The following is a brief of the story. For the full version, see the Wednesday, July 1 print edition of the BDN.

The Curly Joe Harper Blues Band takes the lead at the Blues Jams Thursday, July 2 from 8 TO 11 p.m. in Turner Hall, 518 Vine Street, Boonville. Admission is $6.

Originally from the Dallas, Texas area, Curly Joe migrated to Columbia in the mid-seventies. The singer-harmonica player is the leader of Curly Joe Harper Blues Band.

Curly, who comes from three generations of singers and piano players, learned how to play classical piano from his grandmother. He was willing to practice every day and learned how to read sheet music so quickly that he was considered something of a prodigy by age 13. Four years later, Curly dropped out of high school to join a regional road band that played all over Texas.