Live music in small clubs, where it's not unusual to sit down and BS with the performers between sets. Traveling to blues festivals and events. Make yearly trips to Memphis, TN. Performance photography.
Music
Mostly prefer blues and roots music, though I can listen to most other genres.
Movies
Akira Kurasawa, Stanley Kubrick, Coen Brothers films. Don't get out to the movies much, rather be in a club watching live music.
Television
Not too much of a TV watcher. When is there time??
Books
Try to find time to read: Robert Graves' "I Claudius" and "Claudius the God," Vonnegut early novels through "Breakfast of Champions," John Kennedy Toole's "Confederacy of Dunces," Michael Malone's "Handling Sin," "The Secret" (thanks jenn)
Heroes
Anybody who can perform live music on a stage. The elder bluesmen have always been my favorites: Robert Lockwood Jr., Honeyboy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Muddy Waters (seen so many of these guys the list could go on forever)
About me: My true hobby is blues music: attending performances, photographing and writing about the music. My articles and photos have been mostly featured in the Cascade Blues Association's BluesNotes monthly newsletter, but have also been featured in other publications, CD covers and various websites.
I have been a member of the Cascade Blues Association's board of directors since 1998 and have been president of the organization since May 2002. During my tenure as president we have celebrated out 15th and 20th anniversaries and won the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive award from The Blues Foundation as Blues Organization of the Year in 2003, the official Year of the Blues as mandated by Congress.
I have been nominated 7 times by the Cascade Blues Association for their annual Muddy Awards, winning 3 times. Twice for the Back What You Believe In award recognizing outstanding achievements by a non-musician in 2000 and 2008, and more shockingly to myself, the Lifetime Achievement award in 2008.
Besides photography and writing, I have also been involved in putting together a number of special concerts for the CBA and others. I created the Willamette Delta Showcase for the CBA, a four-year run that brought acts that seldom had the opportunity to play in Portland, that featured Smokey Wilson, Hans Olson, Rishell & Raines, Hubert Sumlin, Paul Oscher, OC Thomas, Sean Chambers Band, Phillip Walker, Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher, RJ Mischo, Robert Lockwood Jr, Hawkeye Herman and Johnny Dyer. Other shows I have put together offered acts such as Jody Williams, Sean Carney Band, Delta Highway and more. I have also been in groups behind fundraising shows for Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami Relief, and various beneficiaries such as individuals and support relief agencies.
Annually I give my time to The Blues Foundation at least once a year, helping out with the International Blues Challenge and in 2008 the Blues Music Awards show.
It is my main pursuit to help support local, regional and international blues musicians as much as I can. They have given me a lifetime of enjoyment, it's my personal quest to return what I can.
Did you survive Waterfront? Thought I would check in and see if there's any life left. Been a fairly quiet summer although our temps are heading into the 110's as I write this.
Heading out to Dusty & Val's in August for Bruce Wheeler's festival in Wheeling. Telluride in September and that will probably do it for this season. Hope everything's going good for you up in Portland!
Wanted to stop by to let you know I put some of the songs from the new cd on myspace. The release is on June 18th. Release show at Artichoke Music in Portland, that night if your in Town. Anne Weiss is doing an opening set so it should be a blusey night. I'm really looking forward to being in the Northwest!
How is my PoPPa in the Blues??? A Tacoma videographer and professional news camera man are mentoring me in video production of live Blues shows, from shooting to editing and final merging of multiple audio and visual files. I helped film Too Slim and The Taildraggers with Polly OKeary at Blues Vespers Sunday night and Little Bill/The Blue Notes Monday Night at The Swiss. Work to be added to www.SweetBluesNW.com Web site. Much luv, annie
Hope all is well on your end. Things are pretty busy here. Looking forward to being out your way in June. Touring in support of a new CD, Steelwork. Will be in Portland on June 18th back at Artichoke Music. They now serve beer & wine! Show starts at 8pm.
Hope all is well! I tried to get Michael Powers (NY) booked at the Waterfront Blues Festival for several years. I'm not sure if they are confusing him with the Seattle based Michael Powers or they are privy only to him, but they are just impossible. Are there other festivals that way you would recommend and have some input to? It would be greatly appreciated any info - email to "PowersBlues@Yahoo.com". We are organizing a midwest tour in September, easy enough to hop over to Oregon. He's also in Canada early September at the EPCOR Centre Acoustic Series. Thanks. Topsy, Manager.
Online Now!
