LINDA WIGGINS
Southern born, but long time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area,
Linda Wiggins is on the short list of the Bay Area's best blues/ R&B
keyboard player/vocalists. She was born in Du
mas, Arkansas
(of infamous (Feb 24 07) tornado fame. Linda started playing piano at an
early age when her family moved to Texas. She's always kept the flavor of
her Southern roots, whether it is frying up okra or playing blues piano.
Her mother played piano in the church, as did Linda when she was a teenager,
beginning the development of her gospel piano technique. Listening to recordings
of the old masters like Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair, as well as
later artists like Fats Domino and Ray Charles, Linda draws upon all in
her style of piano playing. A few years into her career, she started also
incorporating the Hammond B-3 organ. Linda says "whenever it came time
to move, my main concern was finding space to accommodate the B-3, rather
than being picky about roommates...."Yeah, I can be vegetarian, a dog
lover..whatever.". She recalls one night driving to a gig, up a particularly
steep San Francisco street, when she heard a scraping sound from the B-3
in the back of her van. Linda realized the "brakes" weren't set
on the organ dolly, and with a lot of sheer will, reached back and held
the contraption with one hand while she inched up to the hill top to turn
to a more hospitable flat street.
In the 1990's Linda put together a large R&B band called "Linda
Lou's Hipshakin' R&B Revue" covering lots of Etta James, Otis Redding,
and other old school R&B. She says it was a labor of love, writing horn
charts for about 80 of her favorite obscure R&B tunes . Mz. Dee and
Diane Swann both sang with that band. Nowadays, Linda has a very versatile
band called "Finesse" (which still can include those tasty R&B
styles, as well as other popular dance music people request). Linda continues
to also be in demand as a soloist (piano & vocals). She has performed
with or recorded with such local blues and R&B artists as Mz Dee, Pamela
Hawkins, Diane Swann (originally an Ikette with Ike & Tina Turner),
Calvin Tillery, Glenn Walters, Frank Biner and Linda Tillery. In 2002 Linda
completed a 3 week engagement at a Paris blues/R&B nightclub, performing
on B-3, piano and vocals, backing up Pamela Hawkins, along with the French
house musicians.....she says the Parisians call the music"Err and Bay"
(R&B) and the audiences were enthusiastic and welcoming. At the end
of 2004 she headlined at Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco. In 2005, Linda
performed a return engagement in Paris (working this time with reknown blues
artist Mz. Dee). In March, 2006 with her quartet and Mz. Dee, Linda performed
live on KGO Radio (San Francisco)...-KGO called her to do a repeat engagement
on KGO Radio March 2007 which did, having the wonderful Bay Area jazz vocalist
Frankye Kelly with the band. She performed with famed saxophonist Jules
Broussard in her jazz trio - at Golden Gate Fields Turf Club in Berkeley.
In 2008 and 2009, she has squeezed in some engagements "at sea"
- performing (trio) on Princess, then several contracts as soloist on Carnival
Cruise Lines. She is currently working on a CD, to be released in 2011 and
continues to play Bay Area clubs and private parties. Currently lining up
possible European engagements (with vocalist Mz. Dee).
To check her availability for a specific date, email her at linda@finesseproductions.com
- Note: most of this season's performances are private. Free Sept 2010 public perf:
Sun Sept 12 (8am-12 noon) outdoors at the Albany
(Calif) Veterans Park. 1325 Portland Ave @ Carmel....note: this park is
c. 4 blocks north of the Solano Stroll, so you can go catch Linda's band
(yes, they take requests, but will be playing a wide variety of music anyway...and
the Lions Club is hosting an adjacent pancake breakfast.) and then go on
to the huge Solano Stroll.
Now booking 2010 * 2011 weddings.
parties & holiday events
Finesse Productions
