Kenny Chesney Headlines 2010 BamaJam

Donald Evans

Obituary: Bass guitarist with Lynyrd Skynyrd

Donald "Ean" Evans, who has died of cancer aged 48, understudied Lynyrd Skynyrd's original bass guitarist, Leon Wilkeson, before joining the American heavy rock band after Wilkeson's death in 2001. Wilkeson had been severely injured in a plane crash in 1977 that killed three band members, leaving him occasionally unable to perform.

Evans followed in his predecessor's footsteps by mimicking his style. In 2002 he took part in a 200-concert world tour and played on the Vicious Cycle and Lynyrd Skynyrd LYVE albums. The group played to its largest ever crowd, of 100,000 at the Bama Jam in Enterprise, Alabama, last year.

He was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His first instrument was a trumpet, which he played in the high school orchestra, before switching to guitar, aged 16. This was the era of southern boogie, pioneered by Lynyrd Skynyrd themselves. Evans joined a local band, Five Miles High, before finding a vehicle for his own compositions in Cupid's Arrow, switching to bass guitar. In the 1980s he performed chiefly as a session musician, returning to live work in 1987 when Hughie Thomasson asked him to join the Outlaws, the "Florida guitar army" who frequently toured as a support act to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Thomasson joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996.

Soon, Evans too had a link with the band as he was asked to be on call as a substitute for Wilkeson. He initiated his own projects, playing lead guitar on his own compositions while describing his style as "Skynyrd meets Metallica - heavy metal rock but still with downhome lyrics". Other influences were John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Geddy Lee of Rush.

In 2001 and 2002, as Noon, Evans issued two albums. More recently, he formed Evanscapps with Bobby Capps, the keyboard player with another Southern boogie band, 38 Special. Their album Last Time was released in May.

Since the 1977 plane crash, Lynyrd Skynyrd has lost Allen Collins (1990), Wilkeson, Thomasson (2007) and keyboard player Billy Powell earlier this year.

Evans is survived by his wife Eva and two daughters.

• Donald "Ean" Evans, musician, born 16 September 1960; died 6 May 2009

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2009

Taken From: Access Atlanta

BamaJam headliner Kid Rock performs on the Country stage late Saturday night June 6, 2009 during the final day of BamaJam in Enterprise Alabama. He'll be in Atlanta with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Lakewood on June 28.

Visit the article: http://projects.accessatlanta.com/gallery/view/music/bamajam-music-festival/

Taken From: Greenville Advocate
By Regina Grayson


The notoriety of Bama Jam Music Festival in Enterprise has been growing by leaps and bounds since it made its debut last year.

This year, Bama Jam’s musical lineup will include a band comprised of residents from Crenshaw County. The JB Roberts Band will hit the Budweiser Saloon Stage Friday night, June 5, from 8 to 9 p.m.

Roberts plays lead guitar and sings lead in the band; he’s from Brantley, along with Paul Williamson (bass guitar and vocals), and Ben Fox (lead guitar). Luverne resident LaRoy Bodiford plays saxophone, and Daryl Roberts of Birmingham plays the drums.

Their manager is Levi Nichols of Luverne.

“The band has a very rock and roll and bluesy sound, and they’ve played all over the Southeast,” Nichols said. “It’s a really big accomplishment for them to get to play at Bama Jam where there’s a ton of big-name groups.”

Lead singer JB Roberts is an apprentice of country legend Lamar Morris of The Alabama Band, according to Nichols.

“He (Roberts) has taken cues from the Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes and The Black Crowes, which really makes the band have a soulful, southern blend,” Nichols said.

Roberts has also recorded “Every Step,” a 2006 LP, in Decatur.

This year’s lineup will include such names as Kid Rock, The Black Crowes, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Taylor Swift.

For more information about the JB Roberts Band and this weekend’s Bama Jam lineup, visit www.bamajammusicfestival.com or www.myspace.com/jbrobertsmusic.

Visit the article: http://www.greenvilleadvocate.com/news/2009/jun/01/county-natives-slated-bama-jam/

Taken From: California Chronicle

By Carole Brand, The Enterprise Ledger, Ala.

Jun. 5--Despite intermittent rain showers and high humidity on BamaJam's opening day Thursday, hundreds of music fans were lined up by noon to exchange tickets for wristbands admitting them to the three-day country music festival.

A large crowd had gathered at the festival's entrance by 10 a.m., to make suret they would be among the first ticketholders to enter the BamaJam site.

With more vendors on hand for this year's BamaJam, many of them also kept busy Thursday morning preparing their booths for an anticipated noon rush when the gates opened for the music extravaganza.

Motasha Blackerby and Shane Henderson, of Talladega, said they came to BamaJam to see a number of favorite artists during the three-days of musical entertainment.

Blackerby said she came to see Kid Rock, Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton.

"We drove our RV's and we're parked in the sponsors RV lot," Blackerby said. Henderson added they also brought two tents for camping.

"We like almost all the entertainment this year, especially Kid Rock and Blake Shelton. We're just excited and anxious to be here."

One BamaJam visitor, originally from Turkey but now a Florida resident, came to Enterprise with friends.

Tom Kent said he invited new Florida resident and brother, Richard Kent and his wife from Turkey, to BamaJam to see the performers.

"We've been standing in line quite a while now, but we're waiting it out. We don't care if it rains or not," Tom Kent said. "I wanted them to see what it's all about."

With the staff, vendors and security hurrying to finish final preparations Thursday, the crowds seemed patient, but eager, to see favorite musicians including Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, John Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Los Lonely Boys and Galactic performn Thursday evening.

Visit the article: http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/131101553