Blues, Bids and Bull

Almost everyone in Chicago knows that the International Olympic Congress will be meeting soon in Copenhagen to decide which city will host the 2016 Olympic Games. We are sending our greatest ambassadors to state our case, however, their names might be overlooked.

The legacy of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and others, will be overheard in the streets of Copenhagen during that meeting. What better way to introduce the Windy City, to give a sense of who we are, than to feel the Chicago Blues -electrified, amped, and a little sax added now and then.

"Chicago Blues" is the theme of the ninth annual Copenhagen Blues Festival, set to start on the 29th. To insure they will be celebrating the Sweet Home Chicago way, this years international stars, include two of Chicago's own, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson and the Mike Anderson Band.

Imagine more than 60 Blues concerts in 20 different venues in 6 days. "FREE" concerts every afternoon. Local, national and international talent, blended in a club based concept. This diverse immersion experience has gained popularity each year far surpassing the original purpose to widen the knowledge of and promote interest in the blues regionally.

Opening ceremonies include the gathering of local and national musicians in contention for the "Danish Blues Musician of the Year," at Mojo's Blues Bar. The recipient receives 10,000 kroner along with the award and title. (10,000 Danish Krone = 1,978.69 US Dollar)

Of course many Chicago Blues fans will be anxiously awaiting a different kind of announcement that will come from Copenhagen in six days and nineteen hours according to the www.chicago2016.org countdown clock. The award and title are immeasurable. At this point, 20 olympians, Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Mayor Daley will make the final pitch.

The surprise for me came with the Brooklyn born, one time legendary athlete, who made a sweet home in Chicago, and was adored and supported by a city, is now apparently too busy to go to Copenhagen. Then again, I don't see him as the type to hang down at Legends, either. I wonder what is his favorite genre of music, even Wiki doesn't know. It is with irony, that I just donated the book, "I Can't Accept Not Trying," to the Salvation Army. I have a feeling a few of us, just might feel that way. But at least, there is nothing truer, than the legacy of the Chicago Blues, and hopefully all of Copenhagen will see it in the upcoming week.

Lurrie Bell is Everywhere!

Lurrie Bell caught my eye again today as Blue Bella Records sent a release announcing that he is appearing in my town on April 21 and bringing his buddies Nick Moss & The Fliptops. It is the best reason to hang out at Best Buy, that I can think of.

Bell's name is popping up everywhere lately. As I checked through several news feeds this weekend, I also saw he is featured on The new release of Chicago Blues: A Living History (Raisin 2009) which lays down 21 tracks of authentic style Chicago Blues.



Lurrie Bell, is a second generation Chicago Blues Artist, his Father Carey Bell, was a well respected Harmonica player. This child of the blues, without a doubt, is one of our greatest guitar players of his generation. If you are in the MidWest, you can see him on Beale Street in May, and at the Chicago Blues Fest in June. He has many credits to his name. Lurrie has made the cover of Living Blues, been nominated for several awards, and they just keep coming, but my favorite memory of him, is playing with Koko Taylor.

Those are all good reasons to be a fan of Lurrie, and even check out his MySpace and peek at www.lurie.com, but beyond the mundane, is a blues artist, who knows what life is in all it's extremes. It has never been better demonstrated than in this current version of Lurrie, that makes me absolutely love him. In his new CD, Let's Talk About Love, you can hear the depth and breath of emotion as played only by a man who has felt it personally. Unfortunately, that emotion came at great cost, losing his beloved partner Susan and his Father within a three and a half month period.

Lurrie's life has not been easy. He has had great loss and sorrow and knows what it is to struggle with Mental Illness. And yet, he serves as a source of great inspiration and even courage to many, who take the time to learn his story.

His official biography, contains the following: "Music has the power to heal, to restore and empower, not only the artist but the listener as well." All I can say to that, is Amen.