Blues Musician Chris English Hold Performing Arts Fundraiser October 16

SALISBURY, MD---Blues musician and Salisbury University Department of Music faculty Chris English presents his third annual performing arts fundraiser 8 p.m. Saturday, October 16, in Holloway Hall Auditorium.

English uses vintage instruments, including slide guitar and harp, to bring Delta-style blues to Salisbury. Special guests include Ted Nichols with SU’s African Drum Ensemble; Nancy Mitchell, reciting blues poetry; and voice majors from the SU Department of Music.

English began playing guitar at age 11. His older brother introduced him to the blues in the late 1960s, during high school. English concentrated on slide guitar and harmonica, teaching himself to play.

Throughout the years he has learned the subtleties that make each type of blues special. He concentrated primarily on the Delta style of blues dominant in Mississippi. He also uses vintage guitars from the ’30s to replicate the sound and feeling of the blues he has studied and loves. He puts that sound to good use in his class “Blues: the Roots of Rock and Roll,” which he created and teaches at SU.

English released his third album, Chris English 1-13-07, in 2009. His second album, Lowdown in the House, was released in 2004 and his first album, Live at the Avalon, was recorded at the Avalon Theatre in Easton and released in 1996.

A $10 donation is suggested at the door to benefit the Department of Music Performing Arts Fund. For more information call 410-543-6385 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.