By 8 p.m. Saturday, RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar at 128 S. Main had filled to capacity for the Port City Blues Society’s annual International Blues Challenge competition for local musicians. The annual “Road to Memphis” event offers regional talent the opportunity to earn a trip to the upcoming 41st IBC to be held in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 13-17.
Emcee Dave Sadler welcomed the audience saying, “Two bands here tonight will be going on to Memphis to compete with over 200 other blues performers from across the U.S. and Europe.”
Judges for the evening included Richard Bailey, Music Department chairman at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Orson Weems from the Springdale area. Weems is a former University of Arkansas Razorback football player under Coach Lou Holtz and has been called “a high-profile leader who aims to build up the music industry in Arkansas.”
The judges’ panel also included Pine Bluff native Jimmy “Catfish” Cunningham Jr. Emcee Sadler introduced Cunningham, saying, “He has written three books on Delta Blues, art and African American history in this area.” Cunningham is also founder and director of the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Cultural District and Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission tourism director.
There were two categories of competition in Pine Bluff: “solo/duo” and “full band.” Two entrants performed in each category. “Bar-B-Q Bob & KK” opened the show in the solo/duo segment, presenting five songs followed by soloist Mark Morgan. In addition to his recently launched solo career, Morgan is a longtime member of the Port City Blues Players, singing and playing guitar in the popular septet that will be performing on the main stage at this year’s King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena/West Helena at 6 p.m. Oct. 11.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Morgan began by saying, “Those who know me know how much I love the blues. For those who don’t, I hope you’ll know by the end of the night.” He played 10 songs, including three original compositions, “Yard Sale Blues,” “The Fire is Gone” and “I Wish I Never Had It.”
Upon conclusion of the first category, two ensembles, the six piece Don Doc & the Devine and five piece Tina Cossey Band each presented their portion of the program.
Don Doc & the Devine is made up of lead and rhythm guitars, drums, keyboard and bass accompanied by a female vocalist and saxophone. Their set list included Johnnie Taylor’s “Last Two Dollars,” a pair of originals titled, “Honey Blues,” and “Keep the Train Rollin’,” Muddy Water’s “Hoochie Coochie Man” and Lullaboy’s “Gone Too Long.” The group received enthusiastic applause as front man Don Doc told their fans, “Bless y’all body, soul and mind.”
The evening rounded out with a regular at RJ’s, Tina Cossey, and her band, including lead guitar, bass, keyboard and drums with Cossey belting out powerful blues lyrics.
Their offering consisted of six original numbers, five of which are featured on their latest CD release titled, “Roll with It.” They performed “Moonshine Blues,” “Going’ to Mississippi,” “Lord Make Me a Rolling Stone,” “Roll with It,” “To Feel the Blues” and a sixth number not on the CD, “He Makes Me Feel So Fine.”
Acts were scored in five separate areas:
Blues content.
Originality.
Vocals.
Instrumental talent.
Stage presence.
Scoring was based on 1-3 for beginner type entertainment, 4-5 for weekend performers, 6-7 for club caliber acts, 8-9 for headlining quality with the maximum 10 going to main stage performers.
The competition was neck-in-neck in both categories, but in the final analysis, Mark Morgan won the solo/duo slot while Tina Cossey Band came out on top for the group spot.
Selection entitles the winners to perform in a variety of venues on Memphis Beale Street during the week long IBC elimination, working toward who will be selected as top blues artists of the year. After winning the PCBS’s competition in 2024, Cossey and her band mates made it all the way to the IBC semi-finals in January of this year.
