Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 25, 1993 TAG: 9306250112
SECTION: SF-4 PAGE: 4 EDITION: SALEM FAIR
SOURCE: By DONNA SULKIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Each night there'll be a different group performing two sets on the Free Stage, and on Sunday, July 4, sponsor K92 will showcase the K92/Salem Fair Summer Blast '93 with Boy Krazy, Wendy Moten, Michael Damien (of "The Young & the Restless" fame) and Freedon Williams. Summer Blast begins at 1 p.m. on July 4.
On the Free Stage starting at 7 and 8:30 p.m. each night, you can hear:
Friday, July 2: FESTUS GUNSLINGER, country
Saturday, July 3: THE TRUE, groove/rock
Sunday, July 4: BANANAS AT LARGE, dance music
Monday, July 5: JUST ANOTHER BAND, country
Tuesday, July 6: WAMPUS HAWGS, country, southern rock,
R&B:
Wednesday, July 7: NAKED BLUE, vocals/guitar duo
Thursday, July 8: LONE STARLETS, jazz, country, blues
Friday, July 9: BLISS BLUES BAND, electric blues
Saturday, July 10: WOLVES OF AZURE, rock 'n' roll
Sunday, July 11: MIKE LATHAM BAND, top 40, progressive, rock
Promotional materials for Wolves of Azure claim, "It's not a drug, but it's still intoxicating. This four-piece rock 'n' roll group has opened for the likes of Marshall Tucker, Danny Gatton, Delbert McClinton, Edgar Winter and Elvin Bishop.
Their own music is a showcase of original tunes with influences ranging from Latino rhythms and '60s memorabilia to searing Texas blues and hard-hitting power rock.
Main vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Stuart Martin claims rock is in his blood since he's a cousin of Elvis, but he is also experienced in bluegrass, country, blues and punk. Keyboardist Joe Doerr was trained in jazz in Toledo, Ohio, where he performed with several jazz groups, a background that enables him to play anything from honky-tonk piano to cathedral organ.
At the backbone of the band's rhythm section are Craig Reid and Jim Ralston. Reid was involved in the late '60s Miami rock scene where he developed a friendship with the late Jaco Pastorius. Ralston's background is jazz, funk and rock.
Wolves of Azure has played through Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, and at such New York hot spots as CBGB, Blondie's and McGovern's Bar. Their full-length CD will be available in September. Wolves of Azure play on the Free Stage Saturday, July 10, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Salem fair-goers will hear plenty of vocalist Gail Bliss: She's the lead singer for both The Lone Starlets and the Bliss Blues Band, and both groups are performing on the Free Stage.
Born in Grants Pass, Ore., in 1962, Bliss was introduced to music by her father who played a Gretschguitar and sang. Along with her sister, Cheryl, they had that family harmony not easily duplicated. Bliss played sax in concert and in jazz bands throughout college, but it wasn't until she was 26 that she let the world know she could sing.
Voted No. 1 country and western vocalist by the readers of Northern Virginia Rhythm and nominated for Wammie Awards '92 s Best Female R&B Vocalist and Best Female C&W/Roots Rock Vocalist by the Washington Area Music Association, Bliss wants to see the world through her music - to be part of a recording and touring project. And she hopes one day to receive as much recognition for her sax playing as she does for her voice.
Bliss is joined on vocals for The Lone Starlets by Tracey Eldridge who also plays guitar. The band's diverse repertoire - swingin' jazz, country and blues - is a reflection of their individual backgrounds. Bliss' smooth, natural, low-end voice, strongly influenced by Patsy Cline, Aretha Franklin and early Linda Ronstadt, clearly stands out. An accomplished jazz and blues guitarist, Eldridge has extensive musical experience in the Baltimore area, including teaching as well as performing.
Rather than just perform other artists' songs, The Lone Starlets add their own arrangements of instrumentation and three-part harmonies to somewhat obscure pieces - mostly old '30s and '40s swing and jazz numbers - to come up with an updated blend of country-swing, with a blues edge.
Backing Bliss and Eldridge are Barry Sless, who doubles on pedal steel and electric guitar, Mike "Mookie" Siegel, who is equally adept at piano, accordion and organ, and Chris Enghauser on electric and upright bass.
The Lone Starlets have performed at the Rainbow Room, the Ritz and the Bottom Line in New York, the Birchmere in Northern Virginia, the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, the Palomino in Los Angeles, Opryland, and across the country and on cruise lines. They plan to release an album within the year.
If you love Bliss with The Lone Starlets at the fair on July 8, you can come back the next night to hear her with the Bliss Blues Band. She's the lead vocalist and front person for this Louisiana zydeco and cajun-influenced electric blues band. Playing clubs and private parties, the band received an honorable mention for Best Blues Band in the Mid-Atlantic region in the 1992 Maryland Musician Reader's Poll.
You can catch The Lone Starlets at 7 p.m. on the Free Stage on Thursday, July 8, and the Bliss Blues Band at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 9. Admission is free.
by CNB