------Feature • Jimmy Hall------A Hard Act to Follow By Mark Hunter June 7-10, 2012 A list of the best sing- ers would be incomplete without Jimmy Hall. In fact, some of the other vocalists on such a list would place Hall at the top. Hall made his name as lead singer for the genre- Thursday June 7, 2012 defining band Wet Willie in the late 1960s Germanfest Organ Concert at Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, and early 70s, but his reputation spread far 1122 S Clinton St., 12:15PM beyond the tendrils of the form and eventu- ally helped earn him a Grammy nomination. Legs ‘n Lederhosen Kontest at Festival Pavilion Stage, called Hall “the hardest man to follow on stage that I ever worked with.” Headwaters Park, 7:30PM Hall brings his band to the 15th Annual BBQ Ribfest stage Friday June, 15 at 8 p.m. Friday June 8, 2012 Mark Chappuis, who helps organize the BBQ Ribfest, is excited to have Hall and his Germanfest Organ Concert at Plymouth Congregational Church, band play this year. Chappuis said it’s likely 501 W Berry St., 12:15PM that Hall has flown under the radar of many rock fans. Maßkrug Rennen (Stein Line Relay Race) at Festival Pavilion, “He flew under my radar,” Chappuis Headwaters Park, 4:00 & 8:30PM said. “Then I went down to Riverfest in southern Indiana, and this band came on af- ter Buddy Guy, and it was Jimmy Hall. He just blew the crowd away. He’s a really great singer and harmonica and sax player. He got my vote for best act of the weekend. We’re really lucky to have him.” Wet Willie, the band signed with the label in Most people who were alive in the 70s 1970. and listening to rock radio are familiar with Wet Willie recorded numerous jay fox band Hank Haller ensemble Die Freudemacher the Wet Willie hit “Keep on Smiling.” The throughout the 70s and toured with all the , co-written by Hall, made Hall and bigs acts of the day. But by the 80s the band Wet Willie famous, but was not the band’s, had split and Hall ventured out on his own. nor Hall’s, only major accomplishment. In 1980 Hall recorded the hit single “I’m Saturday June 9, 2012 Wet Willie helped define the Southern rock Happy That Love Has Found You,” then Volksmarch (10K walk) at Festival Plaza, Headwaters Park, 8:00AM sound with twin , much like The All- went on to work with Dickey Betts, Butch man Brothers Band, and solid, soulful vo- Trucks (Allman Brothers Band), and Chuck 6th Annual FW Visionwalk (5K walk) at Headwaters Park, 10:00AM cals. Wet Willie still play today, in various Leavell (Allman Brothers Band, Rolling 12th Annual German Bake Off! at Festival Plaza, incarnations, and “Keep on Smiling” had a Stones) in BHLT. recent resurgence when Gwyneth Paltrow In 1981 Hall moved to Nashville and Headwaters Park, 10:00AM sang it in the 2011 movie Country Strong. began working with top country acts such Coed 4’s Volleyball Tournament, Fairplay Volleyball “Hall is a well-respected singer in the as Hank Williams Jr. Hall continues to work Southern rock genre,” Chappuis said. with Williams and later this summer will at River City, 10:00AM-7:30PM It seems that other Southern rock singers make a sweep of state fairs in the corn belt. Familienfest (Family Fest) at Festival Plaza, agree. John Bell, lead singer of Widespread But the success Hall had with his own Panic, said, “If you are asking who I think is band and with other collaborators paled in Headwaters Park, 11:00AM the best Southern rock singer, hands down, comparison to his work with guitarist Jeff National Wiener Dog Finals at Headwaters Park, Jimmy Hall, no question.” And Booker T. Beck. Hall did the vocal work on Beck’s & the M.Gs. guitarist Steve Cropper called 1985 Flash and was rewarded with Lower Level, 2:00PM Hall “the best white R&B singer alive.” a Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Hall was born in Birmingham, Alabama Vocalist. Trauben Tromp (Grape Stomp) at Headwaters Park, and raised in Mobile, where early influences Hall remained active throughout the 90s Lower Level, 6:00PM included gospel. Like other gospel-inspired and aughts, working with guitarists Lloyd musicians growing up in the 50s and 60s, Jones and Tommy Castro, backed by Double Polka Like a Star! at Festival Pavilion Dance Floor, Hall’s ears and tastes were drawn to blues Trouble, on a project called Triple Trouble, Headwaters Park, 7:00PM and rock, and by 1969 he and his brother, and has compiled a CD called The Mighty Jack, along with Rick Hirsch, John Anthony Jeremiahs featuring Greg Martin from the and Lewis Ross formed a band called Fox. Kentucky Headhunters. Other recent proj- Sunday June 10, 2012 Fox played a blend of various styles, influ- ects include Build Your Own Fire, a tribute enced by a wide range of artists such as Taj to singer/songwriter Eddie Hinton which Gottesdienst at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Mahal, Electric Flag, Johnny Winter, Muddy features legendary Muscle Shoals musicians 700 W Jefferson Blvd., 12:45PM Waters and The Allman Brothers, while de- and guest vocalist Delbert McClinton. veloping its own sound, a sound that eventu- Another all star grouping found Hall ally emerged following the band’s relocation recording with Bo Bice (“American” Idol to Macon, Georgia in 1970. 2005), and Henry Paul (The Outlaws, Black- It was no coincidence that Macon was Hawk) on a CD called Brothers of the South- Essen, Trinken und Gemütlichkeit! the home of premier land. “Eating, Drinking and a Wonderful Time” band, The Allman Brothers. Hall told Sweet- “He’s very entertaining,” Chappuis said. homemusic.com that he and the others were “He has an arsenal of awesome talents and big fans of the Allmans and figured moving knows how to read a crowd. So whatever the For up to the minute details go to: www.germanfest.org to Macon was a good idea. Following an au- mood is, Jimmy Hall will match it and ev- or “like” us on facebook at: Germanfest Fort Wayne Indiana dition with Capricorn and a name change to eryone will ‘Keep on Smiling.’” June 7, ’12------www.whatzup.com------5