Louisville's Steve Ferguson : Big Beat Rock n' Roll

[redlotus51]

Tomorrow there's going to be a benefit show for one of the best rhythm and blues guitarists going, Steve Ferguson. And we are lucky enough to have him as a fellow Louisvillian, having grown up in Clarksdale, Hazelwood Housing and the Portland and Okalona areas. The benefit will be at Stevie Rays Blues Bar Sunday Aug 23rd at 5pm.Steve was a founding member of NRBQ . Later he had bands Brother Stephen and the Humanitarians and Midwest Creole Ensemble. In 1990 he wrote and played lead guitar on Chuck Berry‘s pianist Johnnie Johnson album "Johnnie Be Bad" along with Keith Richards , Eric Clapton and members of the NRBQ. On the album he sang on his classic “Can You Stand It” and “Baby What’s wrong With You ?”.Around 1992 he formed the band Midwest Creole Ensemble including local guitarist Pat Lentz and bass Monk Mackey, both very good musicians. He had albums “Jack Salmon and Derby Sauce '92“, “Mama-u-Seapa” and “Mo Ho Ho Criollo: Live at the Air Devils Inn “. He did an album with NRBQ's Terry Adams called "Louisville Sluggers" 2006.Early in his career with NRBQ they were the opening act for at "The Fillmore East" for Joe Cocker and The Jeff Beck Group, with Rod Stewart. With the Midwest Creole Ensemble he fronted acts like Dr. John and Marcia Ball. When John Sebastian came to town he noted that one of the country’s great guitar players lived in Louisville and put out a request over the radio that Steve come and play at his show. Which he did.Steve also has a deep spiritual side and I had a good time driving Steve to a church where the service was based on “The Book of Common Prayer”. He has a wonderful album, “The Seven Cantles of Morning Prayer” where Steve wove together various sources including Gnostic and aprochrypha Scriptures and Metaphysical Meditations by Paramahansa Yogananda and beautiful acoustic instrumentation including the dulcimer.More detail in Louisville Music News article :http://www.stevefergusonfund.com/musicnews/index.htm(I AM NOT A MUSIC HISTORIAN SO IF I WAS INCORRECT ON ANY INFORMATION OR LEFT ANYONE OUT, I AM SORRY)Carol and I saw Steve for the first time at the debut Party for "Jack Salmon Derby Sauce" at the old Uncle Pleasants in 1992 and became instant fans. For two or three years Carol and I would go out almost every week to boogie to Hot Walker Blues, Hidie Ho, Shake and Bake and the great "Can You Stand It". We put out mailings for him for a while.Our health failed us and we just couldn't make his midnight starting times or had the energy to dance (and there's no way you go to one of Steve's shows not dance) we could no longer do the "Outer Space Boogie" and I’m sorry to say slowly lost contact with him. He was in West Virginia some of the time.Right now I'm listening to the 2nd solo on Blues #572 to on Johnnie Be Bad and I must say he smoked it, and maybe just bested the first soloist, Eric Clapton.It's a very sad to say that Steve has developed lung cancer and this may be his last show of R'nB' . His health insurance is not nearly covering the medical costs. Anyone willing to help out a fine American artist of the guitar can contact :http://www.stevefergusonfund.com/Greetings, checks and money orders can be made out and sent to:Steve FergusonPO Box 4825Louisville, KY.40204Thank you for your time and consideration.