Demetria Taylor has been performing at BLUE CHICAGO since 2010.  She is the seventh child of eight from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy of her father alive.

Eddie is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of Jimmy Reed but he also had his own solo career and recorded some wonderful sides for the VJ label including the classic "Bad Boy". Her mother Vera Taylor was also a blues singer. Demetria has fond memories of blues greats and friends of the family coming by the house-- including Floyd Jones, Carey Bell, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Sam Lay, Willie Kent, Tail Dragger, Eddie Shaw, Johnny B. Moore and Magic Slim.

Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by Blues music listening on records to her biggest influences including Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and most importantly, "The Queen of The Blues" Koko Taylor (no relation to the Eddie Taylor family).

Demetria started playing drums at age 14, coached by her older brothers Larry and Tim, both professional blues drummers. She played in family shows across Chicago which also featured brother Eddie Taylor Jr. on guitar. She also sang in the gospel choir at Trinity All Nations Church on Chicago's south side.

"I put God first and everything else will work out", says Demetria. "I feel that singing is something I was born to do. Sometimes on the stage my eyes tear up as I feel the music I'm singing. I love to listen to all types of music, but the blues caught my ear. I'll never give up my dream."

Demetria has toured nationally and internationally and performs in many clubs and festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival. Her first album, Bad Girl, is on Delmark Records.  Demetria was nominated in 2012  Blues Music Awards for "Best New Debut Artist".

John Primer has been a long-standing performer at BLUE CHICAGO knocking out great Blues music since he first performed at BLUE CHICAGO with the legendary Magic Slim in 1985. Since then he has surely sealed his reputation as “The Real Deal.”  John Primer has been a long-standing performer at BLUE CHICAGO knocking out great Blues music since he first performed at BLUE CHICAGO with the legendary Magic Slim in 1985. Since then he has surely sealed his reputation as “The Real Deal.” 

At 8 years old, John borrowed his first guitar and started to strum. With the sounds of Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Little Milton, Elmore James, BB & Albert King reverberating through his Grandmother Laura Nell’s tube radio, John was instantly hooked.  Early inspiration came from spirituals, gospel, blues and R&B tradition.  John first appeared on stage at the local Baptist church, in his hometown of Camden Mississippi.

At the age of eighteen, John followed the path of his mentors and migrated to Chicago in the fall of 1963.  He quickly found work in an era when Chicago’s modern electric Blues sounds were first taking shape. Forming his first band, The Maintainers in 1964, John rocked the West Side clubs.  By 1968 John fronted The Brotherhood, a Soul and R&B group, forming his own unique style and expanding his repertoire.  Over the course of the next 7 years, John would play with such greats as Sammy Lawhorn, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Lonnie Brooks, all innovators sculpting the sound of Chicago Blues.

In 1979, master songwriter and bassist Willie Dixon persuaded him to join his band, The Chicago All Stars.  John developed his skills as a rhythm guitarist, a lead slide player, and a powerful singer.  Another blues master who believed in John Primer was none other than the “Hoochie Coochie Man” himself, Muddy Waters.  Muddy recruited John not only as a guitarist, but also as an opening act and bandleader.  As he did with so many other great musicians, Muddy served as a father to John, instilling in him an unrelenting passion for the music that gave birth to Rock and Roll.  John stayed loyal to Muddy until his untimely death in 1983. 

Fresh off the heels of his success with the Muddy Waters Band, John signed on with the legendary Magic Slim.  For the next 14 years, he toured with Magic Slim & The Teardrops, bringing tight, house rocking sounds to every corner of the planet. They were voted the best blues band in the world year after year and are still thought of today as the inventors of “the lump”, the Chicago Blues sound.

In 1995 the John released his major label debut “The Real Deal” on Atlantic Records. Deciding to make it on his own, he began touring extensively in support of his twelve solo albums to date. John formed his independent record label, Blues House Productions in 2008. John is a Living Legend and has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award many times and is a Grammy Nominated Blues Artist. Being one of the last Traditional Blues Artists, he was taught the old way (some say, “the right way”) by our founding fathers of the Blues. We need to cherish this history and celebrate his amazing music!

www.johnprimerblues.com