Artist History In the summer of 2002 Mike Murray former bass player for Alligator Records recording artist Michael Burks and Grammy Award winner Bo Ramsey, was in need of new personnel for his Northwest Arkansas blues band, The Groove Kings. Having hosted several blues jams in the area he had a pretty good idea of the people that were available. He was especially interested in a female blues singer who had been coming to the blues jams, her name was Jennifer Beaver. Jennifer was a transplant from the Austin TX blues scene and had taken some time off to raise her family but was now considering returning to the blues music she loves. After discussing her options with the musicians with whom she had been trying to get a band together, it was confirmed that she would join The Groove Kings. Considering the staggering talent Jennifer possessed and impact of adding such a charismatic performer to the band, Mike and Jennifer decided to form a partnership and created Jennifer B & the Groove Kings. One of the first sidemen they enlisted was the legendary Fayetteville Arkansas keyboardist Bruce Parker who had an impressive resume of performing with many of the top performers of the area. Bruce brought an impressive arsenal of keyboarding and vocal skills that added a whole new dimension to the already strong lineup of; Mike Murray, bass/vocals; Jennifer B, vocals; Rusty Wilson, harmonica/vocals; Dale Kellison, guitar; and Lynn Beaver, drums. This lineup began to build a strong reputation of exciting performances throughout Arkansas and southern Missouri including the prestigious Bikes, Blues, and BBQ, blues festival in Fayetteville Ar and the Ozark Blues Society blues Festival. Alligator Records artist Kenny Neal caught Jennifer's performance at the OBS blues fest and was stunned by her dynamic and soulful performance and has since been a fan. When the strain of performing, recording, and the time away from home and family took its toll, harmonica player Rusty Wilson decided to leave the band. Guitarist Dale Kellison decided to rekindle his longtime love for jazz by starting his own jazz combo. After trying a few different combinations Jennifer and Mike decided on the young guitar phenom Isayah Worford to fill the spot. Isayah's youthful energy and unbelievable talent has catapulted the band to a new level that will bring about the next level of development and growth. Isayah's longtime bandmate Mike Hanna has also joined to fill the drumming duties. The band is looking ahead to the New Year with appearances already confirmed for the Eureka Springs Blues Festival, The Fayetteville Arkansas Springfest, Ozark Blues Society's Blues in the Natural State, and the Bikes, Blues&BBQ blues fest in the fall. The band just recently caused a buzz of excitement at the Blues Foundations International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tenn performing in a "backup band" role for Oklahoma blues artist, Keller Blues. The band's electrifying performance created an impulse of excited blues enthusiasm from everyone attending the four-day event and garnered opportunities for new venues and new fans. Having won the Ozark Music Awards Blues Band of the Year 2002 award and with electric and acoustic Cd projects in the works, the future looks bright for Jennifer B & the Groove Kings.

Albums Checkin' In

Location Rogers, Ar - USA

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