Blues, Soul and South Louisiana Swamp pop comprise the rootsy sound of Beth McKee. The former MCA recording artist and member of the New Orleans based band Evangeline, sings and plays both piano and accordion. Beth has toured and or recorded with legendary artists Buckwheat Zydeco, the Zion Harmonizers, the Subdudes, Jimmy Buffett, Beausoleil, and many more and performed in renowned venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Antones, Tipitina’s and both the Montreal and New Orleans Jazz Festivals.

-A Mississippi native, Beth was reared on her hometown’s Malaco records gospel and soul legends and became well known in the Chitlin’ circuit where she toured with many blues masters.

-After a stint in the Austin blues scene where she performed regularly with Antones artists, Beth moved to New Orleans to join the band Evangeline.

-Evangeline was signed with MCA records and Beth wrote, played and sang on national releases that received critical acclaim and commercial success.

-After her stint in Evangeline Beth re-located to Central Florida and formed the band Catahoula Blue with her husband drummer Juan Perez, formerly of the Bellamy brothers and Lester Chambers Band. Catahoula Blue became an established act and in 2001 released a CD entitled Louisiana Roots.

-Current members of Catahoula Blue include saxophonist Charlie DeChant (also a member of the Hall and Oates band), saxophonist Jerry Embree who has recorded with, among others, Fats Domino and Bobby Charles, bassist Gery Wilhelm who partnered with Juan in the Bellamys and on guitar Tommy Calton who has performed and recorded with the likes of George Porter, Jr. and Melanie.



Beth’s newest release “I’m That Way” is a collection of songs written by Louisiana songsmith Bobby Charles. Charles helped pioneer the south Louisiana musical genre known as swamp pop and is best known for his songs "Walking to New Orleans," "But I Do" and "See You Later Alligator." Bobby is a prolific writer and has penned a plethora of excellent tunes. When Evangeline was first signed to MCA through Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville label, Jimmy wanted to find a Bobby Charles song for Beth to sing on the first album. She wound up covering Van Morrison’s “I’m Carrying a Torch” and received raves from the critics for her performance but the idea of recording a Bobby Charles song lingered with Beth. Over the years she became a staunch fan and in 2008 when the time came to record and release another CD, she decided to devote the whole project to Bobby’s songwriting. The result is “I’m That Way” and it is a loving tribute to his craft.
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