He’s traveled the country, he’s traveled the world and now he’s traveling to Cushing America to perform at this year’s Festival in the Park! Little Joe McLerran and The Little Joe Band will be taking the stage on Saturday, Oct. 10th at 2 o’clock. Get ready to hear some of the best Piedmont Blues in the country – or for that matter, the world!
Little Joe McLerran hails from just up the road – Sapulpa- and recently won first place at the 25th Annual International Blues Competition held in Memphis, TN. It was McLerran’s fourth attempt at the top prize – not bad for someone still in his 20s.
Yes, at first glance, McLerran looks like the “boy next door,” but at first listen, the visual is different – he sounds like an old soul, singing his heart out on the corner of Bourbon Street or Beale.
According to Billy Austin, editor of the Blues News, McLerran is “perhaps the finest Piedmont Blues player on the face of God’s green earth.”
McLerran was born in Boulder, Colorado in July of 1983 and by the tender age of 9 he and his younger brother Jesse had started their first band – “Buddy Hollywood.” The duo would set up on the Pearle Street Mall in Boulder and play, not only tunes by The Beatles and Bob Marley, but those of old blues singers such as Big Bill Broonzy, Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt.
At 15, McLerran’s family moved to Tulsa. Jesse took up playing the washboard, Joey changed his name to “Son Piedmont” and they began playing the old-time blues again. “Washboard Jesse” as he was called, patterned his style of play after his godfather, “Washboard Chaz Leary” of New Orleans. “Son Piedmont” was taken from the Piedmont style of blues popular in the southeast U.S. in the 20s and 30s. The boys’ popularity grew and they received much encouragement as they drew attention from many of Tulsa’s finest musicians. Sadly, Jesse was killed in an accident during the production of their first CD.
It took over a year for Joey to even listen to the tracks that had been laid down by he and his brother and the others who worked on the CD. Finally, in tribute and memorial to Jesse, the CD “Pearly Gates” was released in 2004 as Son Piedmont and the Blues Krewe on the Roots Blues Reborn label.
Since then Joey, aka Son Piedmont, has changed his name to “Little Joe” – a nickname given to him by “Homesick James” – and has released two more CDs: “Hard Way” and “Live at Last.”
Come out to Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 10th and enjoy some of the best blues you will ever hear! The Little Joe Band will be performing at the amphitheater from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
For more information about Little Joe McLerran, or to purchase one of his CDS, visit his website: www.littlejoeblues.com.
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