The Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts (REFA) celebrates Rick's 70th Birthday featuring 2012 Soul Blues Artist of the Year Curtis Salgado. Opening act will be local favorites, Bobby Holland and Breadline. REFA 2012 Arts Grants will be presented at this event.
Soul-singer/harmonica icon Curtis Salgado effortlessly mixes R&B, funk and blues, with a delivery that is raw and heartfelt. Born in Everett, Washington, the Northwest native moves with ease from the tenderest ballads to the most full-throated stompers.
Salgado’s Alligator Records debut, Soul Shot, hit the #6 position on the Billboard Blues Chart for the week ending April 15, 2012. The album also placed at #63 on the magazine’s New Artist Chart. Since its April 10th release, Soul Shot has been hailed by many national and regional publications, including USA Today. The New Yorker called the album “a highly-polished, high-energy affair.” Influential AAA radio station KINK-FM in Portland, Oregon added the lead track, “What You Gonna Do?” to their regular rotation.
Over the course of his career, Salgado has sung with The Robert Cray Band, Roomful Of Blues, and Santana, in addition to leading his own band. In 1977 Salgado befriended John Belushi in Eugene, Oregon, while Belushi was filming Animal House. Before long, Salgado was playing old records for Belushi, teaching him about blues and R&B. Belushi soaked up the music like a sponge and soon developed his idea for The Blues Brothers based on Curtis' band The Stilletos who toured nationally with The Steve Miller Band and The Doobie Brothers.
All proceeds from our primary fundraising event this year are earmarked for programs to bring artistic and musical opportunities to deserving area youth who would otherwise be unable to participate.