Blues Cruise Sails Into Southeastern Caribbean

For immediate release:

February 28, 2012

Taj Mahal, Tedeschi Trucks, Buckwheat Zydeco Sail Blues Cruise Into Southeastern Caribbean

At the forefront of the current wave of full charter music cruises, The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise embarks from San Juan, Puerto Rico and will go Bluesin' deep into the Southeastern Caribbean October 27 - November 3, 2012.

Taj Mahal, multiple-Grammy winner and the cruise's noted "spiritual leader", headlines once again and will be delivering his fusion of blues music with sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and South Pacific.

Derek Trucks, the 2012 & 2010 Blues Grammy Recipient and Rolling Stone's "#16 Greatest Guitarist", will join wife Susan Tedeschi (also the 2012 Blues Grammy recipient) in the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

In all, two dozen bands spanning multiple genres (Chicago Blues, Zydeco, Americana, Hill Country Blues, Boogie Woogie) and generations will perform on five stages during the seven day, seven night voyage on Celebrity's Summit. Additional highlights include Brooks Family Legacy Band (Lonnie, Ronnie and Wayne Baker Brooks), Magic Dick of J Geils fame, Bobby Rush, Tommy Castro, The Nighthawks, North Mississippi Allstars, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ruthie Foster, Shane Dwight, Trampled Under Foot, and Legendary's noted "Surprise Guests", who have included Rock 'n Roll Hall Of Famer Dion DiMucci and the late Koko Taylor.

The cruise, which is currently 85% sold, also boasts an equally impressive itinerary of exotic destinations: Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica. Cruise Industry professional and blues music promoter Roger Naber, the Pioneer of full-ship music charters (1994 was his first), sees this itinerary as an added bonus for the experienced festival goers. He states “This wonderful itinerary cannot be reached on a 7-day voyage cruising from Florida, and sailing from San Juan gives this cruise 5 magnificent destinations, unlike any other music charter”. The mixture of blues styles delights young and veteran musicians alike, as well as new and die-hard fans. There will also be the Joe Plummer, play “Nothin’ But The Blues” performed on the ship by a professional acting cast from Chicago, another first for music cruises. The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise continues to ignite the genre in which it was berthed, with cruisers from all 50 states and 20 countries making the pilgrimage. Since its 2002 inception, LRBC has also donated over $400,000 to The Blues Foundation of Memphis and a number of industry non-profits via its High Seas Silent Auction, which has featured autographed guitars by Eric Clapton, The Who's Pete Townshend, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter, plus scores of collectible memorabilia.

"It’s about people relaxing, enjoying themselves, and spending time with others who enjoy the same kind of music as they do", states Taj Mahal. "It’s amazing how people can really connect through the Blues and R&B. Every year you can set your clock by it."

No one denies that the highlight of the cruise is sailing with the Legends and the All-Pro Jam sessions witnessed onboard while kicking back at sea. The late Etta James, Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner, Pinetop Perkins, Johnnie Johnson, Koko Taylor, and Little Milton have graced the stages, halls and elevators of these ships.

With music historians asking "who will fill those shoes?", those looking for the future of Blues and American roots music need look no further than the High Seas.

:)

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