Lonnie Shields

"Shields has fused his many influences, gospel, funk, blues and soul to a unique synthesis and creativity. Yet, in a way the album begins wher the great Z.Z. Hill's career left off. His lyrics address much the same material as those of his mentors -- Z.Z. Hill, Bobby Bland, Little Milton & B. B. King."

Lonnie grew in in West Helena, Arkansas, long time home of another great lyricist, Sonny Boy Williamson. Lonnie started his music career with the obligatory gospel and started plating guitar as a young teenager. " My brother and I used to walk home from school One day he saw this guitar in dais abandoned house. No one lived there and we went inside. The guitar was just laying there and we got the guitar and we went on with it,"

Later, in high school, Lonnie started playing with the Shades of Black, singing mostly Al Green tunes Later he joined forces with legendary Sam Carr. And it is Sam Carr who instilled in ' a Lonnie a deeper appreciation for the Blues. "I never did think I would be the blues and Sam encouraged me cross over. Sam showed a riff like Johnny B Goode stuff. Then, after that, I started funking it up. Make it like Jimmy Reed would play something."

Throughout his career Lonnie played with some of the great in the blues, B.B. King, Little Milton, Big Jack Johnson and many more. It is really a must see show.!

Dates: Webtunes.com