Native son Curtis Salgado returns to Everett for show

  • By Gale Fiege Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, April 8, 2015 3:02pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

EVERETT — The morning after Northwest blues legend Curtis Salgado played the Historic Everett Theatre, manager Curt Shriner was on the phone to Salgado’s booking guy.

“When Salgado performed here last May, I had not heard him in concert before,” Shriner said. “I was so impressed. That three-hour show was so good, I didn’t want him to stop. The next day, I reserved a date on his 2015 schedule. I wanted him back right away.”

People who have never heard Salgado, the man who inspired the Blues Brothers, have no idea what they are missing, Shriner said.

“His harmonica playing is awesome,” Shriner said. “And the energy that man has is amazing.”

People have another chance to see the blues man in the theater’s intimate setting on Saturday evening.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Salgado continues to tour in support of his Alligator Records debut CD, “Soul Shot,” which mixes R&B with straight blues and funk.

“The band is really good on ‘Soul Shot,’ and we’ve been given a lot of praise,” he said.

Salgado, now 61, won three 2013 Blues Music Awards including the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. He also won top Soul Blues Male Artist for a second consecutive year and for Soul Blues Album of the Year for “Soul Shot.”

The album features four Salgado originals and seven covers, including songs by Johnny “Guitar” Watson, George Clinton, Otis Redding and Bobby Womack.

In an earlier interview Salagado said he enjoys playing Everett, the city where he was born.

“It’s a good place,” Salgado said. “I was a baby when my folks left town, but I always say I was born in Everett.”

Salgado’s parents moved to Oregon and eventually to Eugene, where Salgado grew up and started his career.

It was there, when John Belushi was in Eugene to film the 1978 movie “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” that Salgado, belting it out in a local bar, inspired Belushi and movie director John Landis to create “The Blues Brothers.”

In that movie, the great Cab Calloway plays the character “Curtis.” The Blues Brothers’ debut album, “Briefcase Full of Blues,” is dedicated to Salgado.

The singer, who now lives in Portland, is well-known for his prowess on the harmonica.

“It’s the only instrument where you breathe in and out,” he said last spring. “It’s somewhat cheap and lots of people have one. In the hands of people who don’t know how to play, the harmonica can be very annoying. But for those who know how to get everything out of it, the harmonica is three octaves of a piano. An amazing instrument. It cries, it purrs, it’s percussive and addicting. But only if you can play it.”

Salgado, who taught himself to play harmonica, fronted his own group, the Nighthawks, starting out as a teen in late 1960s and ’70s.

Later, he was a co-star of the Robert Cray Band. As the stature of that group grew, Salgado shared stages with blues icons such as Muddy Waters, Bobby Bland, Albert Collins and Bonnie Raitt.

He also sang and toured with Roomful of Blues, the Steve Miller Band, spent a summer singing with Santana and performed in 1997 on TV’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

After fighting some health issues a few years ago, Salgado is back touring regularly.

“I treat every show like it’s the biggest night of my life.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.

If you go

Curtis Salgado performs at 8 p.m. April 11 at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $20 to $35. Call the box office at 425-258-6766.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Auston James / Village Theatre
“Jersey Boys” plays at Village Theatre in Everett through May 25.
A&E Calendar for May 15

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Kyle Parker paddles his canoe along the Snohomish River next to Langus Riverfront Park on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tip to Tip: Kyle Parker begins his canoe journey across the country

The 24-year-old canoe fanatic started in Neah Bay and is making his way up the Skykomish River.

Photo courtesy of Historic Everett Theatre
The Elvis Challenge takes place Saturday at the Historic Everett Theatre.
A&E Calendar for May 8

Send calendar submissions to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your item is seen by… Continue reading

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e plug-in hybrid compact luxury SUV, shown here in the European version (Provided by Mercedes-Benz).
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e PHEV has a 54-mile range

The plug-in hybrid compact luxury SUV goes a class-leading distance in full electric mode.

RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Provides 39 MPG And 566-Mile Range

Versatile And Functional Compact SUV A Family Pleaser

Photo provided by Subaru U.S. Media Center
Subaru Adds Bronze And Onyx Trims to 2025 Ascent

Three-Row Family SUV Delivers Equal Parts Safety And Comfort

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV (Provided by Hyundai).
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid evokes outdoor adventure

Boxy styling leaves lots of room for gear. A refined ride ensures comfort around town.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan in the top-level Platinum grade (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Sienna maintains reputation for fuel efficiency

Every model in the minivan’s lineup has a hybrid powertrain.

An autumn-themed display at Wagner Jewelers in Marysville. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shine bright with Snohomish County’s top jewelry finds

Three dazzling shops where elegance, craft, and sparkle come together.

The 2025 Lexus TX 350 is a three-row luxury SUV. It’s offered in Base, Premium, Luxury, and F Sport Handling grades (Provided by Lexus).
2025 Lexus TX 350 welcomes new F Sport Handling model

Unique exterior highlights, a glass roof and sport-tuned suspension are among the attractions.

Hybrid Touring Photo Provided by Subaru U.S. Media Center
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Increases Fuel Economy And Range

Sixth-Generation Model Receives Complete Refresh

Image from Pexels.com
Top 3 Cannabis Shops You’ll Love in Snohomish County

Looking for quality products and good energy? Let’s discover the top spots.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.