Port City Blues Society will host an edition of the Midtown Blues concert series at 8 p.m. on Dec. 6, at RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main St. The event will feature award-winning blues artist Fuzzy Jeffries and the Kings of Memphis.
The Midtown Blues series is made possible by Midtown Tire & Auto and Explore Pine Bluff. The doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free for Port City Blues Society members and $5 for others, according to a news release.
Guitarist, songwriter and producer Kevin “Fuzzy” Jeffries was born in Chicago Heights, Ill., on March 15, 1957. He discovered his love for music when he was a young boy, playing around with the xylophone before moving on to guitar. After mastering his skills on the guitar, he began recording with numerous artists in the early ’70s, taking in as much knowledge and information as he could, according to a news release.
“Determination and dedication to his music led him to record and perform with such well-known artists as Pop Staples and The Staple Singers, Artie ‘Blues Boy’ White and Otis Clay for many years,” according to the release. “In his move to Memphis, Fuzzy brought along the same determination and dedication that he had as a young man.”
After getting his feet on the ground in Memphis he began performing with local artists on Beale Street. This led him to meet and perform with great blues and southern soul performers such as Little Milton, J Blackfoot, Bobby Rush, Bobby Blue Bland and Sir Charles Jones.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Jeffries discovered his unique style and sound and decided to release his CD entitled “Fuzzy Rocking the Blues.” Handing out CDs on Beale Street, he was able to get his name out there and cultivate a good fan base. On Beale Street, Jeffries decided he wanted to start his own group with his friend of 15 years: keyboardist Michael “Mike D”Raeford, who also played for Bobby Rush; Sir Charles Jones; and J Blackfoot. He began adding several other new local musicians.
“Knowing his band members were the best at their crafts, they came together and decided to name themselves The Kings Of Memphis, a hard hitting, rhythm making group giving you the feel of the true down-south blues,” according to the release.
In 2018, Fuzzy Jeffries and the Kings of Memphis came in second place in the International Blues Challenge after previously winning the local Memphis Blues Challenge and advancing to the International Blues Challenge competition three times.
Also in 2018, Jeffries released his “Looking at the Blues” EP among other releases, now available on all streaming and download platforms.
Port City Blues Society, an affiliated member of The Blues Foundation, seeks to preserve and promote blues music, the culture of Delta blues, and educate the public about the history of the blues in the region.
Port City Blues Society also hosts a free blues jam every Wednesday from 8-11 p.m. at RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar. Details: pc-blues.com or facebook.com/PCBluesSociety.