(Posted Thursday) Walking to work the other morning, I noticed the marquee at the Bing Crosby Theater had a case of the blues.
Blues as in Eric Bibb, Jonny Lang and Robert Cray.
Bibb, an acclaimed acoustic blues-roots singer-songwriter, will visit the Bing on July 9. Up next is Jonny Lang, the one-time child prodigy who released his first record at age 14. He’ll bring his gospel-infused blues rock to town on Aug. 7.
Then there’s Robert Cray. The blues legend from Tacoma, the guy who cut his teeth in the Eugene blues scene of the 1970s (along with fellow Northwest blues pioneer Curtis Salgado) will play the Bing on Aug. 11.
Of course, while Cray has won Grammys and sold millions of records, his place in pop culture history was cemented with his uncredited performance as the bass player for Otis Day & the Knights in 1978’s “Animal House.” Check out the famous “Shout” scene at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=MG7KCOO76Wc.
Tickets for all three shows are on sale now through TicketsWest, (800) 325-SEAT or www.ticketswest.com.
Carolyn Lamberson