For Your Immediate Attention – June 2008

Contact: Tom Davis – (404) 370-3705 or tdavis@dr-love.com

We are excited to announce the upcoming 10^th ANNUAL GREAT ATLANTA BLUES & MUSIC FEST - THE LARGEST BLUES GATHERING IN ATLANTA HISTORY.  This year’s event is a tribute to legendary performers Lotsa Poppa and his brother Rev. Donald High.  The 10^th Great Atlanta Blues & Music Festival is set for July 25-27 2008 on Historic Sweet Auburn Avenue.  We are also pleased to announce that this year’s event is shaping up to be the largest event of its kind anywhere.  The 2008 10^th Annual Great Atlanta Blues & Music Fest attracts people from all over the nation.  The 10^th Annual event pays tribute to the Blues. Two thousand eight also represents the 10^th Anniversary of the Fest and we are bringing back the ‘Smell The Roses Award’ – honoring persons who have made contributions to the growth of the Blues.  

Over the years – the City of Atlanta has become known for its legendary clubs and the many performers who graced its performance stages over the years in such clubs as The Royal Peacock, The Auburn Avenue Casino, Pal’s Lounge, The Poincietta Club and more.  Artists  such as James Brown, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, B. B. King,  Jackie Wilson and others appeared in Atlanta regularly.  The 10^th Annual Great Atlanta Blues & Music Fest (July 25 – 27) pays tribute to Lotsa of Poppa (now confined to a nursing home) and his brother Rev. Donald High who performs with the Gospel Silvernairs. 

 Appearing on this year’s event are the legendary R&B vocal group - The Drifters – who served to link Fifties rhythm & blues with Sixties soul music. They epitomized the vocal group sound of New York City. Theirs was the sweet but streetwise sound of R&B suffused with gospel influences. The material the Drifters recorded came from a variety of sources, including the songwriting teams of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, and Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Next is the Atlanta based vocal group - The Tams – who are still playing to sell out crowds around the world, have recorded 10 albums and have been performing for 38 years. The Tams have also been featured in Goldmine Magazine and in the Top Of The Pops in Europe. 

Other recording artists appearing on the Festival  include Tommy Brown, Harvey Scales, The Radio Ramblers, Willie Hill, Chick Willis,  The Sana Blues Band, Deacon Blues, Mudcat, Beverley Guitar Watson, Lola, Fred Bolton, The Brotheren featuring Shirley Diamond, The DJ Blues Band and many more.   For more information go to:  www.dr-love.com.