MOUNT MORRIS – The Mount Morris Jamboree is pleased to announce the band shell debut show of Chicago Blues veteran, Dave Weld and his band, The Imperial Flames on July 28, starting at 7 pm.
Dave Weld, born in Chicago, was first influenced as a child when he found an old Victrola in the basement and wore out the blues 78's. He moved to New Mexico, and studied guitar under Kurt Black, a jazz player who worked with Benny Carter, Grant in the NY jazz scene. Dave also met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown.
eld was drawn back to Chicago after hearing Howlin Wolf on the radio and found that he was welcome on the West side of Chicago (black hood). He started sitting in at many clubs and landed a gig with Hound Dog Taylor's band, Brewer Phillips,Ted Harvey, at Sweet Peas on 43rd St. Philips and Harvey had been working with JB Hutto after Hound Dog's death, and came back to Chicago after breaking off with JB in Boston. Weld then moved on to the 1815 Club on W. Roosevelt, which was owned and operated by Eddie Shaw who had Howlin Wolf's band, the Wolf Pack. Dave stayed there and played in the band with Chico Chism, Lafayette Gilbert, Hubert Sumlin, Detroit Junior, and Eddie Shaw. Dave played with Otis Rush, Maxwell St. Jimmy, Guitar Junior, Jew Town Burks, Boston Blackie, Tail Dragger, Little Wolf and more.
uring this time Weld was under tutelage from JB Hutto, a Grammy awarded Blues Hall of Fame slide man from Georgia. He studied at JB's house and one day met his nephews Lil' Ed and James Young (Pookie), and played on the west side for ten years. Clubs such as The Casablanca, Necktie Nates, Boss Joes, The Garfield and many more. They collaborated and started the "Blues Imperials." Then Bruce Igauer from Alligator found them and recorded them in a historic session "Roughousin'" and they started doing world tours.
In 1988 Dave decided to start his own band "Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames." This band featured the most authentic seasoned blues veterans in Chicago. Such as Bernard Reed, Leo Davis, Daryl Mahon, Donny Nichilo, Mike Scharf, Vernon Rogers and Ted Harvey. They toured countless times around the world, local and national festivals and the best venues in the Midwest and the national. The band came out with their first CD "Roughrockin' in Chicago", on Blue Sting Records in Belgium, the second time they recorded for Earwig Music, "Keep on Walkin,'" and the band again toured nationally and overseas. Weld's first Delmark CD "Burnin' Love" featured long time band members Abb Locke, legendary saxman. Jeff Taylor, drums and vocals, Monica Myhre (Garcia) vocals and percussion, Dave Kaye bass and Harry Yaseen, piano.
His new and second CD with Delmark "Slip Into A Dream" surpasses Weld's first one.. The new CD includes his current band members Jeff Taylor, Drums/Vocals, Monica Myhre (Garcia), Vocals/Percussion, Rogers Randle, Jr, Sax and Kenny Pickens, Bass. Concessions for the evening will be served by the local P.E.O. (Providing Educational Opportunities – for women) and will include meatball sandwiches, hot dogs, cole slaw, chips, dessert and cold drinks.
Come enjoy the meal, music and fellowship starting at 6 p.m. Please come to town early and have a look at all the good locally grown produce and other foods and crafts available at the Mount Morris Community Farmers Market held in the bank parking lot at the corner of Wesley Ave. and Rt. 64 from 4-7 p.m., every Friday through October. The Encore! Art Gallery will be open in Old Sandstone that evening from 6-9:30 p.m. as well. The rain location for the concert and concessions is the Mount Morris Moose Lodge, at 101 Moose Dr. just off of E. Hitt St. at the same times.
