New Orleans guitar virtuoso and actor Chris Thomas King will celebrate black history month on tour in Africa beginning February 15th. Chris Thomas King and his band will perform concerts in Lagos and Abuja Nigeria, including a special National Day celebration. King is an internationally known blues artist and actor who had major acting roles in the Oscar winning films “Ray” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The Nigerian Ambassador invited King with the help of the United States government to act as an American musical ambassador performing for Nigeria’s National Day, which takes place February 18th.
“This will be my first visit to Africa and I’m really excited to take my blues home to its roots. This year they wanted to celebrate with American music in part because of the election of our new president, Barack Obama. It seems the rest of the world is excited about American culture again. My phone been ringing every since his election,” King said backstage at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles recently.
King will duet with Nigerian artist Onyeka Onwenu to perform “America The Beautiful” during the celebration in Abuja. The Nigerian Ambassador has also requested King and Onyeka perform a duet of Etta James’ classic "At Last," which President Obama used for his first inaugural dance.
In between concerts King will hold workshops with local musicians and school children.
King said, “touring Nigeria is challenging and I’m looking forward to it. I know I’ll be inspired and I hope to leave a lasting impression on them as well.”
In March the Chris Thomas King band will tour clubs and theaters up and down the west coast of North America. Featured stops along the way will include Yoshi’s in Oakland, The Mint in Los Angeles California and the sold out Seasons Theater in Yakima, Washington.
May 2nd King will perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
“I try to perform in my home state at least once or twice a year.” King said.
King’s Jazz Festival performance will be his first since Katrina. Chris Thomas King will tour Japan in May. The Chris Thomas King Band includes New Orleans drummer Darryl White and Bassist CuJo.
Website: www.ChrisThomasKing.com
CHRIS THOMAS KING BAND TOUR DATES
Feb. 12 Montgomery, AL Capitol Oyster Bar
Feb. 17 Abuja, Nigeria Africa
Feb. 18 Abuja, Nigeria Africa
Feb. 19 Abuja, Nigeria Africa
Feb. 21 Lagos, Nigeria Africa
Feb. 22 Lagos, Nigeria Africa
Feb. 23 Lagos, Nigeria Africa
March 17 Alpine, TX Railroad Blues
March 19 Phoenix, AZ The Rhythm Room
March 20 Arcadia, CA Arcadia Blues Club
March 21 Santa Monica, CA The Mint
March 27 Yakima, WA Seasons Theater
March 30 Oakland, CA Yoshi’s
March 31 Felton, CA Don Quixote's Hall
April 2 Sacramento, CA The Torch Club
April 23 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Cafe
April 24 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Cafe
May 2 New Orleans, LA N.O. Jazzfestival
May 21 Osaka, Japan Namba Hatch
May 22 Nagoya, Japan Bottom Line
May 24 Tokyo, Japan Hibiya Park Amphitheater
July 26 Blakeslee, PA Pocono Blues Festiva
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