Arts & Entertainment

Slide Guitar Master to Play in Port

Kerry Kearney will be the guest at the library’s SoundSwap program on Jan. 6.

In a style that could be called “Psychedelta,” Kearney's works are an upbeat mixture of American blues and roots. 

Kerry developed an interest in guitars at the age of four, but had to wait six years to get his own electric guitar. He listened to his brother’s Ventures records and taught himself how to play. At 12, he discovered the music of B.B. King and joined his first band. He took up the slide guitar at 19, learning how to play it in one day.

In 1988, Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Starship heard Kerry play and asked if he’d be interested in joining his band for a three-month tour — which ended up running five years. Strongly influenced by Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt and Eric Clapton, Kerry found his calling in the blues scene, from which he gathered a talented group of musicians to form the Kerry Kearney Band.

The 7:30 p.m. performance will include SoundSwap favorite David Bennett Cohen on piano.

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