June 26/ Wed
June 26, 2024
Contact: Kelsey Coary (813.301.6651, kcoary@viniksportsgroup.com)
KING GEORGE, TUCKA, POKEY BEAR AND MORE
BRING ‘THE BLUES IS ALRIGHT TOUR’ TO TAMPA
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m.
TAMPA, FL –The Blues Is Alright Tour comes to Tampa’s Yuengling Center on Friday, September 27 at 8:00 p.m. The Blues is musical storytelling filled with stark emotion and a revolving reality check. It’s authentically raw; transforming tragedy, adversity and heartache into a visceral and cathartic experience. This special night of emotive lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment features performances by King George, Tucka, Pokey Bear, Lenny Williams, Theodis Ealey, J-Wonn and Nellie “Tiger” Travis.
Presale tickets go on sale Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. with code “BLUES.”
ABOUT KING GEORGE
Bursting onto the Southern Soul scene with his signature party-centric sound filled with R&B flair, King George has quickly become a fan-favorite. Based out of Hopkins, South Carolina, King George exploded on the Southern Soul scene and rose quickly to headliner status on The Blues Is Alright Tour this past Spring 2023. His highly anticipated album, Juke Joint Music was released in 2022 after launching onto the music scene via YouTube in 2020. For old-school music lovers, King George’s music is the perfect combination of R&B, soul and funk that is sure to get anyone to do a little two-step.With his rich tone and satin-smooth vocals, his songs, “Keep on Rollin,” “Too Long,” “Friday Night” and “Leave & Party” are his top hits. There can only be one king: King George. For more information on King George, visit www.803kinggeorge.com and follow @King George on Facebook and @803kinggeorge on Instagram.
ABOUT TUCKA
Equally influenced byR. KellyandBarry White, Louisiana's Tucka James is an R&B singer who can deliver "pillow talk" songs that recall the grooves of the ‘70s, ‘80s and 2010’s. He kicked off his career in 2007, singing lead vocals withKeith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band. He introduced his solo career in 2008, along with his nickname "the King of Swing." He soon became a regional Louisiana favorite and opened gigs forMystikalandLenny Williams. HisLove Rehabalbum landed in 2009 with songs like "Sex on My Mind" and "Myspace Love." Forever King followed in 2011, then in 2015 he released Love Rehab 2. For more information on Tucka, visit www.tuckajames.com and follow @TUCKA on Facebook and @tuckakingofswing on Instagram.
ABOUT POKEY BEAR
Wardell “Pokey Bear” Brown was born on February 2, 1970 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is known for his soulful sound of music in the Blues/Southern Soul genre; however, he did not start out that way. Pokey Bear began his career as a rap music artist, but after doing it for a while decided to try other styles. His venture off into other styles of music would lead him to be the soulful singer that he is today. He was first recognized in music for his first two projects produced by Beat Flippa. Particularly his songs entitled “They Call me Pokey” and “Side Piece,” The song “Side Piece” happened as a result of a hook that was written by Heavy in which he asked Pokey to write lyrics to. He has worked with artists such as Tyree Neal, Adrian Bagher, Ms. Pat, Veronica Raelle and Cupid. For more information on Pokey Bear, follow @Big Pokey Bear-JSP on Facebook and @bigpokeybearjsp on Instagram.
ABOUT LENNY WILLIAMS
The ultimate soul crooner, Oakland, California native Lenny Williams possesses one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. With his rich, passionate vocal style, he is rightfully regarded as one of R&B’s most influential soul men. Williams began his musical career making records that have subsequently become R&B and Pop classics, tunes like the mega-hit “Cause I Love You” (recorded on his solo album) and “So Very Hard to Go” which he recorded as the lead singer for Tower of Power. Lenny Williams' style has transcended into the new millennium, influencing many of today’s newest R&B and Pop vocalists. Lenny and Kanye West were honored recipients of the BMI Songwriter’s Award for the song “Over Night Celebrity,” recorded by rapper, Twista. Lenny sounds better than ever as he continues to perform around the world focusing on love. “Love is what has gotten me thru all of these years. I look for love and I surround myself with it,” said Williams. He is able to take the listener to the heart of love with such soulful composure because love will never go out of style. For more information on Lenny Williams, visit www.Lenny Williams.com and follow @Lenny Williams on Facebook and @thereallennywilliams on Instagram.
ABOUT THEODIS EALEY
Blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and entertainer are just a few of the titles that describe the phenomenon of Theodis Ealey. This Mississippi native first picked up an instrument when his older brother, “Y” “Z” Ealey first taught him how to play at the age of four. Ichiban Records, a respected blues label in Atlanta, recognized Theodis’ multiple talents and immediately signed him to a deal in 1991. Over the next six years, Theodis and Ichiban Records would enjoy four very successful albums. The “Bluesman Lover” made lemonade out of lemons when Ichiban Records eventually closed its doors. Seizing the moment, Theodis Ealey used this opportunity to create his new label home, IFGAM Records. The 2004 “Stand Up In It” project was a runaway success as the No. 1 Single on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales Chart for five consecutive weeks, debuting at No. 5 on Billboard’s Blues Album Chart and No. 69 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Charts. For more information on Theodis Ealey, visit www.Theodis Ealey.com and follow @Theodis Ealey Official on Facebook, @theodisealey on Instagram and @theodisealey on Twitter.
ABOUT J-WONN
Jawonn Smith, better known by his stage name J-Wonn, is a soul singer that hails from Jackson, Mississippi and has built a name for himself following the release of his hit single “I Got This Record”. His love of Blues came from growing up around his mother and grandmother, who would often sing around the house. At the age of 13, J-Wonn began writing music of his own and went on to write for many Blues and Soul singers. One of his proudest writing credits came from penning a track for the legendary soul artist Lenny Williams. During high school, he was a member of a hip-hop group that also included elements of R&B. The group gained an artist development deal, and it helped Smith to learn a lot about navigating the music industry. It also gave him an opportunity to grow as an artist. J-Wonn's latest single entitled "Move On" is available on all digital & video platforms.” J-Wonn followed up “I Got This Record” with several other hits that were in continuous rotation on Southern Soul radio stations across the Southeast region. He has also won several awards from various outlets including Best Entertainer, Artist of the Year and Best New Single. He finished working on his second full-length album The Legacy which had led to collaborations with a wide range of different artists and an expansion of his brand of J-Wonn’s world to new ears. His latest single entitled "Move On" is doing great J-Wonn also released the video on his VEVO channel. For more information on J-Wonn, please visit www.J-WONN.com and follow @jwonn on Facebook.
ABOUT NELLIE “TIGER” TRAVIS
Born in Mississippi, she grew up immersed in the rich musical traditions of the South. Nellie's moniker, "Tiger," aptly reflects her fearless and ferocious stage presence, as she roars through her songs with a rare intensity that leaves audiences spellbound. With a career spanning several decades, Nellie has earned her place as a respected figure in the world of blues music. Her distinctive voice, filled with raw emotion and authentic storytelling, has earned her critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. Over the years, she has released a series of highly regarded albums, each showcasing her exceptional talent and versatility as a vocalist. For more information on Nellie “Tiger” Travis, visit her website, www.nellietigertravis.com, and follow her @nellietigertravis on Facebook and Instagram.
This performance is produced by North American Entertainment Group Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States, in conjunction with Heritage Entertainment Group.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
North American Entertainment Group, Inc. is one of the largest independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States. With more than 25 years in the industry and an extensive history in venue management, NAEG has consistently delivered the hottest concerts, comedy shows and theatrical entertainment to venues in more than 100 markets. Beyond the stage, NAEG has produced television specials, concert DVD’s, online content and branded merchandise. A company distinguished by creativity in tour packaging and marketing strategy, NAEG’s success resounds in the memories of those who have attended their events. North American Entertainment Group is an umbrella company of several popular, hit subdivisions. With experience in all types of entertainment (comedy, hip-hop, jazz and more), North American Entertainment Group is always searching the horizon for pinnacles of new entertainment to deliver to cities around the country. For more information, visit northamericanentertainment.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Therese Faherty, Marketing Director | North American Entertainment Group
therese@northamericanent.com
TICKETS: Tickets for this event go on sale Friday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $55.00, $75.00, $95.00, $125.00 and $175.00. Prices are subject to change without notice. Prices do not include facility fee or service charges. Advanced parking passes are available at ParkWhiz.com.
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