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Big Time Sarah

A veteran of the Chicago blues scene for over three decades, Big Time Sarah knows how to throw her weight around when wielding a microphone, to the delight of those who enjoy her charged, raunchy shows. She is the consummate blues singer, and has earned the right to her nickname by delivering modern electric blues at its sweaty, steamy best.

Big Time Sarah was born Sara Streeter on January 31, 1953 in Coldwater, Mississippi and moved to Chicago with her family when she was seven. Sarah received her first vocal training and performing experience by singing with church choirs on the city's South Side. In the best blues tradition, Sarah made her performing debut at the age of 14 by sitting in at a blues jam at Morgan's Lounge located at 312 E. 61st St. During the early 1970's, Sarah began paying her blues dues by working inner city clubs such as Morgan's, Louise's Lounge, Cinderella and the Show and Tell Lounge.

Sarah met Sunnyland Slim in 1976 when he played a club date at the Wise Fools Pub on Chicago's North Side. Sunnyland was impressed enough by the young singer to hire her as the vocalist with his band for a six week tour of California in June, 1977.

Other tours with Sunnyland followed, including one of Europe in August, 1977. Sarah also recorded for Sunnyland on his Airway label, cutting a 45, "Big Time Operator" and "Long Tall Daddy" with a band that included Magic Slim and Nick Holt.

Big Time Sarah has been performing ever since. Sarah works regularly at the top clubs on Chicago s highly competitive internationally famous blues club circuit, where if you don't do it right the first time, you may not get a second chance to do it all. "I get a better feeling when I'm in a place that's small and real crowded because they seem to be more into the music."

Sarah has had lots of work in both large and small places during the past few years. Since forming her own band in 1980, Sarah has been a regular on the Chicago club circuit. She has appeared with a cross section of top blues talent, and has toured throughout Europe and Brazil on a regular basis. Sarah was a featured artist at the first City of Chicago Blues Festival, held in June, 1984 in Grant Park. Sarah did a three week stint in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She has become a mainstay on the Brazilian blues scene performing there each of the last 6 years. She has been nominated twice for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year by the W. C. Handy Blues Awards.

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