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Behind the Scenes- by
LynnAnn Hyde
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Behind the Scenes- by
LynnAnn Hyde
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Behind the Scenes is a monthly inclusion that profiles some of the extraordinary folks who make our Blues community thrive. If you know of someone who would be of interest to BluesNotes readers, please contact Rick Hall (Editor), or a CBA Board Member!
It is with great humility that I write this month's Behind the Scenes! Some of you may know that I am relatively "new" to the whole music thing, so I am always in awe by the length of time our profile subjects have put into keeping the Blues alive. Each and every one of the people we have written about has spent a substantial portion of their lives contributing to the Blues scene. This month's subjects are no different in that respect, but vary greatly in the individual scope of involvement. OK, this month:
Ardis Hedrick had a dream, and she made that dream of transforming a monthly CBA newsletter into the reality of the
BluesNotes. Without her hard work and diligence, we would not have the monthly newspaper we all depend on so much, and yet take for granted.
Ardis worked with several other dedicated folks to produce, edit, and publish the very first "professional"
BluesNotes (she thanks Bonnie Carter, Terry Currier, Joey Scruggs, Delmark Goldfarb, and
Dave Clingan) and, in fact, Ardis was the BluesNotes Editor In Chief for over four years.
Ardis also helped to organize, promote, book, and subsequently "cover" in the BluesNotes many noteworthy CBA events, including the Second Acoustic Festival. Again, this fine lady credits others with helping her, including her partner, Tim Simpson.
Ardis was able to combine a certification in D.T.P. (desktop publishing) and a Graphic Arts diploma with her editing/ publishing experiences at the BluesNotes into a position at a publishing firm after leaving the CBA, but for now, she is writing for Positively Entertainment covering the Blues scene.
Each of us who enjoys the "bounty" of our Northwest Blues scene owes Ardis Hedrick a HUGE thank you for her help in creating The BluesNotes .... In her own words, "Portland turned into 'Memphis West' after we revamped the BluesNotes from a newsletter into it's present form..."
Sometimes, a person's entire lifestyle is supportive of the Blues, as in Tom Wendt's case.
Tom has a long history in Portland as a radio DJ (1974 was the year
Tom got his own Blues show at KBOO), but Tom Wendt goes beyond a mere "hobby" of programming on public radio, and actualizes the term Blues Historian.
Tom began listening to Blues and related music in the south Bay Area during the mid-'60s. As a high school kid, he attended many great concerts at the old FILMORE in San Francisco, and he also listened avidly to any radio shows he could receive that aired Blues. Tom credits KPFA radio, (Berkley, CA) and Chris Strachwitz (founder of Arhoolie Records) with turning him on to great American Roots & Blues, and with hooking him up with resources for Blues music, history, and documentation. Tom has been educating Blues fans and promoting the Blues since high school (he played Muddy Waters during the lunch break over the school's PA system) and has shared his wonderful experiences with Blues greats like PeeWee Crayton, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and many more and with anyone else who shows an interest.
In the early '70s, he DJ'd at University of Portland, and came right into our homes with a weekly hour or two of Blues starting in 1973 with a shared show at KBOO. Tom carries out the great ORAL tradition of Blues history. It is his entire life that supports, promotes and preserves the Blues! Tom also goes to MANY live shows in Portland, even though he doesn't drive. In other words, Tom Wendt supports the endeavors of today's Blues scene as actively as he preserves our rich Blues heritage.
Tom has interviewed many legendary Blues artists, and is not shy about asking them for specific info about their recordings and live shows. "I enjoy the music even MORE knowing the history behind it. I am attracted to the beauty of the music, the aesthetic quality of this great ART" relates Tom.
Thanks so much to Tom, who did not understand WHY I wanted to profile him. He says, "It's just what I do!" If more folks did just what Tom does, we would be enjoying a richer, stronger, and longer-lived Blues community!
Leah Akridge moved to Portland from New Orleans in 1974. She was already a Blues & Roots "devotee", and had strong ties to Southern music and the artisan movement in New Orleans. Leah saw the wonderful Johnnie Ward at the Portland Saturday Market about a week after she hit, town and realized then and there that Portland had something goin' on. She was living in an artist's coop (at the same time guys like Pete Moss were living there too) called the Sugar Hotel on 1st & Main. Folks like Pete Karnes, Paul deLay and Lloyd Jones played there in impromptu "jams" that sometimes went on into the wee hours. Leah has several cassette tapes of great local musicians playing in apartment kitchens from the Sugar Hotel (circa 1974,75,76).
Leah joined the brand new CBA in January 1987, and since that time, has done almost every job imaginable AS A VOLUNTEER! Leah has worked the booth countless times, HAND PAINTED Muddy busts for our Muddy Awards (and stored them for us in her garage), as well as serving on the very first "Muddy Award" committee. She has served on numerous committees for the CBA over the years, and has volunteered to help out at either the CBA Membership Picnic or Christmas Party, (sometimes both!), AND the Blues Fest every year! Leah has received a Service Certificate and VIP Pin from the CBA for her many contributions.
Leah recalls guys like Terry Robb and Curtis Salgado playing the fledgling Cascade Blues Association Monthly Membership Meetings, as well as many other fine local musicians... "We were mesmerized... There were only a few people coming to the meetings back then, and to hear this music played so well was really special and wonderful," Leah remembers.
Leah is still helping out, and you can see her at the meetings, the picnic, the Blues Fest and most of our events... Without folks like Leah putting in all those hours for us, the CBA would not be what it is today. THANK YOU BLUEZ-BABE!!!
© 2000 Cascade Blues Association