American Roots Revue at Dakota November 20
Contact:
Martin Keller / Media Savant Communications
612-729-8585 / mkeller@mediasavantcom.com
Latest American Roots Revue Blends Music Genres
POPULAR "PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION" GUITARIST AND SONGWRITER PAT DONOHUE AND SOUL & GOSPEL SINGER TONIA HUGHES JOIN SMITHSONSIAN RECORDING ARTIST AND COMMUNITY BUILDER LARRY LONG AND GOSPEL MAESTRO ROBERT ROBINSON IN LATEST LINE UP AT THE DAKOTA FOR TWO SHOWS NOVEMBER 20
MINNEAPOLIS -- October 8, 2015 -- The American Roots Revue* works from the core of America’s richest musical traditions of First Nation, gospel, blues, folk, rock and R&B with an ever-changing line up. This month, the revue features Grammy winning fingerpicker Pat Donohue, well known for his almost 20 years as the guitarist and songwriter on "A Prairie Home Companion," and powerhouse gospel and soul singer and actress Tonia Hughes.
Both Donohue and Hughes will join the show's producer Larry Long, who will be celebrating his birthday that evening, and the American Roots anchor artist -- the "Pavarotti of Gospel" -- Robert Robinson.
Tickets are on sale now or performances beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.00 for the 7:00 p.m. show and $30.00 for the 9:00 p.m. performance and can be ordered online or at the door at the Dakota (www.dakotacooks.com/ 1010 Nicollet Avenue • Minneapolis, MN 55403 • 612-332-1010).
Join these marquee talents -- backed by an incendiary all-star band that features guitarist Cory Wong, who recently sat in with the Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts at the Dakota for his 74th birthday on June 2 -- along with Yohannes Tona (bass), Joe Savage (pedal steel), and Brian Kendrick (drums).
Donohue "One of the Greatest Fingerpickers in the World" -- Chet Atkins
Pat Donohue’s devotion to acoustic guitar has made him an American standard, as he echoes the tones of Robert Johnson, Charlie Parker, Merle Travis or Muddy Waters. Pat manages to blend jazz and blues with folk, and the mix is seamless. Over the years he has captivated audiences with his unique original compositions, dazzling instrumentals and humorous song parodies, including Sushi Yucki and Would You Like to Play the Guitar?
Honors include a 2005 Grammy for his participation on Pink Guitar, a compilation of Henry Mancini tunes on acoustic guitar, several Minnesota Music Awards, and the title of National Finger Picking Guitar Champion. His original tunes have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss and Kenny Rogers. Pat has also been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport, Telluride and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. Pat joins a legendary list of notables, as The Martin Guitar Company recently introduced a Custom Signature Edition Series OM30DB guitar designed to his specifications.
Hughes Excels as Singer and Actress
Tonia’s versatile ability and incomparable delivery, has afforded her the opportunity to open for various events featuring such mega gospel industry standouts as Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Sapp, Jamal Bryant and Fred Hammond to name a few. Her release, I’m Ready Now, garnered national exposure through influential press and radio airplay as a result of being selected in the Top Ten Independent Artist Category for GMC [Gospel Music Channel] Most Powerful Voices Competition; and Jawn Murray and EMI Gospel’s joint efforts to find the ten best unsigned artists in Gospel Music.
She also has garnered critical acclaim for her leading roles in musical and theatrical productions. Her credits include Encounters (2002), Southern Theater; Black Nativity (2003 – present), Penumbra Theater; Caroline or Change (2009), Guthrie Theater; Loves Covers (2010), Women’s Club of Minneapolis; Mahalia (2011), Fellowship Baptist Church; and Cinderella, and The Ordway Theater (2011).
Robert Robinson “Minnesota’s Master Male Vocalist.” – Star Tribune
Robert Robinson is reason to believe that the greatest music reaches every name and crosses every boundary, from audiences in the Pontiac Silverdome to troops in South Korea. Robert is “God’s canary.” Although Robert points to gospel greats Mahalia Jackson, Tramaine Hawkins, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong (with whom he has performed) as inspiration, Robert Robinson works and lives in his own genre.
Larry Long “a true American troubadour.” – Studs Terkel
Larry Long has made his life work the celebration of American stories and heroes. He has written and performed hundreds of ballads celebrating community and history makers. Long has sung at major festivals, concerts and events throughout the country, in Europe, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. Larry produced I Will Be Your Friend: Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers through the Southern Poverty Law Center, recently honored with a PARENTS CHOICE Award. Long is a recipient of the Bush Artists Fellowship, the Pope John XXIII Award, Leadership In Neighborhood Fellowship (St. Paul Companies), Sustainability Award, and In The Spirit of Crazy Horse Award for his work in forgotten communities.
*About the American Roots Revue
American Roots Revue boasts the artistic range to salute iconic America music heroes like Pete Seeger on what would have been his 95th birthday with a cavalcade of talent. And the poetic license to present artists in unique combinations with each other, like this must-see bill!
Previous Revue performances have featured the internationally known blues singer and writer Guy Davis; Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum; rising pop star Chastity Brown; Anishinabe Ojibwe Keeper and Singer of Song Waubanewquay Day; JD Steele, who heralds from the dynamic vocal family of siblings, The Steeles; and Minnesota's favorite chanteuse, Prudence Johnson, all backed by a superlative band and vocalists who will make you feel like you're going to a revival inside the intimate nightclub that is the Dakota.
For more information -- or to interview or feature the Revue performers live in studio -- please contact Martin Keller, Media Savant Communications, 612-729-8585, mkeller@mediasavantcom.com