Robert Earl Keen's musical career began by playing guitar in his underwear with Lyle Lovett for Texas churchgoers across the street from his house.

Talk about your musical roots….

Keen will more than likely be fully clothed Friday, September 20 when he plays at Tipitina's Uptown, along with opening act Robinella & The CC String Band.

In fact, his solo career blossomed after that. Since 1984 Keen has released 10 solo records, the latest being Gravitational Forces in 2001.

His songs have been covered by the likes of Willy Nelson, George Strait, Kelly Willis, Joe Ely, Jill Sobule and Nancy Griffith. The Dixie Chicks recently covered his well-known "Merry Xmas

From The Family."

Lovett and Keen remained close and when Keen honed his songwriting skills to higher levels, the talented and popular Lovett recorded one of his songs.

It has been anything but downhill from there for Keen.

While others have helped him with his solo career, he has also helped pave the way for others, including Slaid Cleve, Rodney

Hayden and Reckless Kelly.

His Texas Uprising Concerts have grown in popularity across the country.

(Sources include All Music Guide and Sacks & Co.)

Vaughan:
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"This is probably the meanest of Jimmie's three solo albums," noted music critic John Morthland, in his September review of the CD for sonicnet.com.

The record was his 10th Grammy nomination, and his third solo record.

What made the award so special was the fact that it was his first Grammy as a solo artist.

While the Grammy validates Vaughan as a big-time solo blues artist, his transformation really started with Out There, his second solo release.

While Strange Pleasure was filled with spirituality as he came to grips with his brother's death in a helicopter crash in 1990, his second solo release, Out There, he describes as being different because it is "bluesier, dirtier, more raw."

In the Globe interview, Vaughan said: "I am doing a lot better.

I did the tribute record (A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan - live in 1996) and thought that was important for acceptance and closure. Then I said 'OK, I've done this and I've got to start a new phase.'

"I am really doing my own thing right now."

Part of his "own thing" is becoming a more polished vocalist, which was never his strong-suit. While his solo debut as a lead vocalist is described as a little weak in Strange Pleasure, he is noticeably more comfortable in Out There, according to critics, and even better in Do You Get The Blues?

Prior to his solo work, Vaughan is best known for being one of the founders of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and being the older brother of Stevie Ray. His influences are among the blues' royalty - B.B. King, Freddie King, and Albert King.

The T-Birds quickly became one of Texas' top touring acts as he an co-founder, lead vocalist and harmonica player Kim Wilson

helped the band develop a strong fan base while eventually earning a major record label contract by the end of the 1970s as they signed with Chrysalis Records.

Sadly, despite the band's great regional popularity, none the records became hits and they were dropped by Chrysalis in 1982.

Vaughan continued to make his hay with the T-Birds and as a accomplished and highly sought-after guitarist, performing and recording with the likes of Lou Ann Barton, Eric Clapton and B.B. King.

He and Stevie Ray finally collaborated on a record Family Style, but it was not released until shortly after his brother's death in 1990.

Ironically, it was there that Jimmie first appears as a lead vocalist…soon to become a solo artist.

(Sources include All Music Guide, and jimmievaughan.com)

"The problem I have with some of the hardcore jazzbobs is that they seem sort of cookie-cutter in their attitude towards other forms of music and composition," says Walter in a Fog City Records biography. "I like to play around with ideas, and get into improvisation and all that, but it has got to be something that makes people move. And that is really where jazz started out. People forget that."

And people are moving to the sounds of the 20th Congress.

Walter's 20th Congress discography includes

Spirit of '70 (1997), Money Shot (2000), and There Goes The Neighborhood (2001).

Last fall the 20th Congress opened up for Herbie Hancock in Boulder, Co. The performance was so impressive, writer Dave Kirby of the Colorado Daily wrote: "Walter's set was a clean, tight, tough-as-nails serving of funk-based jazz and post-swing bop, and judging by the reaction of the unusually receptive crowd, Walter and his bass-drums-sax outfit absolutely nailed on of the biggest gigs of his life."

It was just another party.

(Sources include All Music Guide, and Fog City Records)

With such a diverse background and a broad range of influences, Scofield is adept at playing a variety of genres, including jazz, soul, R&B, rock, and has appealed to jam fans across the country.

All of which comes forth on his most recent recording effort, uberjam.

According to the biography on Scofield's website, "the 11 original songs on uberjam showcase a group that explores diverse

influences and styles while maintaining a irresistible groove. Launching with the eastern aura of Acidhead," easing into the languid "Tomorrow Land," and ending with the super-funky climax of "Lucky For Her," uberjam takes listeners on a modern journey of forward-thinking compositions and captivating improvisations by the Scofield band."

Scofield was born in Ohio and picked up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. A local teacher introduced him to Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Pat Martino, which sparked his lifelong love for jazz. He later attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

(Sources include All Music Guide and johnscofield.com)