Al-Saadi from 'The Voice' part of month-long Black History Month blues series

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·4 min read

MONROE COUNTY — The 37th annual Black History Month Blues Concert Series begins Jan. 30 in Monroe County. This year’s lineup includes Laith Al-Saadi, who performed on NBC's “The Voice" in 2016.

The award-winning series is sponsored by the Monroe County Library System and other organizations. The month-long series features weekly Tuesday night concerts at library branches. The series also includes the popular The Big Gig!, set for Feb. 24 at Monroe County Community College. All events are free and are appropriate for people of all ages.

Laith Al-Saadi, who appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2016, will perform at Feb. 24's The Big Gig!.
Laith Al-Saadi, who appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2016, will perform at Feb. 24's The Big Gig!.

The first event on Jan. 30 will feature the Rev. Robert Jones, who will offer the lecture and performance “The Evolution of African American Traditional Music" at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library. Jones has been part of the Monroe blues series since it began in 1988.

“The interactive program will explore 100 years of traditional music created by Black artists,” the library system said in a news release.

Weekly concerts continue through March 5. Most of this year's performers are new to the series.

The Rev. Robert Jones will open this year's blues series with the lecture and performance “The Evolution of African American Traditional Music" Jan. 30 at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library.
The Rev. Robert Jones will open this year's blues series with the lecture and performance “The Evolution of African American Traditional Music" Jan. 30 at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library.

“With the exception of the Rev. Jones and Chris Canas, none of the performers from last year are featured this year,” said Barbra Krueger, community outreach director for the library.

On the lineup this year are Toledo jazz and blues singer Ramona Collins; Detroit blues legend Zoom; guitar and harmonica duo Howard Glazer and Harmonica Shah; contemporary gospel group The Jones Trio; and acoustic blues singer and guitarist Danny Kroha.

The Bobby Murray Band with special guest singers Lenny Watkins and Tosha Owens will perform at Feb. 24's The Big Gig!.
The Bobby Murray Band with special guest singers Lenny Watkins and Tosha Owens will perform at Feb. 24's The Big Gig!.

Feb. 24th’s The Big Gig! at MCCC will feature Ann Arbor’s nationally acclaimed singer and guitarist Al-Saadi and the Bobby Murray Band with special guest singers Lenny Watkins and Tosha Owens. Murray served as the longtime guitarist for Etta James and leads his own band of veteran musicians. Following the tradition from the program’s start in 1988, Jones will open the show and serve as master of ceremonies, the library system said in the news release.

The blues concerts and The Big Gig! will be similar to previous years.

“I believe the structure of the concert series and The Big Gig! remain the same. This format has been very successful in the past, and we are hoping to replicate that again this year," Krueger said.

Ramona Collins, Detroit blues legend, will perform Feb. 13 at the Bedford Branch Library.
Ramona Collins, Detroit blues legend, will perform Feb. 13 at the Bedford Branch Library.

The events in the series are well-attended each year.

“Approximately 100 people attended the concerts at the smaller library branches in 2023, and more than 200 people attended the concerts at Ellis and Bedford,” Krueger said. “Approximately 350 people attended The Big Gig! last year, according to Mary Lyons at MCCC."

Krueger is looking forward to the series.

"Books and music have the power to unite people across diverse backgrounds. We are excited to share these concerts with the community and contribute to the celebration of Black History Month through the timeless sound of the blues," she said. "Our mission is to enrich the quality of life for all residents of Monroe County, and this concert series is an example of our dedication to meaningful cultural initiatives. The series acknowledges the profound impact made by African American artists to our country’s cultural traditions."

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Monroe's Black History Month Blues Series received national recognition from The Blues Foundation and the Public and Michigan Library Associations.

The series is presented by the Monroe County Library System, MCCC and the 2024 Blues Coalition of community partners: DTE Foundation, Friends of South Rockwood, Friends of Carleton, Friends of Dorsch, Friends of Ellis, Friends of Ida and Friends of Bedford. The project also is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

For more information about the series, visit mymcls.com/events/blues-series.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

Coming up

Black History Month Blues Series schedule (all events begin at 7 p.m.):

  • Jan. 30: The Rev. Robert Jones presents: The Evolution of African American Traditional Music at Dorsch Memorial Branch

  • Feb. 6: The Jones Trio, Carleton Branch

  • Feb. 13: Ramona Collins, Bedford Branch

  • Feb. 20: Danny Kroha, Ida Branch

  • Feb. 24: The Big Gig!, Monroe County Community College

  • Feb. 27: Zoom and Her Band, Ellis Library & Reference Center

  • March 5: Howard Glazer and Harmonic Shah, South Rockwood Branch

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Al-Saadi from 'The Voice' part of month-long Black History Month blues series