The sweet southern sounds of the bayou made their way to Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 8 as renowned vocalist and American blues guitarist, Tab Benoit took the stage to share his distinct flavor of rhythm and blues with music lovers from all over the Metro.

The crowd at the Tower Theater was packed to the brims and infused with the lowkey, mellow excitement that has proven itself to be characteristic of the bluesy demographic Benoit typically serves. People milled in and out in the hour preceding the show, making sure to visit one of the two full bar setups that the venue proudly features.

It is certainly worth noting that the aforementioned mellowness lasted all of a few seconds once Benoit took the stage. The crowd whooped and hollered their heads off as the musician launched straight into the first song of the night. His performance of “Ain’t No Sunshine” positively dazzled the crowd.

One of the most promising blues musicians to arise out of Southern Louisiana, Benoit’s touring career is still going strong as the talented artist nears age 56. With a career spanning decades and a fan base that comprised much of the southern and midwestern United States, it should come as a surprise to nobody that the show was a proper salute to the rhythm and blues as well as a stellar showcasing of the talented singer songwriter.

Watching Benoit, one may start to ask themselves if it’s even humanly possible for fingers to move that quickly and skillfully across a series of strings. His near unmatched abilities on the guitar would’ve made for an astonishing show all on its own, but coupled with the sultry sounds of Benoit’s signature bluesy voice the performance was absolutely phenomenal.

Playing effortlessly on his 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar, Benoit displayed absolute mastery over several styles of the blues, though he has gone on record saying that Delta blues has a special place in his heart. Throughout the entirety of his musical career, Benoit had written all of his own compositions.

Ever since he was a child, Benoit has had a proclivity toward music, instruments, and specifically, the blues. He was a professional level guitar player by the time he hit his teenage years and eventually began performing at the Blues Box, a music club and cultural center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Blues Box, run by guitarist Tabby Thomas, allowed Benoit the opportunity to play alongside the seasoned high-profile regulars of the club. This gave him invaluable musical experience that he carried with him to other clubs throughout the state. He eventually began touring other parts of the south and is currently on a wide sweeping blues tour across the country.

Benoit is not only a beloved performer, but he is also the recipient of the 2007 Entertainer of the Year Award which was presented by the Blues Music Awards. The honor has been described as one of the highest accolades achievable by a blues musician in the industry. He was later inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2012, he won three separate awards, including a second time winning the B.B King Entertainer of the Year Award alongside Best Contemporary Male Artists and Best Contemporary Blues Album.

A treat for the ears and a feast for the soul, this performance of the blues will stay with listeners far past leaving the theater.

His next performance is slated for June 9 in Fort Worth, Texas if you and your blues-loving friends are feeling up for a road trip.

Gabi Merchen is a fourth-year Communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.