Eight musicians will be honored on Saturday, Oct. 5, when the Big 9 Roots Festival is held at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King, from 7 to 9 p.m.
George Conley will narrate the program of musical tributes to the hometown honorees.
THE HONOREES
The 2009 documentary "Copyright Criminals" features Chattanooga native Clyde Stubblefield, best known as James Brown's "Funky Drummer."* Clyde Stubblefield: Self-taught musician and drummer who recorded and toured with James Brown for six years. His drum rhythms on Brown's recordings are considered funk standards.
* Joseph "Lucky" Scott: The nephew of Sam Gooden, singer with The Impressions, who later became band leader for The Impressions. The bass player is known for his work with Curtis Mayfield, particularly on the "Super Fly" album. He also worked with Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight and many others.
* Willie "Pops" Stubbs: A trombone player and father of seven children, five of whom followed his lead to become instrumentalists.
* Cortez Greer: A singer and dancer discovered as a result of his performance on "The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour." He traveled the world with James Brown and Bill Cosby and recorded one live album.
* Wilson Meadows: His recording career started with the Zircons, singing doo-wop in the 1960s, then continued with his brothers as The Meadows on Radio Record. The Meadows Brothers scored an R&B chart hit in 1977 with "I Can't Understand." He is known for "That's Still My Love" from his first solo album, "Memories."
* Edward "Preacher" Ector: After Ector's father noticed him beating on mailboxes and cans, he bought his son a snare drum in sixth-grade. In seventh-grade Ector got his first drum set and landed a job playing with Charles Young and the Pacesetters, often falling asleep between songs in the nightclubs where they played. As an adult, he played with Dyke & The Blazers. He named his own band after the Continental Lounge in Alton Park; the El Continental Band became the house band at the Carousel Lounge owned by Herschel Hawkins.
* Robert Bailey: Bailey formed a singing group in seventh grade called The Cavaliers. After seeing James Brown perform on television, he began imitating Brown and soon Bailey was nicknamed "James Brown of the South." He began a 20-year career with the Mighty Coachmen Band traveling the country and making three records under the Mercury Label.
* Thomas "Tee" Bumpass: At age 17, Bumpass toured with Dyke & The Blazers for one year as a trumpeter before returning home and playing with several local groups on The Big 9 (now M.L. King Boulevard). He moved to Nashville two years later and toured with Jimmy Church Band, before moving to Los Angeles with Ozone. Ozone backed up Teena Marie, Billy Preston, the DeBarge family, Billy Nunn and toured with Sammy Davis Jr. Since returning to Chattanooga, he heads his own band, The Tee Bumpass Band.
Each honoree will be recognized with music by local musicians. Performing will be Love, Peace & Happiness Band, Tom Bumpass, Randall Adams, Paul Stone, Darrell Kelly, Marquis Dotson, Vinson Canion, Jonathan Jarrett, Deacon Bluz and Treva Hardy Sands.
Also, Alice Williams, Flynn Pickens, Eddie Norwood, Tim Boyd, Larry Stubbs, Cheryl Porter, Ken Parks, Tonee Valentine, Joe Johnson, Larry Hudson, Jimmy Tawater and Michael Hale.
For more information: 423-266-8658.