Playbill

Sunday, June 6, at Barnevelder Movement /Arts Complex, 2201 Preston, 713-529-1819.J.J. Cale

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1938, J.J. Cale is now playing in his sixth decade. An early crony of Leon Russell, Cale once reached for pop stardom in Los Angeles when he recorded a Russell-produced minor-hit novelty single called "Dick Tracy" in 1960. After playing briefly with legendary roots rockers Delaney and Bonny in 1964, Cale formed a psychedelic band with Roger Tilson called the Leathercoated Minds. But by 1967 he gave up the star chase and returned to the Tulsa clubs, where he began to write songs and perform solo. When Eric Clapton recorded Cale's "After Midnight" in 1970, Cale gained not only some degree of financial viability but also wider attention for his work. His reputation was further enhanced when Clapton recorded "Cocaine" and rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd set fire to Cale's "Call Me the Breeze." With his newfound exposure, Cale even had a minor hit of his own in 1971 with the slinky, laid-back "Crazy Mama." Even Waylon Jennings was a Cale fan and he recorded "Clyde" during his Dukes of Hazzard phase. Throughout his career, Cale stuck with his low-down cool-cat blues-roots style of singing and picking, effectively stanching any chance at wide popular acceptance but endearing him to a die-hard cult of fans who treat his rare personal appearances as second comings. -- William Michael Smith

Talib Kweli

J.J. Cale

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Monday, June 7, at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999.