The Aug. 18 edition of the Summer Concert series at Hiawatha will feature internationally recognized Leroy Bell and his only friends. Bell has performed with B.B. King, Van Morrison, Etta James, Al Green, Paolo Nutini, India Arie, Erykah Badu, LeAnne Rimes, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Charlie Musselwhite, Los Lobos, and Leon Russell.

He has written songs in association with Casey James that were recorded by The Spinners, The O'Jays, The Temptations, Rita Marley and most notably Elton John. The band around Bell features Terry Morgan on bass who has played with Dee Daniels, Pat Wright & The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Dave Lewis, Thelma Houston and others. The mighty force on drums features Davis Martin, formerly of the band, Maktub.

West Seattle fans will recall that the late Rick Novito of West Seattle also toured extensively with Bell prior to his passing.

The embedded video here is one from a show the band did in 2009 to give you a sense of what the music is like.

Concerts start at 6:30 pm Thursday evenings on the east lawn at Hiawatha Park (just adjacent to Walnut Ave. s.w.)

Admission is FREE.

Bring your family and friends, blankets, folding chairs and even a picnic dinner if you like.

Next week's act is Caspar Babypantsotherwise known as Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America.