JR’s Old Packinghouse Café To Host Local Sarasota Blues Band

Saturday night, December 30, at Jr’s Old Packinghouse Café, Bluestar takes to the stage with music from the Crusaders to Magic Slim, Muddy Waters to Steely Dan and even some Allman Brothers.

Singer and lead guitarist Kevin O’Connor has moved further into the spotlight, with his versatile, quick-fingered guitar playing, a combination of technical skills, musicality, creativity, and stage presence, plus his gravelly voice and passionate vocals.

Kevin was born to play the blues. When he lived in Chicago, he played with west side blues legend Jimmy Dawkins and his bass player Cornelius Boyson from the Howlin’ Wolf band of the ’60s and also Wolfs’ drummer Ray Scott. He played festivals as a hot shot young guitarist and jammed with the locals including Jumping Willie at Joetta’s New Look Bar on the west side, Lefty Diz, and Jimmy Smith up on the north side. Kevin joined a band called Howard and the White Boys, the opening act for Buddy Guy at Buddy Guy’s legends. Jimmy Dawkins called on him for tours of the east and west coasts of the U.S., then on to Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

Kevin put his guitar down for a while when his daughter was born and took a job on a night shift to spend days with her, but lately he says, “I find just like my old boss Jimmy Dawkins used to say, ‘I can’t shake these blues!’

He’s joined by Oren “Doc” Plous on keyboards, Michael Pawlus on Saxophone, Beth “the Velvet” Hammer on bass, and Vinny Vingelli on drums. Appearing 7 to 10 pm at Jr’s Old Packinghouse Café.

Photo from Beth Hammer