Bev "BC" Conklin - Vocals | Wayne Smith - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals | Nick Franclik - Bass, Vocals
Spend your Valentines Day at the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem PA.
Congratulations - LVMA'S Director's Award for 2011 plus a sweep in all four nominated categories. The BC Combo has proven that age has no boundaries. They deliver a broad array of styles like Blues, Americana, Folk, Country, Beach, Soul, R&B and more. They continue to mentor the up and coming as well as play with the extraordinary talent in the Lehigh Valley at their host jams on Sundays (see schedule). Together, they have earned nearly every category of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards in Blues and instrumentation over the years and there is so much more to look forward to as they continue with their songwriting and strengths on original arrangements of cover songs. BC manages and promotes the group, while Wayne provides the production, arrangements and band leader duties and Nick handles sound. A self-contained package of stellar energy and playfulness that they deliver every time. You know they are having fun and it is contagious.
Bev "BC" Conklin, Nick Franclik and Wayne Smith have become a well adored, established and respected trio on the music scene with their uniquely skilled presentation of double duty for Wayne on both guitar and a self-created foot pedaled drum kit. Their debut CD as The BC Combo, “Live-ly”, showcases not only their amazing style, but also captures their passionate and highly praised arrangement and songwriting prowess on songs like I Should Have Gone Before I Left (Gambler's Blues), All the Pieces Fit Together, Waiting for Us There, You Better Stop and Only You. Look for a new studio recording in 2012 as they present some of their new originals they are performing now like Too Many Gone (Smoker's Blues), I Found the Blues and Baby It's You I Adore, co-written by Wayne and BC as well as a first-time original offering by Nick with Perfect Punching Bag. Recordings:
What people are saying...
"what a beautiful and outstanding performance - it just bristled with feeling." "Your new originals are powerful and they capture each of you as individuals - extraordinary." "Infectious grooves. Great playing and singing." "Loved Irma. Great vocals. The drums were tight. ...Loved it!" "BC, no one has topped your delivery on Hip Shakin Mama yet!" "Great vocals, great harmonies. Obvious seasoned veterans. Perfect fit for one another. Great job!" "You and your mates are the best combo I have ever heard. Thank you so much for making this day one of the most memorable I've ever had." THE BAND (digital press kit) The BC Combo is a full band trio with a recognizable set-up and style. BC combines her dynamic flexibility on voice with Nick Franclik, who contributes his laid back vocals and rhythmic bass, along with the mastermind, Wayne Smith, who directs the band with his amazing skill and unbelievable dual role as lead guitarist and foot-powered drummer. Joining the trio at area festivals and concerts, is the other infamous and multi-skilled Smith brother, Dave, on sax-clarinet-flute-guitar, who was the original sax man for Zen for Primates. All were former members of the highly awarded BC & The Blues Crew that retired in 2008. The BC Combo members are singer-songwriters and bring their wealth of experience and passion to the stage with their flavor or Americana, now a catch-all category for Blues, Folk, R&B, Soul and more. The list of who's who continues from their stage performances with Ray Charles, Koko Taylor, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Rhonnie Baker Brooks, Saffire, the Holmes Brothers, Carl Weathersby, Eddie King and so many more. The Lehigh Valley Music Awards began and continues with honors going to Bev Conklin for Best Blues Vocalist, All Around Performer and Female vocalist along with her band mates Wayne Smith, Lehigh Valley Music Award winner for keyboards and Best CD producer for BC & The Blues Crew’s Unfinished Business and Creole Etouffee along with Nick Franclik, LVMA Award winner with the Electric Farm. They all have been a significant Influence in the Lehigh Valley and beyond for over two decades. Nick Franclik was an original member of The Electric Farm, a regional sellout of folk, blues and rock originals in the 1990’s. Nick continues to perform with Rock Roots, led by Godfrey Daniels founder, Dave Frye, as well as playing bass for the powerful Dina Hall, an Angel from Montgomery herself. Don’t be surprised either to find him working behind the sound of Three Tower Audio at Mayfair and Musikfest, in addition to doing sound with Bruce Siekmann at the Kutztown Fair. So it’s no surprise who provides The BC Combo with their sound! And finally, Wayne Smith, courtesy of his label Minstrel Records, toured with Jay & The Techniques for over 10 years. He has toured internationally and continues as a mentor, advisor and instructor on guitar, bass and drums at Hawk Music in the Westgate Mall along with his brother, Dave Smith, who teaches sax, clarinet, flute and guitar. Dave is the recipient of a Lehigh Valley Music Award for Best Wind Instrument. BC has earned her wings as the Lehigh Valley’s Voice of the Blues. Having a resume that includes being a finalist at the International Blues Competition with her former band, BC & The Blues Crew, she was also in Memphis with Wayne Smith to represent the Lehigh Valley Blues Network in 2009 as a duo and again in 2010, recording with Friar’s Point at the renowned Sun Studios for their new release celebrated Father’s Day Weekend at the 2011, 6th annual Lehigh River Blues Jam. After a stint at Zoellner last year, Bev was invited to guest vocal with The Craig Thatcher Band at their debut concert at the new Steel Stacks Café. Singing with The Girls at Musikfest August 10, 2011 was a momentous occasion as Lori and Jeff said their wedding vows that day as the Mayor of Bethlehem officiated. The BC Combo performed at the Steel Stacks Blast Furnace Blues Festival in Bethlehem, PA September 17th. Most recently BC performed with The Girls during Sarah Ayer's sell-out concert December 17. Bev Conklin performs Valentine's Day 2012 with friends and bands she's worked with over the past 20 years. Both BC & Wayne are regulars at Molten Lounge at The Sands Casino with Tower Suite & Friends. This 7 piece group released a live CD in 2010 that was recorded and produced by Easton State Theater’s soundman and grammy award nominee, Dave Hinson. View an online schedule or print their schedule. Some of the Festivals and Events over the years • Musikfest, Das Awkscht Fescht, and The Lehigh River Blues Jam • Steel Stacks Musikfest Cafe • Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts • Central Pennsylvania Jazz Fest / Berk's Jazz Fest • Kutztown Fair and Allentown Fair • Kempton Music Festival and Bethlehem's Harvest Fest • Mayfair • Pocono Blues Festival Weekend – Big Boulder Corp. Sponsored Club Act • Briggs Farm Blues Festival • Mosconetcong Blues Festival / Knowlton Blues Fest • Memphis in May Festival • Baltimore Blues Festival • Billtown Blues Society Blues Festival • Lehigh Valley (Cementon) Blues Fest • Split Rock Wine Fest, NJ State Wine Growers Assoc Wine Fest, Penns Peak Wine Fest • Bernie J. Crum Stadium July 4th Celebration • 2nd Harvest Food Bank Gala • Illicks Mill Galas • United Way Galas • Lehigh Valley Health Network Galas • Annapolis Yacht Club Luekemia Lymphoma Fundraiser, MDA Galas • Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge (1998 and in the duo category 2010) • State Theater, Allentown Symphony Hall, Sellersville Theater, Roxy Theater, Civic Theater More of what people and venues are sayin... "Bev, What a beautiful and outstanding performance you and the Combo put on at the Lehigh Valley Christmas Concert this evening - it just bristled with feeling! What a great idea turning Fly Like an Eagle into Fly like a Reindeer to make it fit the bill as a Christmas song while still allowing you to contribute a really soulful and jazzy blues performance - it was the highlight of an excellent evening for both Charleyne & I. And it was great that Dave Smith was with you - his performance on alto was phenomenal. We don't get to hear him often enough in recent years!" November 28, 2010, Allentown Symphony Hall - Bill Dautremont-Smith, Executive Director WDIY Radio "Bev, I really enjoyed the arrangement on "Fly Like An Eagle" and was amazed at how the trio sounded like a 5 piece band. Wayne's musicality on guitar and drums at the same time is something special to experience and watch. I really loved your set overall and was really impressed with your sound." October 17, 2009, Sellersville Theater - Bruce Ranes "...featured Bev Conklin on vocals, accompanied by bassist Nick Franclik and Wayne Smith, who handled not only the guitar but a bass drum pedal. Conklin belted out originals and covers and reminded us why some locals refer to her as Queen of the Blues. Jodi Duckett, The Morning Call, posted May 25, 2009 - Mayfair "I have been following Bev around the Lehigh Valley for over a decade. Bev is the most verstatile and talented entertainer in a hundred mile radius. I have to stop at 100 miles because BB King has a place in NYC and Patty LaBelle has a place Philly. But I need to add, Bev is as good as both of them... " Fran Abuisi, March 2009
"... featuring Bev Conklin (known by her blues friends as BC), filled extra time with aplomb. BC has a strong fan base in the Lehigh Valley, and on Tuesday (@ The Ice House with Duke Robilliard), she showed why... " Daryl Nerl, The Morning Call - Musikfest Blognotes, August 2006 Photo: All web page header photos taken by Jeffrey Heller, our official band photographer |
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