VISALIA – Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when the original artist applauds the simulation, that is sincere validation.
Led Zepagain is regarded as the most accurate and authentic replication of Led Zeppelin in the world today. The tribute band has well over a million downloads on iTunes to their credit and their popularity has seeped into pop culture by having been mentioned on the network TV shows “The Gilmore Girls”, “Chicago Fire” and “Bad Judge.”
But don’t take others’ word for their likeness to the real thing, take the word of legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
In January 2004, Page himself attended a Led Zepagain show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. He was absolutely astonished at the bands accuracy stating, “It’s amazing how much you sound like us. You must have grown up on this because you were inside the music, and you paid attention to detail in your presentation…I can tell you guys really love our music!”
The virtuoso who strummed Stairway to Heaven liked the band so much, he invited them to Led Zeppelin’s 2007 Reunion Concert at London’s O2 Arena. Led Zepagain was honored to have been featured on AXS TV’s “World’s Greatest Tribute Bands” in 2014, and were asked to come back for an encore performance in March of 2017 to perform the iconic Led Zeppelin lV album in it’s entirety. And page isn’t the only connection to Zeppelin. Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, sat in with the band in 2009 for an encore performance of the song “Rock and Roll.”
The band will be celebrating its 30th year in existence this year and are bringing its Zeppelin-esque sound to town. Led Zepagain will perform on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Visalia Fox Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m. followed by the show at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $40 and can be purchased online at www.foxvisalia.org or at the box office, located at 300 Main St. in Visalia.
Having played nationally and internationally in such places as Japan, Russia, Ireland, Panama, Alaska, Germany, Chile, Bosnia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Canada, Paraguay, Kosovo, Mexico City and Guam, Led Zepagain regularly performs to packed houses all over the world. From the sound and the look, to the vintage equipment and costuming, Led Zepagain will be the closest thing that you will ever see to a live Led Zeppelin performance! Come on out and see what Jimmy Page was talking about.
Jimmie Walker
Also performing Jan. 26 at the Fox is Jimmie Walker. James Carter Walker Jr., known professionally as Jimmie Walker, is an American actor and comedian. Walker is best known for portraying James Evans Jr. (J. J.), the oldest son of Florida and James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times which originally ran from 1974–1979. Walker was nominated for Golden Globe awards Best Supporting Actor In A Television Series in 1975 and 1976 for his role. While on the show, Walker’s character was known for the catchphrase “Dy-no-mite!”
Raised in the South Bronx, he went to Dewitt Clinton and Theodore Roosevelt High School, Jimmie first achieved success as a stand-up comedian working in Harlem with The Last Poets and The Black Panthers in the late 1960s and early 1970s, then on the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” working with such legends as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Four Tops, Earth, Wind And Fire, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Chuck Berry,Tina Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Travis, Peter Frampton , and Diana Ross & The Supremes. His overwhelming charisma and command of the stage caught the eye of “Good Times” producer Norman Lear, and his career to super-stardom was on its way.
Although the demands of being on a hit television show and starring in movies such as “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier took up most of his time, Jimmie never lost his love for performing stand-up, and was named Time Magazine’s “Comedian Of The Decade” for the 1970s. His keen eye for talent also led him to employ such young writers as David Letterman, Jay Leno, Byron Allen, Louie Anderson, Robert Schimmel, Ralphie May, Richard Jeni, and many others to work on his writing staff over the years.
Even after the historically successful run of “Good Times” ended, Jimmie continued to stay in the limelight as seen by his countless appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Merv Griffin,” and “The Mike Douglas Show.” He’s also kept his acting skills sharp with guest appearances on “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The George Lopez Show,” and “Scrubs” and classic movies “Airplane” and “Let’s Do It Again” with Sidney Poitier as well as finding time to write a New York Times best-selling book, two Grammy Nominated Comedy Albums and film an up-coming stand-up special.
The other guest act appearing on stage at the event will be The Appletones, featuring AM 580 KMJ radio personality Ray Appleton on bass. The five-part band features longtime Fresno friends playing B-side tracks from the British Invasion music of the 1960s.