Blues Club Breathes Life into O-Town
By Tanisha GabrielMonday, May 4, 2009
It is almost impossible to walk by BB King's Blues Club and not hear a soulful voice entering into your ears, enticing you to enter, dance, sing along, and be entertained by the BB King All-Stars.
Danielle Foster, a young bride-to-be, explained that her maid of honor chose to celebrate her bachelorette party at the club.
"They are upbeat and they have a lot of energy," Foster said of the band.
And this energy seems to seep through out the club with bodies swaying together and singing along to songs like "Crossroads" and "Proud Mary."
PJ Barth, a musician and singer in the band, may have an almost intimidatingly strong, soulful voice--but when talking to him one-on-one, your nerves are calmed by the cool friendliness of his personality.
When asked what lead him to music Barth explained, "I started from a very early age...I have a brother that is twelve years older than me, and he kinda got me into music."
Rod Wilson, a singer, musician and PJ's bandmate, said he got into music because of the "pure joy" of it.
"Music in itself is inherently fun and inspirational," Wilson said. Wilson added that Orlando is a "place with possibilities."
Cece Teneal, a singer in the band, has a voice so powerful that the only responses it elicits are awe, wonder--or the need to get up and dance.
When asked about Orlando, Teneal said, "I am from Orlando, born and raised. I think the music culture it is getting back to where...people that enjoy culture want it to be."
"It is being developed," Teneal continued. "People like myself, BB King, and other promoters around town we are trying to introduce that culture that are in other cities; we are trying to bring it to Orlando."
"It is just my passion. I don't know how you would define passion, it is what completes you. I don't know music completes me. If it was taken away from me, I probably couldn't breathe."
Cece and follow band members don't have to worry about music being taking away. As long as they keep on energizing the crowd with the blues, they will be alright.
