"TJ Wheeler-Hope, Heroes & The Blues at The Strand Theatre"

(Lakewood, NJ) -- Welcome 2011 with Blues & Jazz musician, activist, and educator, TJ Wheeler, coming to The Strand Theater Friday, January 14 at 8:00pm.

TJ Wheeler's--Hope, Heroes & The Blues features Matt Wade on Hammond B3 organ and Brian Klammer on drums for a night of Blues & Jazz power! Swept up by the British invasion of 1964, Wheeler started playing the guitar when he was 12. He was first exposed to the Blues at 16, after sneaking into the New Orleans Club in Berkeley, California, where he was mesmerized by Buddy Guy.

By 17, Wheeler was running an acoustic music Coffee House, and playing in a Jug Band. At 19, he performed his first Blues-in-The School program and by age 20 he was playing on street corners, either solo or in Jug Bands, busking from Seattle to New Orleans. By his mid 20's, Wheeler had mentored and toured while living in Memphis with Furry Lewis (legendary Delta Blues and Jug Band Musician) and Bukka White (historic Delta Blues hero).

In addition to his trademark "raspy but right" Bluesy vocals, he performs on a 7-string Arch top guitar among other stringed instruments. He has been performing his specialized blend of Blues & Jazz for over 35 years throughout the United States as well as Finland, Canada, Brazil and the Bahamas. In addition to playing at major festivals and concert venues around the world, he's devoted himself to integrating Blues & Jazz education programs in a unique, multi-discipline, holistic manner around the world. In 1993, he received the prestigious WC Handy Award for "Keeping the Blues Alive" in education.

General admission tickets are only $6.00 plus service charge. Don't wait or miss this wonderful performance! Like to listen and watch some of TJ Wheeler's performances? Visit youtube.com and check out The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation website at www.jsjbf.org/bands_detail.php?id_band=441 for more information about TJ Wheeler and other performers. For more information call the box office at 732-367-7789 or visit the website at www.strand.org.