The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys at The Muddy Waters, 1708 State Street, Bettendorf, on Sunday, April 12. The show starts at 6:00 p.m. An $8 per person charge for MVBS members, or $10 per person for non-members will be taken at the door (application for membership will be available).
Bringing crowds to their feet at the hardest to please and sophisticated night clubs in the Midwest, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys play traditional blues, straight up with a big dose of passion. With smoking grooves, served up with hot harmonica and smooth stinging guitar, they play original songs peppered with nods to Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, and the three Kings.
Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971, when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After a 15-year hitch in the Navy he moved to Milwaukee, where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long-time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy's Legends.
The Reverend and Chain Smokin' Altar Boys were chosen as Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) awardees for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008 and again in 2010.
