Volume 31; Issue 3 June-July 2010 Paul Oscher here for Blues in the Schools By Dennis Moffett—Photos by Vj Proud member Friday, May 7th, Wonder, sat of the Sacramento in on many Blues Society numbers. sponsored an They did a event to raise great job money for our opening the Cynthia and Paul Liz & volunteers distribute prizes Blues in the Schools evening’s entertainment. (BITS) Program. After a few raffle prize give INSIDE THIS Headed by our Events aways, the BITS kids from ISSUE: Committee Chairper West Campus afterschool son, Liz Walker, it was blues programs took the held at a new location stage. There were 2 or 3 What do you know for an SBS event, groups playing a short set of 2 Paris Clayton, Tess & Kyle Rowland about the Blues? Swabbies on the songs they have been rehears River. What a great venue! ing for this event. Up next were the stu The food was dents from Rosemont with their full Willie’s Wise Words 3 wonderful, (I stage ensemble of players. It was great What’s Happening recommend the because our BITS students were given Tacos), the full access to their teachers, mentors, BITS News weather could and Blues heroes that were present. Plea to Volunteers 4 not have been They also got to meet students from All Ages Jam better and the other schools as they performed in an Gary Mendoza atmosphere was open jam. A few of the pros joined them exciting. Clinician/artists from which was an added bonus. Kyle Roland Torch Club Leo Bootz 10th Anniversary our Blues in the Schools pro also sat in on a few of their songs. It was 5 Blues on Easter Sun- gram that teach the kids day the history of and tech 2010 Blues Music niques to play the blues Awards 6-7 opened the night. On stage were Tess Honn (vocals), Rowland Memorial & Gary Men 8 Celebration doza (harp/ BITS Kids in action! vocals), Jam at Louie’s 9 Leo Bootz (Bass), Paris a great experience for them to play in front Clayton (guitar) and Rick of a live audience, play an outdoor venue Taylor, 9drums). Kyle and see just how much fun music can bring Rick Taylor Rowland, The Kid Harp to their young lives. Continued on Page 2 1 Volume 31; Issue 3 Page 2 Paul Oscher here for Blues in the Schools—Continued from Page 1 The parents and the SBS tell, as Paul joined his members just loved this first touring band at part of the show. age 15, and by 17 was playing with Muddy We even had a student Waters in juke joints playing his handmade in and concert halls of strument, using a piece of the world, inspiring a galvanized pipe as a slide. generation of blues Very innovative! harp players, including Electronic fence board? Rick Estrin, Jerry Port noy, Paul DeLay, William Clark, and our own Mick Martin. After the stu Paul quit music in the 1980’s but could not stay away. He dents played, came back in 1992, and has been nominated for numer Mick Martin ous awards since then. was given a commendation To see more photos of the kids and the night, check out our and gifted with website, www.sacblues.com. his own per To see the BITS kids in action, look on you tube. sonally en http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpMZei3Qmf8 graved per formance It was a great evening, sitting along our own Sacramento Dancing to the music while singing stool for his River, listening not only to one of the great blues years of vol men of our time but also hearing our own local play unteering and ers. A GREAT JOB by Liz Walker, Cynthia Jaynes and serving as the the BITS Committee for putting on this event. main artist/ clinician of Thanks to all our clinicians for preparing the stu the SBS BITS dents for musical success. And we did make some Program. money, so we can match grants for our wonderful Blues in the Schools program for another year. We A few more raffle prizes give our Clinicians lots of love, but they like to get paid, were given out, then it was too! So Thank YOU for supporting our programs.. on to the main act with PAUL OSCHER. Paul sat on What Do You Know About the his stool and played his gui Blues? Blues nicknames are so evocative that many artists are Kyle & Cynthia present Mick familiar to people who have never heard their music. with certificate and stool Match the man to the nickname. tar and neck harmonica and a. The Honey Dripper 1. Robert P. Ferguson “stomped his foot” for b. HBomb 2. Arzell Hill rhythm. He then moved to c. Magic 3. Roosevelt Sykes the keyboard and per d. Z.Z. 4. Peetie Wheatstraw formed many of his hits. e. The Devil’s SoninLaw 5. Sam Maghett Answers found within this newsletter Between songs he talked about his life playing on the From the Knowledge Card® deck, What Do You Know road, and meeting and play About the Blues? By Cary Wolfson. Reprinted with the ing with the greats. And permission of the publisher, Pomegranate there were many stories to Communications, Inc., megranate.com, (800) 227-1428. 2 Volume 31; Issue 3 June-July 2010 Willie’s Wise Words Memphis photos by Steve Cagle Greetings Sacramento Blues (7/10) with Walter Trout, Guy Society (SBS) members and Davis and ‘the women’: Lydia blues enthusiasts. Pence, Annie Sampson, Lara Price & Dana Moret and com Wow! Where to begin? I’ll try ing in August, the Foothills to keep this short. Here we are Blues Festival in Loma Rica and in June/July already! The wet the Northern California Blues April/May of 2010 is now be Festival in Auburn! Zac Harmon & Willie Sally Katen & Willie hind us and the festival season is upon us. Believe me, this is I’m pleased to say the blues scene is doing very well absolutely better than “Memphis in May” or as some of thanks to you! I’ve attempted to convey this before: we us that were there remember “Memphis in Mud”. are very fortunate to have the club owners, promoters and festivals that continue to bring topnotch blues to our A “BIG” congratulation goes out to our local blues artists area. that shone brightly at the 2010 Blues Music Awards! Spe cifically Tommy Castro & Joe Louis Walker they brought The Sacramento Blues Society continues to look for vol home the entertainer & band of the year (Tommy Castro) unteers to help with our events and fundraisers. If you and blues album of the year (Joe Louis Walker). would like to volunteer, please contact us at member [email protected] . Over the next few months there are some great local fes tivals to check out in the area: the Coloma Blues Live! Thanks again for your continued support of the Sacra (6/5) with Robert Cray, Charlie Musselwhite, Coco mento Blues Society, the Blues In The Schools Program, Montoya, Laurie Morvan & Shane Dwight the Monterey the benefits, the local clubs, the festivals and the wonder Bay Blues Festival (6/25 thru 6/27) featuring our hot ful blues musicians in our area. young harp player Kyle Rowland along with 2010 “BB King Entertainer of the Year” Tommy Castro, Candye Kane w/ As always, “Save me a seat”, Willie Brown Laura Chavez, Sista Monica, Rory Block, Ruthie Foster and so many more the Gold Country Blues Festival in Auburn WHAT’S HAPPENING—SBS Events—Liz Walker Whew! The BITS benefit on May 7th was be home by midnight. We’ve got discounts on day festi a huge success. Lots of folks, good food val tickets and are just now firming up the transportation and fantastic music down on the river. arrangements. There’s only a few slots left on the list so But most of all the success was evident if you want to go you need to let me know ASAP in the performance of the young blues ([email protected]). men and women who are carrying the torch forward. They came to perform The next event will be our “Diva” show. I’m looking into and did. From cool song choices to nick another outdoor venue and lining up the talent. Nothing is firm as of this publication but it will be this summer. Liz Walker names like Pancake and Porkchop, to cool duds, they had a “gig” and it was Look for future announcements. great fun. Big thanks to Chris and his crew at Swabbies. I’d like to thank all those volunteers who came out to They did a fantastic job of keeping everybody fed and hy help at the Swabbies event. It’s wonderful to have the drated. help. The Events committee is actively seeking partici Next up is a day road trip to the Monterey Blues Festival pants to help with the organizing and planning of the so on June 26th. We’re putting together a group of 20 to bus ciety’s activities. Is there something you’d like to see down in time to support our own Kyle Rowland. We’ll be happen? The committee meetings are held on the first heading out of town very early in the morning as he’s on Thursday evening of the month. Come on out and have a at 11 a.m. and maybe, probably, not real sure right now, voice in what your blues society is up to.