Tallahassee Blues Fest

Sir Charles is an artist whose part-throwback, part-modern style of R&B is based on traditional Southern soul and blues. The vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist calls himself the “Undisputed King of Southern Soul”. Born in Ohio, raised in Alabama, and later based in Georgia, he received early support from blues singer-songwriter Marvin Sease and began his recording career in 2000 with a self-titled album. Several of his full-length releases, including his debut album, Love Machine (2002), and My Story (2008), have appeared on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Southern bluesman Pokey Bear injects a larger-than-life swagger into his R&B-infused bayou soul. One-third of the Louisiana Blues Brothas with Tyree Neal and Adrian Bagher (the trio issued Love on the Bayou in 2014), Pokey Bear released his solo effort Josephine Son Pokey in 2014. The album included sensual dance tracks like “The Gingerbread Man” and “Mr. Hit It and Quit It” as well as his de facto theme song, “They Call Me Pokey”.  His album, Mr. It Ain’t Fair, debuted in January 2016. The album features local dancefloor hits “Good Foot” and “Shake That Money Maker” with Mystikal.

Lenny Williams is best known for his three years as the lead singer of Tower of Power, one of the top funk/soul bands of the ’70s. While Tower of Power was a big break for Williams, he only stuck around for three years, leaving in 1975 to become a full-time solo artist. His solo career took off in a big way when he recorded Choosing You, with the 1977 release nearly going gold in America. Williams’ next solo effort, Spark of Love, became his first gold solo album. Williams’ 1986 single, “Ten Ways of Loving You”, became a hit and reached Number 67 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. In 1994, he recorded Chill for Bellmark. Williams’ next album, Love Therapy, came out on Volt/Fantasy in 2000.

Nellie “Tiger” Travis is a fiery singer whose music encompasses both contemporary blues and Southern soul. In 2000, Travis released her debut album, I Got It Like That, through her Tiger Belle label. As Southern soul became a larger part of Travis’ repertoire, she released 2005’s Wanna Be with You, which fused Chicago blues influences with contemporary soul tropes. 2008’s I’m a Woman featured a radio hit in the song “Slap Yo’ Weave Off,” which gained a loyal following in the South. In 2013, Travis scored another Southern soul hit with “Mr. Sexy Man”, which inspired a line dance popular in Southern venues.

Blues singer, guitarist, and bandleader Theodis Ealey has earned his nickname as “the Bluesman Lover”. Ealey learned to play guitar when he was just four years old. Ealey first made his name working with some of the best names in blues, becoming a journeyman guitarist before stepping out as a frontman. It wasn’t long before Ichiban Records took notice of Ealey’s skills. Ealey’s solo debut, Headed Back to Huntsville, was released in 1992 and three more albums would follow over the next six years. In 1994, Ealey won the “Male Vocalist Top Star Award”, and three years later was named the “Mo’ Better Blues Male Artist of the Year”. Ealey’s run with Ichiban Records came to an end and he responded by launching his own label, IFGAM Records (standing for “I Feel Good About Myself”). His first album from IFGAM was 2002’s It’s a Real Good Thang. In 2004, Ealey released the album Stand Up in It. The title track became a hit single, spending 21 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and peaking at Number One.

*Artist lineup is subject to change.