SNOW HILL — This year’s Snow Hill Blues Jam on Saturday, March 14 is a tribute to the late Burley Strand, who passed away in November of 2014.

Lovingly known as “Mr. B.,” he was a driving force of the Snow Hill All Stars whose guitar and voice graced the stage every year since the Snow Hill Blues Jam began in 2008. This year, the Snow Hill All Stars have banded together to honor his spirit and his unique brand of music. The lineup includes Chris English on guitar, Angel Resto on bass, Miss T on sax, Margot Resto on vocals and congas and Robert “Unknown Drummer” Buckner on drums.

“Each one of us has many years of great memories of sharing the stage with Mr. B. that we bring to this special night,” said Margot Resto, also in the All Stars lineup since its beginning. “The Snow Hill All Stars will be honoring Mr. B. by playing with our hearts, to keep his spirit and the Blues alive.”

Burley was not only known for his sincere, sweet voice and his soulful and warm guitar, but also for the way he made people feel. He would strum a chord, then call out “somebody say ‘yeah’” and the willing audience erupted with a “yeah” and on and on, and before he knew it, he would have everybody in the palm of his hand, singing and hollering and dancing.  He brought honesty to the stage, a pure joy that was impossible to resist.

“We feel lucky to have known this wonderful man, and grateful for all the music he gave us. We can’t wait to make music in his name,” Resto said.

Also performing will be Dave Chappell, a Washington, DC native, who is one of the most sought after and respected musicians in the area. In his second appearance in Snow Hill, Chappell will perform as “Dave Chappell and His So-Called Friends.”  For the last several years, Chappell has won the Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) for Musician of the Year, Rock Instrumentalist of the Year and Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with barbecue and a full bar available for sale. There will also be raffle and auction items to raise funds for Mike Armstrong, one of the Blues Jam organizers who is battling cancer.

Will call tickets, are available for $25 apiece and can be obtained by calling Bishop’s Stock at 410-632-3555.