Page 48 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2019

Boogie-woogie pianist Daryl Davis teaching a youth workshop at Tri-North Middle
School, Bloomington, IN.
Photo by John Jones, courtesy of Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival
jazz music we know today,” Steve says. “They deserve to be
honored and recognized.”
In addition to the funds raised, relationships between blues
music events and worthy causes create broader awareness on
both sides – blues fans learn of the needs in their community, and
nonprofit volunteers and recipients experience, first-hand, the
power of the blues. “Groups that would otherwise never have
been exposed to the music have gotten involved and become
fans,” explains Eric Larsen, president of the Chenango Blues
Festival, which gives various local nonprofits the opportunity
to fundraise during the festival. “Music is such a great way to
bind communities together, that it just makes sense to widen that
circle of benefit whenever and however we can.”

Stacy Jeffress began her freelance writing career in 2006
with the Kansas City Blues Society membership magazine.
She gained a writing mentor in 2008 as a result of accosting
KBA recipient Don Wilcock in a Memphis elevator during her
first IBC, and has now published 100 articles and served as
director of the Paxico Blues Festival.
Contact her at luvmyblues@yahoo.com

The San Diego Blues Festival, owned by the Jacobs & Cushman Food Bank, has
raised nearly $1 million and 12 tons of food since 2011.
Photo by Jon Naugle - Naugle Photography

46 Blues Festival Guide 2019