A blues legend comes to McIntosh

Friday night the soulful blues came to McIntosh as Johnny Rawls, a blues legend played with his band at Little Bobby's Bar and Grill in McIntosh. 

Johnny was born in Mississippi and said that music became a part of his life at a very early age because music was everywhere around him. 

Influenced by the deep soul music of  1960's, he would practice on his porch as older musicians would come and teach the young musicians what they knew.

He was in school band starting in the 4th grade playing the clarinet and saxaphone. 

He has been playing the blues for over 50 years and is a singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist.

Johnny has played with artists as B.B. King, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Little Johnny Taylor and Otis Clay. He started his solo career in 1990 and has won many awards including Male Soul artist of the Year.

His music has coined the phrase "Soul Blues" and when asked why he stated that, "people have been lying a lot, but this time they told the truth."

You can order his latest CD from his website johnnyrawlsblues.com and request it to be autographed.

Playing with Johnny were some great blues player as well. Allen Kirk, his drummer, played with the Rolling Stones and Keith Richard, and is featured in Richard's documentary. He learned to play the drums in the basement of, guitarist John McGhee's parents home.

John McGhee played guitar on Friday night along with Greg Allen on Bass Guitar. 

McGhee played originally with the Five Stars and the Stairsteps starting at 13 years old on the stage of the Appolo theater.

The musicians have been "around the world" playing together for over 20 years. 

The group performed at the Fargo Blues Festival on Saturday.