Mallory, Zeke (Adderly, Nat; Ball, Marcia; Davis, Thornetta; Favourite, Johnny; Mo', Keb'; Shaw, Eddie; Woodard, Lyman et al)

Original Event Poster: Frog Island Festival '98 (June 26-28, 1998)

n/p: Zeke Mallory, 1998. First Edition. Single Sheet. “Imagine a giant, blue and white striped tent with people sitting underneath and around it in lawn chairs or on beach towels, listening to the swing grooves of Blues, Jazz, Zydeco, Cajun, R & B or Roots Rock, depending on the live band. Anywhere from 10 to 50 people are in front of the band, dancing individually or with a partner, infected by the same need to react to the music that the improvisationalists display onstage. Now add some vendors, some frisbee-throwing kids, some infectious music and a certain funkified ‘je ne sais quois,’ and you've got the 1998 Frog Island Festival.” (Michael Galloway, Michigan Daily Summer Weekly, June 29, 1998) For almost twenty years, the Frog Island Music Festival promoted the musical heritage of the African American community with three nights of jazz, blues, zydeco, and more. Starting in 1982, “the world’s biggest block party” annually hosted local artists at the 5-acre Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This poster (appx. 11 ¼” x 23 ¾") commemorates the 1998 installation that took place during June 26, 27, and 28 of that year. The days were themed as “New Orleans Night,” “Rockin Roots BarBeQue,” with a “Big Blues Party” to follow, and “Gourmet Jazz Picnic.” Nearly two dozen signatures adorn this copy of the poster with examples from almost every performing group. Starting from the top right corner: two unidentified signatures that appear to read “Jim L. i.s.o.” and “Tracy Leigh” near the logo of the radio station, perhaps presenters or organizers; jazz musician Lyman Woodard (1942-2009) signed above the printed “Ypsilanti”; Cary Kocher and Paul Keller of the Keller/Kocher Quartet both signed above their group’s printed name; an illegible signature is found to the right of the printed “George Bedard & The Kingpins”; country and blues singer Tracy Nelson (b. 1944) signed above the printed “Marion Hayden Sextet”; Andy Boy of the “Andy Boy Trio” signed over the printed names of three groups, including his own; guitarist John Wesley signed “Regards / John Wesley” to the right of the printed “Twistin Tarantulas,” suggesting he may have joined their performance, though he was not a permanent member; founder and lead singer of Twistin Tarantulas Pistol Pete Midtgard signed below the printed band name; an semi-legible signature to the left of the printed “Andy Boy Trio” shows an “M” and “H,” leading this writer to attribute it to jazz bassist Marion Hayden of the Marion Hayden Sextet; Johnny Favourite of the Canadian swing revival band Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra signed to the left of the printed “Nat Adderly Quintet”; blues guitarist and singer Keb’ Mo’ signed to the right of the printed “Keb’ Mo’ Band”; to the left of the same printed band name is an illegible “J” name and a swooping, circular signature, both of which have not been identifiable; above this, over the printed “Tickets” information is another illegible signature; Eddie Shaw (1937-2018) of Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang (the backing band of Howlin’ Wolf (1910-1976)) signed above his printed name; blues and R&B singer Thornetta Davis (b. 1963) signed below the printed “Thornetta Davis / & Oo Papa Dah”; soul singer Irma Thomas (b. 1941) signed to the right of her printed name; zydeco musician Chubby Carrier (b. 1967) signed to the right of his printed name; Li’l Brian of Li'l Brian & The Zydeoco Travelers signed to the right of the group’s printed name along with “Best wishes / May God Bless You / Z-Funk Family / Li’l Brian”; a semi-legible signature to the right of the printed “Motor City Street Band” appears to read “Lil Star / MCSB 98”; and blues singer and pianist Marcia Ball (b. 1949) signed above the printed “Depot.” Presented by WEMU 89.1 FM, the local Washtenaw County jazz & blues station, and The Ark. The Ark is Michigan’s nonprofit home for folk and roots music, and it is considered one of the top music clubs in the world. It has been in existence in various locations since 1965. The Frog Island Festival was an annual event until 2001, though a revival was planned in honor of The Ark’s 45th anniversary in 2010. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore extra shipping costs will be required. Very Fine. [Item #6514]

Price: $125.00