Blind Boy Paxton brings blues show

Blind Boy Paxton specialises in pre-1940s blues, where it all started. Photo/supplied

Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton sings the blues, but he's also vocal at educating his fans about black culture where the blues originated.

The true bluesman with family roots deep in Louisiana says the blues is part of American culture so people can be "gung ho" about the genre, but it's important to remember where the blues came from.

His speciality is pre-1940s blues, straight from the south.

Having said that, the blues can come from anywhere, you don't need to be from the deep south to be immersed in its culture, Jerron says. Jerron himself was brought up on the rough streets of South Los Angeles.

He is happy to hear that the Western Bay of Plenty has a solid blues following - with local bands such as Brilleaux and Swamp Thing leading the charge. "Being a person who comes from a legitimate blues background it tickles me to hear people are coming back to the blues," Jerron says.

This will be his third time touring New Zealand and he has found Kiwis really "take in all the music and are really appreciative that I've come down here".

Jerron has a pool of more than 300 songs he plays as a contemporary African-American solo banjo player. His line-up is dominated by pre-1940s blues, which people love and that's what they want to hear, he says.

Jerron's grandparents were from the deep south where the musical seed was planted. He began playing the fiddle when he was 12 and the banjo soon after. He added piano, harmonica, accordion, ukulele, guitar but the banjo was also his instrument of choice. A congenital retina disorder left Jerron legally blind as a teenager but it did not hinder his passion for singing the blues.

Now living in New York, Jerron continues to play the blues at festivals and gigs. Blind Boy Paxton has announced a six-date New Zealand tour for February, coming to Totara St on February 12.

the fine print
What: Blind Boy Paxton
When: February 12
Where: Totara St
Tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz