Blues legends to be inducted at Rockwalk

WHO: Blues legends George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Keb’ Mo’ and Hubert Sumlin.

King of the Blues participants Cheech Marin, The Black Crowes, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd

WHAT: George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Keb’ Mo’ and Hubert Sumlin will be inducted into HOLLYWOOD’S ROCKWALK, the only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of Rock ‘n’ Roll. George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Keb’ Mo’ and Hubert Sumlin will join other equally accomplished musicians and innovators who have been inducted into RockWalk such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, The Ramones, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker and Earth Wind & Fire.

Following the RockWalk Induction, Guitar Center’s The King of the Blues Grand Finals Event, hosted by Cheech Marin will feature The Black Crowes, Hubert Sumlin, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, plus the top four undiscovered blues guitar players in the country performing with GRAMMY Award winner Pete Anderson.

WHERE: The Music Box @ Fonda
6126 Hollywood Blvd.

WHEN: Saturday, June 16, 2007
8 p.m. RockWalk Induction
Followed by the King of the Blues Finals event

OTHER: Formed in the ‘70s by George Thorogood, Jeff Simon and Billy Blough, George Thorogood & the Destroyers are a high energy group whose slide guitar and blues rock takes on songs by the likes of Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker landed them a record deal with Rounder Records. After paying their dues in the blues scene of Boston, they recorded their second album Move It On Over, and struck a big hit with the title track, which was a cover of a Hank Williams song. In the ‘80s the band signed with EMI and released a series of gold records including, 1982’s Bad to the Bone whose title track spawned Thorogood’s best known single to date, and its accompanying video was a staple on MTV. They continued their hit-making success into the ’90s with such hits as “Get a Haircut” and many additional albums followed into the new millennium. These included a compilation released in 2004, Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock, which went gold and was #1 on Billboard’s blues charts for 60 weeks. George Thorogood & the Destroyers are currently crisscrossing the US on a spring/summer tour which includes a nine date run of co-headlining dates with Bryan Adams.

Raised in Compton, singer-songwriter and guitarist Keb’ Mo’ grew up in a home filled with gospel music and records of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Born Kevin Moore, he began playing guitar as a child and blew the trumpet and French horn as a teenager. After playing with local cover groups, Moore went on to play back up on the first three albums for legendary roots violinist Papa John Creach. He followed that up with a staff position at A&M writing songs and contracting demo sessions before releasing his own solo album, Rainmaker. After gigging with the Whodunit Band and appearing in LATC’s productions of Rabbit Foot and Spunk, the newly minted Keb’ Mo released this blues heavy debut disc Keb’ Mo’ to immediate acclaim. His subsequent albums continue to demonstrate his depth and artistry, three of which, Just Like You, Slow Down, and Keep It Simple all took home GRAMMYs for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In 2006, Mo’ was GRAMMY nominated for Country Song of the Year for “I Hope” which he co-wrote with the Dixie Chicks and appears on their GRAMMY award winning album Taking the Long Way. His latest album Suitcase is a diverse collection of songs that are his most personal to date. His vocals are honestly delivered and his mastery in acoustic and slide guitar shine through. From its storytelling and gritty country blues tunes to its ballads and fiery laments, Suitcase is soulful and authentic. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Keb’ Mo’ has also garnered a number of accomplishments in television and film and is committed to a number of charitable causes.

Born on November 16, 1931 in Greenwood, Mississippi and raised in Hughes, Arkansas, Hubert Sumlin was taken by the great Blues players he heard including Charlie Patton, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Destined to take the place of these masters, Sumlin received his first guitar from his mother, who spent her entire $5, weekly paycheck to purchase it. He had his first encounter with the legendary Howlin Wolf, at the age of 10 when he sneaked out to a local juke joint and stood on a pile of crates to see through a window. Drawn in by the music, Sumlin fell through the window and right onto the stage where Wolf insisted that the under aged Sumlin stay and watch as he played. A few years later, Wolf brought Sumlin to Chicago where he contributed to some of the most powerful Blues the world has known. After Wolf’s passing in 1976, Sumlin continued to play with Wolf’s band for four years before leaving for a solo career in 1980. Sumlin has gone on to record as both a leader and a sideman sharing the stage with everyone from The Rolling Stones, to Elvis Costello and Santana. His 2005 release About Them Shoes was conceived by Keith Richards, produced by Rob Fraboni and garnered a 2006 GRAMMY nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album. Sumlin continues to tour bringing his original and personal blues feeling to music lovers across the U.S.