www.BevConklin.com | |||
![]() |
Bev 'BC' Conklin is the most established, highly-awarded female Blues vocalist in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania since her 1991 debut as a performer. Her musical career began at age 31 and the band became an area favorite with the ability to travel a circuit in 5 Northeast states. Her resume reads like a Blues bible with performances that most recently included an invite by Ronnie Earl to join him on stage at the Pennsylvania Blues Festival following his observation of her band's showcase and a long history of icons like Ray Charles, Lonnie Brooks & Ronnie (Baker) Brooks, Kenny Neal, Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Saffire, The Holmes Brothers, Eddie King, Pinetop Perkins, Eddie C. Campbell, Carl Weathersby, Sandra Hall, E.C. Scott, Sista Monica Parker, Jimmy Dawkins, Duke Robillard and many more. Beverly (Hardin) Conklin's Creole and musical demeanor and personality begins in the 9th Ward, Louisiana where her Grandfather, Dr. Joseph Hardin was key in the establishment of the area's NAACP. Dr. Hardin was integral in bringing concerts to Negro audiences with artists like Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. He established stronger educational opportunities for Negro children with the Hardin Elementary School and the Hardin playground, which were destroyed by Katrina along with the Hardin museum that was built in his honor. Bev's father joined the Army following medical school. Having lived in Europe and coast to coast in the United States has broadened her appreciation for all kinds of music, especially Classical, Jazz and Blues. The political and philanthropic momentum was instilled at an early age and then when starting this musical career, it grew with a desire to learn more about the Blues industry. So she began her knowledge base with her involvement with the area's DJ's, other established musicans in the area, Blues Festivals and Blues societies. BC served 7 years on the local Blues society in multiple Board roles including President, Newsletter Editor, Concert Chair and Secretary. As a contributing writer for Tri-State Blues Newspaper and the Delta Snake she was able to network with women in the Blues throughout the Northeast. BC has volunteered a multitude of hours helping new clubs and Blues festivals get their start such as Blues 2000 & Beyond in New York and the Cementon Blues Festival in PA. Having one of the first websites in the early 90's, she managed and promoted her band, BC & The Blues Crew to successful heights as they received global airplay and rave reviews for their Unfinished Business and Creole Etouffee CDs and performances in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and PA. Winning the Billtown Blues Society's Competition led them to the opportunity to become a finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the late 90's. Beverly and her band mates have won nearly every Lehigh Valley Music Award (LVMA) available for group and individual achievements. In addition to keeping a full-time day job, Bev worked nearly a decade on the Hack's Annual Blues Fest committee, raising funds for those in need among their peers. Beverly is the Founder and Promoter of the Lehigh River Blues Jam, a continuation of her philanthropic work in the community she lives, in partnership with the Catasauqua Borough. |
||
Bluescrew Records © 2014 | |||