Joe Louis Walker with Special Guest Jay Geils – Honoring the King: A Tribute to B.B. King

Newton, NJ – Joe Louis Walker and Jay Geils celebrate the life of B.B. King in a joyous tribute. The duo, alongside Johnny Winter’s Grammy winning guitarist Paul Nelson, will appear together at The Newton Theatre on Friday, October 30th at 8:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 14th at 11:00 am.

Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner shares, “I was coming off a UK tour gigging 32 shows in 30 days. I was opening for B.B., and he heard me complaining. He took me aside and told me “JOE, you could have a real job at a Seven Eleven Store. But they ain’t hiring!!!!  And to this day, I never complain about ANY gig. Cause I’m privileged to be able  to do what I love, and make a bit of a living making people happy. Thanks B.B. for putting life into real perspective.”

A true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer and prolific songwriter, Walker has toured extensively throughout his career, performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, and earned a legion of dedicated fans.  Walker’s 1986 debut album Cold Is the Night on HighTone announced his arrival in stunning fashion, and his subsequent output has only served to further establish Walker as one of the leading bluesmen on the scene.

NPR Music calls Walker “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues,” and he is referred to within the blues world as a living legend.

Jay Geils, founder and guitarist for the “band from Boston that bears his name” needs no introduction to the legion of music fans that made the J. Geils Band one of the iconic acts in the history of rock and roll. After a twenty five year career with millions of records sold, a Grammy nomination, five gold records, one double platinum record, and tours with bands like the Eagles and the Rolling Stones, the band broke up in 1985.

Following the release of two CD’s on Rounder Records and touring with the band Bluestime, Jay teamed up with award winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin in 1992. Twice their music together has been placed on the prestigious Grammy Awards ballot. They have performed with many jazz and blues luminaries including guitarists John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Grammy nominated vocalist Karrin Allyson, saxophonists Scott Hamilton, Fred Lipsius and Harry Allen, and members of the Roomful of Blues horn section.

Jay recently was lauded in The Great Jazz Guitarists, the definitive book on jazz guitar by author Scott Yanow for “returning to his roots and recording Jay Geils Plays Jazz, an excellent modern swing album.”  Jay has appeared numerous times in concert with blues legends B.B. King and legendary blues musician James Cotton. Continuing a tradition started by jazz and blues guitar icons Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, Jay mines a rich tradition of American roots music.

Tickets for the Joe Louis Walker and Jay Geils  – B.B. King Tribute range from $19.00 to $44.00. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County’s premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it’s rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey’s Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com.     

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