Benefit for Pete Mayes and Hamp Simmons

Mayes-Simmons BenefitAs doctor bills pile up for two Houston blues titans, Pete Mayes and Hamp Simmons, the blues community has gathered its troops to help out. Calvin Owens and LaLa Wilson have corralled a galaxy of Lone Star blues and jazz talents for this concert, which will benefit the two under-the-weather bluesmen. Both recently underwent major surgery.

Mayes, in recovery from a coronary bypass, needs little introduction to Texas blues aficionados. His elegant, jazzy guitar has graced regional, national and international stages for four decades, and his recent solo debut, For Pete's Sake on Antone's, was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award.

Though less well-known than Mayes, Simmons probably has performed before every soul who has even a passing interest in the blues. For many years, the rumbling first-call bassist at the Duke-Peacock studios (who is recovering from throat surgery) anchored hits from the likes of Bobby "Blue" Bland, Big Mama Thornton and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.

Come early, stay late, and expect to be astounded, both by the talent on stage and the love for these two wonderful musicians. Performers include Owens, Conrad Johnson, Grady Gaines, Texas Johnny Brown, Sonny Boy Terry, Carl Lott, Joe "Guitar" Hughes, Malcom Pinson, Laura Sims, Milton Hopkins, John Broussard, Gary Sapone, Dr. Richard Wood, V. Wiser Turner, Roger Collins, Cedric Cormier, Oscar McGarr, Charles Davis, Lester Grant, Artis Turner, Carol Fran, Jerald Stewart, Joe Canino, Trudy Lynn, Zydeco Plus, Rod Sipe, Bert Lewis, Carl Alfred, Oscar Perry and Robert Murphy.