The regional music community has lost another beloved member with the Feb. 6 death of Donald Kinsey who was famous for his work as guitarist/band leader of international blues group The Kinsey Report. But he was also renown in the reggae world for his work with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
Born in Gary in 1953, Donald Kinsey (age 70) passed away from complications of COPD, just three weeks following the cancer death of his older brother and life-long band mate Ralph Kinsey (age 71) on Jan. 17.
Before becoming famous for playing and recording blues, Donald and Ralph Kinsey were part of a short-lived power trio called White Lightning produced by former Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi. "I was young and I was hungry to get a (record) deal at the time," Donald once told me of that project. " I learned a lot of valuable lessons from that experience."
Donald grew up alongside his brothers playing music in his grandfather's church on Sundays after playing blues in clubs until the wee hours on Saturday nights with his iconic bluesman father, Big Daddy Kinsey. Adding youngest brother Ken Kinsey to the mix on bass, The Kinsey Report served as their father's backing band until Big Daddy's death, while also forging a recording career of their own with Chicago-based Alligator Records.
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The double whammy of losing both Ralph and Donald Kinsey has been devastating to the Northwest Indiana music scene. When I asked why someone who rubbed elbows with the likes of Bob Marley, Albert King and The Rolling Stones chose to live in Gary, Donald said -- "It's my home man, its where my family and my friends are, so why would I ever leave."
Those friends and his tight-knit family now mourn the loss of this talented and humble man, along with the loss of brother Ralph. Their legacy and that of their father, live on in the recordings they made and every time surviving brother Ken Kinsey plays music with his group Funky Mojo Daddy. Rest in peace and thank you for the good times and the great music.
My "Midwest BEAT Blues" radio program this week remembers Donald Kinsey through songs he leaves behind by The Kinsey Report, Big Daddy Kinsey, Albert King and Roy Buchanan, along with clips of my live 2017 studio interview with Donald, where he talks about his life, his music and his experiences with Marley and Tosh. Tune in Friday (7-9 p.m.) on 89.1FM-Lakeshore Public Radio. Stream live at lakeshorepublicmedia.org). That same program also airs on Sunday (5-7 p.m.) on WIMS (AM-1420, 106.7FM and 95.1FM). Stream live at wimsradio.com. More: facebook.com/MBBluesRadio.
Whitecross still rocks hard for Christ
On Friday, here's a show not to miss. Whitecross performs a 6:30 p.m. all ages concert at Momentum Church (2200 N. Main St.) in Crown Point. Tickets: $10. In the 1980s, Christian rock and metal became a fast growing scene, with some of the best being Petra, Stryper, The Rez Band and Whitecross.
The Chicago-rooted Whitecross was founded in 1987 by lead guitarist Rex Carroll, whose six string prowess stood with the best hard rockers of the era, proving music anchored in the Gospel could rock as hard and heavy as anything in the secular music world.
Comparatively, the musical output of Whitecross falls somewhere between Led Zeppelin and Whitesnake, with a touch of Mark III-era Deep Purple.
Whitecross toured worldwide with amps blazing to bring their positive message to fans on multiple continents. The group released six studio albums, two of which -- 1990's "Triumphant Return" and 1992's "In The Kingdom" -- won Dove Awards (the Christian music equivalent of a Grammy Award) from the Gospel Music Association in the category of “Metal Album of the Year.”
Rex Carroll continues to tour with the current line-up of Whitecross, featuring lead vocalist David Roberts. The band recently released their first new music in many years with “Fear No Evil” on Dark Star Records, the follow-up to 2005's "Nineteen Eighty Seven." More: whitecrossband.com and facebook.com/whitecrossmusic.
MUSIC NOTES
• Redneck comedy Texas-style comes to Hobart Art Theater (230 Main St.) tonight as Mad Hatter Shows welcomes the raucous stand-up of Uncle Lazer for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets: $20 and up.
Friday finds the aptly named Dave Matthews Tribute Band doing what one would expect, performing songs from the deep Matthews catalog of music. This 5-piece group has been at it for nearly 20 years. Tickets: $20 and up.
Saturday is Chicago's Bonfire: A Tribute to AC/DC. Forty-four years ago this weekend (on Feb. 19) news broke AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott was found dead of alcohol poisoning at only 33-years-old. Saturday's concert also marks the 24th anniversary of Chicago's Bonfire's formation. Catch their "high voltage" performance at Hobart Art Theater with Scorpions tribute band, Big City Nights. Showtime: 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 and up. More at: brickartlive.com.
• Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana (5400 W. 29th Ave.) features free live entertainment this weekend on two stages. The Hard Rock Cafe stage features covers band, UltraFab, breaking out dance songs from the 1970s thru today's chart toppers (Gaga, Lizzo, Pitbull, etc.). On Saturday, it's NWI's Nate Venturelli Band mixing up popular country covers with many of his own songs.
The casino's Council Oak Bar Stage brings back the guitar-driven blues of The Head Honchos Band on Friday, followed by dance mash-ups and remixes by DJ Lori on Saturday. More: hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
• The NWI father/daughter duo -- Michael Gajdik & Shelly -- perform 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. tonight for the weekly "Acoustic Thursday Music Series" at Montego Bay Grille (322 Main St.) in Hobart. More: 219-940-3152 or facebook.com/mobaygrille.
• Northwest Indiana's Party Foul will break out rock and dance covers from the decade of the 1980s this Saturday at The 19th Hole Bar & Grill (1054 Sunnyslope Drive) in Lakes of the Four Seasons (Crown Point) from 9 p.m. to midnight. More: facebook.com/partyfoulband.
• International singer/guitarist Davy Knowles performs Friday with special guest, The Jack Whittle Trio, at Acorn Theater (107 Generations Drive) in Three Oaks, Michigan. Show starts 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern. Tickets: $30. Fleetwood Mac tribute group, Second Hand News, performs at Acorn on Saturday, but the show is already sold out. More: acornlive.org.
• Finnegan's Pub (1074 Joliet St.) in Dyer has M3 (Mundee, Mardo & Matt) featured tonight at 9 p.m., with The Sue Williams Band scheduled on Saturday at 9 p.m. The pub's weekly "Open Mic Jams" are every Sunday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. More: innegansdyer.com or 219-865-9896.
• Perennial pop-rock band PAWNZ will break out covers from the 1970s to today in a free 8:30 p.m. performance at Buddy & Pal's Place (1206 E. Summit St.) in Crown Point. More: 219-662-0088
• Rock and country cover songs by Nick Danger Band happens Friday at Leroy's Hot Stuff (333 W. U.S. 20) in Porter at 8 p.m. Classic rockers The Aftermath perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and the weekly "Sunday Blues Jam" returns from 7-11 p.m. Next Wednesday is an acoustic performance by Ronn Barany from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. More: leroyshotstuff.com or 219- 926-6211.
• Singer/songwriter Jack Cunningham performs tonight from 7-10 p.m. at Northwoods Falls (8101 Wicker Ave.) in St. John. Listen Betty delivers a mixed bag of cover songs on Friday, followed by full on concert by Northwest Indiana's international recording/touring group, The Steepwater Band. Weekend shows are 8 p.m. More: northwoodsfalls.com or 219- 351-5148.
• Tune me in Tuesdays (7-8 p.m. for "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" on Lakeshore Public Radio (89.1FM) and from 7-9 p.m. on Fridays for "Midwest BEAT Blues". Stream live at lakeshorepublicmedia.org. "Midwest BEAT Blues" is also heard Sundays 4-6 p.m. and Tuesdays 5-7 p.m. on WIMS (AM-1420, 106.7FM and 95.1FM). Stream live at wimsradio.com.
• I am sad to report that Justin S. Wallace, age 41, of Hobart passed away unexpectedly on Feb.12. Justin was known in the local entertainment scene for his "Juice Pro Wrestling Podcast," and for being the vocalist/guitarist of Region hardcore rock band, Handsome Prick. Justin is survived by his fiancée, Elyse Gregor; two sons, Anders Zappa Wallace of Chesterton and Milo Oliver Wallace of Hobart, and an extended family. A memorial visitation will be held Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home (600 W. Old Ridge Road) in Hobart.
