Sat 7/25 @ 3-9PM
Back in February, Cleveland-based blues vocalist/harmonica player celebrated his 90th birthday with a gig at Midtown Collaboration Center venue The SixtySix Music Lounge. Like many blues musicians, Coleman isn’t letting a little thing like age stand in his way, just as his former band leader Robert Lockwood Jr, who died in 2006 at the age of 91, didn’t.
Like many of his generation, including Lockwood, Coleman came north at the end of the Great Migration, moving from Tennessee to Cleveland in the 1950s, and becoming part of the local blues community. With an active scene and touring circuit, Coleman absorbed diverse blues styles including traditional Delta blues and electrified Chicago blues. After retiring from Hough Bakeries at age 51, Coleman joined Lockwood’s band fulltime, the only harmonica player to perform with him. Coleman left Lockwood’s band (with his encouragement) after a decade to form his own ensemble in 1997. Since then, he’s toured the world, played at major blues festivals in Europe and the U.S., released several albums and remained a beloved part of the area blues scene.
The afternoon concert is part of The SixtySix’s Blues Jam Series. It will also feature at Classic Car Afternoon. And following Coleman’s performance, rockabilly blues band JJ Vicar and the Desiatos will play from 6-9pm. It’s free and no tickets are necessary.