Vince Johnson to perform Friday
Brass Note recipient and Beale Street Blues Legend, Vince Johnson & The Plantation All Stars will perform at the Catfish Friday Blues & Soul Night monthly series at 7 p.m. Friday. The performance will be held at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St. The doors open at 6 p.m. with a local food vendor selling catfish dinners through the night.
This free music event is sponsored by the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission and co-sponsored by the UAPB incubator and Delta Rhythm & Bayous Alliance, according to a news release.
“Vince Johnson combines unique energy and musical skills in his performances, highlighting stories about his many varied experiences as a Beale Street musician,” according to the release. “He grew up in a musical household in Chicago. His brother Carlos Johnson is a well-known guitarist in the Windy City, who has played with Otis Rush, Billy Branch, and Son Seals. His other brother, Alan Johnson, is a spirited and colorful character who plays in the Plantation Allstars.”
Johnson began playing blues harp at age 19, watching the award-winning Billy Branch as a critical influence. When Johnson moved from Chicago to Memphis, he looked Branch up who was playing on Beale Street.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Branch mentored him and helped him develop a more solid musical foundation as well as teaching him about showmanship and building audience rapport. As they say, the rest is history. Vince has become a well-known Memphis and Delta region staple. His down-home performances draw tourists from far and near to experience his signature sounds,” according to the release.
Johnson recalls career highlights such as joining B.B. King in a jam session at B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street, along with Robert Cray and Etta James.
“Music is life,” said Johnson. “Without music, the world would not survive. I want everybody who comes in to leave the trouble of the world behind.”
UAPB forester earns Presidential award
Joe Friend, forester for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, was chosen to receive the Presidential Field Forester Award by the Society of American Foresters. The award recognizes foresters for their innovative methods and record of excellence in the profession, according to a news release.
Friend was hired by UAPB in 2016 as part of the university’s “Keeping it in the Family” Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program. The overarching goal of SFLR is to address historic barriers to African American success in forestry and to help landowners retain their family land.
“Joe and our project team, which includes conservationists and foresters, do an outstanding job working with producers,” said Henry English, head of UAPB’s Small Farm Program. “Their ‘boots on the ground’ approach provides our clientele with high quality education and service.”
Friend, former district forester with the Arkansas Forestry Commission in Monticello, has served the forestry industry in many roles including survey party chief, forest ranger, county forester, and law enforcement investigator. In 2003, he was named district forester, a position he held until 2014.
Friend has a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He is a registered forester, a member, fellow and committee chairman of the Society of American Foresters, and a member of the board of directors of the Arkansas Forestry Association.
According to its website, the mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education and technology, as well as promoting professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity and use of forests to benefit society.
Liberty sets water education & conservation fair
Liberty Utilities, 1100 State St., invites the community to the Liberty Water Education & Conservation Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the business. The fair is free and open to the public.
The event will allow attendees to learn about their water service, water-efficient landscaping, and conservation. There will be food trucks, demonstrations, booths from vendors and community partners, and giveaways (while supplies last), according to a news release.
“We’re excited to present this first annual event,” said Tom Rosetti, senior engineer at Liberty. “We want to make the public aware that, while our aquifer is large, it isn’t infinite. Conservation on our part is necessary to help ensure clean water for generations to come.”
Vince Johnson