BLUES N'AT

   

 

   Barbara Blue is doing what she loves five nights a week. It wasn't always that way. The Reigning Queen of Beale Street had to pay her dues in the clubs of Pittsburgh and later Detroit before she nailed down a residency at legendary club Silky O'Sullivan's, a Memphis Beale Street institution.

     Barbara starting singing in her teens, before graduating from North Catholic High School. A few years after graduating she moved to Detroit and starting honing her blues chops there. Her singing is influenced by the likes of Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor and Etta James, to name a few.

      She returned to Pittsburgh after a few years and began playing at revered Pittsburgh clubs such as Graffiti and Gene's Blues Bar. Her band even made it to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge.

       In 1997, on a lark, Barbara paid $5 to sing "Me and Bobby McGee" at Silky O'Sullivan's. Her ability to bring the blues to life caught Silky's ear. He bought her a beer and had her sing another song. He then called his wife to come hear the woman who could "make a glass eye cry". Ever since then, Barbara has been the "Reigning Queen of Beale Street".

        Apart from her regular gig entertaining people from all over the world, Barbara's accomplishments are many. She has had 5 CDs go through the first round in the Grammy nominations process for various categories, was nominated for Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year at the Blues Music Awards in 2007 by the Blues Foundation, and has played and recorded with a Who's Who of the best in the business including Taj Mahal's Phantom Blues Band, The Nighthawks, Jeff Healey and Tab Benoit, among others.

    Barbara will be making her way back to Western PA for the Blues, Brews, and BBQ Night at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival in Washington on Friday, July 11. Also appearing that night will be Ron Yarosz and the Vehicle and Billy the Kid and the Regulators. Get there early, the show starts at 6:30 pm. The festival runs from July 10-12. The following night, Saturday, July 12, Barbara will be a part of the Road to Memphis Tour at the Hard Rock Café in Station Square. She will perform along with BSWPA Blues Challenge winners Eugene Morgan and the Junkman and the Bo' Hog Brothers. That show kicks off at 9:30 pm. Barbara always looks forward to these homecoming trips as it gives her a chance to see family and friends and perform for the hometown crowd. She may even sing a few songs from her newest CD, "Memphis Blue" that will be out in November.                                                                                                                   

    Catch Barbara while she's back in the 'Burgh or if you're ever in Memphis. Either way, you'll be glad you did. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep It Bluesy!