Hi friends and neighbors. Welcome to another edition of what’s happenin’ around town. You can see by all my pictures that I had a great time last week listening to tons of fabulous music. There’s too much I need to talk about comin’ up so I’ll get right to it.
    Just got word that the annual Michael Tracey White Memorial Day will be held Mon., Sept. 12 at Coconuts Beach Bar & Grille. Randy Lee Ashcraft will be hosting the event with lots of local musicians stopping by to pay tribute to Michael who has been gone from us for five years now (hard to believe) but never far away in our memories. He loved music and loved the people he played for. Whether playing solo on guitar or with his swing band The Little Professors on drums or stand-up base, Michael always gave it his all. In a recent Tish Michel article I referred to him by his nickname erroneously as ‘boom boom.’ Well, of course all my local friends knew I boo-booed because he was ‘Bam Bam.’ His family loves to tell stories of him banging away on his drums at a very early age. They will be on hand, too, to reminisce about the music man we all love. Please join us Monday at Coconuts.
    Also, a new addition to the entertainment lineup at Fager’s Island has been made. That amazing young man I’ve been telling you about who was a regular at the Tuesday Talent Showcase nights has been scheduled to play his own show Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 pm. This is your chance to hear the amazing Fingerstyle Guitar Virtuoso Shaun Hopper. Taken from the press release: Shaun Hopper is well-known for his energized arrangements of pop tunes, classics, haunting melodies and neck-popping originals, always delivering an audiovisual performance that stretches the limits of acoustic guitar....mesmerizing everyone within earshot. Hopper takes his audience on a tour from Celtic imagery and Classical medley to soulful ballads and jazzy improvs, all of which he'll counter punch with a Nashville "hot licks" session, fret-tapping original or 70's pop song, and sometimes rousing the crowd with a contagious sing-a-long or two. Expect to hear threads of Beethoven, Beatles, George Benson, Sting, Segovia, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Queen. Shaun has made his mark opening for acts like “The John Jorgenson Quintet” (Elton John), Bobby Yang, Pierre Bensusan, The California Guitar Trio, Muriel Anderson & Tierra Negra, G. Love and Switchfoot. He has toured with Tim Reynolds & TR3 from the Dave Matthews Band and has co-written songs with Tommy Emmanuel and Buster B. Jones. He was recently signed to Steve Vai's Favored Nations/Digital Nations label (Fall 2010) which included the release of his CD, Lower Case Letters. Yes, my friends, this is an act you’ll be telling all your friends about. Hope to see you there.
    Also at Fager’s Island, Steal Your Face returns on Thur., Sept 15, with their tribute to the Grateful Dead. This time they bring with them the “Jerry Garcia - Visual Journey,” a nationally touring exhibition and sale of artwork by Garcia - original waercolors, hand-signed lithographs, etchings and drawings; also featuring artwork by Bob Dylan, John Lennon and more. Some may not know that before joining the music scene in San Francisco, Garcia attended the California School of Fine Arts and over the years produced many works in his own distinctive style, a visual universe of his own. I bought a Jerry Garcia tie for my husband the last time the tour came here; definitely worth seeing.
    Here’s another one we’re oh-so fortunate to have visiting our scene - “Steady Rollin” Bob Margolin. During the ‘70s Bob was fortunate to be taken under the wing of legendary blues man Muddy Waters. Bob honed his guitar skills watching and playing old style Chicago blues alongside the master (‘73-’80). If you’ve seen the Martin Scorsese film, “The Last Waltz,” Margolin is the bearded young guy always standing to Muddy’s right. He also appears on the “Muddy Waters Classic Concerts” DVD and wrote the liner notes.
    Margolin, who won the W.C. Handy Award in 2005 and the Blues Music Award for Guitar in 2008 (same deal, different name), continues to tour worldwide and I can only end by saying - WOW! He’s gonna be playing right here in little ol’ Ocean City?! Too cool! For much more on this talented man, check out his web site at www.bobmargolin.com
    Bike Week & Bike Fest begin Thur., Sept. 15, and a lot of extra fabulous music has been set up for us to enjoy. For instance, Seacrets is bringing in the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Tuesday Gone that will rock the stage Wed., Sept 14; then Thur., Sept 15th it will be Zoso a Led Zeppelin tribute band. Bound to be good!
    The Purple Moose, where I had a ball listening to and getting to meet members of FUEL (love their new guitarist Andy Anderson), is presenting Paul Lewis & Y-NOT Fri.-Sat. and Wed.-Thur. This should be a rockin’ great time listening to classics and Paul’s creative originals too.
    Before I sign off, I invite you all to come to M.R. Ducks on Sat., Sept. 24, for the Mary Lou benefit that was rained out during the hurricane. Following The Untouchables show at Sunfest at 3pm Sat., the band will play at M.R. Ducks and John LaMere will help me auction a few items to help Mary Lou cover some of her staggering medical expenses. Despite the fact that she has undergone eight surgeries in two years, Mary Lou continues to give performances that have endeared her to her Ocean City fans. Please show your love by coming out and doing whatever you can to help. Love you all. Party Safe!