By Ralph Speas, PBPS Archivist

Blues lovers doubtless know by now that on Aug 1 2002 six members of the 107th Congress introduced Senate Resolution 316 designating the year beginning 1 Feb 2003 as the "Year Of The Blues."  (New Majority leader Bill Frist was one of those.)

While some historians may take issue with statements such as W. C. Handy being the first to compose the first distributed blues music, we all can wholeheartedly agree with the importance of educating our youth about the exceptionally rich cultural heritage in roots blues -- such as  Blues In The Schools programs.  Springing from vocal renderings from over 100 years ago, we continue to pass on this uniquely American aural traditional genre of music. 

Just as the film industry is saving and restoring early visual images once thought lost, more scientifically motivated and talented sound technicians today are becoming involved with and more appreciative of the historical importance of the blues.  We are being gifted with ever greater fidelity reproductions of vintage cylinder, metal, wax and tape recordings that somehow survived being thrown out, tossed in the air to be blasted with a shotgun, or skipped over the water like a flat stone.  As the Archivist of the PBPS, I urge every single member to contribute to this special effort by making sure your own collection is properly stored and properly handled when being played.  We can seek and rescue otherwise lost recordings from flea markets, yard sales, auctions, attics, basements, and all other improper storage.  And bring them to me for the PBPS archives of course !!

Social scientists are fond of claiming the public's taste for visual images and recorded sound comes and goes in cycles, much like the big band era which waxed then waned in the 30's & 40's.  There will be those who will claim the same for the blues -- that the blues will make a comeback with this new emphasis -- now that the government has "shined a little light on me."  Perhaps -- but I believe blues music, both written and aural, has significantly and consistently influenced virtually every nuance of the human psyche every single decade since the "Birth of the Blues," and will continue to do so for many more generations.  The healing and supportive power of this music helps us not only to cope with tragedy and loss but to more realistically reassess life's travails with greater understanding and humor.

So what's in store for us?  I'm sure each individual artist and fan, each blues organization, each venue and business that stands to make money from this government boost, will do something special to honor the next twelve months and beyond.  We hear that the film industry  (via such leaders as Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood) plans at least seven feature-length films dealing specifically with blues themes, to be initially released on public television next fall.  A 13-part public radio series on the history of the blues is in the works, plus a book on "rarely seen" archival material.  Also in the works is a traveling blues exhibition (via 18-wheelers I assume, since that will reach more people than train or plane) that will seek to educate as well as entertain.  A Feb 7 blues concert at Radio City Music Hall in NYC is the scheduled kickoff event.

So what can you do, dear fellow PBPS members, to enhance the "Year of the Blues"?  GET OUT THERE AND GET US MORE MEMBERS!  Honor the many exceptionally talented area blues performers we are blessed with in the Piedmont  by spending a few bucks & hours of your time by attending their performances!  The up-coming 17th Annual Carolina Lite Blues Festival June 7 would be a good choice!  Seek and preserve those remaining precious recordings!  And most of all, share your own special love & knowledge of the blues by supporting Blues In The Schools.