Bman's Exclusive Interview - King Hat Review

Bman:How did the King Hat Review project begin?

KHR:We got the idea to do this project about 5 years ago and started writing it about 2 years ago. Its all written and now rehearsals are beginning and we are in the studio to record the sound track CD. All of the performers you are about to meet are dear friends and creative collaborators of mine and are seasoned professionals who have shared the stage and recording studios with the biggest names in music. It’s an amazing cast of singers, musicians and dancers, Special effects and video artists.

Bman:Tell us in depth about the concept behind KHR.

KHR: It is a multi media stage musical that tells the story of American popular music and traces it’s history from where and when it all started. In the blues and folk blues that emanated from porches, bayou docks & juke joints in the deep south and with the help of a hand full of pioneer DJs spread all over the US and the world and has become the music we know and love today. Original American music, blues, Rhythm & Blues, jazz, rock & roll.

Bman:Who are some of the main principals (individuals) involved in the project?

KHR:
John Lee Williamson Co creator/producer-rhythm guitar-vocals
Bobby Bragg C Co creator/producer-lead guitar-vocals
David Morgan-Keyboards
Chantz Powell-vocals-trumpet-dancer
Ruby Etoile-vocals
David Chamberlian-Bass
Paul Brown Co-producer

Bman:Who are some of the musicians (past and present, alive and/or deceased) that have influenced KHR the most?

KHR: Jimmy Reed, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, James Wee Willie Wayne, The Spiders, Clovers, Dixie Hummingbirds , Robert Johnson, on through the British invasion , George Thoroughgood, Buddy Guy, Gary Moore

Bman: Are there plans to take the KHR project on tour?

KHR: Tour will begin with a debut gala in Los Angeles and then tour across the US and travel to 15 major cities and then will tour Europe.

Bman: Anything else you would care to share with our readers about the King Hat Review?

KHR: The show begins with a huge on stage movie screen as a featurette tells the story of an archeological dig in the future where an old chest is unearthed and artifacts from the past are discovered. As the switch is turned on, on an old Victrola, the audience is launched back in time to the beginning of the era that gave us this music and the journey begins. The first act is all acoustic set on a dock in the delta and represents the era before this music was discovered by the DJs. The main character is forced to pawn his guitar and the show follows this guitar as it is handed down through each era and tells the story of the blues. The second act moves to a slightly electrified era of American Blues and continues on through the eras with reenactments of the DJs of each respective era as a guide. The show explores all the decade between the late 30s to present and show the influence that the blues has on all American popular music even today.

Bman: Thanks. I appreciate your time.
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The King Hats Review

The

King Hat Review (KHR) is a multi-media stage musical extravaganza that tells the amazing story of American popular music and traces it's origins and history from where and when it all started: in the blues and folk-blues that emanated from porches, bayou docks and juke joints in the Deep South. With the help of a hand full of crazy pioneer DJs it spread all over the U.S. and the world, and has become the music we know and love today. Original American music, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, jazz, Rock & Roll & Hip Hop. The huge production consists of an amazing band, singers, dancers and video artists; as well as a multi-media production with giant projection screens, stunning sets, special stage effects and hot choreography, that all come together to take the audience on the historical journey of American popular music, the artists, their songs and the personal stories of how the DJs of each era discovered them and introduced them to the world.

"Whenever I hear that music, that soulful, raw sound, I head that way," says KHR creator/executive producer, Bobby Bragg. "It's roots music and it started on the porches, the bayou and the juke joints in the south. It's the beginning of original American music." The King Hats is the name of Bragg's band he started in 1996 with guitarist and co-founder John Lee Williamson. "We grew up with this music," said Williamson, who co-wrote and produced "The King Hat Review." "It's really in our blood." Williamson said he remembers hearing roots music for the first time. "I was 9 years old and listening to AM radio to a DJ named Brother Henderson," he said. "He played this raw gospel song called Christian Automobile by the Dixie Hummingbirds. I remember thinking, 'what is this?'"

Watch a video of the King Hat Review project here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1485623643/the-king-hat-review-the-american-music-storyÂ

The King Hat Review has secured a major Los Angeles booking agency for their national tour and have a 2-week debut scheduled at a top venue in L.A. at the end of rehearsals. Also planned: A special donors "Gala Red Carpet Night" during KHR's two-week debut.

Blues-lovers all over the US (that's you) can help "The King Hat Review" tell this great story. Here's how. The King Hat Review has enlisted the Kickstarter program to help enable them to rehearse the show, build the sets and special effects, and prepare for their debut. "We got the idea to do this project about five years ago and started writing it about two years ago," explains Bragg. "It's all written and designed and now we are ready to make it happen. All of the performers are seasoned professionals who have shared the stage and recording studios with the biggest names in music. It's an amazing cast of singers, musicians and dancers, special effects and video artists."

The show begins with a huge on-stage movie screen as a featurette tells the story of an archeological dig in the future where an old chest is unearthed and artifacts from the past are discovered. As the 'switch' is turned on, to an old Victrola from the dig, Robert Johnson's song 'Crossroads" begins to play and the audience is launched back in time to the beginning of the era that gave the world this fantastic music, and the journey begins.

If you like our idea, please don't just donate - we ask that you also let people know about it by directing them to our Kickstarter project page, Facebook page, or Twitter, or email friends and family you think might be interested, anything you can do to help spread the word.

The King Hat Review

The King Hat Review (KHR) is a multi-media stage musical extravaganza that tells the amazing story of American popular music and traces it's origins and history from where and when it all started: in the blues and folk-blues that emanated from porches, bayou docks and juke joints in the Deep South. With the help of a hand full of crazy pioneer DJs it spread all over the U.S. and the world, and has become the music we know and love today. Original American music, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, jazz, Rock & Roll & Hip Hop. The huge production consists of an amazing band, singers, dancers and video artists; as well as a multi-media production with giant projection screens, stunning sets, special stage effects and hot choreography, that all come together to take the audience on the historical journey of American popular music, the artists, their songs and the personal stories of how the DJs of each era discovered them and introduced them to the world.

"Whenever I hear that music, that soulful, raw sound, I head that way," says KHR creator/executive producer, Bobby Bragg. "It's roots music and it started on the porches, the bayou and the juke joints in the south. It's the beginning of original American music." The King Hats is the name of Bragg's band he started in 1996 with guitarist and co-founder John Lee Williamson. "We grew up with this music," said Williamson, who co-wrote and produced "The King Hat Review." "It's really in our blood." Williamson said he remembers hearing roots music for the first time. "I was 9 years old and listening to AM radio to a DJ named Brother Henderson," he said. "He played this raw gospel song called Christian Automobile by the Dixie Hummingbirds. I remember thinking, 'what is this?'"

Watch a video of the King Hat Review project here:

The King Hat Review has secured a major Los Angeles booking agency for their national tour and have a 2-week debut scheduled at a top venue in L.A. at the end of rehearsals. Also planned: A special donors "Gala Red Carpet Night" during KHR's two-week debut.

King Hat Review has enlisted the Kickstarter program to help enable them to rehearse the show, build the sets and special effects, and prepare for their debut. "We got the idea to do this project about five years ago and started writing it about two years ago," explains Bragg. "It's all written and designed and now we are ready to make it happen. All of the performers are seasoned professionals who have shared the stage and recording studios with the biggest names in music. It's an amazing cast of singers, musicians and dancers, special effects and video artists."

The show begins with a huge on-stage movie screen as a featurette tells the story of an archeological dig in the future where an old chest is unearthed and artifacts from the past are discovered. As the 'switch' is turned on, to an old Victrola from the dig, Robert Johnson's song 'Crossroads" begins to play and the audience is launched back in time to the beginning of the era that gave the world this fantastic music, and the journey begins.

If you like our idea, please don't just donate - we ask that you also let people know about it by directing them to our Kickstarter project page, Facebook page, or Twitter, or email friends and family you think might be interested, anything you can do to help spread the word.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1485623643/the-king-hat-review-the-american-music-story