Georgia Blue Bluegrass Band from Calhoun, GA

Georgia Blue is an Alternative Country/Bluegrass Music group whose members all live in Calhoun, Georgia. Bob Harvey is the founder and granddaddy of the band. In the early sixties he was a founding member of the Slippery Rock String Band, a renowned Bluegrass group formed in San Francisco, as well as being a founding member of Jefferson Airplane in 1965. In the late 60’s Bob was a member of Paul William’s band, the “Holy Mackerel.” They recorded an album for Reprise Records which was produced by the legendary Richard Perry. Bob scored music for a number of films from 1968 up until 1974, at which time he went back to college and got a journalism degree. He worked as a writer for two Daily Newspapers, the “Daily Signal” in Downey California and the “Daily News” in Whittier. In 1977, Bob began writing for a trucking publication called “Mother Trucker News.” Bob made his living as a writer for the next 20 years. In 1990 Bob went to Saudi Arabia as a journalist with the US Navy, where he met mandolin player Brian Fowler. They began playing and writing music and eventually recorded three albums under the name “San Francisco Blue.” In 2005, Bob and Brian went their separate ways and Bob formed a new band called “Georgia Blue.” The members include Bob Harvey on vocals, upright bass and rhythm guitar; Alesia Chester, whose vocals literally bring Bob’s lyrics alive. Alesia has been singing all her life, having been a member of numerous local music groups. She has even done a duet with Jerry Lee Lewis and after hearing her voice, Michael McDonald suggested she try out with the “Starship” when Grace was rumored to be leaving the band a few years ago.. Excellent violin was provided by Danny Taylor, who played on Georgia Blue’s first two albums “Live at Arts in Hartwell” and “Seeds of Revolution.” Danny injured his arm in late 2005 and had to curtail most of his playing, including most of his violin students. At that point Alesia brought guitarist Zac Lanier into the mix. Zac has been into music for the last nine years, playing guitar in various local bands. He also plays banjo, mandolin and piano. Zac says, “I improvise stylistically diverse melodies in an acoustic setting.” Bob says, “That’s an understatement.” In early April Alesia told Bob about Lamar Hunter, who had just moved back to Calhoun after 10 years away. As a teen in Calhoun he performed weekly at a local wrestling event with his brother Randy. During his late teens Lamar played in a number of southern rock bands including the Folsom Brothers band. At age 20, Lamar picked up the fiddle and later formed his own band called the Ghostown Band and developed his singing as well as playing lead electric guitar, slide guitar and Banjo. In 2002 Lamar was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame’s Hall of Honor for his Fiddle playing. Lamar played with “Georgia Blue” at their final performance at “Lizzi’s” in Calhoun and recorded with them as they completed their latest album, “Children of the Wind.” Their performance at “Jamboree by the Lake” in Winchester, TN on May 5th brought them attention from a number of DJs from places like Canada and New Zealand. The band appeared as opening act for the Jerry Miller Band at the “Avalon” in Santa Clara, CA on the 21st of July, 2006.