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New Generation Award Competition
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New Generation Award
The New Generation Award is an annual competition presented to the year’s most promising blues musician, as determined by an elite panel of music industry professionals from the entries received.
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Zakk gives an awesome performance. |
Zakk Knight, age 15, of Indianapolis, Indiana won the 2009 New Generation Award. Zakk was presented with the
award at the Robert Johnson Birthday Celebration . He received a Gibson "Robert Johnson" edition guitar and a certificate signed by Claud Johnson (son of Robert Johnson).
The amazingly talented Zakk gave a stellar performance at the Robert Johnson
Birthday Blast on May 9, 2009His winning entry can be viewed here.
Visit Zakk's MySpace at http://myspace.com/zakkknight |
2009 New Generation Award Winner: Zakk Lowell Knight |
Zakk's Bio:
Hello, my name is Zakk Lowell Knight.. I'm a blues guitarist from Indy. I've had music in my soul since I got my first Fender Stratocasters from my step dad Mike Burke and his brother Scott Burke. Ive been playing guitar since I was about 13 years old. Blues is my thang .. It just seems to keep me goin! A matter a fact, It powers my soul cause' as we all know from our good friend Jimi Hendrix- "with the power of soul, every thing is possible!" It all began in 6th grade, my step father Mike Burke bought me a concert dvd "Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The El Mocambo". I saw that dvd and told myself that i was gonna play guitar like Stevie. Ever since then I've been Playin my strat night and day. My music is somthing that runs through my soul. Its what I believe. I've been writing my own songs lately. "They are coming soon!!!!!!!" Just Recently I was chosen as the winner of the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation New Generation Award. Im so excited to get down to Mississippi and share my music with new people. Its a cool thing because I will get to introduce other young people my music. Thats what I want to do! I will have a website comming soon so be patent. Also I wanna thank the following folks for everything. Scott Burke Mike Burke Debra Rhoads Knight Burke the RJBF Cathy Gurley Tony Rain Zach the sound man John Lee and Byron Boler AKA the boolweeble.
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2008 New Generation Award Winner: Gabriel Lambirth
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| 15 year old Gabriel Lambirth, known in the streets as PACMAYNE, I was born in Oakland California raised in Richmond and El Sobrante, The Bay Area. Gabriel says music has been in him since he was an infant. “I knew I wanted to be a musician since pre-school. I used to play around on the piano in the house but never anything serious. The instrument I always idolized because of how flamboyant and versatile you could be with it was the guitar. I got my first guitar at 11 years old”. Flamboyant is exactly the word that one would use to describe the playing of this tall and shy young man, shy until he gets a guitar in his hands and he seems to transform in to someone else. It is not surprising why Lambirth was chosen for this year’s award. |
2007 New Generation Award Winner: Tyler Bryant
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16 year old Tyler Bryant of Honey Grove, Texas was presented with the Robert Johnson Gibson New Generation Award for aspiring young blues artists. Bryant gave a stellar acoustic solo performance and was then joined by 2006 winner Patrick Droney for a half an hour set. "This is such an amazing honor" said Bryant. "I feel so blessed to receive this, I'm lucky because I was born knowing what I want to do." Bryant was chosen through a contest that saw entries from several countries and judged by a blue ribbon panel which included Grammy winning producers, songwriters and artists. For more information about Tyler visit myspace.com/tylerdowbryant |
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2006 New Generation Award Winner: Patrick Droney
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Only 14 years old when he won The New Generation Award, Patrick has had stellar success since winning this award. He has performed with greats like B.B. King and performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Visit myspace.com/patrickdroney to read about Patrick's continued success and to hear his music. We are so proud of Patrick and all that he does to make such a positive impact in the world at such a young age. |
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Robert Johnson Super Star Talent Search
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This event is held once a month between October to April of each year. The Grand Finale is held in April between all of the previous winners. Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA has partnered with the Robert Johnson Creative Arts Learning Center (an entity of the RJ Blues Foundation) to award the overall winner of the Robert Johnson Superstar Talent Search, with an all expense paid 5 week Scholarship. Berklee College of Music is the world largest music college in the world.
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| 2009 winner is |
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2008 winner was 21 year old Kendra Savage of Brandon, MS who made a lasting impression with her fellow classmates while there. |
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