For immediate release: November 27, 2007
Contact: Frank “Little Sonny” Scott Jr., 773-264-4746
Bluesman to Resurrect Mobile Art Gallery and Bandstand
Despite the setbacks of vandalism, theft, and the death of his two closest Blues companions, legendary 80 year old Maxwell Street Bluesman Frank ‘Little Sonny’ Scott Jr. is going to try to recreate his mobile art gallery and this time with a portable attached bandstand. The mobile art gallery and bandstand will be hauled around by a car, also to be decorated with Blues folk art.
Mr. Scott once had a mobile art gallery built out of an old wooden trailer that he hauled around with his battered 1980’s Chevy. But the trailer was vandalized and the car was stolen out of the parking lot next to the Catholic Charities senior citizen’s building he lives in. There is now parking lot security provided by the building so he hopes to get a car and rebuild his mobile structures. He will be taking this museum and bandstand on wheels to senior citizen centers and residential buildings, and to schools and universities to entertain the seniors and students and talk about Maxwell Street and Blues preservation. But he first has to raise the money to buy a used car and a trailer.
Mr. Scott plans to sell his original folk art Blues posters, perform anywhere, and is willing to accept donations of money and in-kind gifts of a car and trailer.
Mr. Scott says, “I was going to retire from the Blues but friends said I should keep going despite the setbacks. I started on Maxwell Street in 1950 and, now that it is gone, it is very important that people to know what it was like. There are not many of us old time Blues guys left who was there. Since people can not visit old Maxwell Street any more, I can bring a little bit of it to them when they see an old trailer covered with Blues folk art and hear me play the Maxwell Street Boogie, The Maxwell Street Blues, The Maxwell Street Shuffle, and the Autoparts Get-Down.”
Steve Balkin, a professor at Roosevelt University, comments, “Frank Scott Jr. is the real deal, a legend, one of the last of the Maxwell Street bluesman who played there in the formative years of electric blues. He played with such luminaries as Johnnie Mae Dunson, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Junior Wells, Tyrone Davis, Freddy King, Albert Collins, Jessie Brown, and Jimmy Reed. He created a new musical instrument, the Blues Percussive House Keys, and is a great folk artist. Everything he owns he touches with art. He can not not-do-art. I think it is a blessing to Chicago that he is willing to come out of Blues retirement to begin anew. This is what Chicago needs to counter the anyplace USA feel of the city and it would be a great asset for bringing the Olympics here. His mobile art and bandstand would be emotionally moving for those who knew old Maxwell Street and would be enlightening for tourists and the new Chicago residents who know nothing of the city’s historic cultural grit.”
For information, art images, and pictures of Frank ‘Little Sonny’ Scott Jr., see http://blogs.roosevelt.edu/Balkin/maxheritage Mr. Scott plays the Blues Percussive House Keys and Tambourine sometimes accompanied by his boombox; and sings and whistles accompanied by his guitar. He is available for interviews and can be contacted at 773-264-4746 and by postal mail at 11717 S. State, Chicago, IL 60628This press release was prepared with the assistance of Miss Pat Hill and Steve Balkin.