TAMPA — The Smooth Breeze Music Festival Weekend will kick off Friday, March 31with Too Smooth’s 20th annual Birthday Bash hosted by Chicago Queen of Blues Nelly “Tiger” Travis and co-host KOLD, the King of Line Dancing, with a live video taping at Bounce Boy Event Factory.
On Saturday, April 1, the Smooth Breeze Music Festival will be hosted by comedian Terry Harris, featuring R&B Artists Urban Mystic, Christopher Williams, Chubb Rock, Fanta-C, with Blues Singer Nelly “Tiger “Travis and DJ Doctor Doom at The Water Works Park.
On Sunday, April 2, get your giggle on with comedians T-Ray from BET’s Comic View, Marvin Hunter from Bounce TV’s “Off The Chain” and Batman from St. Pete will be at Bounce Boy Event Factory in Tampa.
Featured artist Nellie “Tiger” Travis, known as a fiery singer whose music comprises both contemporary blues and southern soul, was born in the early ‘60s in Mound Bayou, Miss.
In 1992 she moved to Chicago, where she thought she would be living temporarily but she soon took to the music and found a mentor by the name of Koko Taylor, Chicago’s first Queen of Blues. Within a few years, Travis was a regular attraction on the Chicago blues circuit, sharing stages with some of the biggest artists on the scene including Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Otis Clay and Little Milton.
In 2000, Travis released her debut album, “I Got It Like That.” As southern soul became a larger part of her collection, she released several more albums such as “Wanna Be with You,” “I’m a Woman” featuring a radio hit song “Slap Yo’ Weave Off,” which gained a loyal following in the South.
She also wrote a song to honor her deceased mentor Koko, titled “I’m Goin’ Out Tonight” on her 2011 album “I’m In Love With A Man I Can’t Stand.”
In 2013, she scored another Southern soul hit with “Mr. Sexy Man,” which inspired a popular line dance in southern soul venues. By this time, Travis was an established star in the blues community, performing regularly in Japan and Europe as well as the United States.
2014 saw her released the collection “Nellie Sings the Blues.” From the Mississippi Delta to packed houses in Europe, to international television appearances, Travis brings the house down with her incomparable vocal talent and silky smooth stage energy.
She is one of the baddest women in Blues and a standout Southern Soul performer.
So come out and line dance and meet Chicago’s Queen of Blues, Ms. Nelly “Tiger” Travis.
For tickets log onto toosmoothent.com and for more information about the Smooth Breeze Musical Festival 3 Day Weekend, call (813) 244 7474.
