Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Trio of worn Saffire By AMY R. HUGHES Staff Writer Their style has been described by critics *as sassy, down-home, charismatic, spunky and gutsy. They came to Carolina this past year so "we were excited about bringing them back," John Cunningham, chairman of the CPU Contemporary Sounds Committee, said. The group, Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, is scheduled to play at the Golden Spur on Sunday. Gaye Adegbalola on guitar and harmonica, Ann Rabson on piano and guitar and Earlene Lewis on upright bass make up this female trio whose brassy attitude can be compared to classic 1920s-style blues. Their show is exciting and they really involve the audience, Cunningham said. This diverse group first met in Fredericksburg, Va. All three women were established musicians in their own right, but none were regular members of any particular group. Each held a 9-to-5 job: Lewis worked in real estate, Adegbalola was a schoolteacher and Rabson was a computer programmer. But in 1984, these middle-aged women decided to form a trio. It happened simultaneously when "Gaye and Ann were playing guitar and piano in my living room one night," Lewis told The Florida Times-Union. The three got together and hit the road, at first, on a part-time basis. Four years later, the ladies of ID iffiH p (!j FREE Gyro Sandwich fgj] Buy one Gyro Sandwich & Med. Drin }=j| and get a Gyro Sandwich FREE. I~ Offer not valid with delivery orders expires 3-8 [?]] 919 Sumter Street USC 256-7763 Open ten to play at C brings Saffire (now all in their 40s) qui their daily jobs and made singinj the blues a full-time career. The group had been working everyday and playing up to thra nights a week and they felt it wa: time to make a complet* commitment. The Uppity Blues Women ex press their individuality througl their music and original songs. Saffire is known for its feminist tell-it-like-it-is attitude toward th< blues. These views are evident ii songs such as "Even Yuppies Ge the Blues" and "How Can I Say Miss You When I Can't Get Yoi to Leave?" Backed by a steady guitar, driv ing bass and roadhouse-styh piano, Saffire tries to retain the feel and content of old style blues with a twist of unique, updated lyrics, Adegbalola has said of theii music. "That's part of the freedom . . . to have a Midwestern Jew, a par Cherokee Okie and this black Bap tist from Virginia all cominj together and behind the sam< music," Adegbalola told Jaz. Times magazine. So far, the group's efforts hav been well received. Their debut al bum was a self-produced effoi that won them a W.C. Hand award, the equivalent to the Oscai in the blues industry. The sonj "Middle-Aged Blues," written b Adegbalola, won the award fc Best Blues Song of the Year i October 1990. She wrote the son for some of her friends who wei struggling through relationship with younger men. 11! . sflmmisi T>eli? 7 days a week 10am -12 midnight llUililUiliiiliilfili rolden Spur > stylish t :' I 3 Jl J | 1 ^ipjg The women of Saffire ? The Upi Since their first project, Saffire y has signed with Alligator Records, I one of the best known blues labels " in the country. They were also listed in the TDWR (Talent Deserving Wider e Recognition) category by a critics poll in Down Beat Magazine. In rt addition, they have also been the y recipients of several college enters tainment awards. y y Besides original tunes, the group )r also features blues favorites by n Percy Sledge, Billie Holiday, Otis g Redding and Lady Day. e Saffire plays a lean, mean varies ety of blues greats. Not only do they sing the songs r~ m ! Every three monti away enough aiurrn . entire comme fie fore y< , /ffV aiuminiur V^y There's pi hoy. right i Messa^ ** V I .mm 1 TAN EASY' _ | 1344 C Knox Abbott Drive ' 739-0221 i 1 5 visits i I blues t 3ity Blues Women will perform at the made popular by blues legends, but they also perform with the ar ' ' c?fr:,? hoc IISIS ineillSClVCS. oaiinv wa.opened for B.B. King, Koko Taylor and Ray Charles. Willie Dixon even promised to write them a song after he played a set with The Uppity Blues Women. Saffire has already achieved full-blown national status, Kathleen Finigan, agent for the group, said. Their music has received great air play and the group has been singing the blues in clubs, concerts, festivals and colleges all across the country and has also toured in Europe, she said. at JI a -u i| ' _ _i 11 c _i/ _ II 75, me u.o. mrows < nam to rebuild our >rcial air fleet. . j w throw away that n can, look around. robab!y a recycling ! around the corner. jebys.a.g.e. 3 >f v x v ? Canoe Rentals Adventure $&u, Carolina Inc. ~ 1107 Slate St, Cayce, SC 29033 (803) 796-4505 oUSC W jjmL. MaK 1 Jjjf* / A..J BHw&tflHHHH. J Golden Spur Sunday at 8 p.m. of middle-aged women are well received," Finigan said. The trio has a second album, Hot Flash, scheduled for release in April. They plan to begin promoting the new release this spring by kicking off their tour in Australia. The band is currently booked through September 1991, Finigan said. USC can experience Saffire ? The Uppity Blues Women on Sunday, March 3, in the Golden Spur at 8 p.m. Admission is free for students as well as the general public. The event is sponsored by the CPU Contemporary Sounds Committee. Cominq to a news stand near you L| j: Designer Fragrances [ 2\ For Men & Women ? 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