PORTLAND, Ore. -- Bringing a potent blend of folk, country, Caribbean and R&B along with their blues, Keb' Mo' and Taj Majal descend upon Portland June 22 at 7 p.m., as part of the Oregon Zoo's summer concert series presented by Fred Meyer and Wells Fargo.

"Keb' Mo' and Taj Majal are two renowned blues talents," says Krista Swan zoo event coordinator. "Their respective styles incorporate so many influences -- this show should take audience members on a musical journey from the South to Hawaii to the coasts of Africa."

Launching his musical career by opening for Papa John Creach, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jefferson Starship, and Loggins and Messina, Keb' Mo' was later moved by the deep country-blues sound of Robert Johnson. Several years later, Mo' portrayed Johnson in the docudrama, "Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?"

Mo's 1994 self-titled album was labeled "seamless" by Andy Lyman of Rolling Stone magazine, and his two subsequent albums, "Just Like You" and "Slow Down," both won Grammy awards. Mo' won a third Grammy in 2004 for "Keep It Simple." His most recent album is "Suitcase."

"Keb' Mo' is the kind of artist who can personalize a strong Delta blues foundation," says Swan. "His folk, rock and soul extrapolations make for a mesmerizing sound."

To see video of Keb' Mo' performing "Folsom Prison Blues," visit www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Concerts/KebMo.htm.

Like Keb' Mo', Taj Majal extrapolates from a strong blues base. Taj Majal entered the American blues scene as -- in the words of the "New Rolling Stone Album Guide" -- a "stylish and lovable devil." Not content to simply glorify past blues styles, he desired to reinvent the genre.

Priming his early career with the album, "The Natch'l Blues," featuring the famed ballad "Corinna," Taj Majal progressively explored Caribbean influences, most notably on the album, "Mo' Roots." Expanding the genre further, he collaborated with Indian musicians N. Ravkiran and V. M. Bhatt to produce the ambitious "Mumtaz Mahal." His album "Talking Timbuktu" explores the blues' African roots, while "Hanapepe Dream" employs Hawaiian guitar methods.

Taj Majal won Grammys for his albums "Señor Blues" and "Shoutin' in Key."

To see a video of Taj Majal performing "Linda Lu," please visit: www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Concerts/TajMajal.htm.

Tickets for Keb' Mo' and Taj Majal and can be purchased at the Oregon Zoo for $24 each. Tickets can also be purchased (with service charge) online at Ticketmaster. For more information on the concert schedule, to read artists' biographies or purchase tickets, please visit www.oregonzoo.org.

The Oregon Zoo has brought outdoor music to Portland for 30 years. In 1979, the zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Since then, the series has become one of the top outdoor events in the Northwest, and is the region's longest-running outdoor series.

Fred Meyer and Wells Fargo are the presenting sponsors of the series. This year's series is also co-sponsored by KINK fm 102 and KATU Television.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238 RIDE (7433), or visit
www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program.  A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.

Oregon Zoo ¨ 4001 SW Canyon Rd. ¨ Portland, Oregon 97221