The International Blues Challenge was held in Memphis, TN during the first week of February. The Blues Society of Western NY had many members and participants in the event. During this event we were bestowed the honor of a Keeping the Blues Alive recognition. Attached is the Summary of the event as presented by Jay Sielman, the Director of the Blues Foundation...
28th International Blues Challenge Wrap
1. Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers including judges who made the event possible, first, and professional, second. And a very special shout-out to staff members Joe Whitmer and Cindi James. Normally 18 hour days and, in Joe’s case, a dislocated shoulder Friday morning might diminish performance or cordiality, but in their case—noooooooo. The show must go on.
I once thought that going to the IBCs (AKA the International Blues Challenge) was all about the band competition, and perhaps for some it is. But for a number of years now I have chosen to attend to be a part of what I feel is the bigger picture of this event. To me this event is a family gathering of blues people who come to get the feeling of community that is so powerfully demonstrated in these few days. Everyone is there for the blues, and that's a powerful thing. Bob Corritore, Blues Music Award winner and Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient
Bob does understand that the competition, though the main event, is really just a vehicle to showcase the music and bring blues people together. Each year at act orientation, I advise the musicians “if your only game plan is to win, you have a pretty poor game plan because there are so many other opportunities for you this week.” Most of the acts come to realize the truth in that statement even if they do not believe me at that moment. Third place band winner Paula Harris thanked everyone from the stage for “the greatest week of her life.” Solo/Duo finalist Dawn Tyler Watson told me the same thing later that night AFTER she learned she had not come in first or second.
Or this e-mail from the front man of the Philippine youth act--
Hi Mr. Jay Sieleman, This is Paul Marney of The Bleu Rascals. We would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to fulfill our dreams! The trip to Memphis was really really worth it! No words can explain how happy we was! We really can't imagine that we're in the CITY OF BLUES. The best days of our lives! I don't know how to thank you Sir. We're really so blessed and it was nice meeting you. Thank you so much for fulfilling our dreams. We will never ever forget what we felt when we're there! Thank you again Sir.
You and everyone else are most welcome.
2. As for the main event, you may have heard by now but the winner of the band competition is: The WIRED! Band (Washington Blues Society). The winner of the solo/duo competition is: Ray Bonneville (Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas).
The other winners are: Band-2nd place: The Bart Walker Band (Nashville Blues Society); Band-3rd Place: Paula Harris, (The Golden Gate Blues Society); Solo/Duo-2nd Place: Dr. Don's Double Dose (Sydney Blues Society).
Also, the Gibson Guitarist Award went to: Bart Walker; and the Lee Oskar Top Harmonica Player was awarded to: Randy McQuay (Cape Fear Blues Society).
3. The Ottawa and Montreal Blues Societies sponsored the First Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase at downtown eatery Kooky Canuck. The fantastic Johnny Max mastered the ceremonies that featured performances by Canadian IBC participants all afternoon. In the process, they raised $500 for the HART Fund.
Tony Frederickson, Merchandising Director for Washington Blues Society sold earplugs during the IBC and raised $242 for the HART Fund.
4. With the April 1 application deadline coming, Blues Foundation Board member Kathy Bolmer announced a challenge to raise funds for Generation Blues. She will match the first $2500. Donate here to help send young blues performers like you saw in the Youth Showcase to music camps this summer. One young musician received a $16,000 scholarship after Generation Blues helped him attend a Berkley program last summer.
The Youth Blues Knowledge Bowl winners are:
Tied for 1st place...$125 each
Rebecca Laird --The Peterson Brothers & Rebecca Laird (Houston Blues Society)
Gabriel Stillman --The Uptown Music Collective's Young Blood blues Band (Billtown Blues Association)
Tied for third...$75 each
Logan Brammer --Frets on Fire (Atlanta Blues Society)
Trent Romens --(Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society)
Thanks to Blues Foundation member Jonathan Russo for sponsoring this test of knowledge about blues music.
5. The Best Self-Produced CD was judged to be: Where I'm Coming From... - Dave Keller.
The Gibson guitar autographed by Blues Music Award nominees was won by Chris Hardwick
6. The Blues Hall of Fame was very much a hot topic during the IBC as Board President Bill Wax and Executive Director Jay Sieleman discussed the subject both at the Friday luncheon and to the crowd at the band finals on Saturday while awaiting the results. They were joined on the Orpheum stage by Rattlebone Jones delivered a moving plea on behalf of the Blues Hall of Fame and, on behalf of the Memphis Blues Society, challenged the 200 affiliated blues societies around the world to make the effort to raise serious money for this $3.5 million dollar project. To view speech regarding the Blues Society Challenge to "raise the roof" for the Blues Hall of Fame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwHKxJq9Pjo&feature=youtu.be.
For more information, visit here ( http://blues.org/halloffame.) If you are one who is committed to making this happen now, contact Jay at 901.527.2583 ext. 12
7. We got very favorable reviews about the panels and presentations. Thanks to all presenters including Blues Society of Western New York, Rick Booth, Daniel Glass, Rich Del Grosso & Jonn Deltoro Richardson Michael “Hawkeye” Herman, Gina Hughes, Charles Ragsdell, Hugh Southard, Brad Stewart, Bonnie Tallman, Robert “Nighthawk” Tooms, Dan Treanor and Dick Waterman. I note this distinguished group includes Blues Hall of Famers, Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipients and Blues Music Award nominees. Distinguished indeed.
Among the past Blues Music Award nominees hanging out during IBC: Barbara Blue, Scott Bomar, Fiona Boyes, Eden Brent, Grady Champion, Bob Corritore, Anson Funderburgh, Rich Del Grosso & Jonn Deltoro Richardson, Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Janiva Magness, Bob Margolin, Big Bill Morganfield, Nick Moss, Phil Pemberton (lead singer) and Doug Woolverton (trumpet) of Roomful of Blues, Brandon Santini, Trampled Under Foot, Eddie Turner, Victor Wainwright and probably a few I did not bump into!!
The Reverend Steve Clarke, and ordained Anglican preacher in Australia married Mississippi Blues fan J.C. May and Linda Gale Rushing at Club 152 on Friday. And this was not the first IBC wedding either.
Gary Allegretto, Dan Treanor and Australian duo Stevie Paige & Tok Norris were out in Memphis presenting blues to students and mentally disadvantaged youths.
8.Music On The Couch, with host Vinny Bond Marini did seven shows of music and interviews during IBC. They can be accessed at http://goo.gl/7m7j5
Here are some photo displays that are available:
Fred Delforge who travelled to Memphis with France Blues --http://www.zicazic.com/zicazine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=9180&Itemid=63. You will see here that the French were not finished on Saturday like everyone else. As a result of a conversation at Cozy Corner over ribs in 2011, the French IBC act now perform each year at the Peace Baptist Church on Sunday morning
Mark Goodman has posted some band final shots at Blues Revue -- http://bluesrevue.com/2012/02/the-photo-page-the-finals-of-the-international-blues-challenge-2-1012/#
9. And last but not least, the 29th International Blues Challenge is set to begin Tuesday, January 29, 2103 and conclude on Saturday February 2, 1013. See you then and thanks for being a blues fan.
From the Producers Desk:
The International Blues Challenge could not be a success without the hours of hard work from dedicated volunteers. Our teams knocked it out of the park this year! This event grows each year, the talent gets better and the volunteers work harder. Many thanks go out to Greg Johnson (Cascade Blues Association), David Hughes (Spa City Blues Society), Karl and Arleen Reifschneider (Western New York Blues Society), Kyle Deibler (Phoenix Blues Society) for taking on additional tasks. Hats off to staff member Cindi James and volunteer Carmen Weaver for their dedication and contributions to another great event! Last and certainly not least, my wife, Sara Negri-Whitmer and her team at CD Sales! This was a new project for us to handle with volunteers and she executed this with great success.
Each and every volunteer contributed to the success of this event. There are no words to express our gratitude for their dedication to this organization and their hard work. Thank you once again!! (Joe Whitmer)
What he said....
