FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 @ 8PM This is an 18 and up BYOB Show . Unplugged Blues with Jeremiah Johnson, Mike Morgan, Shawn Pittman and Reo Casey . A Night of Unplugged Blues with Jeremiah Johnson, Mike Morgan, Shawn Pittman and Reo Casey . Doors 7:00pm Showtime 8:00pm . Six Springs Tavern (map) 147 N. Plano Richardson TX 75081 . . Jeremiah Johnson Born and raised in St. Louis, Jeremiah Johnson blends the sounds of the south, with Mississippi River blues and a touch of country flair. Emotionally charged blues rock, powered by the common man’s passion for life and all the struggles in-between. He is known for writing songs with meaning, a powerfully persuasive voice and master class musicianship. After signing a record deal with Ruf Records in March of 2018, Johnson has released four chart toping albums. HI-FI DRIVE BY (#1 - 11/8/2022), Unemployed Highly Annoyed (#4 November 2020), Heavens to Betsy (#1 April 2020), and Straitjacket (#6 August 2018). Combined with his previous two releases, GRIND (#8 November 2015), Blues Heart Attack (#5 August 2016); Johnson’s last six releases have all been in the top 8 of the Billboard Blues Album Charts, with two #1’s. Jeremiah Johnson is a 2022 Blues Music Award Nominee for the “Best Blues Rock Album of the Year”, Unemployed Highly Annoyed. Since signing with Ruf Records, Johnson has toured the US and performed nearly two hundred European shows and was a featured artist in the 2020 Ruf’s Blues Caravan. As a member of the Blues Caravan, Johnson was a featured artist on the Nov 2021 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. In 2023 Johnson has been focused on spreading out to every corner of the United States, with tours in the Northeast, South Central, Southeastern, Midwestern, Pacific Northwest, and Western United States. Mike Morgan Mike Morgan was born in Dallas on November 30, 1959, and grew up in nearby Hillsboro, Texas. Morgan displayed an avid interest in music as a youngster, listening intently to the impassioned soul sounds of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett on local radio stations. He received his first guitar while in the third grade, but didn't begin to take playing seriously until he discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan's album, Texas Flood, in 1985. "When I heard Stevie's first album, that was it," Morgan recalls. "I already knew how to play the guitar, but Stevie showed me a lot of things I didn't know. After that, I dove headlong into playing the blues." As his prowess on the guitar developed, it became clear that he was not merely a Stevie knock-off, but rather an original player with a sound and style all his own. Mike moved to Dallas in 1986 and soon hooked up with experienced vocalist Darrell Nulisch (formerly with Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets) to form The Crawl (named after an old jukebox hit by guitar great, Lonnie Brooks). Darrell had a tremendous knowledge of blues and a deep collection of blues records, and he exposed Morgan to the music of the Chicago blues scene and many of its key players. Mike Morgan and The Crawl quickly made a name for themselves as one of the best contemporary blues bands in Texas, writing original songs that were on a par with the classics they chose to cover. After Nulisch left the band in 1989, Morgan set out to find a vocalist who would fit his desire for a broader-based R&B sound. He found the perfect match in Kansas City native and blues veteran Lee McBee, whose smoky, seasoned vocals were reminiscent of the legendary 1960s soul singers Morgan listened to while growing up. The fact that McBee was also an accomplished and revered harmonica player added more fuel to The Crawl's fire. Mike and Lee's collaboration proved popular with blues fans and appearances at the Benson & Hedges Blues Festival, the Dallas Blues Festival, the Atlantic City Blues Festival, and the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival soon followed. As the profile of the band continued to rise, Mike's friend Anson Funderburgh recommended them to Blacktop Records owner Hammond Scott. Scott first saw the band at a show at The George Street Grocery in Jackson, Mississippi. He was so impressed he met with the band at their hotel immediately after the show to discuss signing with the label. Mike Morgan and The Crawl found a national audience with the release of their debut recording, Raw & Ready, in 1990. Backed up by extensive national and international touring, Mike Morgan and The Crawl continued to amaze their fans throughout the 1990s by releasing five highly regarded albums, Mighty Fine Dancin, Full Moon Over Dallas, Ain't Worried No More, Looky Here!, The Road, and I Like The Way You Work It. Morgan even kept a high profile during some downtime away from the band in 1994 by recording Let The Dogs Run, a highly acclaimed record that paired him with fellow Dallas guitarist Jim Suhler. Meanwhile, praise for Morgan and the band came flooding in. Guitar World Magazine called Morgan "a genuine blues guitar hero!!" Blues Access Magazine raved, "Mike Morgan and The Crawl crank up an irrepressible mix of fresh gritty blues and romping Stax/Volt-era soul." New Years' Eve 1999 saw an end to the Morgan /McBee era of Mike Morgan and the Crawl. As Lee ventured out to do his own band back in his home state of Kansas, Morgan decided it was high time he took over as front man. After years of great frontmen such as Lee McBee, Darrell Nulisch, Chris Whynaught, and Keith Dunn, Mike was ready to take on the new challenge. In 2000, Texas Man, Mike's first vocal outing was released on Severn Records. Texas Man met rave reviews and was followed up in 2004 by Live in Dallas. Stronger Every Day was released by Seven Records in 2007 and had guest appearances by Lee McBee and Randy McAllister. Mike did not tour much after 2006. While he still played local gigs and a few scattered tour appearances, he spent most of his time with his other love, motorcycles. As the sales manager of a Mesquite, TX-based motorcycle dealership, he was not able to tour often, but always found time to play and jam around DFW. "Basically I didn't write any new songs between 2007 and 2018," says Morgan. "I just quit writing and I got into that work slump. I came home from work, turned on the TV, had dinner, maybe a drink, and went to bed. The difference was I got to sleep in my own bed every night and I got paid every day I worked. I didn't have to cold call bars in far-flung places, no booking hotel rooms, and no rushing around the country trying to get to gigs on time. In comparison, a regular day job was almost a vacation." When that shop closed, Mike once again felt the draw of the music business. He landed a new job at another motorcycle shop but he now hopes to get out and tour again. "When the motorcycle shop shut down, I made myself start writing again," says Morgan. "Once I got going I came up with a bunch of ideas for songs. I do plan on touring if it makes sense financially," says Morgan. "I want to tour. I want to play. The last time we went out was a midwest tour with 12 or 13 nights in a row back in 2019. We made money on that tour, but it's very hard to get that many dates together anymore. And that was before Covid. People think you're just partying out on the road but it's supposed to be WORK. If I have to sit around a hotel room for days between gigs I'd rather be at the motorcycle shop, making money every day, and sleeping in my own bed." In addition to his own band, Mike has been working with some of his old friends, Anson Funderburgh and Shawn Pittman, as The Texas Blues Guitar Summit. Fresh off an incredible European tour in 2022 and just signed to M.C. Records finds Mike is reinvigorated and feeling the call of music once again. His new CD on M.C. Records is expected out in September 2022. With his years of experience, knowledge, skills, and talent, we can look forward to a lot of great new music from Mike Morgan and the Crawl. MEET SHAWN Shawn Pittman grew up with music all around him. His grandmother loved to play the boogie-woogie piano at family gatherings. Shawn's mother must have seen something in him before he discovered what would be his life's passion, his mother signed him up to take piano lessons at a young age. It wasn't long until young Shawn was sneaking into his older brother's room to play on his drum kit. By age fourteen, Shawn had a guitar in his hands. His discovery of Lightin Hopkins and Muddy Waters set the stage for Shawn's musical journey. He was born into his native roots of the Choctaw nation in Talihina, Oklahoma. Pittman later found his musical roots in Texas Blues when he moved to the state at the age of seventeen to attend the Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing Arts in Dallas. He expanded his music education courtesy of his uncle who would take him to local jams around town. This is how Shawn first met and learned from musicians like Hashbrown, Sam Myers, Mike Morgan, Jim Suhler, Tutu Jones, and many others. Pittman recorded his first album in 1996. That album, Burnin' Up, was released on Cannonball Records the following year. Throughout his career, Shawn has released 15 albums of original songs and a few covers featuring some of his favorite influences. As a songwriter and performer, Shawn is constantly composing and releasing new material.

Shawn begin his musical journey sharing the stage with local musicians in Dallas nightclubs and graduating to touring in the U.S and Europe. He has shared the stage with people such as Sugar Ray Rayford, Shamekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi, Hubert Sumlin, Joe Louis Walker, Kim Wilson, James Cotton, Pine Top Perkins, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Kidd Ramos, Kirk Fletcher, Lou Ann Barton, Tab Benoit, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and many others.

When asked who his favorite person to open for, Pittman replied, "It was awesome opening for B.B. King, it was a dream come true". Shawn went on to share, "The weeks before opening for B.B. I thought about what question I would ask him, if I got the chance. Well I did get that change, so I asked him his secret for longevity." B.B. King answered Shawn by saying, "Treat people how you want to be treated, and remember everybody has a boss."

In Spring 2022, Pittman toured Europe with Anson Funderburgh and Mike Morgan as part of the Texas Blues Guitar Summit. The power group continues to perform shows in the U.S. and abroad.

Shawn's latest album “Hard Road,” was released in Fall of 2022. It was recorded as a live in-studio album in Austin, Texas with his current touring trio. The album and live show present a unique sound of a traditional trio mingled with the unexpected two guitar and drums presentation on selected tracks. Don't worry this isn't a three-piece band asking for more depth; this is a trio demanding a double take. Shawn's fiery guitar solos and soulful vocals are backed by the intense groove of vintage bass and drums. This house-rockin' trio leaves audiences mesmerized and wanting more.

RECORDING HISTORY:

Shawn's first album, Blues From Dallas, was recorded in 1996 and later picked up and retooled for his national debut in 1997 as Burnin' Up on the Cannonball Records label. In 1998 the second album on Cannonball Records, Something’s Gotta Give was produced by Jim Gaines,

Pittman toured as rhythm guitarist for Susan Tedeschi in 1999, and made a television appearance with her on the Conan O’Brian Show. The following year he relocated to Austin Texas and recorded his third album, Full Circle backed by the famous rhythm section, Double Trouble.

Shawn begin touring Europe in 2001 and maintained a consistent European touring schedule for the next several years as his fan base grew.

In 2004, an experimental album titled Stay was released. This album featured more rock sounds than previously showcased.

Shawn released several albums between 2008 and 2012. Titles released in the United States included: Meridian, Undeniable, and Edge of The World (on Delta Groove label). Albums released in Italy in, on Feeling Good Records, during this time frame included: Too Hot, Movin' and Grovin', Shawn Pittman with The Moeller Brothers.

The 2012 Edge Of The World marked Shawn Pittman’s tenth release. He played every instrument, with the expectation of saxophone. Performing and playing everything from vocals and guitar, to bass, drums, and piano, on top of doubling as the album’s producer and engineer, Pittman served up all his musical talent in a multi-track, one-man (almost) album. When asked to comment about the inspiration behind his latest and most ambitious project, Pittman stated, “I’m just playing the music I want to hear!”

In 201, Pittman recorded his 12th album, Everybody Wants to Know with longtime friend and drummer Jay Moeller.

In the Spring of 2020, Shawn recorded Make It Right in partnership with Netherlands-based Continental Record Services. In 2021 and in adaptation to the pandemic, he expanded his repertoire to include solo acoustic music and released Stompin Solo his first all-acoustic album. This album was also released and distributed by Continental Records in the Netherlands.

Shawn's latest album “Hard Road,” was released in Fall of 2022. It was recorded as a live in-studio album in Austin, Texas with his current touring trio. The album and live show present a unique sound of a traditional trio mingled with the unexpected two guitar and drums presentation on selected tracks. Don't worry this isn't a three-piece band asking for more depth; this is a trio demanding a double take.

Reo Casey is a multi-instrumentalist and singer born in Dallas, TX. While being raised on Blues and Soul music, he started getting interested in Texas’ great musical traditions. He began learning how to play the drums in grade school and then branched out to playing guitar, bass, and singing. He has played hundreds of gigs, sometimes as a bandleader and sometimes backing up other artists. His playing has been featured on releases from such legendary Blues labels as Alligator and Delmark, as well as others. He continues to admire classic Texas music while working to build his own contemporary sound.