King Solomon Hicks

King Solomon Hicks grew up in Harlem “around a lot of great musicians.” That certainly shows on HARLEM, an 11-song salute to those roots — and how the 24-year-old guitarist and singer has turned them into his own fierce and distinctive style over the years.

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The set, produced by multiple Grammy Award winner Kirk Yano (Miles Davis, Public Enemy,  Mariah Carey), showcases Hicks as a writer, player and interpreter. Originals such as the roadhouse ready “421 South Main,” the gospel shuffle of “Have Mercy on Me” and the aching instrumental “Riverside Drive” rub musical elbows with staples such as “Every Day I Sing the Blues” and “It’s Alright,” a Latin-tinged take on Blood, Sweat & amp; Tears’ “I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know,” a funked-up romp through Gary Wright’s “Love is Alive” and a searing rendition of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Help Me” that closes the album.

 

Hicks also became a member of the Blues Foundation in Memphis and has judged the IBC’s in Memphis [International Blues Challenge]” along with being a supporter of young Blues Musicians and The Blues Foundation.. He paid his own success forward by teaching music for the Children’s Aid Society and working with the Harlem Arts Alliance and the New York City Jazzmobile.

 

Hicks certainly achieves that on HARLEM, and he’s planning on more for the future. As well-traveled as he is Hicks has a long list of places he hasn’t played yet that he intends to add to his itinerary. There are also more original songs he plans to release after future forays into the recording studio.

Bob Margolin is a Steady Rollin’ Blues guitar player and singer who tours worldwide with his band, solo,

or as a featured guest. He delivers original songs and the spirit of Chicago Blues that he learned onstage and recording in Muddy Waters’ band from 1973-1980. You can see him with Muddy and The Band in the Last Waltz film from 1976 all the way to live in the all-star 2019 Last Waltz tour.

 

Bob is known for his slide guitar, powerful vocals and the sound, stories and time travel of his experiences with the legends he knew. He was featured in the 2019 Last Waltz Tour with Warren Haynes, Don Was, Lukas Nelson, Jamey Johnson and more. Bob also does duo shows with Jimmy Vivino, “Just 2 Guitars & 200 Stories,” intimate and entertaining. He plays festivals with “The Bobs of the Blues” with Bob Corritore and Bob Stroger. His acoustic album, This Guitar & Tonight, was released on Oct. 25, 2019 and won the 2020 Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award for Best Acoustic Blues Album. Bob won the Blues Music Award for Best Male Traditional Artist in 2017 and for Best Blues Guitarist in 2008 and 2005.

 

He won the Blues Foundation’s 2013 Keeping The Blues Alive award for Journalism and is a founding partner and recording artist for the VizzTone Label Group. Bob is the Music Director of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Masterclass Workshops. Bob Margolin is both your show tonight and living history.