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by Pat Kramer Hcauen Sccks Our Support to Keep Foundation Opcrating

t's been 25 years since the "We're doing okay," says late great Marie, who now acts as ex- founded the non profit ecutive director. "But we need Blues Heaven Foundation donations to help us survive with its mission to promote and we also need lawyers who and provide scholar- will donate their time to help ships, legal help, royalty re- artists recoup monies still covery advice and emergency owed to them. assistance to blues musicians "We also need someone in need. And while great to teach artists how to copy- gains have been made over the right and publish their songs. years, today the Foundation is You know, we can tell people in need of contributions ofpro to go to the copyright web- bono legal help and donations site and register with the Li- by Blues fans to continue its brary of Congress but that's programs. not enough. It's notjust about Willie Dixon was, per- performing; we need to teach haps, the singular most influ- them the business side of the ential voice in the history of music. the blues. Over the course of Today, Blues Heaven of- his career, he achieved great fers just a few programs. Dur- prominencewritingR&B Willie & Marie Dixon ing the summer, they hold a hits such as: "Hoochie Cooch- back their rights. ly trying to get monies in to Blues Showcase every Thurs- ie Man" for Muddy Waters, Over the next few years, fund these programs in royalty day from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Koko Taylor's "Wang Dang Blues Heaven Foundation recovery and copyright," says with performances by Chi- Doodle," Howlin' Wolf's lobbied the City of to Marie. "She was a very busy cago blues artists. The shows "Spoonful" and "Back Door protect the former Chess Re- person. She wanted to carry are free to the public and oc- Man," 's "My cords building. And in 1990, out her dad's wishes - but she casionally leature visiting ce- Babe," and the song that as a result of its efforts, it was died so suddenly." lebrities who show up to sit helped make declared a protected Chicago In August 2003, Shirli in. famous, "," on Landmark. In 1993, Dixon's suffered a fatal aneurism leav- Blues Heaven also offers their debut album. But while widow, Marie, purchased the ing behind a husband, Keith, "Blues in the Schools" hosted he rose to a level of success building and donated it to the twins Keshia and Keith Jr., by Blues player in the music business, he also Foundation. In 1997, Blues and a son, David. She also left Dokta Rhute to teach kids ap- experienced great injustice. as Heaven moved into the re- Blues Heaven without an ex- preciation for this arl form. did many other blues artists, stored building at 2120 S. ecutive director. The Foundation also who were not paid royalties Michigan Avenue, later ac- To help filI the void, Ma- offers The Muddy Waters on their music. quiring the vacant lot next rie moved to Chicago to help Scholarship, a $2,000 stipend But in 191'1, all that door for performances and raise her grandkids and keep awarded each year to a de- changed when in an historic other events. the Foundation going. Her serving, up and coming local legal settlement, Dixon was After Willie's death in daughter, Jacqueline, also blues artist. In the past, gen- granted increased publishing 1992, his late, daughter Shirli works at the Foundation, but erous donations by Stxy gui- royalties and the gradual re- jumped in to carry on her fa- it's been difficult to fill Shir- tarist James Young and singer turn ofall the copyrights on his ther's mission. A singer, her- li's shoes. Over the last six (Queen, Bad songs. In 1984, he established self. Shirli brought a passion years, the Foundation has held Company) have helped keep the Blues Heaven Foundation to the Foundation and a love its own with the help of blues the scholarship program alive. properlY for the Blues. fans' donations and volunteers to help other adists BLUES HEAVEN see nase 24 protect their music and win "Shirli was very diligent- to run their programs.