The Cleveland Public Library's Fine Arts Department is pleased to present:
J. Blues (official website)
Saturday, September 18, 2 p.m.
3rd floor lobby Main Library

Performing the music of John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James, Hound Dog Taylor, Robert Johnson and Ry Cooder.

This program is free and open to all ages. For more information call 216-623-2848.

J. Blues has been studying music since the age of nine, starting with the piano, progressing to the banjo, and finally, with instruction from his older brother Greg and Gene Martin (Genussa), the guitar. He is a college graduate with two degrees in music. In 1992 he was awarded the Playhouse Scholarship in Cleveland to further his collegiate studies.  He expects to obtain his masters degee in Jazz Guitar Performance in 2010.  While the name may lead you to believe that J. Blues only plays blues, he actually has quite an extensive repertoire.  Playing not only blues, but rock, pop, jazz, country, oldies, motown, disco, and americana actually makes J. Blues a very versatile guitarist sought after by some of Cleveland's finest musicians and venues.

   J. Blues grew up on Long Island, where he broke into live performances at the age of fourteen, playing gigs in and around New York City, culminating in a sold out performance at "The Limelight" when he was eighteen. His first record deal came at the age of nineteen when he signed to Amethyst Records, Columbia, SC. Since then, he has produced and recorded two CD's and a single, as well as being featured on Esquire Record's "The Best Of Cleveland Blues" compilation. At the age of twenty he was contacted by Tyco Toys to play on a commercial promotion.

   His influences are many. J.Blues has molded his own style of blues from the greats, including B. B. King, Elmore James, Hound Dog Taylor, Taj Mahal, Lightnin' Hopkins and Ry Cooder. He has taken the classic Chicago Blues sound to the next level.

   J.Blues has opened shows in the Cleveland area for such legendary greats as Robert Lockwood Jr., John Hammond, David Lindley, Leon Russell, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, Dickey Betts (from the Alman Brothers), Smoking Joe Kubeck and Bnois King, Devon Alman from Honey Tribe, and has also appeared on FOX 8 Morning Show!

   J.Blues is an accomplished producer. In addition to producing his own work, he has produced demos for local bands in the Cleveland and New York areas.