Singing the blues: Stevie Ray & the Deacon

One local blues band has a reason to feel good about the blues. Stevie Ray & the Deacon are people orientated, not concerned with themselves.

They have a curious name, i.e., Stevie Ray & the Deacon. They have a certain style, a purpose for being together. They say it simply, “We want to entertain… not to be abrasive.” That’s said by Kenneth Fannin, the “deacon” and vocalist.

Fannin is actually a deacon. He’s been ordained.

The two met about four years ago, jelled and added four more now. The four more are Tony Weaver, harmonica; Steven Ray Blakely II, lead guitar; John W. Young Jr., drums; and Rodney Beal, bass.

The band was part of Linden’s Wildflower Trails Festival recently. And one of their favorite places to play is the 1923 Banana Club in Texarkana. Here they play monthly and like it, for example, “because it’s first class and you can reach out to the first tables and touch hands.”

You can catch them there Friday, the 30th of this month, from 8 to 11 p.m.

What you’ll experience is not overpowering at first. They like to called what they do as “rock and roll blues.” But, in truth, they only have six full-out rock and roll songs in their three-hour session.

“We want to be different … nice, smooth music.” When have you heard that from today’s bands? So, just remember Stevie Ray & the Deacon. They perform locally and all the time for a number of festivals.

Recently they were having their professional photo taken before a downtown Atlanta mural created some time ago by muralist James Coleman. The photo set up seemed just right.

A local photographer on a step ladder shooting pictures of a casually dressed group of guys around an antique restored Chevrolet pickup.

If you get close enough, you could shake hands with each, and you might be converted by the deacon and Stevie Ray from friends to fans.