Westmont, Illinois
Date Issued: July 13, 2018
At this year's Taste of Westmont Blues Jam and Muddy Waters Tribute on July 15 in downtown Westmont, there will be a special remembrance in honor of Eddy Clearwater by Ronnie Baker Brooks and members of Eddy's band as well as the Clearwater family.
“Every year, something magical occurs at the Muddy Waters Blues Jam and Tribute,” said Larry McIntyre, coordinator of the event and creator of the Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit in Westmont, Illinois. “This year, Joe “Mojo” Morganfield, who is the youngest son of Muddy Waters, will be back on stage and help us with a special remembrance of Blues Hall of Fame Artist Eddy Clearwater, who passed away earlier this year. At last year’s tribute, Eddy and Joe performed the finale together and it was absolutely wonderful.”
Muddy Waters, Joe Morganfield, and Eddy Clearwater were all former residents of Westmont. “I can’t wait for this year’s event,” said Morganfield, who not only graduated from Westmont High School, but was a member of the high school basketball team that went to State. “It’s always special to return to my hometown.”
Last year, the Village of Westmont presented a proclamation in honor of Eddy Clearwater as well as a key to the village. Clearwater passed on June 1 earlier this year at the age of 83. “We thought it would be a great idea to honor Eddy during the blues jam and invite musicians who played with Eddy to come out and be part of the event,” said McIntyre. “It’s my understanding that Ronnie Baker Brooks will be part of the program, as well as Eddy’s bandmates Shoji Naito and Stephen Bass, which is absolutely outstanding.” In addition, there will be a donation of Eddy Clearwater artifacts, including one of his trademark stage costumes and a copy of Eddy’s first 45 RPM single “Doin’ the model”, which will soon be on display in the Muddy Waters Blues Museum in Westmont. Eddy’s wife Renee, son Edgar, publicist Lynn Orman and the Clearwater Management Team will all be at the event.
If you’re interested in watching some great blues music in the town once called home by Muddy Waters and Eddy Clearwater, then be sure to come to Westmont on Sunday, July 15. The blues jam is from 1 to 4 p.m. Then, the Eddy Clearwater presentation featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks and Eddy’s band will be at 3:30 p.m. And the Muddy Waters Tribute featuring Mojo Morganfield, Deitra Farr, and Muddy Waters’ former guitarist Rick Kreher will begin at 4 p.m.
For more information, call 630-417-0280 or visit westmontevents.com.
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont - Communications Director/PIO
630-417-0280
lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
