Roland Johnson and Gene Jackson spent their adults lives involved in the soul and rhythm and blues live music scenes in the St. Louis area – Jackson since the mid 70s and Johnson since the late 60s. After decades of making music, the two singers met up with Paul Niehaus IV, a local musician and producer and owner of Blue Lotus Records. Each performer put out an album of original material produced by Niehaus, the very first records for either Jackson or Johnson. Both artists were nominated for Blues Blast Music Awards in 2017 for their recordings, Roland for “Best Soul Blues Album” and Gene for “Best Debut Album.” Now they work as a duo with a band featuring Niehaus and other St. Louis musicians performing as The Blue Lotus Soul Revue. Expect to hear some sweet singing of album cuts and familiar standards, all ringing true with St. Louis soul sounds, direct from veterans of the real world of live music in the clubs, continuing a deep and rich tradition of singing from the heart and to the soul.
Roland Johnson and Gene Jackson spent their adults lives involved in the soul and rhythm and blues live music scenes in the St. Louis area – Jackson since the mid 70s and Johnson since the late 60s. After decades of making music, the two singers met up with Paul Niehaus IV, a local musician and producer and owner of Blue Lotus Records. Each performer put out an album of original material produced by Niehaus, the very first records for either Jackson or Johnson. Both artists were nominated for Blues Blast Music Awards in 2017 for their recordings, Roland for “Best Soul Blues Album” and Gene for “Best Debut Album.” Now they work as a duo with a band featuring Niehaus and other St. Louis musicians performing as The Blue Lotus Soul Revue. Expect to hear some sweet singing of album cuts and familiar standards, all ringing true with St. Louis soul sounds, direct from veterans of the real world of live music in the clubs, continuing a deep and rich tradition of singing from the heart and to the soul.