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The Society had its first Members Night Out at Nate’s Comfort Zone March 5 located at 3301 12th Street NE Washington, DC. Nate was the ultimate host, providing a delicious menu of free down-home food and affordable drinks. Clarence Turner and his band kept folks dancing to hot, Blues rhythms. Clarence closed out the evening with rousing guitar-playing stunts that climaxed with him on his knees, the guitar behind his back, and a dancing woman waving a leg over it all. Any more details will be kept between those who turned out for the event. We had a small but enthusiastic crowd that I hope will grow as the word gets out: That the DCBS is making the good times roll. We are currently looking for a host for May’s Members Night Out (MNO). If you own a club and want to host a DCBS Members Night Out, send me a message at president@dcblues.org or contact our Membership Coordinator at membership@dcblues.org. The rest of you need to come on out to our next Members Night Out and show your love for the Blues and its local performers. No MNO is planned for April. Instead, the DCBS is raising funds for our Blues in the Schools Program with two shows featuring Zac Harmon and his band, The Mid South Blues Revue. On 15 April, Zac performs 7:30pm-11:30pm at The Bungalows in Chantilly, VA. The second show on 16 April is at the Surf Club in Bladensburg, MD, 8:30pm-12:30am. I hope many of you will attend one or both of these events. Not only will you be supporting the perpetuation of Blues understanding and appreciation among our youth, but also you’ll be treated to a helluva show. DCBS owes a debt of gratitude to Marlene Caldwell, who is allowing us to help celebrate her birthday by sharing the artistry of Zacariah and his band while supporting the BITS program. We look forward to working with Marlene on future special projects. Happy Birthday Marlene! In the last installment of our newsletter, editor Ron Weinstock, waxed starry-eyed about Zac’s electrifying performance on the Legendary Blues Cruise in January. Zac made the cruise with many Blues luminaries, having won the Best Unsigned Band award at the 2004 International Blues Challenge (IBC). This is no small feat if the depth and range of the competition was anything like that of the 2005 IBC competition I witnessed in Memphis. Zacariah Harmon was born and raised in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, and represents well the music that emanated from the city’s historic Farish Street district. While in high school and college, Harmon gigged as a guitarist for the likes of Z.Z. Hill, McKinley Mitchell, Dorothy Moore, King Floyd and Sam Myers. Relocating to L.A. in the early eighties, he worked as a studio musician, then established himself as a writer and producer, crafting songs for the likes of the O’Jays, Freddie Jackson, Karyn White, Alexander O'Neal, Black Uhuru and the Whispers. Zac’s first Blues project was the self-produced Live at Babe & Ricky's Inn,a raw powered testimonial to the Mississippi blues. After winning the IBC title and while continuing to perform live across the country, Harmon committed himself to writing, recording and producing his next album. The Blues According To Zacariah reflects his commitment to the blues and to keeping it real, as he takes you “from the pulpit to the juke joint.” You don’t want to miss Zac’s shows. Support Blues education and have a ball. I’m looking forward to seeing you there—
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