Blues in Friday Harbor

Alan Hager and Curtis Salgado – Contributed photo

Inspiration for the Blues Brothers Performs in Friday Harbor

Blues icon Curtis Salgado brings his longtime band guitarist, Alan Hager, with him to Friday Harbor on Friday, September 9, to perform as a duo on San Juan Community Theatre’s Whittier Stage at 7:30 p.m.

Salgado’s award-winning career as a soul, blues and R&B vocalist/harmonist/songwriter has spanned more than forty years — from co-fronting The Robert Cray Band to leading his own band and touring the country with Steve Miller and Santana. And during that time period, he recorded nine solo albums.

In 1977, comedian/actor John Belushi was in Eugene, Oregon, filming Animal House and happened to catch one of Salgado’s performances. The two became fast friends and Salgado spent hours listening to old records with Belushi, teaching him about blues and R&B. Belushi used his new awareness to portray “Joliet” Jake Blues in The Blues Brothers, first as a skit on Saturday Night Live and then in a best-selling record album (which was dedicated to his friend), and finally as a major motion picture (Cab Calloway’s character was named Curtis in homage).

Guitarist Alan Hager started playing music with Salgado about 10 years ago, giving concerts throughout the Northwest and elsewhere around the country.  He became a member of the Curtis Salgado band in the spring of 2015, and the two now tour extensively together, in support of Salgado’s newest release, The Beautiful Lowdown. They also collaborated on the album I Know a Good Thing, for which Hager is the co-writer and featured guitar player.

The Business Partners for the concert are Computer San Juans, Friday Harbor Electric, Island Inn 123 West and Goddu | Langlie | Loring | Sandstrom PLLC. Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for student reserved: $5 student RUSH at the door if there are still available tickets. The SJCT box office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.sjctheatre.org

The Curtis Salgado/Alan Hager Duo appearance is made possible by generous underwriting from Peacock Farms.

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