Imagine the female love child of Dusty Springfield and Doug Sahm with Dr. John acting as the midwife…
…and you’ll have an idea of the southern roots music with elements of rock, blues, soul, gospel and country that defines artist Beth McKee.
McKee is a Southern singer/songwriter/pianist/accordion player backed by seasoned musicians from outfits like Hall & Oates, Bellamy Brothers, George Porter, Lester Chambers, etc. A former member of the popular New Orleans country-cajun group Evangeline (MCA Records) McKee toured extensively behind two critically acclaimed albums. L.A. Weekly raved Beth’s piano is “worthy of some Jerry Lee Lewis arson.”
Long before her career took off nationally, the Mississippi native played piano in church. She solidified her southern at Ole Miss. She played blues on the chitlin’ circuit from steamy juke joints to muddy hog farms, and emerged as a respected player on the New Orleans, Austin and Nashville music scenes.
In 2010, the self-released I’m That Way displays all those southern roots fusing to formulate her swampy and soulful musical identity.
Being swampy and soulful, it’s no surprise her first solo release is devoted to the songs of the late Louisiana legend Bobby Charles. As a member of the historic Chess Records roster in the 1950s, Charles wrote and recorded hits like “See You Later Alligator,” “But I Do” and “Walking to New Orleans.” McKee interprets these and Charles' lesser known gems on I’m That Way.
0 Responses:
Post a Comment