Scorpio Birthday Bash Featuring Col. Bruce Hampton

Demorest, GA, November 6, 2014 (Newswire.com) - There isn't nearly enough space here to recap the extensive, colorful, and confusing history of Atlanta's granddaddy of all things jam, Col. Bruce Hampton, who now adds "Ret." to his moniker. But from his 1969 emergence as the leader of the ahead-of-its-time Hampton Grease Band through stints with a wildly diverse set of curiously named outfits, including the Late Bronze Age, the Codetalkers, the Fiji Mariners, the Quark Alliance, and, most notoriously, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, his idiosyncratic influence has been felt by every major roots/jam musician who has emerged from the Peach State.

Hampton helped start the 1990s seminal H.O.R.D.E. tours. The best known of his bands to play H.O.R.D.E. is the jazz-rock outfit Aquarium Rescue Unit which featured improvisational music all-stars Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Matt Mundy and Jeff Sipe.

"Grandfather Father of Jam Music"

Bob Fortin, Event Manager

In 1994, Hampton then formed the progressive rock/jazz duo Fiji Mariners and recorded two albums on Capricorn Records with Dan Matrazzo who simultaneously played keys, drums, and bass. Later, Ricky Fargo and Marcus Williams joined on drums.

Hampton was the voice of Warren, a talking potted shrubbery, in a 1998 episode (entitled "Warren") of the TV show Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Hampton played Morris, the songwriting band manager, in Billy Bob Thornton's 1996 film Sling Blade. He also starred in Mike Gordon's 2001 film Outside Out teaching guitar 'out'struction.

Grammy Award nominated blues singer and longtime friend Susan Tedeschi wrote a song about Bruce called "Hampmotized." It appears on her 2002 release Wait For Me. Hampton returned the favor with the song "Susan T".

"Basically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret." is a documentary about Hampton. It premiered at the Atlanta Film Festival in March 2012.

 Hampton's ties to headliners such as Widespread Panic and Derek Trucks are well documented, but names such as Warren Haynes, Billy Bob Thornton, Chuck Leavell, Jimmy Herring, Phish's Mike Gordon, and Frank Zappa also play key roles in Hampton's more than 40-year professional career. Last year's documentary “Basically Frightened” details the story for those who want to dig deeper.

All Scorpio’s get in free for this show. Cake will be provided. Tickets $10 706-839-7467