Blues guitarist featured in concert

Staff Reports

Carson Valley Arts Council presents Chris Cain in concert today at the CVIC Hall, 1604 Esmeralda Ave., Minden. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. Admission is a $15 donation at the door. Proceeds benefit the Carson Valley Arts Council.

San Jose, Calif., native Cain attended his first B.B. King concert at age 3, taught himself to play guitar by age 8 and was playing professionally before he was 18.

He studied music at San Jose City College and taught jazz improvisation on campus. Over the next 20 years, Cain would also master piano, bass guitar, clarinet and alto and tenor saxophones. The combination of his blues upbringing and his jazz studies helped form the searing guitar style that sets Cain apart and has moved him to the top ranks of the blues music scene.

"With a voice that recalls B.B. King and a thick toned Gibson guitar sound reminiscent of Albert King, Cain is forging a unique style," said Scripts-Howard music critic Larry Nager.

Cain received four Blues Music Award nominations in 1987 for his debut album, Late Night City Blues, including Guitarist of the Year. He has since released eight other albums.

The Carson Valley Arts Council is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit Nevada corporation dedicated to bringing high quality entertainment to the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe region. This year is the fifth anniversary of the Carson Valley Arts Council, which has provided arts and culture opportunities and expanded public participation in the arts. The arts council operates through ticket sales, private donations and public funding including the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

A recent donation from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation was directed to the CVAC by the owner of Minden-based SoaringNV. This donation helped CVAC meet the Big George Challenge matching grant.

A contribution from the Malkmus Foundation was directed to the Big George Challenge. Last year's contributions by the Malkmus Foundation, Smallwood Foundation and private donors made the opening of the Copeland Cultural Arts Center possible.

Information at 782-8207, e-mail at info@cvartscouncil.com or www.cvartscouncil.com