Enjoy an evening of free blues music while purchasing some of the best barbecue that Orlando has to offer. The 9th annual Blues B-Q will take place in Downtown Orlando on February 28 from 4-10 p.m. outside of City Commons Plaza on Orange Avenue.
Presented alongside community partner Star 94.5, Blues B-Q will feature performances by Grammy award winning artist Betty Wright, the Gerry Williams Band and other national and local acts.
Each year, Blues B-Q partners with a philanthropic organization to help bring awareness to their mission. This year, the focus will be on Pathlight Home. Pathlight Home will be at Blues B-Q collecting old cell phones, iPads, IPods and batteries for recycling to raise money toward their goal of ending homelessness by providing permanent supportive housing to those in need.
Born in Miami, Wright began singing at the age of three and by 14 had already released her first album and a top-40 hit. In the early 1970s, at the age of 18, Wright received a gold record for her album Clean Up Woman as well as the nickname “Miami’s Queen of Soul.” Over the next few years Wright went on to accomplish more than a dozen top 40 hits as well as a Grammy for co-writing the 1975 R&B song of the year, Where Is The Love.
In 1988, she became the first female to have a gold record on her own label. Recently, Wright has stayed busy with by continuing to produce music with artists such as Joss Stone, Angie Stone, P. Diddy and Keyshia Cole along with picking up Grammy nominations along the way.
Another act that shouldn’t be missed at this year’s Blues B-Q is the Gerry Williams Band. A combination of funk, soul and R&B, the Gerry Williams Band was formed by musician, producer and songwriter Gerry Williams. With original music written by Williams along with covers of tunes by famed artists such as Johnny Guitar Watson and Stevie Wonder, the Gerry Williams band comes ready to perform and entertain each and every time.
During the event, barbecue will be available for purchase from vendors such as Mister BBQ, Serena’s BBQ, Smokey Jay’s BBQ, Blazin’ Bones BBQ, Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ and Johnny Henry’s BBQ.
