About Kevin Burt
For more than 25 years, Kevin Burt has been electrifying audiences throughout the Midwest dispelling the myth that true blues has no roots in Iowa. His soul-inspired presentation is unique, which consistently gets him compared to a range of artists like Bill Withers and Aaron Neville, with the ability to build an audience rapport that has been compared to B.B. King.
Kevin is a self-taught musician (vocals, harmonica, and guitar) whose smooth, warm vocal presentation sets a mood of relaxed exhilaration, with a welcome mixture of serious music and infectious humor audiences of all ages seem to enjoy. His voice and presence are powerful. His unique delivery ranges from the sweetest, fullest, juiciest come-on to the most playful growl. Though he performs between 325 and 400 shows a year, he holds nothing back night after night and audiences leave knowing that. Kevin has had some stage acting experience in his short career. His role as “Papa Gee” in an off Broadway play called “Klub Ka, the Blues Legend” had a two week run at LaMama’s Experimental Theater in New York City was sold out each night. It ran originally in Iowa City, and then in Washington D.C.. Burt also arranged all of the blues music for this play.
Kevin has also had roles in several other plays at the University of Iowa. Playing “Old Timer” in “Waking Niccodemus”. Also playing the role of “Whining Boy” in the acclaimed play by August Wilson, “The Piano Lesson”. Kevin also composed the musical soundtrack, and landed a lead role in a short silent film called “The Guru’s Game”. He also landed a part as himself performing in the independent film “Twelve-thirty”.
Kevin Burt has won many awards and played many festivals both solo and with his band, the Instigators. His awards include Best Entertainer in Iowa City (three times) Best Band in Iowa City (three times) Iowa Blues Challenge Champions, Named as one of the top 25 unsigned blues bands in the world by the International Blues Challenge Competition.
Festival appearances include: Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, The Blues Foundation International Unsigned Band Challenge in Memphis, TN, Blues-stock Memphis, TN, the 1996 Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folk life in Washington DC, the Iowa Sesquicentennial Festival of Iowa Folk life in Des Moines, IA., Boundary Waters Blues Festival, Grand Rapids, MN, No Boundary Blues Festival, Proctor, MN, Iowa City Jazz Festival, Iowa City, IA, Central Iowa Blues Society Winter and Summer Festivals Des Moines, IA, Freedom Festival Cedar Rapids, IA, Prairie Dog Blues Festival, Prairie Duchien, WI, North Liberty Barbeque and Blues Fest, North Liberty, IA, Blues Under the Trees Fort Dodge, IA, Bluesmore Cedar Rapids.
In a comparably short career, Kevin Burt has shared the stage in one form or another with a who’s who in the music world. B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Bernard Allison, Junior Wells, Robert Lockwood Jr., David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Wayne Baker Brooks, Blues Traveler, Head East, Molly Hatchet, Three Dog Night, Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Chubby Carrier, Terrance Simieon, Dan Zanes, The Holmes Brothers, Tony Brown, Jerry Dugger, Ken Valdez.
Kevin is also recognized as one of the Midwest’s top blues heritage educators. This honor was given to him by the Governor of Iowa, Chet Culver in February of 2009. Kevin is a registered artist, and artist educator with the state of Iowa Arts Council. He has also written and published a classroom harmonica method book called “Just Play It: an introduction to blues harmonica.” His approach is simple, education through entertainment. His program has been going strong since 1994. Burt plans to continue this work as well as his community work with Children and the arts. With the support of his family and community, good things will be happening for Kevin “B.F.” Burt in 2024.
Friends of the Gallagher Bluedorn
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Producer $2400+"]Camie Gunderson
Dr. James F. Lubker
Dr. Roberta Bodensteiner
Heaton Family Fund
Jim & Carol Waterbury
John Benton
Christine Prunty-Hackbarth & Kirk Hackbarth
Discerning Wealth
Larry & Sandra Fox
Joseph & Angela Fuller
Huff Contracting Inc
Rick & Mary Christ
Dr. James F Lubker
Nancy & Harry Olson
Jean Trainor
Pat K Brown
Margaret & Paul Empie
Warren & Rebecca Schildroth[/collapse]
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Director $1,800-$2,399"]Ann & Jons Olsson
Dorothy K Glascock
Reginald & Kathy Green
Bill & Moria Brown
Marleta Matheson
Jim & Frankee Oleson
Paul & Liz Stapella
R & N Investment Properties LC
Jeffry & Christina Sales
Larry & Jacqueline Betts
Bremer Mutual Insurance
Steven & Eleanor Vanous
Mrs. Dianne L Phelps[/collapse]
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Investor $1,200-$1,799"]A. Maxine Engelkes
Al Natvig & Debra Yankey
Alan & Carol Brown
Amy & Thomas Bower
Andrea Holst
Bryan & Lori Sands
Cathy Craig
Cheryl & Mark Nook
Cindy Currier-Hemel
Darla & Eric Anderson
David & Cheryl Neill
Debbie & Randy Lee
Donald & Dianna Briggs
Doreen Mohnach Cook
Francis L Pardoe Trust
Gaylen & Mitzi Tann
James & Nancy Stevenson
Jason & Angie Edgington
Jay & Kathy Agness
Jay & Lynn Horan
Jim & Becky Mudd II
Jim & Leayn Holmes
Jim Cook
Joan Rozendaal
Kathleen Porter
Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer
Marietta M Schemmel
Mark & Traci Funk
Mary Mehlhaus
Michelle Bush
Mike & Kerry Kloos
Patterson First Fruits
Randall & Paula McDougall
Randy Druvenga & Tammy Graham
Richard & Lisa Hurban
Robert & Kelli Lenz
Russell & Diane Curtis
Russell & Golnar Buchanan
Ryan & Amy Greve
Steve & Gerry Chamberlin
Steve & Kathleen McCrea
Todd & Carolyn Holcomb
Todd & Susan Munnik
Vicki Grimes[/collapse]
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Contributor $600-$1,199"]Adel & Thomas Kessler
Amy & Jim Coloff
Anderson Enterprises
Ardy & Jim Rydell
Ben & Carmen Mason
Bethany & Sabrina Brooks
Bob & Cherin Lee
Bob & Louise Krogh
Carl & Barb Scoles
Catherine & Brett Showalter
Charlene Beckman
Cheryl & Leon Galehouse
Chris Lorenz
Cindi & Dave Mason
Craig Driver
Dan & Harriett McMahill
Danny & Karen Nahnsen
David & Rebecca Nation
David Rabe
Deb & Chuck Malloy
Denise & Jim Bouska
Diane L Thiessen
Doug & Rosie Lindaman
Dr. Angeleita Floyd & Dr. Scott Cawelti
Dr. Denis & Julia Kuhlmann
Duane Hosch
Duke Dierks & Lisa VanAllen
Edwin & Eileen Dams
Ellis & Lisa Vann
Eric & Lori Johnson
Gary & Debi Dater
George Suppes
Greg & Robin Cooper
Helen M. Pearce
IBL DDT LLC
Jane F. Demmer
Jean & Jon Wiesley
Jeff & Louise Lawson
Jeff & Mary Weld
Joanne & John Stillman
Joe & Maria Murphy
Joel & Linda Haack
Judith & Stephen Koopmeiners
Karen A. Betts
Karen Fischels
Kathy & Robert Buzynski
Keith D. Oltrogge CPA
Larry & Ida Zars
Larry & Jean Gregory
Larry & Sherry Millang
Len Jentz
Lois Staff
Magee Construction
Marlene Schmidt
Martha R. Kroese
Mary Ann Mumm
Merlin & Lois Taylor
Michael & Janice Blevins
Monica & Bob Kruse
Nancy & Ira Simet
Nancy Crammond
Nate & Deb Beving
Nicholas & Glenda Hellenthal
Noreen Hermansen
Pat Geadelmann
Paul & Gina Greene
Penny & Scott Perkins
Prairie Rose Fabrics
Richard & Kerri Wilson
Robert & Linda Cmelik
Robert M. & Bonnie J. Humble Family Fund
Rosemary Curran
Russ & Angie Laures
Russ & Cindy Dodd
Ruth Schild
Sandi Sommerfelt
Sara Dunbar & Richard Olmstead
Scot & Kristin Clay
Steve & Marcia O'Brien
Steve & Stacy Carignan
Steve & Terri Jackson
Susan & Dale Swanson
Terry & Ann Seliga
Thomas & Charlotte Strub
Todd & Becky Ellison[/collapse]
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Patron $300-$599"]Al & Pamela Hays
Angela Weekly
Anne Hennessey & Karl Schmid
Anthony & Jennifer Onuigbo
Barb & Kevin O'Rourke
Barbara Hamilton
Beth Primrose
Beverly Fish
Bill & Kathy Calhoun
Blake & Sally Hollis
Bob & Jean Eich
Bob & Mary Beth Dieter
Bonnie Sadler
Brad & Rhiannon Harms
Brad & Terri Dehoff
Bradley & Heidi Worrall
Brown Bottle - Cedar Falls
Bryan Earnest
Carol Phillips
Carolyn & John Christman
Carolyn & Norman McElwain
Cathie Miche
Cathy & Rick Young
Chad J Timmins
Chris Manatt
Cory & Molly Schmehl
Dan & Jan Krause
Dan Breitbach
Daryl & Pat Marks
Dave & Chris Mitchell
David & Helen Duncan
David & Linda Harris
David & Lisa Cassmann
Dee & Dave Vandeventer
Don & Merrilee Betts
Donald & Lorelei Redfern
Dorinda & Tom Pounds
Dorothy & Hans Isakson
Dorothy A Wilson
Doug & Connie Johnson
Doug & Kelli McCarthy
Doug & Susan McFarlane
Dr. Audrey Smith
Dutch & Maria Imfeld
Dwayne & Ardith Miller
Edward Gallagher III
Eldo & Carolyn Moeller
Fluidyne Corporation
Frank Esser & Pam Trelstad
Grabriel J Berger
Gary & Cheryl Sharp
Gary R. Kelley Studio
Greg & Anne Hoekstra
Gregg & Arlene Humble
Jacky & Jerry Venenga
James & Jodi Landau
James & Kathy Madill
Jane & Thomas Brown
Jane Christiansen
Janet Drake
Janet Thomspon
Janis & Steve Jehle
Jeff & Judy Adams
Jeff & Lori Engel
Jeri Karr
Jim & Jackie Campbell
Jim & Kim Miller
Jo Capoccioni
Joan E. Duca
Joanne & Robert Teff
John & Cindy White
John & Maureen Allan
John & Robin Windolf
John & Sandra Golz
Jolene & DeWayne Purdy
Jon Panfil
Joy & Rod Thorson
Judith Harrington
June Niedert
Kari Huffman
Kathie & James Cahill
Katie & Robert Bartelt
Katy Lockard
Kay Leary
Kevin & Carolyn Wolff
Kevin & Kimberly Engels
Kevin A. Meyer
Kimbery Folkers & Bruce Ecker
Kurt & Shelby Wiethorn
Larry & Jewell Hays
Laura & Joshua Meyer
Laurie & Blake Conover
Leigh & Kathryn Zeitz
Len & Gail Froyen
Leslie & Steve Prideaux
Linda & Charles Lott
Linda & Stan Schneider
Linda McDonald
Margaret J. Beehner
Mark & Bonnie Farland
Mark & Susan Andrew
Mark Hecimovich
Marlene Behn
Mary Baldwin
Michael & Pat Deters
Mike Bobeldyk
Michelle & Randy Cook
Mike & Cindy Weinert
Montage
Nancy & John Miller
Nancy Schwab
Nancy Shirey
Nate & Katy Clapham
Pat & Gene Leonhart
Phyllis Zager
Randy & Launa Hashman
Rich & Kay Thuesen
Robert & Karen McGinn
Ribert Simmens & Jan Bilsten
Roger & Barbara Keuter
Roger & Janele Fish
Ronald & Cheryl Reusche
Ronald & Deborah Michael
Roy & Rita Justis
Russ & Kathy Franke
Russ & Lisa Heiple
Sally Jordan
Sean Burgess
Sherri Snow
Sid & Marcia Bunger
Stan & Rose Lorenz
Steven Sinnott
Susan & Brian Davis
Susan Sherwood
Theodore Collins
Thomas & Debbie Newton
Thomas & Marcia Hartson
Thomas & Sue Wardlow
Thomas & Virginia Hoag
Virgil & Diane Goodrich
William & Marina Raney[/collapse]
[collapse collapsed class="style2" title="Donor $120-$299"]Arlo & Sue Sime
Audrey Adams-Sorge
Avis Handorf & Robert Guthart
Barb Dodd
Barbara J. Dowd
Barbara Keninger
Brian & Susan Sims
Carol Thede
Catherine & James Niebergall
Charles & Candace Brittain
Charles LaTendresse & Martha Severance
Chris & Danielle Larimer
Daniel & Linda Mixdorf
Dave Evenson
David & Gloria Congdon
David & Janet Deaver
Denis & David Tallakson
Dianne Van Gorp
Donna & Greg Pipho
Dr. James Arthur McCutheon
Fosters Mattress
Gale Bonsall
Gary & Donna Brown
Gowri & Sanjay Gulwadi
Greg & Carol Dotseth
Hovey Brom
Jacqueline Halbloom & Scott Murphy
James & Cassi Price
James & Dianne Larson
James & Jane Seeley
Jan Robbins & Ruth Ratliff
Janet & Larry Dellinger
Jean & Dave Jaumans
Jean & Tim Boller
Jeannette Marsh & Olivia Peterson
Jeff & Barb Zotz
Joanna Van Gerpen
John & Connie Arend
John & Mary Runchey
John & Nancy Kelting
Joseph & Andrea McGough
Kari Britain
Kristi Rapp
Larry & Onna Kriener
Lori & David Seawel
Luke & Jordan Buhr
Marc Lattin
Margo Dierdorff
Mary & Ronald Potter
Mary Beth & Rick Conrad
Mary Ellen Montgomery
Mary McNeil
Mary Rekers
Mary Sue Ellinger
Michael & Betty Butler
Michael & Corina Olinger
Michael & Vicky Christiason
Nancy Witt Revocable Trust
Neil & Barb McMahon
Pam Behoune
Phyllis Hillers
Richard & Annita Rettig
Rita J. Wilson
Robert & Emily Frederick
Robert & Marilyn Stabenow
Robert & Wendy Jorgensen
Roger & Barb Leistad
Ron MacDonald & Randi Cockerham
Ronald & Denise Flory
Russ & Marilyn Price
Russell Campbell
Ruth Anne & Ron Schneck
Sally Davis
Sally L. Hellwig
Scott & Kathy Cessna
Scott & Sarah Kendall
Scott Peters & Stephanie Toering Peters
Sondra Dyer
Sonja Wilhau & Gary Williams
Stanley Poe
Suzanne Riehl
Ted & Cheryl Ostrowski
Teresa & David Driscoll
Teri Nie
Terry & Caryl Borcherding
The Taiber Family Fund
Thomas & Linda Pattee
Tim & Carol Lindquist
Tony & Amy Tomlyanovich
Tony & Margaret Reid
Virginia Svoboda
Wayne Jarvis
William & Kathy Freiberg
Other Friends
Ann & Darin Schilapia
Barb Lyman-Kluck & Charles Kluck
Brett Umthun & Megan Assenmacher-Umthun
Dennis & Pamela Schmidt
Dot Clausen
Fred Wirtz
James & Mary Bleskacek
Kevin & Janet Sanders
Laura & Glenn Leonberger
Laurene & Steve Lanich
Marlys Folkers
Nancy McHone
Nicole Standiford
Shari McIntee
Steven & Wanda Reinke
Steven L. Hentzelman
Sue Hill & Brittany Folkstra[/collapse]