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Tad Robinson to conclude 2022 Summer Music Festival season
The Greencastle Summer Music Festival concludes its summer 2022 season with the Tad Robinson Band.
Robinson, an internationally-renowned blues singer and harmonica player, and his colleagues Kevin Anker (Hammond organ), Paul Holdman (guitar/vocals) and Brian Yarde (drums) will perform Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Gobin Church at Seminary and Locust streets in Greencastle.
There’s no admission charge for the concert. GSMF concerts are funded by pay-what-you-can donations at performances and generous individual donors, including Stu Fabe and Marla Helton, sponsors of this week’s concert. The GSMF also is supported by a grant from the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau, an endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation and the Inn at DePauw.
“Having Tad and his guys close our season has become a tradition,” GSMF founding artistic director Eric Edberg said. “Our motto is ‘friends making music for friends,’ and it is fantastic that we have one of the great blues artists of our time who lives right here in Greencastle, and is back from a European tour in time to make this date. Our audiences have been growing all summer as we have experienced top artists from multiple genres each week. This is a great way to celebrate our 18th year.”
From his NYC roots and his Indiana and Chicago musical upbringing, Severn Records recording artist Tad Robinson has caught the attention of the scene with his 10 Blues Music Award nominations (the Grammys of blues music) and his recordings for the Severn label as well as his earlier work on Delmark Records, and on Rounder Records as a member of the roots rock band, Big Shoulders.
He tours widely in the U.S. and has played in more than 20 countries worldwide with performances at some of the most important international blues festivals. With harmonica chops influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson and Junior Parker and a vocal style inspired by Otis Redding, Syl Johnson and Al Green, among others, Robinson ranks as one of the most unique and talented bandleaders in the international blues and soul communities.
After being recruited by ace guitarist Dave Specter to join his Chicago band in the 1990s and record the albums “Blueplicity” and “Dave Specter & The Bluebirds Live in Europe,” Robinson’s solo career blossomed. He has gone on to record seven albums as leader, collaborating with some of the highest profile musicians in the genre including the Memphis Horns, Otis Clay, Anson Funderburgh, the Hi Rhythm Section, Kevin McKendree, Johnny Moeller and Alex Schultz.
In 2004, Robinson was signed to a record deal with Maryland-based soul/blues-focused Severn Records, a turning point in his career which moved him further into the blues spotlight. His releases for Severn have featured backing by the great Severn house band of Steve Gomes, Robb Stupka, Kevin Anker and Benjie Porecki and horn and string arrangements by the legendary producer-arranger Willie Henderson.
Downbeat magazine has said, “Robinson places near the top of the list of the finest living singers of soul blues.” Meanwhile, a Mojo magazine review opined, “Robinson sings with a range and smoothness of delivery that are exquisitely evocative.” Finally, “Robinson’s lyrics go for the soul, and his old-school balladry is lovely and lush … a soulfulness plucked out of the anywhere airwaves of decades past,” acdording to Living Blues magazine.