Page 74 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2015

Blues Foundation President

Goes Out

On Top Jay Sieleman on Beale Street in his

By Tim Parsons hometown of Memphis Photo by Tim Parsons
After he received a law degree, Jay Sieleman served – I always joked that I got the job because no one else
nearly five years as a juvenile court attorney for the state of wanted it. This time, there are plenty of talented people who
Iowa. Upon paying off his student loans, he mulled over his want it. I think the timing is right.
professional options. Would he become a career prosecutor?
Should he join a firm? Maybe start his own law practice? Blues lovers, it seems, either grow up with the
An altruistic man, he elected to join the Peace Corps and music or have an epiphany. Which was it for you?
served as a legal adviser to the government of the Solomon I’ve always been a music lover but the big epiphany, or
Islands. Sieleman eventually discovered the blues, and after big step, was when I went on a blues cruise in 1994 and
returning to the U.S., he helped blues societies get started spent a week on a ship with other blues fans. After that, it
and assisted nonprofits with legal advice. was sort of like, “I’ll put away all the false gods and false
The Blues Foundation was on the brink of closing in 2003 hobbies.”
when he assumed the role of president and CEO. Today, it’s
a million dollar business. Major achievements include the Will you continue to live in Memphis after you
growth of the organization’s two major annual events, both step down as president?
held in Memphis: the Blues Music Awards (BMAs) and the I have no plans to leave. Memphis is a very fun place to
International Blues Challenge (IBC). 2015 will see both the live. I live, work and play downtown. It’s a small town with
unveiling of a Blues Hall of Fame and Sieleman’s retirement a lot of things to do.
from the foundation. A national search for a replacement is
under way. Is it true The Blues Foundation nearly moved from
Sieleman spoke with Blues Festival Guide Editor Tim Memphis? I read a report it considered relocating
Parsons in January before the start of the 2015 IBCs. The to Baton Rouge.
following are excerpts from their conversation: No, but there was a state of uncertainty. The question
was if it was to close its doors. No place was offering
You are stepping away from the job the same real money. It was nice some people were interested, but
year the Blues Hall of Fame opens. Did you want there were no real strong offers. A couple of key people in
to go out with a bang? Memphis kept the doors open and the place alive, and over
Going out with a bang is not the way I think, but there’s time we were able to make the foundation strong.
a combination of age and ability to move on. It’s been 12 ½
years in September, and maybe it’s time to give someone The International Blues Challenge has grown
else a chance to do things their way and work on some considerably during your time.
things that didn’t happen in my time. It’s good to hand over When I came along, there’d maybe be a couple of acts
the reins in times of strength. I came in at a time of weakness from Canada, a couple from Australia, and perhaps an act

72 Blues Festival Guide 2015