Ring in the Holidays at Charles Brown Blues Fest
Brown, a suave, elegant R&B/jazz vocalist, pianist and arranger similar to Nat King Cole, had several hits in the ‘40s and ‘50s, including “Drifting Blues,” “Trouble Blues,” “Get Yourself Another Fool” and another Yuletide classic, “Please Come Home for Christmas.” He never stopped playing and recording, but drifted into obscurity in the ‘60s and ‘70s before, thanks in part to Bonnie Raitt’s patronage, making a comeback in the ’80s with albums like One More for the Road and All My Life. He passed away in 1999, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but this weekend his hometown of Texas City pays tribute with Saturday’s “Day of Remembrance” blues festival in Brown’s honor.
The festival runs 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Nessler Park (1800 9th Avenue N), with all the usual accoutrements (food, face-painting, etc.). Musically, Louisiana-born swamp-boogie queen Marcia Ball headlines, plus Houston’s own Texas Johnny Brown and the Quality Blues Band and Ezra Charles & the Works, Austin soul shouter LZ Love and jazz bands from College of the Mainland. Admission and parking are absolutely free. – Chris Gray
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