Page 6 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2019

PUBLISHED BY RBA Publishing Inc.
dba BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE Dear Blues Community,
P.O. Box 920, Arcata, CA 95518 - 707/630-3304
www.BluesFestivalGuide.com
Facebook.com/bluesfestivalguide
Instagram.com/bluesfestivalguide The Dalai Lama says, “If you contribute to other people’s
Twitter.com/bluesfestguide happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning
TO HAVE A COPY MAILED TO YOU of life.” I strive to follow that every day – from the inner
Send $8.00 ($13.00 overseas) circle of my family and friends to the greater culture of
PUBLISHER Kaati: Kaati@BluesFestivalGuide.com the blues across America and beyond. And “contributing”
EDITOR Irene Johnson: Irene@BluesFestivalGuide.com can be accomplished in a million different ways. That’s
why, in this year’s issue, I was so warmed to see our own
BLUES FESTIVAL E-GUIDE NEWSLETTER EDITOR blues village hard at work.
Michele Lundeen: michelelundeen@live.com
SALES MANAGER/MARKETING DIRECTOR One feature, “Hot Blues, Warm Hearts,” shines a light
Cheryl O’Grady-Yearnshaw: cogblues@att.net on fundraising efforts led by blues festivals to improve
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS their local communities: raising funds, collecting food,
Scott Cawood, Marion Diaz, Jed Finley, Anne Harris, Stacy Jeffress, James donating to local nonprofits, encouraging youth music
“Super Chikan” Johnson, Michele Lundeen, Jim O’Neal, Lamont Jack Pearley, programs, honoring blues forefathers and more. It just
Murphy Platero, Stan Street, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, William Wise shows how music opens people’s hearts and how the
PHOTO & ART CONTRIBUTORS blues is bettering our world.
Ron Adelberg, Hollie Alcocer, Craig Bailey − Perspective Photo, Courtesy
Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival, Courtesy BluEsoterica In an inspiring example, you’ll read about the Music
Archives, BluesPhotosbyDonMcGhee, bobpalez, Ronnie Booze, Courtesy Maker Relief Foundation and how it has forged a
Scott Cawood, Wanda Clark, Jack Delano, Courtesy Delta Cultural Center, people-centered approach to preserving the musical
depositphotos.com, Tim Duffy, Courtesy FSA/OWI Collection – Library of traditions of the South by helping forgotten heroes of
Congress, Brenda Haskins, Courtesy Norbert Hess, Courtesy Mike “Hurricane” Southern music gain recognition and meet their day-
Hoover, Courtesy Infinite Music Foundation, John Jones, Courtesy George F.
Landegger Collection – Library of Congress, Timothy Lane – Riverfront Times, to-day needs.
Courtesy Mississippi Blues Trail, Ken Murphy for Belinda Stewart Architects, In another feature, you’ll learn how the Mississippi
Courtesy Music Maker Relief Foundation, Jon Naugle – Naugle Photography, Blues Trail originated in response to blues fans wanting
Matt O’Brien, Courtesy of Julie Pelton, Courtesy Playing with Fire, © Clement
Puig, Kathy Rankin Photography, Jasmine Reacco, Victor Rodriguez Ratliff, Nancy to visit significant sites, but also as a way to honor
Smith – Lightninghorse Photography, © Roger Stephenson, Lydia Stewart, © Stan the artists, sites and history of the blues. In my book,
Street, © Marilyn Stringer, Courtesy TampAGS for AGS Media, Courtesy Tunica acknowledging and honoring the people, places and
Convention & Visitors Bureau, © Williamwiseart, Aaron Winters, John W. Work events that have so greatly impacted our reality today,
ADVERTISING SALES is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.
Cheryl O’Grady-Yearnshaw, Tom Andrews, Heather Penrod-Rudd The Blues Festival Guide is a media sponsor of the
ADMINISTRATIVE/DATABASE/DISTRIBUTION Blues Foundation, which supports its own charitable
Heather Penrod-Rudd: Heather_P@BluesFestivalGuide.com
programs, including the Handy Artists Relief Trust
CONSULTANTS (HART) Fund for blues musicians and their families
Tom Yearnshaw, Michele Lundeen, Nancy Edwards
in financial need due to a broad range of health
DESIGN & PRODUCTION/WEBSITE Goran Petko, Aqua Design concerns. If you’re looking for somewhere to donate
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Tom Andrews, Marilyn Stringer outside of your own local nonprofits, we encourage
The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily the views of you to consider the HART Fund – 100% of donations
RBA Publishing Inc. are dedicated to artist relief efforts.
FRONT COVER blues.org/hart-fund.
Louisiana native Robert Finley was a bandleader during his stint in the Army.
After returning, the guitarist, singer/songwriter found work scarce as a So, my dear blues community, let’s lift each other up
musician. He worked as a part-time street performer, led a gospel group and when we can, as much as we can. Let’s give whatever
then did carpentry for years until he started losing his eyesight. While busking time, funds, thought and effort to continue making
in 2015, the Music Maker Relief Foundation discovered him. The comeback for our world a better bluesy place.
this infectious, roots-soul bluesman has included recording his debut, Age Don’t
Mean A Thing, in 2016, and touring. “I’m going to give you everything I’ve
got,” says Finley. Here he is at the Big Blues Bender, doing just that. Peace and Blues,
Kaati & The Blues Festival Guide Team
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
© Marilyn Stringer, www.MJStringerPhoto.com

4 Blues Festival Guide 2019