The newly renovated Howard Theater will host a tribute concert on July 17 for Charles “Skip” Pitts. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
On Tuesday, July 17, the Howard Theatre will pay tribute to one of Washington’s legendary musicians, Charles “Skip” Pitts, who died May 1.
Pitts is a renowned R&B, blues and jazz wah-wah pedal player. Throughout his career, he played alongside musicians like Albert King, Wilson Pickett, The Isley Brothers and Gene Chandler. Pitts also preformed the popular wah-wah riffs on the theme music from “Shaft.”
Tuesday’s concert will feature a collection of musicians, including Bobby Parker’s Blues Band, Al Johnson backed by the Mousey Thompson Band, Tanya Blount, Robert “Mousey” Thompson & The James Brown Experience, Jimi Smooth and the Hit Time Band, Denyse Pearson and The Gregory Gaskins Experience. Additionally, Gene Chandler will make a cameo appearance.
Tickets to the event are $25. Partial proceeds will be donated to the pay medical bills incurred during Pitts’ illness and toward the creation of the Howard Theatre Cultural Center, in which Skip Pitts and other music legends will be memorialized.
The concert starts at 7 pm. For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, visit www.thehowardtheatre.com.
