Note: This show has been cancelled.
Saxophonist and lifelong Blues Brothers fan Adam Ray wanted to produce a tribute show featuring songs from the 1980 film when, like the sunglasses-sporting siblings, he saw a glimmer of divine inspiration.
“I realized, ‘Wait. This would be a lot cooler with two awesome female singers,’” Ray said.
Enter vocalists Chanda Graham and Ivy Whitten to front a 10-piece band performing favorites from the original film soundtrack, plus songs from the oft-forgotten sequel and the live stage show, recreating the Chicago-centric bro-fest with more feminine energy and Oklahoma’s “melting pot” sound incorporating elements of Chicago, New Orleans and Mississippi Delta blues. Plus, of course, the requisite sunglasses and hats.
The Blues Sisters tribute show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Note: This show has been cancelled.
“There’ll be some surprises related to the movie,” Ray said. “People should expect some obviously fantastic music, some good horns, deep blues, powerhouse vocals, and there’s gonna be plenty of stuff to dance to.”
Graham said the scene from the first film when Jake and Elwood Blues (played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) receive divine inspiration at a high-energy church service led by James Brown is one of her favorites.
“What I love about this movie is it’s just, like, a lot of raw blues and soul, and that’s something that I’ve always been able to kind of connect to,” Graham said. “So I’m looking forward to pouring all of my, like, ’60s and ’70s blues, rock, soul background and just bringing that legacy forward.”
Whitten hadn’t seen the film before Ray asked her to do the show, but she immediately said yes because it offered a chance to share the stage with Graham.
“I first saw Chanda perform at an event … and it was clear she was the blues singer of OKC,” Whitten said. “Her presence, voice and legacy made an immediate impression on me. I knew I wanted to work with her, to learn from her. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of opening for her at the Skirvin Hotel, which was an honor. She’s well-loved for good reason.”
The film also made an immediate impression on Whitten when she watched it to prepare for the show.
“I understand now that the Blues Brothers weren’t just about music,” Whitten said. “They were about preserving the soul of Black American music through irreverence, celebration and spotlighting the greats. They served as a bridge between cultures, generations and genres. And in many ways, this Blues Sisters project picks up that baton with a modern, feminine and Oklahoma-rooted twist.”
This article appears in City crowned.