Skylands Blues Society

On Sunday, September 2, Handy Award nominee, “Philadelphia” Jerry Ricks will be the featured performer at An Evening of Acoustic Blues. Hosted by the Sisters of Christian Charity, in their auditorium, St. Joseph’s Hall, proceeds will be used to further the charitable ministries of the Community.

Mr. Ricks, born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1940, has traveled the world bringing with him the “soul” of Blues. Michael Cote in Blues Revue says: “Ricks’ solitary voice conjures spirits of the past while keeping alive a piece of black culture rarely presented in such pure form.” From 1959 to 1970, he learned from and performed with possibly every Country Blues great of that time, such as: Elizabeth Cotton, Son House, Rev. Gary Davis, and the list goes on. Having distilled all this experience in his person, Mr. Ricks then proceeded to travel. In April of 1969 he accompanied the Buddy Guy Blues Band to East Africa under the direction of the U.S. State Department. From 1970 to 1990, he lived and performed in Western Europe at nearly every major blues and jazz festival in Eastern and Western Europe.

Presently on tour in the Midwest, Mr. Ricks is taking timeout to join the Sisters at their motherhouse in Mendham for this sure-to-be-special event.

Opening for Mr. Ricks is Dennis “Bulldawg” Donnelly, also from Philadelphia. Mr. Donnelly has opened for such Blues greats as Buddy Guy at his Chicago club, Legends, as well as Blind John Davis, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Jr. Wells and Pinetop Perkins.

The concert will be in the auditorium/gym complex, St. Joseph’s Hall, located at 350 Bernardsville Road (between Rt.24 in Mendham and Rt. 202 in Bernardsville).

Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for college students with their school ID, and all children 12 and under are free. For further information, please call the Development Office at: (973) 543-6528, ext. 313.

We're sorry to report that the Skylands Blues Society (SBS) is no longer active.
Thanks to all those members and friends who put so much effort into the Society for the past 10 years.
Keep supporting the Blues!

Photo copyright (c) 1997 Rita Weigand

SBS was the 1997 winner of The Blues Foundation

Keeping The Blues Alive Award for Blues Organization of the Year.

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