"An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th 2011

The Green Bar in Tuscaloosa will be hosting "An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th as part of the University of Alabama American Studies Department's 50th Anniversary celebration. Tuscaloosa's own Midnight Mayor, Craig "Sweet Dog" Pickering put together the show for the AMS Undergraduate Club. It will feature AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends as well as gospel great Reverend John Wilkins (son of the legendary blues and gospel musician Robert Wilkins); Louisiana's Jay Chevalier who is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and was named “Official State Troubadour” by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2006.

Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts are a favorite of everyone from Lazy Lester to the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, the Haunted Hearts convened in 2003 with the sole purpose of single-handedly resurrecting New Orleans' once rich, now nearly invisible hillbilly music heritage. The Haunted Hearts will follow Reverend Wilkins and will back up Jay Chevalier.

Thanks to the American Studies Department this event is free of charge! Green Bar is located at 2209 4th St, Tuscaloosa, AL

Here's the schedule:

8:00pm – AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends

8:30pm – Reverend John Wilkins

9:30pm– The Haunted Hearts

10:15pm – Jay Chevalier

More Information on the artists:
Reverend John Wilkins
Michael Hurtt and His Haunted Hearts
Jay Chevalier

Getting High on the Lord

Andre "Mr. Rhythm" Williams was born in Bessemer, Alabama in 1936, and spent his youth in Chicago and Alabama. Andre launched his musical career in Detroit in the 1950's, recording for the now legendary Fortune Records. He is best known for his especially greasy R&B Fortune recordings like "Jail Bait", "The Greasy Chicken" and "Bacon Fat" which made it to #9 on the R&B charts in 1957. As a writer and producer, Andre Williams worked with Stevie Wonder, The Contours, Ike Turner as well as 1970's funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic.

The Meditation Singers were a Detroit based gospel group formed by Earnestine Rundless in the late 1940's. They recorded on a variety of labels through the 1970's and continued performing into the 1980's. The group's line up changed over the years, and at various times included Della Reece, Laura Lee and Rev. James Cleveland.

Later in their career, the Meditation Singers recorded two albums on the Jewel label, the first of which "A Change is Gonna Come" was released in 1971. Andre Williams produced the LP and wrote all of the songs, except for the title track, which is a Sam Cooke song.

"Getting High on the Lord", (listen here) is a funky gospel number from that LP that's a departure from the Meditation Singers' earlier, more traditional shout gospel sound. And, producing a gospel record is a departure for Andre Williams for obvious reasons. The result is strange and interesting, though the collaboration came to an end after the "A Change is Gonna Come" Jewel LP.
Since the 1990's Andre has toured and recorded albums with The Dirtbombs, Diplomats of Solid Sound and Morning 40 Federation who hail from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Recently he's been touring and helping to promote the documentary film, "Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams". Check his MySpace page for up to date information.