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Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, considered one of the greatest - and arguably the most recorded - drummers, will bring his special brand of "sticks" to the Centenary Blues Festival when he appears with Rob Paparozzi and the Hudson River Rats on Friday March 9.
The 3rd Annual Blues Festival, presented by Joe Hirsh Productions and the Centenary Stage Company, with major support from PNC Bank, the Hackettstown Business Improvement District, Mr. Music in Washington, Marley's Gotham Grill in Hackettstown, GBW Insurance, and Good Impressions Printing and Mailing, features two full days of the blues at Centenary College and around the Hackettstown area, with the incredible Roomful of Blues headlining Saturday and Paparozzi on Friday.
The Blues Festival is a weekend-filled event for the Hackettstown area, with the David and Carol Lackland Center at Centenary College hosting music Friday and Saturday nights, preceded by "matinee shows" at Marley's Gotham Grill in the late afternoon (Rockin' Blue on Friday/Great Fraud on Saturday), and a "post-show party" on Saturday night with Brooke Shive & The 45s, also at Marley's. The Centenary shows begin at 7 on Friday and 6:30 on Saturday, with the headliners scheduled for 8:30 both nights. Other events are also being planned for the weekend including a free Downtown Kickoff Show at the Gazebo on Main Street on Thursday March 8 from 5-7 p.m. with the band Amplified Heat.
Born June 11, 1939 in Elkton, Maryland as the 11th of 15th children, Purdie began drumming as a six-year-old. By the age of 14 he had become the most important provider for his family - earning his pay with country and carnival bands. This "schooling" enabled Purdie to "feel my way into nearly every kind of music, 'cause I had to know all styles and was never afraid to try something new."
Purdie moved to New York in 1960 after finishing high school and played with Lonnie Youngblood before landing his first hit with King Curtis. This led to his work with Aretha Franklin in 1970 - and the beginning of an unparalleled career. Since then, Purdie has been a regular guest in the studios of the stars of Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Rock, working together with Paul Butterfield, Larry Coryell, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, Al Kooper, Herbie Mann, Todd Rundgren and Cat Stevens. He has also anchored sessions with the Rolling Stones, James Brown and Tom Jones, among many others, as well as regularly producing his solo albums under his own name.
With Purdie on stage will be Paparozzi (formerly of Blood, Sweat & Tears and the Original Blues Brothers), singer & harmonica player,
Rounding out the Friday schedule will be Quimby Mountain Band opening up followed by The VooDudes, and on Saturday, Johnny Charles with Nasty Ned, and Rhett Tyler & Early Warning featuring Al Buonanno on bass and Jeff Prescott on drums.
Other key supporters for this year's festival are Courtyard by Marriott - Mt. Arlington, Residence Inn Marriott Mount Olive, Mountain Ledge Music, Investors Bank, United Jersey Blues Network, Cathy Miller Photography, CHP Communications, HTVProductions, Sound Effects Records, and MoPromo.
For ticket information and further details about the festival, go to www.centenarystageco.org or phone 908-979-0900. Student priced tickets ($15) are available at the box office only. You can also LIKE the Centenary Blues page on Facebook. For more about Joe Hirsh Productions and its ongoing events, check out the Joe Hirsh Productions page on FB or email joehirsh@msn.com.
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