in Food & Home 2nd Quarter - 2008 |
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From Bourbon Street
Still Keepin' the Wang Dang Doodle Alive!
Go figure that our fair city has the oldest existing blues society in the land, dedicated to preserving
the authentic African-American blues tradition.
Not only is the Santa Barbara Blues Society the granddaddy, but it is a thriving organization, run
entirely by volunteers and brings smokin' national and regional blues stars to appreciative
audiences who travel from as far as Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo for the shows. On March 15,
the Santa Barbara Blues Society celebrated its thirty-first anniversary with a performance by
Big Pete Pearson and the Rhythm Room All-Stars, at Warren Hall on the Earl Warren Showgrounds.
Since its founding in 1977 by Laszlo Kiraly, M.D. and disc jockey, Greg Drust, the nonprofit organization
has brought over 140 distinguished artists to local stages. Today, the society produces five shows per
year at Warren Hall. SOhO also features events including the popular "Battle of the Bands;" local groups
vie for a Blues Society sponsorship to the annual International Blues Competition in Memphis. The Blues
Foundation, a national organization, has twice given its prestigious "Keeping the Blues Alive" award to
the Society. In 1987, the Senate of the State of California presented the society with a Resolution of
Commendation.
To expand the knowledge and understanding of blues music among young people, the society hosted a
"Blues For Youth" program in local schools. UCSB Professor Douglas Daniels, noted author of jazz books,
is currently writing a book about the society's history and its contribution to the resurgence of the blues
tradition. The Santa Barbara Blues Society has helped keep this uniquely American music vibrant,
contributing to Santa Barbara's cultural landscape and rendering much more than our skies and waters
a deep shade of blue.
- Miriam Hospodar
Blues guitar legend Kenny Sultan Webmaster: BassHarp |
