Kickstarter

Tidewater is one of the best kept secrets in the blues arena.  The purpose of this project is to help promote and feature some of the best musicians in a collaboration  celebrating the blues.  Blues has stood the test of time and so has Eddie Shaw.  In 2012 Eddie Shaw will be celebrating his 75th. Birthday and 60 years in the business...if anybody knows blues it's Eddie.  Although we can't boast to be the home of the blues, we can say that this area is loaded with great talent. In an effort to introduce some of our very talented musicians to the rest of the world, Eddie Shaw has agreed to celebrate his 60 yrs in the blues business by recording with some of our most talented musicians !!!!

 Eddie has played on the who's who list of blues greats. Eddie Shaw himself, a sideman for many blues greats such as Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Lil Milton, Ike Turner, Freddie King, Willie Dixon, Houng Dog Taylor and the likes, is widely known for the time he spent with Chester Burnett.. known the world over as Howlin’ Wolf. In 1972 he became the bandleader for the legend and during the latter years of Howlin Wolf’s career Eddie took on a greater responsibility in addition to his role as bandleader. As the Wolf’s health deteriorated Shaw controlled the flow of shows , careful not to tire Wolf out, allowing him to keep his reputation as the world’s greatest entertainer in tact. As Wolf’s road manager, Eddie would review the band’s itinerary months in advance making sure the town they were performing in had equipment necessary to dialyze the Wolf. After Howlin Wolf’s death in 1976, Eddie continued in the tradition set before him and formed his own band, Eddie Shaw And The Wolfgang.

Shaw’s music serves as a testimony to his musical ability as a singer, songwriter, producer, instrumentalist and now bandleader himself. Having performed with some of the greatest blues musicians that have ever lived, he is part of a generation of musicians that have helped to define and shape the “Chicago “ sound. He is unquestionably one of the last few great “sidemen” still alive and performing today. . Having been heavily influenced by the “Chicago” sound, my goal is to open up an avenue by which other local musicians can benefit from performing with one who has shared the gift of music so freely with blues lovers from around the world.

Let's do our part to support area musicians, build a growing community of blues lovers and keep the blues alive and well in the 757 by supporting this project.  We're half way there !!!!!