MONROE - Blues singer and musician Mac Arnold, along with his Plate Full O' Blues band, will serve up a heap of blues and soul music to blues enthusiasts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St.
Arnold strums out rhythm and lead on his signature gasoline-can guitars. His high school band, J Floyd and The Shamrocks, were often joined by none other than Georgia native James Brown on piano. After deciding to pursue a professional music career, Arnold joined the Charles Miller group until 1965, when he made the move to Chicago to work with recording artist/saxophonist A.C. Reed.
Arnold is one of the last surviving members of the Muddy Waters era. In 1966, Arnold was invited to join the Muddy Waters Band and help shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. The Muddy Waters Band shared the stage with the likes of Howlin' Wolfe, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams and Big Mama Thornton just to name a few. During this time, Arnold played on John Lee Hooker's album, "Live at the Café Au Go-Go," as well as Otis Spann's classic recording "The Blues is Where it's At."
After more than a year with Muddy Waters, Arnold formed the Soul Invaders, which backed up many artists, including The Temptations and B. B. King. In the early 1970s, he moved Los Angeles to work at ABC Television and Laff Records (Redd Foxx). He also played bass on the Sanford and Son television show when he wasn't playing bass for Otis Redding and B.B. King. This led to working with his friend Don Cornelius on the set of Soul Train from 1971 to 1975 and then working with musician and vocalist Bill Withers ("Lean On Me").
After retiring from show business in the 1980s, Arnold moved back to South Carolina to become an organic farmer. Some 15 years later, Arnold was lured back to the music scene and now performs across the U.S. and Europe with his own band, Plate Full O' Blues.
Prior to the concert, learn about the history of blues music at the documentary film screening of "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Feel Like Going Home" scheduled to be shown at 6:30 p.m. today in the second floor auditorium at the Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Ave. A half-hour post-film audience discussion led by Madison Blues musician Tony Menzer begins at 7:30 p.m. Film screening and discussion are free and open to the public.
Reserved seat tickets for Mac Arnold and Plate Full O' Blues are $25, $20 and $10 for students 18 years of age and under. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; by calling the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-124; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands Inc. and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Dave and Janeen Babler; Monroe Clinic; Precision Drive and Control; Wisconsin Bank and Trust; Carter and Gruenewald Company, Inc.; Pat and Annette Holmstrom; Chris and Julie Sachs; and Tom and Karen Vale.
Arnold strums out rhythm and lead on his signature gasoline-can guitars. His high school band, J Floyd and The Shamrocks, were often joined by none other than Georgia native James Brown on piano. After deciding to pursue a professional music career, Arnold joined the Charles Miller group until 1965, when he made the move to Chicago to work with recording artist/saxophonist A.C. Reed.
Arnold is one of the last surviving members of the Muddy Waters era. In 1966, Arnold was invited to join the Muddy Waters Band and help shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. The Muddy Waters Band shared the stage with the likes of Howlin' Wolfe, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams and Big Mama Thornton just to name a few. During this time, Arnold played on John Lee Hooker's album, "Live at the Café Au Go-Go," as well as Otis Spann's classic recording "The Blues is Where it's At."
After more than a year with Muddy Waters, Arnold formed the Soul Invaders, which backed up many artists, including The Temptations and B. B. King. In the early 1970s, he moved Los Angeles to work at ABC Television and Laff Records (Redd Foxx). He also played bass on the Sanford and Son television show when he wasn't playing bass for Otis Redding and B.B. King. This led to working with his friend Don Cornelius on the set of Soul Train from 1971 to 1975 and then working with musician and vocalist Bill Withers ("Lean On Me").
After retiring from show business in the 1980s, Arnold moved back to South Carolina to become an organic farmer. Some 15 years later, Arnold was lured back to the music scene and now performs across the U.S. and Europe with his own band, Plate Full O' Blues.
Prior to the concert, learn about the history of blues music at the documentary film screening of "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Feel Like Going Home" scheduled to be shown at 6:30 p.m. today in the second floor auditorium at the Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Ave. A half-hour post-film audience discussion led by Madison Blues musician Tony Menzer begins at 7:30 p.m. Film screening and discussion are free and open to the public.
Reserved seat tickets for Mac Arnold and Plate Full O' Blues are $25, $20 and $10 for students 18 years of age and under. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; by calling the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-124; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands Inc. and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Dave and Janeen Babler; Monroe Clinic; Precision Drive and Control; Wisconsin Bank and Trust; Carter and Gruenewald Company, Inc.; Pat and Annette Holmstrom; Chris and Julie Sachs; and Tom and Karen Vale.