REGISTRATION IS FULL FOR THIS EVENT. Seating will open at 6pm for registrants. At 6:20pm, remaining seats will be released to a standby line.
Before immersing yourself in the sounds, history, and traditions of the Voices of Mississippi, Strathmore invites you to a pre-concert event to learn about Piedmont Blues tradition local to the DMV and Mid-Atlantic region.
Join American R&B and blues musician and activist Daryl Davis, who will share the history of the Piedmont Blues. The Piedmont style originated in the Piedmont regions, the hilly area between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Appalachian Mountains from central Georgia to central Virginia. Played by both white and black musicians, it is a regional folk music that remains to this day. The Washington Region is home to outstanding blues musicians like National Heritage Fellows Phil Wiggins and Warner Williams, as well as the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation.
After the talk, Daryl will lead an informal acoustic blues jam session. Musicians of all skill levels are welcome to bring their instruments and join the jam. We invite all lovers of blues and music to take part in the tradition of socializing, playing, listening, and learning the music in a live setting. Attendees with instruments can check them in coat check for the concert.
This event is part of Strathmore’s Windows series of performances and accompanying programs. Learn more
Daryl Davis, speaker
Daryl Davis is an international recording artist, published author, actor and leader of THE DARYL DAVIS BAND. Born in the Electric Blues Capital of the world, Chicago Illinois, Daryl absorbed the influences of the South from musicians who traveled North from the Mississippi Delta, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Missouri to this Blues Mecca. Today, he resides in Maryland, just a few minutes from Washington, DC.
Daryl Davis earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from Howard University in Washington, DC where he was a member of their world famous and renowned Jazz Vocal Ensemble. In addition to being a vocalist, guitarist, and composer, Daryl is a keyboardist extraordinaire. Upon graduation, Daryl went on to work with such artists as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Platters, The Drifters, The Coasters, Bo Diddley, Percy Sledge, and Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave), to name a few.
Both Pinetop Perkins and Johnnie Johnson, considered to be the greatest Blues & Boogie Woogie and Blues and Rock’n’Roll pianists respectively, both have claimed Daryl as their godson. They have both praised his ability to master with authenticity, a style that was popular 20 years before he was born, progressing through the styles of many pioneers including Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and beyond. It was this ability that landed Daryl in the piano slot for The Legendary Blues Band (which was the Muddy Waters band) and the piano slot for Chuck Berry. Both positions were once held by Perkins and Johnson.
As a recording artist, Daryl Davis was the featured pianist on the Cephas & Wiggins Grammy-nominated album Flip, Flop & Fly. As a composer, in addition to his own hits, I’m a Boogie Man and Broadminded and many other originals, Daryl scored the music to the children’s story, Abigail. His own CDs are titled, American Roots, Alternate Routes and Greatest Hits.