Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Jazz Great Mose Allison to give free performance at Delta State

CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Composer, poet, pianist and vocalist Mose Allison will appear in concert  on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the Delta State campus.  The concert, titled “DSU Welcomes Mose Allison Home,” is free and open to the public. 

 

Born in Tallahatchie County where he was influenced by the bluesman that lived and performed on his father’s farm, Allison has long lived in New York City.  He has been a major influence on musicians over the last 50 years and has been touring for at least that long. His songs have been recorded by, among others, Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Diana Krall, John Mayall (with Eric Clapton) and Elvis Costello. His singular style, a unique blending of jazz and blues, and his profound lyrical wit mark him as a true American original.    Paul Bernays of Artisan Pictures in the United Kingdom presented an hour-long documentary about his career, titled “Ever Since I Stole the Blues.” 

 

Allison will have a busy schedule when he comes home to Mississippi.  After his performance at Delta State, he will be honored in Jackson, where the Mississippi Arts Commission will present him with a Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday, February 16, at 1:00 p.m. in Wells Memorial United Methodist Church.  The following day, he will be present at the Allison Mercantile Store in Tippo at 1:30 p.m. when the Mississippi Blues Commission unveils a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his honor.  Both the Governor’s Awards and the Mississippi Blues Trail unveiling are free and open to the public.

 

Immediately following the unveiling ceremony all are invited to the CARE building in Charleston for a reception and short program presented by CARE.   Allison’s performance at Delta State is made possible by funding from the Delta State Foundation, Delta Center for Culture and Learning, the Bologna Performing Arts Center, the Tri-State Education Foundation, the Delta State College of Arts and Sciences, and the Mississippi Arts Commission.

 

Mississippi Grammy artist Dorothy Moore scheduled for DMI All Access Series

CLEVELAND - The Delta Music Institute, a music industry studies program at Delta State University, will host Grammy nominated singer Dorothy Moore Tuesday, January 17, at 6:00 p.m. in Jobe Hall on the campus of Delta State University for an interactive discussion as part of the DMI All Access series. Moore will be joined by arranger Harrison Calloway, Jr. to discuss her career and the production of her new recording project. DMI All Access is a series of open forums and lectures featuring industry professionals from various areas of the music business. The series is hosted by Delta State artist in residence Steve Azar and is open to the public at no charge.

 

From her hit single "Misty Blue" to her latest single "Lie To Me," Dorothy Moore has warmed the hearts of millions with her songs. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Moore had a singing talent that was detected at an early age by her mother, who began buying her musical instruments and taking her to gospel programs. Ms. Moore began singing with The New Stranger Home Baptist Church Choir at age five, and eventually she became a soloist.

After graduation from Lanier High School, a recording company producer in Jackson discovered Moore and 1966 she signed with Epic Records. While attending Jackson State University, Moore and two other students formed a female group called The Poppies. The Poppies worked with The Four Tops, Bobby Goldsboro, and Wilson Pickett. They recorded the hit singles "Lullaby of Love" and "He’s Ready" for Columbia Records in 1966. After performing with the Poppies, Moore established a solo career in 1976 with Malaco Records in Jackson where she recorded the Grammy-nominated hit single, "Misty Blue," which rose to #1 on the R&B charts. Two years after "Misty Blue," Dorothy recorded a second Grammy-nominated single, "I Believe You."

Moore has earned awards and recognition, including four Grammy nominations, an Image Award, NATRA Female R&B Vocalist of the Year, Billboard Magazine Award, and many other awards worldwide. Throughout her career, Moore has appeared with such stars as Lou Rawls, Al Green, B.B. King, and The Temptations. She has also appeared on such shows as "American Bandstand," "Rock Concert," "Soul Train," and "The Midnight Special.” She has recorded with several different recording labels, including Volt, Rejoice, GSF, Chimneyville, and Malaco. Moore now records for her own label, Farish Street Records.

Moore was honored with a sidewalk marker of her likeness in 2001 at the Alamo Theater on Farish Street in Jackson where she started her professional career. Local honors have included the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1996, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2001 and numerous Jackson Music Awards. Moore serves on the board of the Blues Foundation and BB King Museum Advisory Board. She tours, produces, and records in Jackson.

The Delta Music Institute is an independent center of study under the College of Arts & Sciences at Delta State University, offering a B.S. in Music Industry Studies degree. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, creative, and business areas of the music and entertainment industry. For information, contact (662) 846-4579 or visit http://dmi.deltastate.edu.