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In
a decade of performing his music around the country, Kevin So has earned
the respect of fellow musicians (Keb' Mo', Amos Lee), won over members
of the press and radio and built up a substantial fan base coast to coast.
Raised in Boston, So channeled his early passion for singing into the
start of a career in music with his appearance on the nationally broadcast
Fox show "Big Break." In 1994, So toured the country in a cover
band that later had some of its musicians moving on to Britney Spears'
band. It was during that period when he spent a considerable amount of
time listening to the early recordings of Bob Dylan. By 1995, So had quit
the cover band and was a regular on the open-mic folk scene in Boston.
His strong musicianship caught the attention of a Boston Globe critic
who wrote that Kevin was "unusually talented." At the Kerrville
Folk Festival in Texas, an Austin Chronicle's music writer took notice,
writing that So was "the big discovery." The release of So's
Individual in 1997, was accompanied by a sold-out performance at Club
Passim. So moved to Chicago in 1999, booked his own gigs, performing shows
in the Midwest and elsewhere. Busking in Austin, Kevin was "discovered"
by The Agency Group. Subsequently, he opened for Joe Cocker and Billy
Bragg. In 2001, So moved back to Boston. Musically, he was shifting from
folk to pop/r&b. The day after September 11, 2001, Kevin hooked up
with popular bluesman Keb' Mo' - writing "Talk," which Keb'
would eventually record. So continued touring in 2002, becoming a favorite
performer for dozens of Asian American organizations around the US. The
double-disc Leaving the Lights On appeared to an avalanche of praise in
2003. In August, Kevin relocated to Brooklyn. His next CD, The So Must
Go On: Live in Concert, appeared in 2005. So continues to tour the country
at a vigorous clip. So's latest album A Brighter Day is supported by concert
dates in 2007.
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