HIGH POINT, N.C. — The future of the blues personified comes to High Point with five-time Blues Music Award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram slated as the featured performer for the 10th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival on Sunday, September 5, 2021.
Playing since he was a child and gaining recognition for his gifts in his early teens, Rolling Stone magazine described Ingram as, “the blues savior…one of the most exciting guitarists in years.”
Now 22, Ingram released his debut, solo project in 2019 titled “KINGFISH”. Buddy Guy and Keb Mo joined Ingram for guest slots on the project. That album swept the 2020 Blues Awards given by the Blues Foundation including Album of the Year, Best Emerging Artist Album, and Best Contemporary Blues Album. Ingram himself won Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year, and Best Instrumentalist - Guitar.
Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and a student of the Delta’s musical history, Ingram was acutely aware of the musicians and the music that emerged from his corner of the world and absorbed that rich heritage. The young artist soaked up the music of Robert Johnson, as well as; Lightnin’ Hopkins, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince. Before long he could play like them all but kept developing his own sound and style.
Ingram’s first stage appearance was at Clarksdale’s famous Ground Zero Club, playing behind one of his mentors, Mississippi blues icon Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry. Perry gifted the young musician with a new stage name, Kingfish. In his burgeoning career, he has shared stages with Guy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph, Guitar Shorty, and Eric Gales.
Many will recognize Ingram from his appearance in season two of the Netflix program “Luke Cage” after the series lead producer saw one of his videos. Two of his cover songs were included on the show’s soundtrack album, which immediately introduced him to a young audience who had never heard the blues before. Through “Luke Cage”, Ingram also performed in an NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert with rap legend Rakim.
Ingram donates his time and talent to two causes important to him. Through his work with various local Blues in the Schools programs, he visits with students around the country while he’s on tour. He’s also an official ambassador for United by Music North America, a program helping people with developmental challenges to express themselves through music.
The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival will be held Sept 4-5, 2021 in Oak Hollow Festival Park, High Point, NC. The yearly celebration of jazz and blues music honors Coltrane, a High Point, NC native son, who graduated from William Penn High School, now Penn Griffin School of the Arts. The two-day festival that happens over Labor Day weekend, has become a destination event for festival-goers. Ticket information and festival details are available www.coltranejazzfest.com.