HARMONICA WORKSHOP IN MARKSVILLE, LA PAYS TRIBUTE TO “LITTLE WALTER” JACOBS
The Avoyelles Arts Council and The Cottonport Bank are helping pay tribute to one of Marksville’s most treasured sons, “Little Walter” Jacobs, the legendary blues harmonica player that was born in Marksville May 1, 1930, by sponsoring “The Marksville Harmonica Invitational Workshop” and “Tribute Performance” on Saturday, October 20, 2012.
The workshop is free and open to the first 200 students that register. The workshop will be held at the Fox Theater on Washington Street in Marksville and is being conducted by award winning musicians Johnny Sansone from New Orleans, Greg Izor from Austin, TX, and Harvey Harp and The Crescent City Harmonica Club. Sansone and Izor are widely recognized as two of the most accomplished harmonica players in the country and tour regularly world wide. Sansone recently won a 2012 Blues Music Award in Memphis for Song of the year ,his recording “The Lord is Waiting and The Devil is Too”.
“We are so excited to pay tribute to the birthplace of Little Walter, the undisputed king of the blues harmonica. I have to believe there is a future Little Walter in Marksville and we are going to be looking for him or her. I know for sure this event will inspire some future professional harp players, as we put brand new free harmonicas in the hands of 200 students,” states Johnny Sansone, referring to the 200 free harmonicas being donated for the workshop by the Hohner Group, the premier manufacturer of the instrument.
This event would not be happening if it weren’t for the efforts of District Attorney Charles Riddle, himself a fan of “Little Walter”. “I am really excited about the harmonica workshops that will be given for free in Marksville, the birthplace of Little Walter Jacobs. This is a great honor in memory of the greatest harpist ever.” says Riddle, who was steadfast in his commitment to bringing this very special and timely workshop and performance to the city of Marksville.
Johnny Sansone and Greg Izor will perform later that evening at an exclusive performance honoring the creativity and contribution of “Little Walter” at the newly reopened Bailey Theater on the Courthouse Square. They will be joined by other artists, including Greg “Fingers” Taylor, longtime Jimmy Buffet band member who has also played with U2 among others. Audience members may even be treated to a jam session with some of the more advanced students from the workshop. Live music fans, and especially those of the blues, will not want to miss the night of world class musicians.
TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP OR FOR TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL VAN ROY AT (318) 240-3495 OR JONATHAN KNOLL AT (225) 266-4196
