This weekend is full again of family activities here in Cannon County especially for those that enjoy music. The Cannon County Senior Center presents it’s bi weekly music night series tonight with the group 1 Eyed Dawg. Cost is $5.00 for a fun filled night of entertainment. Saturday night Georgia Native Robert Eskew will perform at the Birdsong Studios on West High Street in Woodbury. Blues Artist Keb Mo gives Robert a thumbs up by saying
“When (Robert) digs down in his stuff and pulls out his guitar, man can he rip some Charley Patton! When I encounter young men like Robert, I’m encouraged.”
Robert says “I grew up listening to my grandmother’s old blues 78s, including Blind Boy Fuller, Big Joe Williams and Muddy Waters. As I kid I didn’t know there was any other kind of music. I thought there was only blues or church music. I remember my grandmother saying “No blues on Sunday, It’s the Lord’s Day..” So we would only listen to gospel… Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson.
I’ve been playing guitar since age 12. I play all types of music, but feel the closest connection to the sound of the old country blues singers. I want to carry the torch for the next generation of blues musicians and keep the old tradition alive. I only really played for enjoyment and at church until a once in a lifetime meeting with Keb Mo at a Christmas party. There was a band setting up to play and he was talking to the guitar player looking at his guitar. I joined in the conversation. He turned to me and asked “do you play”? I started picking on the guitar, Peidmont style, and he offered me a gig on the spot. I became one of the guitar players for his Monday night blues show with Keb Mo at Fontanel in 2013. Since then I have been working with Gary Nicholson, Jon Tiven and Bekka Bramlett. I am currently finishing up my solo album.”
The Concert is part of the Hills of Tennessee Roots Music Series and will start at 7:30 Saturday night. More information is available on the website www.thebirdsongstudio.com
