Arts and Culture
Blues Lovers Honor Richmond Music Legends at Two-Day Festival August 13-14
The festivities begin on Friday, August 13 at 5:00 p.m. with a ticketed mixer at CoBiz at 1503 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. Jimmy’s daughter Sue McCracklin will perform, and blues legend Tia Carroll will be the special host.
World-famous blues musician Jimmy McCracklin got plenty of recognition during his successful life and even more honor is coming his way shortly to commemorate a milestone birthday.
The North and Greater Richmond Blues Foundation is staging Celebrating Richmond Music Legends to honor the renowned song writer and musician who spent much of his adult life in Richmond and achieved international fame with songs like “Walk” and “Yesterday is Gone.” The foundation works to support the blues community and shine the focus on the blues history of North and Greater Richmond.
The guest of honor won’t be there (McCracklin died in 2012 at age 91), but blues lovers across the Bay Area can gather in Richmond to celebrate what would have been McCracklin’s 100th birthday and look back with nostalgia to bygone days when there were blues clubs galore in the area.
The festivities begin on Friday, August 13 at 5:00 p.m. with a ticketed mixer at CoBiz at 1503 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. Jimmy’s daughter Sue McCracklin will perform, and blues legend Tia Carroll will be the special host.
Sue McCracklin grew up in North Richmond and Carroll was raised in Parchester Village. DeJeana Burkes, the foundation founder and event organizer, has lived in Richmond for 40 years.
“People on the show have a connection to Richmond, are working today, and all have a connection to Jimmy McCracklin in some way,” says Burkes, who has worked with Sue McCracklin to honor her father at this milestone birthday.
The Saturday program, at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza, runs from noon-5:00 p.m. and features Dorothy Morrison & Family, Alabama Mike, East Bay Center for Performing Arts, Michael Skinner & the Final Touch Band and Jesse James & the Dynamic Four Band. DeJeana Burkes and Sue McCracklin will also perform.
“The concert will embody Jimmy’s belief that a song should tell a story – he said ‘you are singing a story – ,” says Burkes, who has arranged that between performers, local people will tell stories about the late McCracklin or the local music scene.
As an added feature, the Richmond Museum of History and Culture, which is co-sponsoring the event, has a special exhibit at 400 Nevin Ave., of McCracklin memorabilia, through the month of August. The exhibition includes a suit worn by the musician on the “My Story” album cover and performances in his later life. The suit will be accompanied by Jimmy’s awards, gold records and other artifacts related to the musician’s life.
And for some “icing on the cake,” the City of Richmond has declared August 13th Jimmy McCracklin Day and will be presenting a key to the city to his daughter.
