"THE SEXY SOULFUL DIVA, NELLIE"TIGER" TRAVIS ROCKS GROUND ZERO BLUES CLUB"

Hello BLUES and SOUTHERN SOUL FANS.  

Nellie "Tiger" Travis is a beautiful woman with a soulful voice.   Originally hailing from MOUND BAYOU, MISSISSIPPI, Travis now calls Chicago home.   In her new surroundings, Nellie has chosen to demonstrate her ample vocal talents in the highly competitive Chicago blues scene, performing at venues such as Kingston Mines and Koko Taylor's Celebrity Room.   To date she has worked with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Carl Weathersby, Bobby Rush, Tyrone Davis, Otis Clay, Big Time Sarah, Cicero Blake, Buddy Miles, Artie "Blues Boy" White, Little Milton, Willie Clayton, Latimore, J. Blackfoot, Stan Mosely, Shannon Curfman and Shemika Copeland just to name a few.   Nellie has standing engagements overseas and has performed in Greece since 1998.   Her many overseas tours has included performances in Germany, Brazil, Italy and Japan.   The "Tiger" performs regularly in Chicago when she's not touring around the country in the many venues and festivals that take place throughout the year.  

Academy award winning actor, Morgan Freeman's blues club "GROUND ZERO" in Clarksdale, Mississippi was the venue for my first 2008 BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL ride.   It was a couple of other shows in the surrounding area but I chose to not only come out and support my homegirl but to also set the tone for supporting these female artist in this industry.   It was a diverse crowd on hand for tonight's blues and southern soul gathering and everytime I visit Ground Zero it appears to be that way.   It is always refreshing to see black and white folks coming together and socializing with one another especially in the heart of the Mississippi Delta where racial tension is known to exist.   This was also a reunion of sorts for DA DAWG POUND.   I was joined on this night by two of my original Dawg Pound members, Carnez Parris a.k.a. "Sir Cap" and Doyle Parris a.k.a. "Dr. Feel Good".   Due to our work schedules and other personal matters, I've attended a lot of shows without them but the Dawg Pound has grown over the last couple of years and most of the members who attend shows with me are the newer members of Da Dawg Pound.   When I told them that our homegirl was performing at Ground Zero, without hesitation they agreed to come out and show her some love and support.   Joining us in Da Dawg Pound were Clarksdale Divas Roni, Keelah and Latriest.   Before the show begin we felt like we were in the old juke joints of old as the smell of chicken wings and fish filled the air.   Sir Cap and Dr. Feel Good couldn't resist trying the burger, onion rings, shrimp and fries but me I was cool, I had a shot of Crown(they had no Seagrams gin)and my cold Bud Light to chase it with.   So with my original K9 posse in the house and the Clarsdale Divas chilling in Da Dawg Pound allow me to begin my 2008 BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL RIDE.  

Nellie "Tiger" Travis didn't have her band with her so she was backed on this night by Guitar Mikey and his fellow musicans who also were the opening act for tonights show.   When she was introduced to the crowd she recieved a thunderous ovation and it kind of took me by suprise, I had no idea she was so popular to the people in attendance.   As she walked out on stage all the guys(black & white) were captured by her stunning beauty.   The divas for this genre of music are some of the most sexiest women you will see anywhere.   LAWD HAVE MERCY is all I can say.   I've seen them all Roni, Sheba Potts-Wright, Ms. Monique, Betty Padgett, Karen Wolfe and the late Jackie Neal and now Nellie "Tiger" Travis if the LORD made anything finer he must have kept it for himself.   Before she sang a note she had all the fellas won over.   Her first song on the night was "Oil And Water" and good people let me tell you from the start this diva has plenty of soul.   I know you hear me say this about a lot of these female artist but I'm talking about a deep down soul that reminds me a lot of Betty Padgett so you already know where I'm coming from on that one.   She immediately rocked the house with this cut.  

Her next song was a wondeful rendition of the Staple Singers "Lets Do It Again" and at the end of the song the crowd was wanting her to sing it again.   She went into a slew of medleys including Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", Freddie Jackson's "Rock With Me Tonight", Gerald Levert's "Cassanova", The Manhattan's "Shining Star", Love Doctor's "Slow Roll It" and Nellie begin to slow roll it for the crowd, GOT DAMN, GOT DAMN did she ever slow roll it, this diva made all the fellas jaws drop with her sexy version.   She contiued her medley of songs with Theodis Ealey's "Stand Up In It"and my Dawg Pound member, Dr. Feel Good hit the dance floor and begin to cut a rug with several of the female patrons in attendance.   I'm not sterotyping and PLEASE DON'T ANYONE GET OFFENDED but a few of these white females were hanging quite well with Dr. Feel Good as they all were having a wang dang doodle of a time out on the dance floor.   Only at a blues and southern soul show can you see a black man dancing with multiple white women grown folks style, this was a wonderful sight to behold. She ended her medley of sons with Bill Withers' "Lean On Me" and Marvin Gaye's "Lets Get It On" and Sir Cap and myself joined Dr. Feel Good on the dance floor.   She performed my personal favorite next, "You Gone Make Me Cheat" and I made my way front and center downstage and I was up close and personal with my sexy homegirl.   I felt as though she was singing this song just for me as I extended my hand to her and she held it and looked at me with the cutest face in the industry.   This song should have garnered more popularity and airplay on the southern soul market.   I know the true fans already know about this song but for those of you who don't this is a must listen to for real.   It should have been an instant southern soul smash hit.  

"Let The Good Times Roll" was her next song and boy did they ever roll as the dance floor was overcrowded, it looked like a honky tonk/juke joint gathering as everyone danced the night away.   The highlight of the show was when she performed a rendition of Creedance Clearwater revival hit song "Proud Mary" that was made popular by Ike and Tina Turner.   Before she got started she chose several women from the crowd including the Clarksdale Divas, Roni and Keelah to come down front and they were going to be the center of attention for this song.   At the start of the song Nellie and guitar Mikey did a good slow version similar to the one performed by Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishbourne in "Whats Love Got To Do With It?" and in a blink of an eye the tempo became fast pace as she told the women down front to shake what they momma gave them.   Again the white females in attendance held their own but it was the divas from Clarksdale that stole the show especially Keelah who did a realistic Tina Turner like version.   She closed her performance with"I Rather Go Blind, Than To See You Walk Away" which is a song from her latest cd titled "Higher Ground".   She gave a very soul stirring and gut wrenching performance on this song.   I had never heard it before but now it is my new favorite Nellie "Tiger" Travis song, she had the entire place slow dancing and feeling this cut as she took us back home for real.   She put the microphone down and continued to belt out the vocals to this beautiful song.   Her live vocals without the mic was by far one of the most impressive performances that my eyes and ears had ever seen or heard, I damn near cried as she ended this song.   Good people you have got to hear this song ASAP, I promise you that you won't be disappointed.   Nellie "Tiger" Travis is a phenomenal southern soul diva.   She blends the sounds of Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples and Patti Labelle all rolled up in one.   Soulful, sultry, brass and sassy would described her performance best.   With the face of a Super model and a Beyonce' like figure she is without a doubt the total package.   Homegirl your time has come and I'm putting you right up their with the elite female artist in this industry, welcome to the club Nellie.   I can't wait to see you do your thing again.   DAMN GOOD SHOW HOMEGIRL! Please go out and show Nellie some love and support, add all of her cds to your collection including her debut cd "I Got It Like That"(2000), "Live At Sweet Georgia Brown's"(2002), "Wanna Be With You"(2005) featuring the hit singles "You Gone Make Me Cheat" and "Baby Mama Drama" and her latest cd "Higher Ground"(2007) that features the single "I Rather Go Blind, Than To See You Walk Away".   For more information on Nellie "Tiger" Travis including bio, photos, upcoming shows and cd release dates please visit her website at www.nellietravis.com.  

Well my 2008 Blues and Southern Soul ride begin with a bang.   I hope I can hold true to my words and help to see the female artist of this genre of music get there just do.   I want to thank Nellie "Tiger" Travis for allowing me the opportunity to converse and to provide you all with some terrific photos from this show.   You are simply the best homegirl and I am truly greatful.   I also would like to give a shout out to Guitar Mikey (you got some serious skills my man) and the Clarksdale Divas, Roni, Keelah and Latriest I really had a great time partying with you all(we must do it again real soon).   To my orignal Dawg Pound members Sir Cap and Dr. Feel Good I hope that 2008 will allow us to get together down by the stage more often.   I had a great time at this blues and southern soul gathering and like always I just wanted to share it with the greatest fans in the world.   2008 has started off very well and I hope you all will continue to join me on my blues and southern soul ride.   Take care and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS.  

BIG K9 www.bigk9.net