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Mother sings the blues
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer Blues Revue magazine once said that blues singer E.C. Scott "has one of the sexiest, smoothest and most understated deliveries in the genre and is a powerhouse entertainer to boot." Living Blues called her "among the best of the promising female blues singers in recent years." Ms. Scott will bring her unique brand of blues -- she calls it "blues with a hip-hop flavor" -- to the Bourbon Street Concert Club for one show on Saturday. "People who love the blues really need to hear her," said Jim Wilcox, who arranged Ms. Scott's appearance in Pasco County. "She has a terrific sound." Ms. Scott started singing as a child in the St. John Missionary Baptist church near San Francisco. Her mother wouldn't allow her to sing anything but church music at home, but she loved to listen to rhythm and blues and blues artists such as Gladys Knight, Dinah Washington and Bobby "Blue" Bland on her older sister's radio. She married and became a mother at an early age. When her three children reached middle school, she asked for their understanding of her longing to launch a career as a singer. The first of her three albums with Blind Pig Records, Come Get Your Love, debuted in 1995, to surprising success. That was followed by the critically praised Hard Act to Follow and the recently released Masterpiece. Ms. Scott has become the darling of female listeners, who warm to her cleverly crafted lyrics and music about men who fall a bit short of expectations. "Strong men love my show," she told Lancaster (Pa.) News Era reporter Kathleen Daminger shortly after her first album was released. "It's not for the weak at heart -- unless you're coming to learn. If you want to learn how to treat a woman, or if you want entertainment, my show is definitely for you." Ms. Scott writes most of her own material and performs in a wide range of venues, from blues dives to the grand opening for the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Opera. By the way, the three kids who were in middle school when Ms. Scott began her singing career grew up to become her sound engineer, her road engineer and her corresponding secretary. At a glanceWHAT: E.C. Scott with Smoke; opening act is the Tammy Hatch Band WHERE: Bourbon Street Concert Club, 4331 U.S. 19, New Port Richey WHEN: Saturday; doors open 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. TICKETS: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
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From today's Pasco Times Editorial |
