to View - Sacramento Blues Society

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Volume 30; Issue 6
Tommy Castro will help us celebrate
our 30th Anniversary By Vj
Inside this
issue:
Moffett’s Musings
2
Blues Band Blowout
Harp Showcase
3
Out & About w/ Lizzie
Did You Know?
4
BITS News
Saying Goodbye
5
Blues Blast Awards
30 Year Tradition
Dec 2009-Jan 2010
6
Profile: Kenny Nichols
7
Member Party!
8
Board of
Directors
Meetings
are the 2nd
Tuesday of each
month, 7:00 PM
at the SMUD
Building,
6301 S Street,
Sacramento, CA.
All SBS members in good
standing are
invited to attend.
Are you ready? It is time again for
our FREE All Ages Member Party
and Tommy Castro will help us celebrate our 30th year
as
an
official
Blues
Society.
The opening band
will be Two-Tone
Steiny, that slick
dresser with the
harmonica in his
hand. And there
is more!
How
about a drawing
for prizes. You
could discover a
new favorite or
add to your collection of old favorites.
What if you are
not a member?
You can join at the door! For just
$25.00, you get a year’s membership to SBS and free entrance to the
party. But you want to bring the
family? A Family membership is
$40.00, and the kids can come
along. What a bargain, and you will
be assisting in Keeping the Blues
Alive when you introduce your family
to the Blues.
Our headliner, Tommy Castro,
took home the 2008 Entertainer of
the Year at the Blues Music Awards,
but he has been making music for
many years. He first caught my ear
at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival
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in the ‘90’s. His sax player, Keith
Crossan was with Tommy then and
is still with him now. The two of
them make an
a m a z i n g
amount of music!
So you
really
won’t
want to miss
this show.
Each year, the
band that is runner-up in the
competition to
go to Memphis
and compete in
the International
Blues Competition (IBC) is the
opening band
for our Member
Party.
This
year we have Two Tone Steiny and
the Cadillacs joining us. You won’t
be disappointed in their version of
West Coast Jump Blues.
Members have received their ballots
for the SBS Board members by now.
If you haven’t voted, please do. And
if you have, but haven’t mailed it
back yet, just bring it to the party,
and drop it off in the ballot box.
Folks at the front table will be glad to
help you. Mark you calendars for
December 13 now, and see you at
the Member Party!
Flyer is on Page 8
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 2
Moffett’s Musings...
Another two months have gone
by and the Blues festival season
is nearing an end. We lost a few
good ones due to the economy,
but the news says it will improve
soon and hopefully we will have a
full schedule next year.
ber, we have our Annual Member Party and Board
elections. This year we have the Tommy Castro
Band as the headliner. This is an opportunity to see
one of the Greatest Blues Bands of our time for
FREE if you are a Sacramento Blues Society Member. And for a bonus, Two Tone Steiny and the
Cadillacs are opening for Tommy. Tell you friends to
join us in this Annual Party and membership concert.
Memberships will be available at the door. Memberships are $25.00 a year individual and $40.00 a year
for families, and we make as many of our events as
possible all-ages events.
We had great events this last two
months, the Blues Band BlowBy
out in October and the Blues
Dennis
Harp Showcase in November.
Moffett
The Blowout is the SBS band
competition that gives our local bands a chance to
compete for a place in the Blues Foundation’s “Big”
International Blues Competition in Memphis Tenn.
The winner of the Single/Duo competition was Volker
Strifler, doing an impressive single performance and
Volker should do very well in Memphis. The Best
Band (I am glad I was not a judge and had to vote,
as they were all winners) was Dave Channell’s band,
Fire and Wheels. Congratulations to both. SBS and
others will be organizing fund-raisers for our
winners to help pay for the Memphis trip. We
will be announcing the times and dates of
these events.
I would like to thank my Board of Directors. Patty,
thanks for your efforts establishing the Musicians
Fund and the local Hall of Fame. Cynthia, thanks for
carrying on your great work with Blues in the
Schools. Sally, thanks for keeping us straight with
your meeting notes, Linda, thanks for maintaining the
membership information. Kim, thanks for being Second Banana. Cathy, thanks for handling the newsletter mailings, Dave, thanks for keeping the money
straight.
John and Stan,
thanks for putting together all
the great shows we enjoyed
this year (again).
The Harp Showcase featured our headliner,
Darrell Mansfield. He was backed by The
Used Blues Band, featuring Sean McGroarty.
Guests were Kevin Greenwood, Johnnie “Be
Good” Lopez, David Croall, Kyle Rowland
and Jean “Birdleg “ Pittman. And it was another great show for Sacramento Blues Society members. You will see a sample of how
great our local musicians are when you come
to the Member Party on December 13th.
The first Blowout runner-up, Two Tone Steiny
and the Cadillacs, will be opening for our
headliner.
me look good as President,
and made this year a Great
Year for the Sacramento
Blues Society. And thanks to
Liz Walker, Valeriejeanne
Anderson, and Hornitos Tequila for getting me through
this past year. Many of us will
be returning next year to complete our 2-year term, and
some of us will be candidates
for next year’s Board.
I would like to thank all the
Two Tone Steiny is opening for
Our shows keep getting better and better
new members that have
thanks to the continuing membership support Tommy Castro at the Member Party. joined the Sacramento Blues
as well as help from people like Randy of the
Society. Our membership is
Blue Room, Murray from the Powerhouse pub, always increasing. Thank you for the privilege of alBrenda and Lynzi from Po Boyz, Tim at Constable lowing me to be your President of the Sacramento
Jacks and of course, Marina Teixeira from the Torch Blues Society.
Club. Support our local venues, because without
them we would not have live music. Wouldn’t you I enjoyed it and will always remember the experience
of meeting such great musicians and blues fans.
like to help with a show? Consider volunteering.
And I’ll always remember to Keep the Blues Alive.
We have some great shows coming up. In Decem2
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Volume 30; Issue 6
Dec 2009-Jan 2010
Blues Band Blowout Winners representing SBS in Memphis
Soloist—Volker Strifer
As ten groups competed to be the
“solo/duo” and the band to represent SBS in the International
Blues Competition, we sat back
and enjoyed the music of 10 acts
in one afternoon. These two
acts came out “on top”, and will
make the trip to Memphis.
Band—Dave Channell’s Fire and Wheels
Other bands competing, left to right: Bobby
Ray Watson & Mac, The Jokers, 2 Tone
Steiny & the Cadillacs, Low-Down Dirty Dogs,
Freewheelers, Isis & Cold Truth; Phil Berkowitz & the Dirty Cats; and Bluesion.
Don’t miss
this show
next year!
Harp Showcase a Big Draw this Year
We had a full house and then some at the Harp Showcase. Sean McGroaty of the Napa-Sonoma Blues Society brought the Used Blues Band along to back up a stellar group of harp players this year, and the band was
up to the task. And thanks Sean, for all your assistance on this show.
Sean McGroarty
Kyle Rowland
Johnny “Be Good” Lopez
Birdlegg Pitttman
Fred “The Deacon” Baker
Darrell Mansfield
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David Croall
Kevin Greenwood
Darrell with Guitar winner Wendy Tellez
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 4
Out & About
I unexpectedly found myself out on a Tuesday night
(Happy Birthday to the U.S. Marine Corp!) and
dropped in at the Torch. Don’t ya just love it that we
can “drop in” at the Torch and always find some outstanding music? The Lew Fratis Trio was doing a
great rendition of Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock
of the Bay”. Dave Garrity (Sammy Winner for Best
Bass Player) harkens back to the old Torch days of
the Luminators. He can play anything asked of him
with precision and passion. Kenny Nicholas (one of
the sweetest guys you can meet) though fairly new to
the area in the last couple of years, has been turning
up everywhere. He’s an excellent drummer and is in
demand by many players in the area. You can also
check him out with the Low Down Dirty Dogs-another
rockin’ band to get behind, but I digress. Together
they supply the rock solid bottom for Lew’s fantastic
and diverse guitar playing.
never was a huge Dead fan, those long rambling
jams just confused me. I admit it. I’m pretty simple
& straight forward. Tell me a story, let me wander for
awhile but give me an anchor and the smooth,
sweet, soulfulness of Lew Fratis is a great anchor!
It’s an odd sort of night, the crowd is a mix of old and
young, regulars and newcomers, but everybody digs
Sam Cooke and “Cupid” brings out the dancers and
while the floor is hopping we’re on to some reggae.
But somewhere in here Lew decides to turn it up and
the smokin good guitar player comes out to play.
Kenny and Dave are right there bringing it on home.
Wow!
I know that there are some of you out there who
would like a little more musical content in these
“reviews”. But that’s not what it’s about for me. It’s
the moment, never to be had again. I have made a
conscious decision to try and do only those things
that further my journey. This night, this moment?
Well, it’s my journey, who the hell cares?
You know, there are a lot of fantastic guitar players in
this town but Lew? Well, he not only plays guitar, he
sings to you. I mean really sings. I like to listen, I
Did you know...?
By Lizzie
By Linda McShane
The Sacramento Blues Society is a totally allvolunteer Non Profit Organization. All business is
conducted by volunteers. We have Committees (of
sometimes just one Board member) and we are always looking for help from our members. These
newsletters, the BITS program, annual Hall of Fame
awards, Gene Chambers Emergency Fund (for musicians in need) and our monthly events - all of these
are managed by volunteers - usually Board members. You may have heard the old saying 80% of the
work is done by 20% ... our membership is at 431
and we have a board of 11 that does just about everything - let's see, that looks like about 3%.
Many of you have indicated on your SBS Membership application that you would be interested in volunteering, and we need you! You can volunteer for
one day, one event or one committee, your choice.
Please email [email protected] for more
info and to tell us what you would like to do &
when. Also, come to the events and introduce yourself to us. We'd love to meet you and have your support and help! Come to a Board meeting and see
how it's done. Think about being on the Board as
well. It is a great opportunity to learn Board procedure, and it looks good on your resume.
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 5
Blues In the Schools News
As part of a program sponsored by
the HOPE Foundation,. Blues In
The Schools musicians Mick Martin,
Jimmy Pailer, Joe Lev, Steve
Namle, Kyle Rowland and Tess performed for the Boys and Girls Club
in Midtown Sacramento. They did a
By
Cynthia
great job and the kids really enjoyed
Janes
hearing live blues performed just for
them. It’s surprising how many kids
never get a chance to hear music performed live, let
alone live Blues!
the Mondavi Performing Center, the Sacramento
Philharmonic, Sacramento Ballet and many, many
others.
For the past two months, the BITS Committee has
become actively involved in the local arts community.
Members of the Sacramento Blues Society have
joined Mayor Kevin Johnson’s For Art’s Sake Initiative, a huge collaborative effort to expand Arts in the
Sacramento region. It’s very important we become
more involved in the overall community to ensure we
have a voice and place in the growing arts scene.
Liz Walker and myself have joined the Arts and Education Committee where we report on BITS activities,
successes and challenges. It’s a wonderful opportunity to interact with folks from the Crocker Art Gallery,
We’re in the planning phase of a new summer program for students and are exploring possibilities with
a local campus. We are also looking at various allage venues for our annual end of the year benefit
concert. In fact, we’re always looking for places that
welcome our next generation of musicians – sadly,
they are few and far between. If you know of such
venues, please support them.
Lizzie was traveling this month and met with San
Diego Blues Society’s Blues In the Schools Committee members to share program ideas. She came
away with some fresh ideas we hope to incorporate
into our program. We are often asked to share our
BITS program with other Blues Society’s and welcome the opportunity to meet with our fellow Blues
educators!
Save the date of March 13, 2010. We’re planning a
St. Patrick’s Day dinner and show – you’ll love it.
Stay tuned for more details!
SBS says goodbye to Big John
By Jan Kelley, with assistance from SacBee interview, -José Luis Villegas, 2004
Big John Evans, on the road pounding
out the blues since he was 12, lived his
life with no regrets. He felt drumming
with many blues greats for 50 years
and living the roving life of a musician
opened up the world to him. He fathered 10 children in his life, always
caring for them no matter where the
road took him. Big John, 66, got his
name because of his size. He first began his blues journey in Oakland and
completed it in Sacramento, passing
away on Monday, November 9, 2009.
and internationally acclaimed bluesman Johnny Heartsman. Heartsman
brought Big John to Sacramento
around 1983, where they gigged
around town and then around the
world, making nearly a dozen trips to
Europe. The two bluesmen remained
close until Heartsman died in Sacramento in 1996 following a stroke.
The health of each man had taken a
back seat to his music. Heartsman had
diabetes, and Big John had suffered
Photo by Bob Cosman
five heart attacks and four strokes.
He met and was mentored by Little Junior Parker With the death of Johnny, Big John decided to lose
and jammed with Ray Charles, Count Basie, Bobby some of his weight, dropping more than 100 pounds
"Blue" Bland, Art Blakey, Sonny Payne and James with his renewed health consciousness.
Brown's famous drummer, John "Jabo" Starks.
Big John and the Chosen Few band were nominated
His size and his sound, an up-tempo blues called a for the Best Blues Band at the Sacramento Sammies
shuffle, set Big John apart. It was this shuffle that in 2004. He will be missed by many, and especially
brought him to the attention of the late Sacramentan by the Blues community.
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 6
2009 Blues Blast Music Awards
the award to Koko’s daughter,
Joyce “Cookie” Threatt. Another
highlight was the presentation of
the Sean Costello Rising Star
Award by the parents of the late
Sean Costello, Debbie Costello
Smith and Glenn Smith.
The Blues Blast Music Awards show was held October 29, 2009 in Chicago at Buddy Guy’s Legends. It
was blues party heaven for the capacity crowd of
musicians, record label execs, radio jocks, promoters, managers, booking agents, and most importantly, fans from all over the world. The club jumped
with six solid hours of top-notch performances by the
best the blues has to offer. With the award presentations scattered throughout the evening there was not
much
down
time, not even
for my requisite
cigar
break!
By Bo Ely
What a memorable night of music,
camaraderie and a few surprises! Kenny Neal brought in Koko Taylor’s
band to back him up. Dave Gross performed
with The Insomniacs who loaned keyboardist
Alex Shakira to Nick Moss & The Flip Tops.
Curtis Salgado sat in with both The Insomniacs and Nick Moss & The Flip Tops. Other
The
14,000
Blues
Blast
performers included Guy King, Lurrie Bell,
Magazine
John Primer, Billy Branch, Matthew
readers from
Skoller, Robin Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold,
across
the The insomniacs receiving their award Carlos Johnson, Chris James & Patrick
United States
Rynn with Bob Corritore, Eden Brent, The
and all over the world chose the winners. The award Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Cedric Burnside &
winners were: Best Contemporary Blues Recording, Lightnin’ Malcom, Dave Herrero, Shirley JohnThe Insomniacs – At Least I’m Not With You; Best son, and Albert Castiglia. Special appearances inTraditional Blues Recording, Various Artists – Chi- cluded Billy Flint and Willy “The Touch” Hayner.
cago Blues: A Living History; Best Blues
Chicago really is my kind of
Song, Albert Castiglia – “Bad Year Blues;”
town. Architectural masterBest Blues Band, Nick Moss & The Flip Tops;
pieces fill the skyline, flower
Best Male Artist, Elvin Bishop; Best Female
Artist, Robin Rogers; Best New Artist Debut
boxes brighten the sidewalks,
massive parks line Michigan
Recording, Chris James & Patrick Rynn –
Avenue, and Buddy Guy’s
Stop And Think About It; and the Sean
Legends, which celebrated its
Costello Rising Star Award, Kilborn Alley
20th anniversary in June,
Blues Band.
graces the streets of ChiKoko Taylor, “Queen of the Blues” posthu- Curtis Salgado and Bo cago. With the club moving to
mously received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement a larger venue in 2010, a return visit surely will be in
Award. Marie Dixon, Willie Dixon’s widow, presented order!
THE SACRAMENTO BLUES SOCIETY: A 30 YEAR TRADITION OF
BRINGING THE BEST BLUES TO SACRAMENTO by John Noxon
Looking back, it's amazing the great talent that the
Sacramento Blues Society has brought into Sacramento. Over our 30+ years of serving the local Blues
Community we've brought in a fabulous "who's who"
of blues artists including Ray Charles, Robert Cray,
Papa John Creach, Bobby "Blue" Bland, John
Hammond, The Memphis Horns, Floyd Dixon, Little
Milton, Chris Cain, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Magic Slim
and the Teardrops, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers,
Glenn Lane, Guitar Shorty,
See page 7 –SBS 30 yrs
Thirty years of Blues… It's hard to believe, but the
Sacramento Blues Society has been bringing the
Blues to Sacramento for over thirty years. We're actually older
than the Memphis Blues Foundation. Thanks to our founding members, including the
late Phil Givant, Mick Martin, Big Mike and many others who started up the Society back in 1979. And if
we trace our roots back to the first Sacramento Blues
Festival which started up in 1977, then we're a big 32
years old.
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 7
Profile: Kenny “Kenbone” Nichols comes home
create a foundation that includes
perfect timing and balance that sets
a song into play. Kenny is married
to such great bass players as Greg
King, Joe Lev and Dave Garrity and
says, “when its good, it is something
you don’t have to think about, it’s
by
Deborah
synchronicity.”
Gregory
Then there was Kenny Nichols, an amazing drummer,
AKA, “Kenbone,” on the Sacramento Blues scene. Everybody who knows Kenny
knows his love of children;
hence, his participation in the
Blues In The Schools (BITS)
program with Mick Martin. He
gigs at the Torch Club with
Aaron King, Lew Fratis, and
Jimmy Pailer, at Louie’s with
Steve Foster, at the Folsom
Hotel with Dave Channell,
Coopers and Regans with
Greg King and anywhere he
is called to sit in with “the boys.” The interesting
thing about this is that you must be VERY GOOD
to play with these musicians and Kenny Nichols fits
the bill.
Kenny is currently the drummer for the Dirty Low
Down Dogs, Lew Freitas Band, Jimmy Pailer and
Lew Freitas on Friday nights at the Torch Club,
and participates whenever possible in the BITS
program. He has toured with Michael Furlong,
Stoneground, Hotel California and a variety of
other signature bands. You can come see Kenny
play out and about town most any evening. Contact
Kenny for gigs at [email protected]. He is
also on Facebook and My Space. Thanks for coming home, Kenny.
Kenny’s Grandma Gladys bought him his first set of
drums when he was in Elementary School. He
played from the beginning as if it were second nature. He was born and raised in Sacramento, left
for 10 years, and returned 10 years ago to give
something of himself back to the Sacramento music scene. He is a dedicated family man and the
proud father of two sons, Henry and Max. The
boys play guitar and drums. If you know Kenny
you know he loves to fish anytime, anywhere, with
anyone, especially his brothers and Uncle Daryle in
Oregon (Hubba Hubba!). Future dreams? Watching the boys grow up and lots of fishing.
Kenbone’s style of play compliments all those he
accompanies on stage. He’s flexible enough to rise
to any occasion and easy going enough to make
everybody happy. There is a special relationship
between a drummer and a bass player, almost like
being married. When it’s the right marriage they
continued from page 6
Joe Louis Walker, Charles Brown, and Chuck Berry.
These are but a few of the great blues talents.
With your help we hope to continue to provide the
local Sacramento Blues Community with quality
shows and top talents. Here's to another great 30
years !
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 8
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 9
Welcome new SBS Band Members!
“Loads of Fun”
561 La Purissima Way 95819
(916) 455-3358
(916) 203-9781
[email protected]
H i r e
a n
S B S
m e m b e r
b a n d
Allie Marcel Blues Riot
916-451-1075
Allie@Allie’s Alley.net
David J Eisel
916-966-2992
[email protected]
Kyle Rowland
916-236-9204
[email protected]
Andy Keane & Kinda Blue
[email protected]
Delta Wires
Prime Management
510-601-9277
[email protected]
Linda Bracamonte
[email protected]
Black Cat Bone
www.blackcatboneblues.net
[email protected]
530-753-5265
Bluz Catz
916-769-7934
[email protected]
Bobby “Blue” Ray
Brad Wilson Band
[email protected]
Dave Channell’s Fire &
Wheels Band
916-705-8628
www.davechannell.com
Lisa Phenix
916-719-6106
www.Lisaphenix.com
Equinox Blues Review
Stan Alves
916-969-3995
Marshal Wilkerson & Smoked
Sugar
916-443-3392
marshalwilkerson@
hotmail.com
Gordon Groft Band
916-374-0874
[email protected]
www.gordengroft.com
Marta Gee
[email protected]
Johnny “Guitar” Knox
Dave Croall & the Soothers
916-455-6349
[email protected]
Mill Creek Blues Band
[email protected]
www.myspace.com/
millcreekbluesband
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Mitch Kay & Groove Deluxe
916-217-1263
Mr. December Band
mrdecembermusic
@yahoo.com
Myspace.com/
mrdecembertheband
O Street Jumps
Dan 916 -944-7292
Cari 916-725-4889
Rick Donaldson Blues
Band
Jay Beaumont
530-902-8600
rickdonaldsonbluesband.com
Rock of Ages
[email protected]
Roy Rogers
www.roy.rogers.com
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Volume 30;
Issue 6
Page 10
Sacramento Blues Revue
Rick Von Geldern
[email protected]
Steve Gatz &
Double Shuffle
209-217-7532
The Aces
707-490-8126
www.acesfan.com
Sean McGroarty
916-204-9800
[email protected]
Spotted Dog Rockin’ Blues
Revue
Greg Gantrell 916-332-5417
[email protected]
Steve Hall
1-888-468-8663
[email protected]
www.stevehallblues.com
The Cold Truth
Isis 408-835-4168
Myspace.com/coldtruthband
Tim Noxon’s Rockin’ Blues
Band
Tim—916-201-4648
George-916-343-3172
Steve Foster Band
916-276-9170
[email protected]
Stevenson Proffitt & the
Vintage Overtones
916-475-2566
[email protected]
The Hucklebucks
Doug James
916-454-0577
www.thehucklebucks.com
The Used Blues Band
Two Tone Steiny & the
Cadillacs
916-765-5564
[email protected]
Please Patronize these Businesses that Support your Blues Society
Northern California Blues Festival
c/o:
Matson Breakey
[email protected]
www.NorthernCalforniaBluesFest.com
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Volume 30;
Issue
Page 11
Please Patronize these Businesses that Support your Blues Society
313 Laurence Ave.
Kansas City, Mo 64111
1-888-BLUESIN’
www.bluescruise.com
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U. S. POSTAGE PAID
SACRAMENTO, CA
P. O. Box 60580
Sacramento, CA 95860-0580
Blue Notes! is
The official bi-monthly
Newsletter of the
Sacramento Blues Society.
Send information for the
newsletter to
[email protected]
or to
Editor—Blue Notes!
4116 Lotus Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95822
VISIT OUR WEBSITE!
WWW.SACBLUES.CO
M
Sacramento Blues Society
(SBS)
is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit corporation
formed to preserve and promote
blues music as an art form.
The Sacramento Blues Society
is one of the oldest blues societies
in California, founded 1979.
SBS has kept the blues tradition
alive in the Sacramento area by promoting the local blues music scene
and bringing internationally renowned artists
to the region.
SBS is an affiliate member of
The Blues Foundation.
SBS provides educational opportunities for young people with the Foundation’s
“Blues In The Schools” Program.
SBS produces a newsletter,
“Blue Notes”
Bi-Monthly (six times a year)
to our membership.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Dennis Moffett
VICE PRESIDENT
Kim DuVall
SECRETARY
Sally Katen
TREASURER
Dave Alcock
PARLIAMENTARIAN
Cathy Dubets
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Stan Alves
Patty Furey
Cynthia Jaynes
Linda McShane
John Noxon
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COMMITTEES
Blues In The Schools
Patty Furey & Cynthia Jaynes
BITS Benefit
Liz Walker
Blues Challenge Event
Kim Duvall
Concessions/Merchandise
Cathy Dubets & Kim DuVall
Events
John Noxon & Stan Alves
Fundraising and Grants
Debbie Galik
Gene Chambers Musician’s
Crisis Fund Committee
Patty Furey
Hall of Fame
Patty Furey
Membership
Linda McShane
Public Relations
Willie Brown
Webmaster
Dave Baldwin