San Luis Obispo Blues Society Upcoming Events Saturday, January 19, 2002 the Maurice John Vaughn band with the Blues Angels Saturday, March 2, 2002 Paul deLay SLO Vets Hall 801 Grand Avenue 8PM Members $12 / Nonmembers $14

MAURICE JOHN VAUGHN

Blues guitarist, singer, and saxophone player Maurice John Vaughn was born and raised in Chicago.  He began his musical career playing drums, guitar, and clarinet in a school band on Chicago's South Side.  In the late 60s, he focused on the saxophone, playing in jazz and then soul / R&B bands.  In the late 70s, he turned his attention to guitar.  In 1979, he started playing blues with Phil Guy (brother of` blues guitarist Buddy Guy).  Soon, Vaughn was playing with other Chicago blues musicians such as Luther Allison, Son Seals, and A.C. Reed.  He started his own band in the 1980s and has been touring frequently since then.

Vaughn joined with Alligator Records in 1986.  They reissued his self produced CD “Generic Blues Album” and included him on “The New Bluebloods: The Next Generation of Chicago Blues” (a compilation album) in 1987.  In 1993, he released “In the Shadow of the City” (Alligator).  Recently, he released his third CD,  “Dangerous Road”, with Blue Suit Records.

Vaughn writes powerful, innovative, and often humorous songs, which incorporate various Chicago influences into a blues and R&B style that is completely his own. His CDs showcase everything Maurice does best: sharp, original songs, soulful vocals, cutting-edge guitar, and swinging saxophone.  They paint a picture of city life that is both hard and unrelenting, optimistic and hopeful.  “I don't always know what's going to come out or when because I write about what's going on around me, what's happening to me, to my friends.”

Vaughn loves to perform and travels extensively.  He develops a close rapport with the audience, talking with them as if they were sitting in his living room. His music contains “an engaging and personal mix of blues styles from gut-bucket to Hendrix…Vaughn's guitar playing is tasty and very fluid…an unpretentious joy to the soul” (Living Blues).

THE BLUES ANGELS

The Blues Angels have been playing together for five years.  They have performed for the SLO Blues Society, Mothers Tavern, First Night, Midstate Fair, and other venues on the Central Coast.  The “angels” are noted for their great dance music and energetic instrumentation, citing B.B. King, Robert Cray, Paul Butterfield, Junior Watson, Tommy Castro, and Gladys Knight as influences..  They describe their sound as “modern day groove blues the way you like it.”

The Blues Angels are composed of five experienced, local musicians.  The silk and gravel voice of Brett Hoover provides the lead vocals for the band.  Danny Oneill backs him on his massive Hammond organ.  Larry Brebes plays lead guitar and provides backup on vocals.  The rhythm section includes Tom Leatherwood on bass and vocals, and Gary Bullion on percussion and vocals.

Volunteer.  Your Blues Society is run entirely by volunteers. Besides a sense of accomplishment, volunteers get into the shows for free and receive a couple free drink tickets.  We could use your help, so call 541-7930 (our voice mail number) and volunteer to work a shift at the show.
 
 

CATALOG OF SHOWS	LOCAL BLUES PERFORMERS	CD REVIEWS	OTHER
December 2001 October 2001 September 2001 July 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 September 2000 July 2000 May 2000 April 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 October 1999 1998 Shows	Big Daddy's Blues Band Black Cat Bone Croon Dogs HOODOO Blues Band Guy Budd Band Valerie Johnson Texicali Divas Karen Tyler	Ernie Hawkins Big Bill Morganfield Mitch Woods & Rocket 88s	2001 t-shirt