Arizona Blues Hall of Fame Showcase “Northern Meets Southern: Great Blues from Northern and Central Arizona”
The Arizona Blues Hall of Fame (ABHOF) is proud to announce the first
ever ABHOF Showcase in the southern region of Arizona. The purpose of
the Showcase is to bring Arizona Blues Hall of Fame musicians to
regions of the state that might not otherwise get a chance to see them
perform.
The Showcase is proudly sponsored by KXCI Community Radio 91.3
(kxci.org), the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation
(www.azblues.org), and Marty Kool’s Blues Review on KXCI
(kxci.org/programs/blues-revie
Tickets to the Showcase are $25 and can be purchased here:
https://tableagent.com/tucson/
The Showcase features three bands from Northern and Central Arizona
whose members include several ABHOF inductees:
S.E. Willis and the Willing (https://sewillis.net/home) are the
headliners. Leader and multi-instrumentalist Steve “S.E.” Willis, a
former long-time member of the Elvin Bishop Band, is a 1998 inductee
into the ABHOF for the Northern Region of Arizona. S.E. has been
called “A commanding singer and keyboardist (piano, organ, and
accordion) who delivers classic and original material with conviction
and authenticity.” He has been performing his unique blend of Blues,
Boogie, Rock, Zydeco, and Country since 1969. S.E. Willis and the
Willing also includes two additional ABHOF Northern Region inductees:
bassist Roger Smith (2023) and drummer Bob Blasi (1999).
Lucius Parr’s Blues Band (https://www.luciusparrband.co
second. Leader Lucius Parr has opened for Bobby Rush, BB King, and
Buddy Guy. He has shared the stage with Albert Collins, Johnny
Copeland, and Charlie Daniels. A Texan living in Arizona since 1968,
Lucius was inducted into the ABHOF for the Central Region in 2021. His
band also includes 2006 inductee Geo Bowman and 2024 inductee Tommy
Washington, both nominated for the Central Region.
The Sir Harrison Band
(https://www.facebook.com/p/Si
opening the show. Leader Harrison Begay is returning to his hometown
of Tucson for the first time in many years. The band’s style is
smooth, funky, and tastefully filled with blues overtones. He
represented Arizona at the International Blues Challenge in 2020 and
was nominated for Best of Phoenix in 2022. His self-produced 2007
album “Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings” was nominated by the Native
American Music Awards for “Best Blues Album”. He is a 2025 inductee to
the ABHOF for the Northern Region.
The Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, a non-profit, 501c3 organization, was
founded in 1995 to honor the musicians, bands, venues, and individuals
who have made significant contributions to the blues culture of
Arizona. Over 160 inductees have been honored into the ABHOF since its
inception. To see all 150+ ABHOF inductees, please visit
azblueshof.com.
