Shaun Hague: "The Time is Now'

Former Somerset resident and musician Shaun Hague is set to open for John Waite at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River tonight at 8 p. m.

Hague, who currently resides in Chicago, has built quite the resume in the last decade of his life.

At just 17, when he was a student at Somerset High School, Hague was named "The Best Young Guitarist" by The House of Blues and by 21, the young guitarist was playing guitar for blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

In the past three years alone, Hague has played guitar for Waite, Amos Lee, and Terra Naomi, performed on Jay Leno, and sat in with John Fogerty. He also released a solo E.P. entitled "The Time Is Now" that's received airplay on several local radio stations.

Hague said he's so happy  to be returning home for this special show.

"I've had the pleasure of being involved with [Narrows Executive Director] Patrick Norton and the Narrows ever since I was 17 years old and the Narrows was an art gallery that just had an open mic night," he said. "It's been amazing to watch them grow and they tend to say the same about me and my career.

"It's a very personal accomplishment to step on that stage, look out across the river at Somerset and think back to the days when I was just a kid playing guitar in my bedroom in that small town. It's always a very moving moment for me."

After five albums, Waite went solo during the early 1980's. His first solo album, "Ignition," boasted the MTV/rock radio staple "Change" which was followed by the #1 rock ballad "Missing You."

Waite returned to the top of the charts during a two-album tenure as front man for the pop/rock super group Bad English whose number one single "When I See You Smile," sparked sold out concert tours and a succession of Top 40 hits.

After Bad English disbanded, Waite returned to solo work, releasing six albums. For his show at the Narrows, Waite will be performing songs from his new album "Rough and Tumble" and hits from his career with a full electric band.

The Narrows Center for the Arts is located at 16 Anawan Street in Fall River. To purchase tickets to the show, visit www.narrowscenter.org or call the box office at 508-324-1926. Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.