Bev 'BC' Conklin is the most established, highly-awarded female Blues vocalist in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania since her 1991 debut as a performer. Her musical career began at age 31 and the band became an area favorite with the ability to travel a circuit in 5 Northeast states. Her resume reads like a Blues Bible with performances that included Ray Charles, Lonnie Brooks & Ronnie (Baker) Brooks, Kenny Neal, Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Saffire, The Holmes Brothers, Eddie King, Pinetop Perkins, Eddie C. Campbell, Carl Weathersby, Sandra Hall, E.C. Scott, Sista Monica Parker, Jimmy Dawkins and many more.
Beverly (Hardin) Conklin's Creole and musical demeanor and personality begins in the 9th Ward, Louisiana where her Grandfather, Dr. Joseph Hardin was key in the establishment of the area's NAACP. Dr. Hardin was integral in bringing concerts to Negro audiences with artists like Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. He established stronger educational opportunities for Negro children with the Hardin Elementary School and the Hardin playground, which were destroyed by Katrina along with the Hardin museum that was built in his honor. Bev's father joined the Army following medical school. Having lived in Europe and coast to coast in the United States has broadened her appreciation for all kinds of music, especially Classical, Jazz and Blues. The political and philanthropic momentum was instilled at an early age and then when starting this musical career, it grew with a desire to learn more about the Blues industry. So she began her knowledge base with her involvement with the area's DJ's, other established musicans in the area, Blues Festivals and Blues societies. BC served 7 years on the local Blues society in multiple Board roles including President, Newsletter Editor, Concert Chair and Secretary. As a contributing writer for Tri-State Blues Newspaper and the Delta Snake she was able to network with women in the Blues throughout the Northeast. BC has volunteered a multitude of hours helping new clubs and Blues festivals get their start such as Blues 2000 & Beyond in New York and the Cementon Blues Festival in PA. Having one of the first websites in the early 90's, she managed and promoted her band, BC & The Blues Crew to successful heights as they received global airplay and rave reviews for their Unfinished Business CD and performances in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and PA. Winning the Billtown Blues Society's Competition lead them to the opportunity to become a finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the late 90's. Beverly and her band mates have won nearly every Lehigh Valley Music Award (LVMA) available for group and individual achievements. In addition to keeping a full-time day job, Bev worked nearly a decade on the Hack's Annual Blues Fest committee, raising funds for those in need among their peers. Today, Bev contributes back to the LVMA's as a sponsor of these awards through her newly founded Women's Blues Alliance. Beverly is also the Promoter of the Lehigh River Blues Jam, a continuation of her philanthropic work in the community she lives, in partnership with the Catasauqua Borough.
Bev earned her BS and master's degree from Penn State University. She is the only non full-time musician of Bluzin and remains the original vocalist and band manager for both Bluzin and BC & The Blues Crew. Beverly has earned her place on the marquis as the Blues voice of the Lehigh Valley. A most memorable occasion was at Mayfair for a Ladies Sings the Blues event featuring BC, the late Tonya Brown (Queen Bee) and Koko Taylor. The best was bringing Koko Taylor and her band to Hack's the next morning. Hack's, a stand in line to wait for a Blues breakfast eatery, was a favorite hangout among the local artists and is the original song on Unfinished Business written by the late great Al G. Another great memory was with Lonnie Brooks at a Mayfair event when he invited 'Miss BC' to sing with him on stage to perform as a duo during a portion of his set. The icing on the cake was later that night when a good friend dropped by with Rhonnie Baker Brooks and their bass player, Biscuit, to jam til the sun came up. Biscuit's mail was always addressed to "The Girl with the Golden Voice." Can't blame the guys for trying, but the girl was already spoken for... BC credits Jim Mertz (WMUH and WLVR DJ, Emcee for the Pocono Blues Festival and former LVBN VP) for these opportunities at Mayfair and more. Managed by Simron Productions, the group was preparing to go to Greece in the late 90's, but lost momentum when BC was hurt in a head-on car accident in 2000 and underwent neuro-surgery in 2003. Sarah Ayers was looking to get a foothold in the Blues scene and start her own band and accepted the difficult challenge of keeping this band working a full year's schedule until BC's recovery. A bond between Sarah and BC that is rare and a miracle to both given where they both are today. This mama has been through heaven and hell and she ain't done cookin' yet.
www.BevConklin.com