Keb’ Mo’ sings tonight on Maui

WAILUKU – Grammy Award winning blues songwriter Keb’ Mo’  describes himself as a “work in process” and has a hard time picking his favorite song but his favorite for now is “Marvelous to Me.”

“Ask me next week I’ll probably pick a different song,” he said.

“I’m still learning how to play the blues. It’s a lifelong job for me.”

Keb’ Mo’ performs at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, March 23, at the Yokouchi Pavilion & Courtyard at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. 

With several Grammys and albums and more coming, he’s among the prominent blues composers and performers in the country.

Raised in the multi-ethnic City of Compton in Los Angeles County where minorities are in the majority and homelessness has been a problem, Ken’ Mo’ has a sensitivity in his songs about the poor that comes through in his compositions.

But his songs are uplifting as well and sometimes provides a different way of looking at life, such as his song “Change,” allowing a homeless man to plead his need for change, like most people wanting to improve their life.   

Keb’  Mo’ said he’s probably most influenced by Taj Mahal.  The two have performed together and produced an album together that won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues in 2018.

“He has a very broad sense of musical styles as I do, and I’ve been listening to him since the late 1960s,” Keb’ Mo’ said.

For more information, go to mauiarts.org or call 242-7469.