SPACE (Evanston)
photo: Jennifer Noble
Demetria Taylor's Delmark Records CD release party w/ Mike Wheeler Band , Carlos Showers
August 22, 2022
Showtime: 8 p.m.
Doors: 6 p.m.
Tickets: SPACE
Demetria Taylor was born to sing the blues. She is the seventh child of eight from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor, Sr. and is helping to keep the legacy of her father alive.
Eddie Taylor is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of blues icon Jimmy Reed, but he also had his own solo career and recorded highly regarded sides for the VJ label, including the classic “Bad Boy.” Demetria’s mother Vera Taylor was also a blues singer. Demetria has fond memories of blues greats and friends of the family coming by the house, including Floyd Jones, Carey Bell, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Sam Lay, Willie Kent, Tail Dragger, Eddie Shaw, Johnny B. Moore and Magic Slim.
Demetria has toured nationally and internationally and performs in many clubs and festivals locally, including the Chicago Blues Festival. She can be seen regularly at Blue Chicago, where she’s been featured since 2010. Demetria’s debut album, Bad Girl on Delmark records, earned the singer a Blues Music Award nomination for Best New Artist Debut in 2012. She just received the Koko Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Award 2022 by the Jus’ Blues Foundation in Mississippi in August.
Demetria’s sophomore album for Delmark Records is the aptly titled Doin’ What I’m Supposed to Do, which drops on August 19, 2022. There will be a CD release party on August 22, 2022 at SPACE in Evanston with Demetria backed by the Mike Wheeler Band with special guest Carlos Showers on guitar.
Doin’ What I’m Supposed to Do features her frequent collaborators the Mike Wheeler Band backing the singer, along with very special guests Billy Flynn (guitar), Carlos Showers (guitar) and Deitra Farr (vocals).
Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by blues music; she listened avidly to records by her biggest influences: Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and most of all the Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor (no relation to the Eddie Taylor clan).
Demetria began playing drums at age 14, coached by her older brothers Tim and Larry, both professional blues drummers. She played in family shows across Chicago, which featured her late brother Eddie Taylor, Jr. on guitar. Demetria also sang in the gospel choir at Trinity All Nations Church on Chicago’s South Side.
“I feel that singing is something I was born to do. Sometimes on stage my eyes tear up as I feel the music I’m singing. I love to listen to all types of music, but the blues caught my ear. I’ll never give up my dream,” says Demetria who is proud to carry the torch in honor of her family.
For more info visit: Delmark Records