Bev Conklin is the premier Blues vocalist of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania since her 1991 debut as a performer. BC has performed on bills to include Ronnie Earl, 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.
Born in New Orleans, LA as Beverly Andrea Hardin, her roots were established from a long lineage of Hardins and Barancos who have been and continue being instrumental in the civil rights, education and culture of Creole and Black Americans.
Bev is an army brat and has lived abroad and from coast and coast domestically. Her interest in music began at age 3 on piano that evolved to classical training through age 18. During her years she dabbled with songwriting, singing, ukele, violin, flute and guitar. It wasn't until she completed graduate studies at Penn State, married and divorced that she understood the depths of life's challenges. This is when she moved back to the Lehigh Valley and was asked to front a Blues band. Bev calls this blessing her therapy as it has brought her a wealth of opportunity, education, pain, joy and the ability to meet so many folks during her 30 years as the lead singer for BC & The Blues Crew, now The BC Combo.
Bev brings leadership to the band and drives their ability to rise above politics and the reality of the harsh business aspect of being a musician. She is able to utilize her skillsets and apply them to help the band stand the test of time.
The pandemic has brought more learnings and with it include life's challenging balance of family, health, work and music. She has been able to walk this path and thrive through it all. Be sure to support her and listen to the music she's written with Wayne Smith and the band inspired by all that has transpired over the years. BC attributes her ability to continue as a strong, independent human being to all who have crossed her path be it positive, bad or indifferent. It's her impact on others too that is the ultimate reward. It doesn't take long to hear, feel and understand all that is and who is Bev Conklin, Lehigh Valley's Blues Ambassador and Queen of the Blues.
Photo credit: Thank you Joe Rosen, for your extraordinary capture on this day at ArtsQuest.
BevConklin.com