I’ve known Chris Beard for quite some time now, and I’m very excited about his new CD. I’ve had a good listen and it’s exceptional. He’s doing a series of shows to promote its release, with the Rochester concert coming up at 8 p.m. Friday, September 22, at 75 Stutson Street, which is the venue at, conveniently, 75 Stutson St.

Tickets can be obtained in person here at Bop Shop Records or online through Eventbrite.

Bop Shop Records isn’t affiliated with this show, but we highly recommend it for all the blues enthusiasts out there.

Born in 1957, Beard is the son of blues guitarist, Joe Beard, who grew up on Beale Street in the 1950s. When family friends like Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Buddy Guy stopped by to visit, young Beard became their willing pupil. Chris says, “when your father grew up on Beale Street and music was in your DNA, then blues is who you are and what you do.”

“Blues is my roots,” continues Chris, “as Joe Beards son, I grew up around some of the best bluesmen. The influence of Buddy has been major for me. All he had to say to me was, 'keep on doing what you’re doing' and Matt always told me, 'the guitar has to become an extension of you', that will always stick with me.”