Blues music shines it's light across many contemporary music styles. It doesn't seem like you can turn the radio on without hearing it's influence on everything from the many forms of rock and roll, to soul, country, hip hop, classical and most especially jazz. With this in mind, you'll see some articles on artists included in these pages who you may not immediately associate with blues music. Though the music style of their recordings may not always reflect it, these particular players have turned in numerous live blues performances at blues jams and open mikes in Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish counties. We blues fans would like to believe it is their love of blues which adds that special something to their performances in other genres.
The devoted blues musicians:
There are also, of course, numerous musicians living here in northwest Washington state who have devoted their entire careers to blues music exclusively, no easy task. You'll see many of them on these pages also. These musicians are frequently found in the center of local jam scenes, on regional blues festival stages, perusing old record bins and dusting off 78's. Blues wouldn't be their genre of choice if being rich was their goal. The clubs are full of classic rock cover bands, D.J.'s and Karaoke coordinators every night of the week, that's where the real money is apparently. Blues players are focused on the style of music that speaks to them most directly, and it eventually becomes the path that diverged in the woods. These musicians are the local ambassadors of the blues. They are usually the first contact an audience member has with the blues genre, launching them on a path that will include collecting blues recordings, reading about blues, attending a variety of live blues shows and a lifetime of supporting the blues, a truly American musical innovation.
The loyal blues fans:
These loyal blues fans are the ones who really keep the ball rolling at the local level. Their attendence at blues shows keeps festivals and clubs booking blues. When they buy a band's CD, t-shirt or other merchandise, they are helping to support the living expenses of these blues players directly. A dollar in the tip jar or a ticket purchase at a blues benefit is sometimes the difference between the player buying those new guitar strings or not. The blues fans membership or subscription to music publications and societies supports promotion of regional blues events and artists. Some good examples locally include the Bellingham Independent Music Association (BIMA), the Washington Blues Society (WBS) and Blues To Do's Publication.
Article inclusion in the Blues Spotlight:
We have begun this Blues Spotlight website with nine articles originally published on the Dakota Creek Roadhouses' Early Sunday Blues Jam independent website, which no longer exists. The blueslamp.com is delighted to have an opportunity to re-publish these glimpses of local blues performers. We would, however like to expand on these articles. Several local writers have been approached with suggestions on musicians who should be covered here.
If you are interested in writing an article on a northwest Washington blues musician, Blues Spotlight would love to hear from you. We can include a authors credit on the article if you wish. We reserve all editorial rights. Please include any URL's to be included as links, or that you used in your research. Blues Spotlight won't be able to pay you for your article, but you'll be joining us in helping to promote the blues in our own back yard. Email us at bluesspotlight@blueslamp.com
