Free Blues Concert at NC Museum of History on January 8

Dec. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Ring in the new year with a dose of the blues! Fourteen-year-old Lakota John Locklear is a Lumbee/Lakota Native American “bluez” musician who plays the dobro bottle-neck slide guitar and harmonica in addition to singing. Blending traditional styles of the Delta and Piedmont acoustic blues with bottle-neck slide guitar and a mix of Chicago electric blues, Locklear’s unique sound is also sprinkled with influences from his indigenous heritage, including sounds of the Native American flute. Locklear captivates his audiences with his unique blues style of playing and “old man” soulful blues vocals.

Locklear grew up listening to his dad’s music library. He started playing harmonica at age 7 and guitar at 9, and by age 10, he was so intrigued by the sound of the slide guitar that he bought himself a glass slide, placed it on his pinky, and has been playing slide ever since. He added singing to his musical aresenal at age 11. His debut CD, Old Bluez, That’s Newz to Me features covers of songs by Sippy Wallace, Big Bill Broonzey, and more.

In July 2008, Locklear was awarded a scholarship to Centrum’s Country Blues Festival in Port Townsend, Washington, where he joined Phil Wiggins, the late John Cephas, and other talented musicians for a week of blues music sessions.

He returned to the same festival in 2009 for another week of workshops, and he performed in the Port Townsend area.

Locklear was a featured performer at the Local Artists Blues Showcase, where he was accompanied by his sister Layla, (vocalist); his Dad, John (guitarist), and other well known local musicians who make up Lakota John & Friends.

Locklear performs as a solo artist, as part of a trio, or with Friends, including George Johnson (bass guitar); Tony Raimondo (drums); Miss Layla Locklear (vocals & percussion); and Sweet Papa John (acoustic guitar).

Last year, he recorded with the Music Maker Relief Foundation as one of their Next Generation Artists.

This concert is free and open to the public; program notes will be available, and large-print program notes will be available upon request. Bring your friends, families, and children to hear the exciting blues music of this young, up-and-coming slide blues player.

And save the dates for the rest of this year’s Music of the Carolinas concerts:
•   Boo Hanks–February 12
•   Patrick & Cathy Sky–March 11
•   Alejandro Santoyo–April 15
•   Sheila Kay Adams–May 13
•   GrassStreet–June 10

As this year’s Music of the Carolinas series continues, PineCone acknowledges the people and organizations who have helped the series survive. When PineCone and the Museum of History first got word that funding for the series was in danger, PineCone started soliciting donations from members, many of whom donated money to keep the series going!

Thanks to the generosity of those supporters, as well as this year’s sponsors, Williams Mullen and the NC Museum of History Associates, and in-kind support from WLHC-FM & WLQC-FM, the series has been sustained for 2011-2012.

Please consider making a donation to help sustain the Music of the Carolinas series and other PineCone programs for many more years to come. Your donation can be in honor of a friend or loved one, a special event that you want to commemorate, or simply because you value the music programs being offered! Contact PineCone at 919-664-8333 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

Learn more about this and other upcoming concerts and events at http://www.pinecone.org.

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PineCone—the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, is a private, nonprofit, charitable membership organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting traditional music, dance and other folk performing arts.