<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band recently returned from performing at the annual Winthrop Blues Festival, and now play a free concert in Mill Creek July 31.

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Lady ‘A’ & the Baby Blues Funk Band

• In concert: The Snohomish Artist Guild music series presents this concert featuring the Seattle based funk and blues band, at the the Creek Side Village Forum, Main & 151st streets, Mill Creek. • Performance: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31. • Admission: Free. • Info: 425-303-1848.

CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, Copy editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Funk band hits MC Village stage

Enterprise staff

Lady "A" & the Baby Blues Funk Band are the next band to take the stage July 31 at the Creek Side Village Forum as part of the Snohomish Artist Guild's Mill Creek Summer Concerts series.

Lady "A" & the Baby Blues Funk Band (L.A.B.B. for short) has just returned from performing at the Winthrop Blues Festival. Vocalist "Lady A" began her singing career at an early age and at 16 began directing her church choir at Mt. Baker B.C., then onto more gospel groups and choir projects.

"Lady A" was asked to sing as a backup singer in the Sonny Byer's Motown ReVue. One day Louise Thompson of Thompson's Point of View asked her to perform a show, but with no band, she turned to her friends and musicians who now comprise the Baby Blues Funk Band, and have been playing together ever since.

Bass player Gary Smith began playing bass at an early age in a garage band. Smith's musical background was handed down genetically by his father, Tony Smith (known as "Tiny Tony"), who is recognized as a Northwest Rock & Roll pioneer and his musical contributions are also featured in the Music Experience Project (EMP).

Guitarist Richard Mills began his musical career in church. Mills' recording studio "Sound Reflection" plays host to local gospel, hip-hop and jazz musicians who gather there to record their latest projects.

Keyboardist Josh Richardson III began his musical career in the 5th grade playing the saxophone. The song-writer/arranger and composer's biggest influence will always be George Clinton.

Drummer John T. Oliver III is a singer, songwriter, drummer and keyboardist who has been singing and touring with his family group "Oliver-Generations of Faith" since childhood. He has also recorded, produced, arranged and programmed music (specializing in MIDI work) under his father's leadership in "Revilo The Sound Connection" with various local and national artist doing such styles as Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Trance to name a few.

Lady "A" & the Baby Blues Funk Band have had the opportunity to open and/or be on stage with such artist as Dr. John, Nora Jean Bruso, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary & His Monster Gentlemen, Shemika Copeland and recently on stage with former lead singer of the Spinners & Temptations, G.C. Cameron.