bounty Music - Kapaa; Hanalei Music & Video; Banana Patch Studio - Kilauea; Aloha-N-Paradise - Waimea; Kauai Harley Davidson - Pui; Progressive Expressions - Koloa; Scotty’s Music - Kalaheo

Oahu: Liquor Collection - Honolulu; Hungry Ear - Kailua; Jelly’s-Aiea; Good Guys Music - Kapahulu; Rainbow Books - University; Hawaii Natural High - Saratoga Rd.; CR Imports - Mookaula St.

Maui: MACC Box Office 808-242-SHOW (7469) or at www.mauiarts.org

Big Island: Palace Theater Box Office: 808-934-7010, CD Wizard - Hilo; Music Exchange - Waimea & Kailua Kona; Sound Wave Music - Kailua Kona