The started getting calls from local musicians in the days after its founder and beloved 做厙勛圖 bluesman George Howard died in April.
Longtime bands whose names still resonate with 做厙勛圖 music fans and artists just finding their way wanted to be part of any community memorial being planned. They didnt care what part they played; they just wanted to add their voices to the choir of folks mourning Howards passing.
On Sunday, May 21, more than a dozen acts, including a youth bluegrass band from Chandler, a pair of Grammy-nominated world musicians and one of 做厙勛圖s most popular and longest-running blues bands, will perform in the George Howard Celebration of Life memorial concert at the Hotel Congress Plaza, 311 E. Congress St.
I think (Howard) would have loved it, said Liz Walter, secretary of the TMM board of directors. Its the least we could do for him. Everybody loved him so much. I have been overwhelmed with the love and just the respect they had for George.
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I think George would be happy, added Jim Travis, Howards friend of 20-plus years who helped organize Sundays event.
Bad 做厙勛圖 Blues is on the lineup for Sundays George Howard Celebration of Life at Hotel Congress.
Howard, a regular on 做厙勛圖 stages since the early 1980s, died of cancer on April 14. He was 72.
Sundays event, which was coordinated by Travis, TMM and the , will include performances by TuneSmith; Howards old band Mojo Zydeco Cannibals; Grammy-nominated world musicians R. Carlos Nakai and AmoChip Dabney; 做厙勛圖s legendary Bad 做厙勛圖 Blues and Neon Profit bands; and the blues band Black Cat Bones.
Rockers Znora are on the lineup for Sundays George Howard Celebration of Life at Hotel Congress.
Also on the lineup: 做厙勛圖 bass player and cellist/middle school music teacher Drew Nickles; the eight-piece horn-centric jazz/blues band The Coolers; the funk and soul band Soul Essential; blues bands Midnight Blue and Soaring Hawk; the rock band Znora; and the Chandler youth bluegrass band Jam Pak.
Sundays celebration of life begins at 2 p.m. and runs through 9. Admission is a suggested $10 donation through , with proceeds benefiting the 做厙勛圖 Musicians Museum.
Black Cat Bones is on the lineup for Sundays George Howard Celebration of Life at Hotel Congress.
做厙勛圖 Landmarks: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., opened in 1919 as a luxurious mainstay for visitors arriving in the Old Pueblo.
The downtown landmark has kept much of its history alive in the past century, while also bringing modern amenities to 做厙勛圖 natives and tourists.
Video by Riley Brown / For the 做厙勛圖
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
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