Skip to main content

Former Panist - Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ celebrates his Compton roots with new music

-

 

Grammy-winning blues star and Compton native Keb’ Mo’ is releasing the 13-song “Good to be” album on Jan. 21. The new album was written between his homes in Nashville and Compton. (Photo by Jeremy Cowart)

By  | riguzman@scng.com | Press Telegram
PUBLISHED: January 14, 2022 at 7:53 a.m. | UPDATED: January 14, 2022 at 7:53 a.m.

Although he’s a five-time Grammy winner who has collaborated with musicians such as Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt and has performed at the White House, when Keb’ Mo’ walks around his hometown of Compton, the respected bluesman goes unnoticed by most.

And that’s fine with the 70-year-old guitarist, who has a new album with a title track paying tribute to his city.

“No one knows me in Compton but I love being back in Compton and this album is a real pinnacle accomplishment for me, it’s probably my best album,” the 70-year-old musician, who will release the 13-song “Good To Be” on Jan. 21, said in a recent telephone interview.

Recorded between Nashville, where he has lived for more than a decade, and Compton at his recently renovated childhood home where he now lives part time, the album is a celebration of his roots, his long musical evolution and his positive outlook on life.

See more


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A look at the new panyard under construction for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra by Sharmain Baboolal

-
Image
Here is an exclusive look at the TT$14 million panyard for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra which has been homeless for several years, but which was gifted this piece of real estate at 25 Nelson Street in Port of Spain. When completed it will be the first steelband facility of its kind, anywhere in the world, occupying one and a half acres of land. Take a tour with me below: Under construction new Desperadoes Panyard
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to educator, scholar, and veteran ace panist Athena Nichole

-
Image
Athena Nichole June 4th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Athena Nichole “I feel when you truly love something or someone musically, you can NEVER just like one of their pieces. Clive Bradley will always be my favorite arranger because of his inventiveness to create masterpieces. To name only one song would be bogus, though... Rebecca, High Mas, In My House and that’s just in Trini, (LOL). He’s truly missed.” -- Athena Nichole   In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - veteran panist Athena Nichole shares her wisdom, experiences and intellect through her personal journey with Pan, and the art form as a nurturing environment for youth and community. See Interview Related content: Meet Athena Nichole - New York, USA   Athena Nichole with D'Radoes Steel Orchestra ...
Read more

Well done! UKASPO (UK All Steel Percussion Orchestra) - (Ebony Steelband, Mangrove Steelband, Croydon and Metronomes steel orchestras) performing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations

-
Image
When Steel Talks extends congratulations to all involved in the historical grand steel orchestra music production for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday 5 June 2022. It was an awesome performance and an occasion with significant cultural and historical importance - particularly in recognition of the importance of the Windrush Generation. Performing the musical works of the late great calypsonian Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) was very appropriate. Lord Kitchener himself was one of the most famous members of what has now been acknowledged and referred to as the historic “Windrush Generation.” One of the last surviving members of TASPO (Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra), Sterling Betancourt , had the honor of conducting UKASPO (UK All Steel Percussion Orchestra).  That was the name given the four steel-orchestra combination ( Ebony Steelband ,  Mangrove Steelb...
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to ace Brooklyn panist, and dancer, Norzika Lewis - Women's Month - Their Voice, Their Life, Their Dreams, Their Passion, Their Story

-
Image
  Happy Birthday to Norzika Lewis April 4th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Norzika Lewis “Those ten minutes on stage to me are the best moments in my life every year that I perform. There is always this feeling like a rush of energy that I get when I perform. Because being a performer is part of me and what I love to do.”  Norzika Lewis She is with no doubt a ‘culture baby.’ The performing arts is her forté. In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - the multi-talented Norzika Lewis shares her encounters, feelings, experiences, and insight into the Steelband music art form and more.   See full interview Norzika Lewis with NY Pan Stars Relevant content Norzika Lewis with CrossFire Steel Orchestra - Outta Da Box   Norzika Lewis with CASYM Steel Orchestra - GYAL Owner
Read more

When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family and friends of scholar, educator and panist Devon Cumberbatch

-
Image
Sincere condolences to the  Pan Lara, P an Evolution, Pan Masters and   Skiffle family, and the pan fraternity on the whole on the passing of  Devon Cumberbatch . Devon Cumberbatch “I would love for the instrument to be as mainstream as the piano, guitar or violin. It may have a ways to go, being a fairly young creation, but I believe pan can progress, develop and infiltrate music of all cultures. I would love to see it as an instrument for all peoples, and universally accepted. The history of the pan is just as important as the future where it can potentially end up and blossom.” -  Devon Cumberbatch    Related content:  Meet Devon Cumberbatch - Maryland ,   Details for Devon’s funeral:   Funeral Service is on February 8th at 12pm. Viewing starts at 11am. Capitol Memorial SDA Church 3150 Chesapeake St, NW Washington, DC 20008 Devon Cumberbatch SA
Read more

Former Steelpan player KEB MO from Compton to multi-Grammy winner

-
Image
  Keb Mo is the first to tell you he was never crazy about school or academics. It was music that came naturally to the young man. Music was his passion. He was intoxicated with the sound of percussion instruments and hypnotized by the rhythm of the drums. So much so, that Keb Mo started playing the steel drums with a local calypso group called, the Young Calitino Steel Drum band. He played steel drums in that band from eleven-years-old to age nineteen. Their group was popular around the South Los Angeles area and at that young age he began working hotel gigs with them and private parties. “I started playing the steel drums because a guy in our Compton, California neighborhood built and played the steel drums. Coincidentally, he was probably the only American making steel drums who came from Trinidad and happened to live on my block. He’s not around anymore. He passed away a few years ago. But his name was Chuck Countee. I’m still really good friends with his son Carlos. I got so g...
Read more

Calypso’s “Kitch” of the Day

-
Image
Calypso’s “Kitch” of the Day by Von Martin written for the “WASHINGTON POST” February 20, 2000 published at the request, and with the expressed permission - of the author If Aldwyn Roberts, the calypsonian known as Lord Kitchener, had been born in a metropolitan country instead of the island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, he might have been considered one of the greatest composers of this century.I wrote for the Washington Post commemorating “Lord Kitchener.” This was done in 2000 using material from an interview I did with Kitch in 1988. I think its a doozy. Cheers, Von But then he would not have contributed so much to calypso music. For more than 50 years, Lord Kitchener, who died Feb. 11 at the age of 77, gave calypso some of its wittiest and most infectious musical compositions. Calypso, a genre grounded in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, is both poetry in music and editorial in song. Calypso songs praise or condemn their subjects. The lyrics tell of the life of th...
Read more