14th October 2011

BRIDPORT: Kent DuChaine set to rock in Bridport

Kent DuChaine started in music when his father taught him to play the ukulele at six years old and at thirteen years old he got his first electric guitar and formed a band with his friends.

After reading some liner notes of an Eric Clapton album, Kent started researching blues music. He discovered a Robert Johnson album and was astounded and fascinated at the banging sound as the bottle neck knocked against the frets as Johnson slid it up and down the neck of his guitar.

Kent used a butter knife at first determined to recapture the wonderful sound. He immersed himself in blues music of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, Bukka White and never looked back. Kent learned to play the slide guitar and soon developed his own ferocious wild style.

In 1970 he opened a show for the slide guitar genius, Bukka White. From 1972 until 1975 Kent performed in a band with Kim Wilson from the present day Fabulous Thunderbirds. The band backed up blues greats such as Fenton Robinson, Boogie Woogie Red, Luther Tucker, Hubert Sumlin and Eddie "Guitar" Burns. The reputation of the band grew and Willie Dixon arranged a recording contract and a concert sharing the bill withAlbert Collins, John Lee Hooker and Howling Wolf.

In 1979 Kent met up with his beloved and ever faithful Leadbessie. She’s a beat up 1934 National Steel Guitar that wows and astounds audiences when the equally beat up case she travels in is opened and her extra heavy strings are furiously played. Kent discovered and looked up a legendary blues man with the name of Johnny Shines in 1989.

They travelled together for three years and performed over 200 shows. In that time they recorded “Back To the Country” with harmonica great Snooky Pryor and were honoured with the coveted W.C. Handy Award for best country blues album but unfortunately they did not add Kent's name to the recording. In 1991 the Smithsonian Institution honoured the King of the Delta Blues, Robert Johnson. DuChaine and Shines were specially invited to perform and “Roots Of Rhythm & Blues: A Tribute to the Robert Johnson Era” was the result. This was recorded by Sony BMG and also Grammy nominated. DuChaine and Shines' wonderful partnership and friendship was cut short when Johnny Shines sadly passed away on 20 April 1992.

Since going solo in 1982 and firstly hitting the roads in the United States, Kent and Leadbessie have probably clocked up over two million miles together, including over 80 plus tours in Europe and the United Kingdom during the last 20 years and released 7 albums, promoting the Delta blues and blues music in general.

A small handful of wives have been picked up and lost along the way and many stories gained of friendships, loves, heartaches and the blues that he communicates to his audiences, most of which, leave folk laughing or scratching their heads in disbelief.

Songs such as Shake Your Moneymaker and "Jitterbug Swing” have folk up dancing. Kent’s versions of Trouble in Mind and St James Infirmary Blues have been seen to bring tears to many eyes.

Kent DuChaine plays at The Beach and Barnicott, Bridport on Friday, October 14th from 9.15pm, and entry is free.

PICTURE: KENT AND LEADBESSIE - Blues star Kent DuChaine with his faithful steel guitar