The Championship
Round is on April 15, 2012
5:30-9:00 pm
The Judges
Marty Ayotte
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Harmonica player for 40+ years. Continuing harmonica study
under Chet Williamson. Played harp with Charley Dee and the Blues
Doctrine, A Ton Of Blues, Shor'ty Billups & the Foxx Band and
regular at blues jams in central Massachusetts. Rub board player.
Have performed with Slippery Sneakers zydeco band, Leroy Thomas
zydeco band and Basin Brothers cajun band. Programmer in the WCUW
Blues Dept. since 1989. Have interviewed Charlie Musselwhite, B.B.
King, William Clarke, James Harman and Kim Wilson. Currently
studying music at Joy Of Music Program in Worcester under Jerry
Sabatini (trumpet). Taking courses in trumpet, keyboard and vocals.
Karen Nugent
Karen Nugent has been the president of the
Boston Blues
Society since 2007 and has been involved since it was founded in
1988 as a member, writer, editor, and vice president. She was also a
writer for the former Boston Blues News.
Karen has been a staff reporter at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette since 1992. She also writes for Worcester Living magazine, published by the Telegram & Gazette. Before that, she was a staff reporter at the Clinton Daily Item, and a contributing writer for the Ayer-based Montachusett Times.
Karen became a blues fan and a freelance blue bass player while in high school in the early 1970s, and was a regular at the Speakeasy in Central Square, Cambridge; (Remember, the drinking age was 18 at the time…) as well as Jonathan Swift’s, Night Stage, and Joe’s Place; Paul’s Mall in Boston, and the Sit ‘N Bull Pub, in Maynard, where she resides with her husband, Peter.
J. Stu Esty
J. Stuart Esty, local proprietor of Dr. Gonzo's Uncommon Condiments
and frontman for The Roadkill Orchestra
Shor'ty Billups
Born in New London, Connecticut, February 1,1932, Shor'ty Billups(pronounced Shor-tay), started at an early age singing and playing the piano . He started traveling and performing for our "Troops" at the age of 15 yrs old with the U.S.O. At the age of 18 years old he set aside his "dancing shoes" for the purpose of serving our Country for the next four years, never losing site of his vision.
After his tour of duty , he returned home and accomplished four years of college. Mr. Billups, decided to focus solely on his music(lucky for us) in the late 50's. He then went to New York seeking his "fame and forture" as a Recording Artist There he almost starved to death eating a bag of potato chips a day(1/2 morning 1/2 night) He made his first hit "BLACK CATS"(his first of many 45's).
In 1961, he taught himself to play the drums and he has been keeping that "funky" beat every since to this present day. He is one of the first with the ability to keep the beat while singing and "wooing the crowds.
Mr. Billups, has had an illustrious and captivating career( still going strong),writing, singing, and performing all over the world. He plays and sings his heart out , whether it was on the "chit'ling circuit" or at Corneige Hall with Johnny "rockhouse" Green and even the Apollo Theatre.
If we dig deep we will find that "the short man with the funky foot" has graced the paths of many great Artists. Just to mention a few; Oscar Toney,Jr. ,Wlson Pickett,Clarence Carter,Tommy Hunt,Bill Doggett, Carla and Rufus Thomas, King Charles , Jackie Wilson, Latimore, recently, James Cotton, Lousiana Red, Elmore James Jr., James Montgomery, the list goes on and on.
He moved south for 15 yrs, continued to captivate the crowds with his electrifying voice and unforgetable performances throughout the South. Not forgetting his Northern "roots", He resides in Boston, Ma. lending his "soulful expertise" when available.
You can check out his new CD called SHOR'TY'S GOT THE BLUES. He has written , sang and produced approximately 26-28 songs on his label SOLID GOLD and other various labels.
He recently help form a Blues Society called "The Down Home Blues Society,Inc, in which
he is the Music Co-ordinator. It is a non-profit organization. Mr. Billups continues to amaze us with his ability to perform in all areas of entertainment. We can now add Actor to his accolades for the second time around. His recent movie "Walls Have Ears"(2008) and look for him on the big screen in "Office Rampage"(2009)