Blues is the heartbeat of Chicago music, and Felicia Fields, Sam “Shake” Anderson and Chic Street Man are among the artists that make that music really sing in our souls. Hear them Sat., July 14, 8 p.m., when they perform a blues concert that answers the question: Why We Sing the Blues, Baffes Theatre, Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St.
Felicia P. Fields has performed widely on stage in the United States and Canada, as well as in concert, on television and in film. Best known for her portrayal of Sofia in the Broadway and first, national touring company of The Color Purple for which she received a Tony nomination, Theatre World Award and a Clarence Derwitt Award, Fields recently headlined in Let The Good Times Roll at Victory Gardens Theatre and completed a very successful run of directing “5 Guys Named Moe” with Ron O.J. Parson. TV and film credits include roles on Chicago Fire, Sense 7, and Kingfisher Chance the Rapper. She has been nominated for numerous Joseph Jefferson acting awards. When not performing on theatre stages, Felicia loves performing in Blues sets in some of the biggest Blues fests in the states. It gives her great joy to work with The Smiley Tillmon Band and Shake Anderson to name a few.
Sam “Shake” Anderson was just age 22 when he became the music director for The Impressions. Soon he was performing as back-up musician and collaborating with such musical talents as Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt, and Static Major. Anderson has been performed in many of the great music venues around the world — Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Ryman Auditorium and Symphony Music Hall, to name a few.
As a staff writer for Warner/Chappell Music, Anderson co-wrote original music alongside industry giants such as Ray Charles, Michael Bolton, Static Major and Ruben Studdard. He collaborated on gold and platinum movie soundtracks for big screen features, including “Dr. Doolittle,” “Blue Streak” and Austin Powers.
Chic Street Man has spent more than 40 years performing in clubs, colleges, theaters, special events, school, festivals and benefit shows as a musical ambassador for human rights. Street Man incorporates a variety of musical forms in his performance, all of which have roots in the ancient African tradition of storytelling with call and response. He is a talented actor who has performed in theaters across the country; the writer, singer and composer of several albums including “Lullabies,” “Make it Thru the Night.” “Everybody be Yourself” and “Beau-ti-ful.” He was the subject of a documentary, “Chic Street Man – Passin’ The Blues Along.”
Tickets to Why We Sing the Blues are $30 ($27 for Beverly Arts Center members). Tickets/info: 773-445-3838 or www.beverlyartcenter.org.
