Sacramento Blues Society's Hall of Fame Awards and Marcel Smith Concert

According to Sacramento Blues Society Hall of Fame Chair Sally Katen, the Hall of Fame honorees are chosen each year in recognition of their contributions to the preservation and promotion of the blues in Sacramento for at least 20 years.

This years inductees are:
-Leo Bootes: Mentored by Sacramento’s Johnny “Guitar” Knox, Bootes started his guitar career at 9 years old; spent 8 years with the Gary Mendoza BandMarty Deradoorian – Began his saxophone career with Jeffrey Osborne, and followed with stints with Albert Collins; he joined The Blue Flames with Ray “Catfish” Copeland (HOF) and Jimmy Morello (HOF). Now plays with Foxtrot Mary, and sits in with Red’s Blues and The Hucklebucks.
-Kenny Marchese: Guitarist who co-founded the Shasta Blues Society, and in 1996 joined The Hucklebucks, moved to Sacramento and became a student of Johnny “Guitar” Knox. Is lead guitarist for The Kyle Rowland Band since 2009.
-Robert Nakashima: A guitar stalwart in the vibrant 1980s Sacramento blues scene, Robert brought in the dynamic young singer Marcel Smith to his band, The Soul Prophets

The “Gone But Not Forgotten” Award this year recognizes Gary “Whalin’ Black, a free spirit blues character right out of California novels.

Full bios of all inductees are available here.

Special guest artist performing at the afternoon ceremony is blues/soul/gospel star Marcel Smith with Bob Jones & The Chosen Few. His most recent CD, Everybody Needs Love (Little Village Foundation) has received rave national reviews. Area audiences may recall his dazzling opening set for the UK’s soul star James Hunter Six at Harlow’s in January 2019.

The south wall of the Torch Club is the SBS Hall of Fame Wall where framed photos of all HOF members are located. Past inductees include Mick Martin, Johnny Heartsman, Arbess Williams, Rick Estrin and Lil Charlie Baty, Ray “Catfish” Copeland, and the Texiera Family, owners of the Torch Club since 1934.