WILMINGTON — A blues master who has visited the Port City quite a few times throughout the last two decades is returning to a local stage next winter.
Eight-time Grammy-winner Keb’ Mo’ will land at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College, touring in support of his latest album, “Good to Be.” Keb’ Mo’ will take to the stage on Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; tickets go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 8.
From Compton, CA, the 72-year-old musician, known as Kevin Moore, began his career as a steel drum player for a calypso outfit. He went on to work in backup bands and with various artists, such as Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach for an R&B act.
It wasn’t until 1994, the solo artist made his widely acclaimed self-titled debut. He became well-known for blending folk, rock, jazz, pop and country, with the release scoring the W.C. Handy Award for Best Country/Acoustic Blues Album of the Year in 1995.
Keb’ Mo’s followup, “Just Like You,” brought forth the artist’s first Grammy, followed by seven more in years to come. He was honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement in Performance award in 2021.
The musician, who now lives in Nashville, has topped the Billboard blues chart multiple times and collaborated with artists from Taj Mahal to Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt to The Chicks to Lyle Lovett. B.B. King, Zac Brown, and BTS have sampled his riffs.
Mo’s 2022 release “Good to Be” is a tribute to his Compton roots — he bought his childhood home and renovated it in California during its making. He hits on nostalgia in “Good Strong Woman,” a tribute to his mother featuring Darius Rucker. Modern social justice issues are covered in “Marvelous to Me.”
Tickets will be available online to Wilson Center members at 10 a.m. and then to the public on Friday, Nov. 10 here. Tickets will also be available at the box office via telephone (910-362-7999) and in-person from Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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