The Mo-Beat Blues will perform at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood. This event is free and open the public.
Mo-Beat Blues is comprised of husband and wife team Samuel and Janice Lozada who live in Portage, IN. The couple presents a "full-throttle" show of jazz, soul, R&B, country, swing and Rat Pack.
Janice plays percussion, and Samuel is a harmonica-playing, sunglasses-wearing blues man who has opted to give up on playing late nights at clubs and bars with bands for a different kind of audience.
Five years ago, Samuel accompanied a musician to a Valparaiso assisted living facility. When he saw how much the residents enjoyed the performance, he started seeking out more retirement communities that might be interested in booking him. Today he has a client list of about 65 such homes in Illinois and Indiana. Samuel and Janice average about 25 shows a month.
"Seniors are blown away with the show, each and every time," Samuel said, "and it is a great opportunity to bring some joy in to their lives for an hour. I'm not going to get rich with it, but if you can see their faces and see them get up and dance, it's worth it."
Two of Samuel and Janice's most prized possessions are gifts from residents - a pink stuffed monkey and a red stuff bull named Louie who accompanies them to all shows. They were finalists in the Region Idol competition and have recorded one CD.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
For more information, call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit http://www.timbersofshorewood.com.
