Legendary guitarist coming to Palmer

The Alaska State Fair is continuing its series of Cabin Fever Reliever concerts with a special performance by guitar legend Elvin Bishop on March 30.

Bishop is playing at 8:30 p.m. in Raven Hall.

Bishop is known for his rousing, down-home, feel-good music, with sharp slide guitar work and spunky rhythms.

Bishop left Oklahoma 40 years with a National Merit Scholarship to the University of Chicago. He quickly abandoned his study of physics to pursue his love of the blues.

Immersing himself in Chicago's Southside blues scene, Bishop was soon in the tutelage of blues players like Hound Dog Taylor and Howlin' Wolf's legendary guitarist, Little Smokey Smothers.

After crossing paths with Paul Butterfield, another University of Chicago student, the two began sitting in black blues clubs, often jamming with Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. They were laying the foundations for an all-star, groundbreaking band of their own.

In 1963, Bishop, Butterfield, guitarist Michael Bloomfield, keyboardist Mark Naftalin, and rhythm section Jerome Arnold and Sam Lay formed the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and embarked on a career that influenced American blues and rock for generations.

In the late sixties, Bishop left the Butterfield Blues Band and became a regular at Fillmore West, jamming with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. His early solo career took him to new heights with hits like "Traveling Shoes," "Fooled Around and Fell In Love."

Even after the demise of Capricorn Records in the late 70's, Bishop kept a full touring schedule.

He returned to the recording studio with Alligator Records and released "Big Fun" in 1988, "Don't Let the Bossman Get you Down" in 1991, and "Ace in the Hole" in 1995.

His latest release came in 1998.

Tickets are $20 plus outlet fees. They are available at all CARRS TIX outlets.