As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 17 in Salisbury, noted blues artist Mac Arnold will give a special performance and youth music presentation at 2:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Civic Center.
Arnold is a former member of the legendary Muddy Waters Blues Band. He’s recently devoted himself to a “Blues in the Schools” initiative in South Carolina.
A bluesman who played with many stars like Howlin’ Wolf, Arnold played bass in the Muddy Waters Chicago Blues band in the 1960s. He later returned to South Carolina to farm but returned to music when harmonica player Max Hightower, looking to revive a great musical heritage, urged him to. In 2006, Arnold won the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage award.
New at this year’s King celebration is a youth music workshop. Local youth will be given hands-on demonstrations while learning about the history of various types of music. Students who play instruments are encouraged to bring them.
For more information, call Eleanor Qadirah at 704-636-2811.