Guitar Shorty, courtesy photo

The Santa Barbara Blues Society, the oldest existing U.S. blues society, founded in March 1977, presents award winning Guitar Shorty and his band at the Carrillo Recreation Center (100 E. Carrillo St.) on Saturday, November 14.

David Kearney, a.ka. Guitar Shorty, was born in Texas and raised in Florida.  His early influences included B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Guitar Slim.   A valued musician since his teens, known since then as Guitar Shorty, he was lead guitarist in the bands of musical giants Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. Shorty has lived in Los Angeles for more than 40 years and led his own band for more than 30.  Nominated for multiple Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation, he has won two for Best Blues Album of the Year.  The Chicago Reader called him “among the highest-energy blues entertainers on the scene.”

Doors will open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m.  There will be free BBQ snacks, an outdoor patio, and a large, spring-loaded dance floor. For further information, go to  www.SBBlues.org, or call 805/ 722-8155.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on November 6, 2015.