Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Fest 2016 announces talent lineup

LEON RUSSELL, BOOKER T, ERIC BURDON, REBIRTH BRASS BAND, DOUG KERSHAW WITH STEVE RILEY, DWAYNE DOPSIE, JO-EL SONNIER, CHUBBY CARRIER HEADLINE 25th ANNUAL SIMI VALLEY CAJUN & BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL SATURDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 28-29 Los Angeles area’s largest Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Roots music festival, held over Memorial Day weekend, features two stages, a Mardi Gras parade, crafts and dozens of food booths Above: Blues stage headliners Leon Russell, Booker T., Eric Burdon SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — The 27th annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival will rock once again at Memorial Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, at Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Ave., in Simi Valley. The event features two full stages (and two dance floors) for each of its musical genres. Music will proceed non-stop each day from 12 noon until 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults (13 and over) and children 12 and younger are free. Discount single day tickets of $20 and two-day passes for $35, are available only online at <http://www.simicajun.org>. Parking is ample and free. Fast-moving California Hwy. 118 (Ronald Reagan Freeway) can be taken to the Stearns Street exit; the festival is four blocks south. This year, the blues stage features headliners Booker T, legendary keyboardist for Stax hitmakers Booker T & the MGs; Eric Burdon & the Animals; Leon Russell; and the Rebirth Brass Band;as well as L.A. blueswoman Barbara Morrison; Alvon Johnson; Guy Martin; Kelly’s Lot and returning from last year by popular demand, Reverend Tall Tree. Once again Dwayne Dopsie performs at both the blues stage and the Cajun and Zydeco stage, “King of Cajun” Jo-El Sonnier brings his Acadian spirit to Simi.  On the Cajun and Zydeco stage, Cajun hitmaker Doug Kershaw joins forces with Steve Riley, and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers once again perform at both the Cajun/Zydeco and blues stages. Grammy Award winners Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band bring genuine Louisiana-styled Zydeco.Also appearing are Mark St. Mary, Bonne Musique Zydeco and the Bayou Brothers. The annual Mardi Gras Parade will take place both days at 4 p.m. About the headliners: Booker T.: Booker is a Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and arguably the most famous Hammond B3 player in history. As lead of the legendary Booker T and the MG’s, this pillar of soul music collaborated with Otis Redding, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and Sam and Dave during his tenure at the renowned Stax Records Label. His 2009 solo release on Anti Records, “Potato Hole” won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2010. Booker followed with “The Road From Memphis”, a soulful return to the classic Memphis sound recorded with The Roots and released in 2011 with Anti- Records. Eric Burdon & the Animals: Eric Burdon has one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in rock and roll. Hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Voices of All Time, Burdon has released nearly 50 records in those 50 years, as front man of The Animals and WAR and simply as Eric Burdon. Through the changing sounds and genres, what remains constant is his courage as an artist to explore new sounds, diving into new territory with his unrivaled and unique voice. Eric Burdon has shared the stage with legends such as Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Witherspoon, Otis Redding and Bruce Springsteen, and has recently been cited by cutting edge musicians like Patti Smith and Iggy Pop as one of their personal top ten musicians. Leon Russell:  In his distinguished and unique 50-year career, Leon Russell has played on, arranged, written and/or produced some of the best records in popular music.  As a session musician, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, record company owner, bandleader, and touring musician, he has collaborated with hundreds of artists, but is best known for his own hits, including “Tight Rope,” “Song For You,” “Delta Lady,” “Lady Blue,” “Roller Derby” and his cover of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall.” Barbara Morrison: Over the years, Detroit-born L.A. blues legend Barbara Morrison has performed with a virtual who's who of the jazz and blues worlds: Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, James Moody, Ron Carter, Etta James, Esther Phillips, David T. Walker, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Otis, Dr. John, Kenny Burrell, Terence Blanchard, Joe Sample, Cedar Walton,Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, and Keb' Mo. Morrison has also guest-starred with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and Doc Severinsen's Big Band. "I Wanna Be Loved" written by Barbara Morrison and Michael Cormier is a musical theatre production about the life and times of Dinah Washington, Queen of the Blues. Rebirth Brass Band: Whether seen on HBO’s Tremé or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world.   Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley: Take one monumental figure from the history of Cajun music. Combine in equal portions with the reigning master of contemporary Cajun music. Blend in a couple of 90-year-old accordions and a couple of 250-year-old fiddles. Let sit in an elaborate shack out on the Cajun prairie for five days. Flavor with four original tunes, eight traditional tunes, apportioning roughly an equal number of vocals for each musician. Title the collaboration album, simply, Doug Kershaw and Steve Riley Face to Face. Sit back and prepare to be transported. Dwayne Dopsie: America’s Hottest Accordion winner Dwayne (Dopsie) Rubin, plays a unique, high energy style of zydeco. Dwayne hails from one of the most influential Zydeco families in the world. While inspired by tradition, he has developed his own high-energy style that defies existing stereotypes and blazes a refreshingly distinct path for 21st century Zydeco music. This singer/songwriter and accordionist has performed all over the world since debuting his band, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, at age 19. Jo-El Sonnier: His music steeped in passion and relentless dedication, Sonnier has been the undisputed King of Cajun for the past 25 years and occupies a significant place in the rich artistic landscape of this country. Born in Louisiana to poor, French speaking sharecroppers. He began to play the accordion at three years of age. By the middle ‘80s, Jo-El had a Grammy nominated recording to his credit with Cajun Life.  In 2015 he was awarded the Grammy for The Healing Song which he wrote with his Nashville friends Billy Henderson and AJ Masters and recorded with a veritable who’s who of Cajun and Zydeco music. Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band: often referred to as The World’s Premier Zydeco Showman, Chubby Carrier was born in Churchpoint, Louisiana and is the third generation of zydeco artists so it was only natural that he began his musical career at the age of 12 by playing drums with his father’s band. At 15 he took up the accordion and by age 17 he was playing with Terrance Siemien with whom he toured the world for 2 1/2 years. In 1989 he formed his own band. And in 2011 the band won the Grammy Award for the Best Zydeco or Cajun Album. Carrier and band have recorded ten CDs over the past 22 years while also touring the world. Once again the blues stage is booked by Martin Fleischmann and his company, Rum & Humble. For more than 20 years Rum & Humble has played a key role in presenting some of the world’s most celebrated musical talent (Radiohead, Manu Chao, and the Rolling Stones, to name a few) to Los Angeles audiences, in venues ranging from the Echoplex to the Orpheum Theatre to the Hollywood Bowl. The company has co-produced the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series since 2011. In addition, Rum & Humble has collaborated closely and creatively with artists such as Jackson Browne and Paul Oakenfold as well as with a varied roster of corporate and non-profit clients ranging from KJAZZ Radio to the Conga Room nightclub to the National Geographic Society. The festival has received national press accolades: “Everywhere you turned, there was something exciting happening. Put this on your 2013 festival calendar,” wrote Blue Revue editor Art Tipaldi, who made the trek from New England. The Blues Blast writer enthused, “I attend many venues and festivals throughout the year but the ones that seem to impress me the most are the ones that serve the community in some way. I highly recommend you put this on your calendar for next Memorial Day weekend.” And the music industry trade journal Hits added, “As the last strains of [Candye] Kane’s set rang in our ears, we left the grounds fully sated by music, food, drink and, as the saying goes, bon temps.” The festival boasts dozens of food booths featuring a variety of fare: authentic Cajun creations and Southern BBQ as well as multi-cultural cuisine. More than 100 craft booths and retailers will be scattered throughout the festival grounds. Tickets may be obtained online at http://www.simicajun.org/tickets/ Support of the not-for-profit Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival has benefited dozens of local community, national and international organizations, a list of which may be found at < http://www.simicajun.org/who-benefits/>. The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival is a presentation of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival web site: http://www.simicajun.org   SATURDAY MAY 28th (Schedule subject to change) BLUES STAGE 12:15 p.m. Guy Martin 1:35 p.m. Barbara Morrison 3:00 p.m. Rebirth Brass Band 4:45 pm. Eric Burdon & The Animals 6:20 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie   CAJUN/ZYDECO STAGE 12:25 p.m. Bayou Brothers 1:55 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie 3:25 p.m. Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley 4:35 p.m. Mardi Gras Parade 4:55 p.m. Chubby Carrier 6:25 p.m. Mark St. Mary   SUNDAY MAY 29th BLUES STAGE 12:15 p.m. Kelly’s Lot 1:35 p.m. Alvon Johnson 3:00 p.m. Booker T 4:45 p.m. Leon Russell 6:20 p.m. Reverend Tall Tree   CAUN/ZYDECO STAGE 12:25 p.m. Bonne Musique Zydeco 1:50 p.m. Jo-El Sonnier 3:15 p.m. Chubby Carrier 4:20 p.m. Mardi Gras Parade 4:40 p.m. Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley 6:05 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie Below: Cajun/Zydeco headliners Jo-El Sonnier, Doug Kershaw & Steve Riley, Dwayne Dopsie

Mother Earth - Eric Burdon & War

Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer-songwriter best known as a member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance. He was ranked 57th in Rolling Stone's list - The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Burdon began a solo career in 1971 with The Eric Burdon Band, continuing with a hard rock–heavy metal–funk style. In August 1971 he recorded the album Guilty! which featured the blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon, and also Ike White of the San Quentin Prison Band. In 1973 the band performed at the Reading Festival and in 1974 they travelled to New York. At the end of 1974 the band released the album Sun Secrets and this was followed by the album Stop in 1975. Burdon moved to Germany in 1977 and recorded the album Survivor with a lineup including guitarist Alexis Korner and keyboardist Zoot Money; the album also had a line-up of four guitarists and three keyboard players and is known for its interesting album cover, which depicts Burdon screaming.

In May 1978 he recorded the album Darkness Darkness at the Roundwood House in County Laois, Ireland, using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio and featuring guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench from The Jeff Beck Group, who had left Streetwalkers a few months before. The album was eventually released in 1980. During January 1979 Burdon changed his band for a tour taking in Hamburg, Germany and the Netherlands.

On 28 August 1982 "The Eric Burdon Band" including Red Young (keyboards) performed at the Rockpalast Open Air Concert in Lorelei, Germany. Following this Burdon toured heavily with his solo project from March 1984 to March 1985, taking in UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Australia. In 1986 Burdon published his autobiography entitled I Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now.

In March 1979 he played a concert in Cologne and changed the band's name to "Eric Burdon's Fire Department", whose lineup included backing vocalist Jackie Carter of Silver Convention, Bertram Engel of Udo Lindenberg's "Panik Orchester" and Jean-Jaques Kravetz. In mid 1980 they recorded the album The Last Drive. "Eric Burdon's Fire Department" toured Europe with this lineup and Paul Millins and Louisiana Red made special appearances in Spain and Italy. By December 1980 the band had broken up.

In April 1981, Christine Buschmann began to film Comeback with Burdon as the star. They created a new "Eric Burdon Band" whose lineup included Louisiana Red, Tony Braunagle, John Sterling and Snuffy Walden. This band recorded live tracks in Los Angeles. They also recorded in Berlin with another lineup, the only remaining member being John Sterling. In September 1981 the final scenes of Comeback were shot in the Berlin Metropole and Burdon and his band continued to tour through Australia and North America. A studio album titled Comeback was released in 1982. The 1983 album Power Company also included songs recorded during the Comeback project.

In 1988 he put together a band with 15 musicians including Andrew Giddings - keyboards, Steve Stroud - bass, Adrian Sheppard - drums, Jamie Moses - guitar and four backing vocalists to record the album I Used To Be An Animal in Malibu, in the United States. In 1990 Eric Burdon's cover version of "Sixteen Tons" was used for the film Joe Versus the Volcano. The song, which played at the beginning of the film, was also released as a single. He also recorded the singles "We Gotta Get out of this Place" with Katrina & The Waves and "No Man's Land" with Tony Carey and Anne Haigis. Later in 1990 he had a small lineup of an Eric Burdon Band featuring Jimmy Zavala (sax and harmonica), Dave Meros(bass), Jeff Naideau (keyboards), Thom Mooney (drums) and John Sterling (guitar) before he began a tour with The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and they appeared at a concert from Ventura Beach, California, which was released as a DVD on 20 June 2008.

On 13 April 2004 he released a "comeback" album, My Secret Life, which was his first album with new recordings for 16 years. When John Lee Hooker died in 2001, Burdon had written the song "Can't Kill the Boogieman" the co-writers of the songs, on the album, were Tony Braunagel and Marcelo Nova. In 2005 they released a live album, Athens Traffic Live, with special DVD bonus material and a bonus studio track and disbanded in November 2005. He began a short touring as "The Blues Knights".

On 27 January 2006 he released his blues–R&B album Soul of a Man. This album was dedicated to Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker. The cover of the album was a picture, which was sent to Burdon a few years before. Burdon then formed a new band, with the following members: Red Young (keyboards), Paula O'Rourke (bass), Eric McFadden (guitar), Carl Carlton (guitar), and Wally Ingram (drums). They also performed at the Lugano Festival and in 2007 he toured as the headlining act of the "Hippiefest" lineup, produced and hosted by Country Joe McDonald.
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Cause We've Ended as Lovers - Jeff Beck - Eric Clapton - Doyle Bramhall II

Never saw this footage before...Jeff beck pulls Eric out of his sleepy shell...great!!