Blues guitarist Rory Block did her homework before putting out her latest tribute album.
Block was researching Robert Johnson for her 2006 release, "The Lady and Mr. Johnson," when she discovered he still had family members living in Mississippi.
A longtime blues fanatic, Block contacted Johnson's son and flew down to the Delta soon after for a visit.
The meeting led to a mini-blues and gospel tour featuring Block and Steve Johnson, Robert Johnson's grandson, performing with his Straightway Ministries Gospel Choir of Utica, Miss.
Block performs live sans the Johnsons but with Kelly Joe Phelps at the Berger Performing Arts Center next Thursday.
The show is part of the Rhythm & Roots spring concert series.
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Tickets are $24 in advance through CD City, Antigone Books and Enchanted Earthworks and $27 at the door. 440-4455.
– Gerald M. Gay
While it's always nice to see some of Tucson's larger venues striving for diversity, the title of Casino del Sol's "Asian Spectacular" showcase this Saturday seems a bit misleading.
Promoters are bringing in more than 15 local and international Vietnamese musical acts in an evening performance that will include food, dance and even a fashion show.
Of course, Asia is a big continent and not everyone on that continent speaks Vietnamese. Some of the Far East's other cultures — the Koreans, Chinese, Japanese — might not find the show nearly as intriguing.
Tickets are $10-$25 and are available at casinodelsol. ticketforce.com or 1-877-840-0457. The show starts at 8 p.m. at AVA, 5655 W. Valencia Road.
– Gerald M. Gay
What do the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Rutgers women's basketball team have in common?
Radio personality Don Imus and his acid-tongue rhetoric.
Imus blasted the "Jewish management" at CBS radio, describing them as "money-grubbing" for their lack of interest in having the longtime gospel group on the show.
The comments were made on Nov. 30, five months before he was fired for bad-mouthing the team in a racist, sexist manner.
The Blind Boys come to the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., Wednesday still touring under their 2006 Dove Award-winning release, "Atom Bomb."
The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $29-$33 through the Rialto box office, 740-1000.
– Gerald M. Gay
Determine your vinyls' value when the 17th Street Market holds its third Vinyl Roadshow this Saturday at 810 E. 17th St.
The event will feature a KXCI record sale, local album vendors, DJ Carl Hanni on live music duty and free appraisals of LPs, 45s and 78s by experts from Cassidy Collectibles. The hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
— Gerald M. Gay
