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Past
Island Arts Foundation Performers
 The Late-Great Joe Weaver
Pianist/vocalist Joe Weaver started out in the early '50s playing blues, boogie-woogie and
became a pioneer in a newly developing style called Rhythm & Blues. While still in his teens, he formed the Bluenotes who quickly became popular, leading to regular gigs around Detroit.
Joe Weaver's first hit was on the Deluxe label, called '1540 Special.' After that, the Bluenotes became the house band for Fortune Records, backing artists like Nolan Strong, Andre Williams,
the Royal Jokers, Nathaniel Mayer and many others. They also recorded their own tunes - 'Baby I Love You So' was their biggest seller, and is still requested almost 50 years later. Joe ended up
backing the Miracles on their first recording for Berry Gordy. This led to many more sessions and live gigs with Motown acts like Martha Reeves, Barret Strong, Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye.
After the heyday of classic R&B ended, Joe went to work for the Ford Motor Company. Today, over thirty years later, Joe has retired from Ford and enthusiastically returned to the stage. Recent
gigs all over the US and Europe along with a brand new recording have ushered this pioneer of American music back into the spotlight where he belongs.
Joe recently appeared in Standing in the Shadows of Motown, an award winning film documentary about Motown's Funk Brothers. 
Wendy DeWitt
Pianist, vocalist and songwriter Wendy DeWitt performs regularly in San Francsico's best blues venues, at fairs and
festivals, and around the world. Leading her own four piece band for 15 years, Wendy also remains dedicated to her work with the Steve Freund Band with whom she has
worked for over six years.Wendy has appeared with Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, and Jimmy Thackery and was featured at Freight and Salvage, Berkeley's historic venue
with Big Joe Duskin, appeared at the Cincinnati Blues Fest's famed Arches Piano Stage, headed to Boston with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters for a performance at Boston Symphony Hall, and played before a sold out
audience at San Diego Museum of Art where she returned last August. The year started with a SRO concert in Paris and three weeks touring the Virgin Islands where she
performed on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. With Steve Freund Band Wendy has performed at the San Francisco Blues Fest and the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Gene Walker aka "King Saxe"
Legendary saxophonist, Gene Walker aka "King Saxe" is Central Ohio's Ambassador of Jazz & R&B. This veteran
musician recently celebrated fifty years in the music business and his zest for life and good sounds are infectious and inspirational to all within earshot. Walker's early years were
spent in New York City, where he was mentored by the late reed boss, King Curtis, with whom he'd go on to open for The Beatles at Shay Stadium. Gene's most recent CD, "King
Saxe Plays the Blues" is an excursion into old school blues as only Mr. Walker can coax -wail away, King Saxe!
 Bo Diddley Jr.
Bo Diddley Jr. was given his moniker by Bo himself who was amply impressed with the young bluesman's mastery of working the crowd and
bending the strings. Spending his tender years in Washington D.C., Bo was a contemporary of Bobby Parker's and eventually made it to New York City where he'd record with Tommy Tucker and
Screamin' Jay Hawkins and perform all over Long Island during the 50's and 60's. Bo Jr.'s unconventional guitar style is as much a visual treat as it is a pleasure to the ears, as Bo has
mastered every trick in the book and is never one to shy away from strutting his stuff!
Sean Carney
Central Ohio guitarist/vocalist, Sean Carney is one of the young Renaissance men of the blues recognized for presenting
classic American music with soul and integrity. Carney's beginnings with R&B queen, Christine Kittrell prepared him for whirlwind years with belter Teeny Tucker, with whom
Sean served not only as guitarist, but musical director, co-writer, and bandleader. Carney's toured the U.S. extensively, as well as Germany in 2004 in addition to having
been nominated for the Albert King Most Promising Guitarist Award in 2003 and 2005.
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