Large and in Charge

This blues purist leads a new band through some old songs.

By Keith Gribbins on Wed, Mar 22, 2006 at 4:00 am

Cleveland art

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Large and in Charge This blues purist leads a new band through some old songs. Robert Lockwood Jr. may be king of the Cleveland blues, but his court has included some of the area’s best sidemen. For almost 20 years, guitar player Cleveland Fats supported Lockwood onstage. “I’ve learned a lot about everything from Robert,” says Fats, who played in Lockwood’s band from 1974 to 1992.

Since going solo, Fats has released three albums, with another due this summer. He’ll give fans a taste of it at a free show tonight. “I’m what you’d call a purist,” he says. “I didn’t go through that period of time, when I was a kid back in the ’60s, buying the Rolling Stones. I was buying Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Robert Johnson.”
Thu., March 23, 8 p.m.