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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 outstanding contributors to our Blues community. Without the efforts of these fine folks, we could not enjoy such diverse and plentiful live Blues shows and events that promote and feature Blues artists and music.
As always, I am humbled by the ENORMITY of our Behind The Scenes subjects' contributions! These folks have done SO MUCH to keep Blues music up-front and thriving. Again, I feel honored to inform our membership about some of the wonderful stuff that these great guys and gals do for OUR ART ... It amazes me, and really makes me feel good about being a very small part of it!
If you have a Behind The Scenes story or profile candidate, the BluesNotes wants to hear from you! You can send something by mail, e-mail, or just talk to Rick Hall (BluesNotes Editor) or any other CBA board member!
Ken Condit (current CBA Secretary) is originally from Illinois.
Ken describes his hometown as "sleepy" and credits the public radio and television stations from nearby Chicago with exposing him to Blues and related music.
Ken says his brother was a huge acoustic traditional music lover, and that his mother also listened to Traditional Country Blues.
Ken recalls a program called the "Midnite Special" on
WFMT Community Radio. He also remembers seeing B B King and
John Lee Hooker on late night concert programs out of Chicago and other urban areas. It was then that
Ken really started to love the Blues. While at college, Ken was able to see
LutherAllison at a local club, and Allison made a lasting impression.
Ken says, "I saw him again in '95; 15 years later he still showed the same infectious energy." And, that is the same energy
Ken shows!
Ken and his lovely wife Annie have devoted much of their lives to promoting American music. They have helped out at the Waterfront Blues Fest as Volunteer Coordinator(s), and in other capacities. Ken and Annie also gave their time to a Long Beach, Ca. Blues Fest while living there.
Ken would have you believe that his work and position on the CBA Board (for over two years) is really not that important, but I can tell you otherwise. Ken chairs one of the CBA's MOST important committees, the Musician's Relief Fund, as well as co-chair on many others. He writes articles and CD reviews for the BluesNotes on a regular basis, and he volunteers many hours to the CBA merchandise booth at our events and meetings. Ken's devotion to Blues as an artform shows in his strong support for educational programs, and Traditional Roots & Blues exhibitions and performers. Ken is a stalwart advocate for the Blues as both art and entertainment. He shows great appreciation for Blues performers across the board.
Ken hopes to see more Traditional Blues musicians and venues, and would like to see the Acoustic Roots & Blues Heritage Fest continue to grow. He says, "You can never have too much Traditional Country Blues, whether it's Piedmont, Delta, or any other variation..." Ken also wants to urge all of us to continue to support our local performers. But don't neglect to lend your support to the outstanding national acts that come through town. "We need to keep working on bringing national acts to Portland .... some haven't been here for years," Ken says.
Ken Condit will be working with Del Seitzinger (CBA Treasurer) and ME on this year's Acoustic Roots & Blues Heritage Festival, August 5th of this year at the Portland Saturday Market. I can tell you from my experience doing this event last year that it is very time consuming, and stressful ... Ken's people skills and great attitude will make things a lot easier all the way around! I am looking forward to working with both Ken and Del in making this year's Acoustic Fest just as wonderful as last year's.
After serving on the CBA Board with Ken, I can tell you that he is a positive force for the Cascade Blues Association and has total respect for the Blues. He is always willing to listen to someone's ideas, and will consistently lend a hand to a good cause. Ken Condit gives several hours each week to the CBA and other community interests. We owe him a real big "thank you" for all he has done, and continues to do!
It is rare to meet someone so committed to other's happiness, but that is the kind of person
Robert Johansen is. He is a kind of 'throwback' to a hippie-fied day, when EVERYTHING was good if it sounded good. And, everybody pitched in for the fun of all....
Robert Johansen is a colorful, warmhearted guy who just loves music! "I love all music," Robert states, "Put I really love the. Big Bands.. Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, too. But, I REALLY love Hank Williams, Sr and, oh yeah, Nat King Cole, and well, you name it!" Robert digs the old stuff for good reason, his Dad was a touring Jazz performer with some of the top names in Swing. Robert himself began playing drums at the age of four. "Brown Sugar and Sleazy Pieces are the local bands that got me hooked on Blues! Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, Mel Solomon ... especially Jon Koonce were all huge inspirations for me!" Robert continued.
Originally from Portland, Robert has lived most of his life right here, but also lived in Seattle for a time. "My family members are buried at the Pioneer graveyards here and along the Oregon Trail ... some of my family came over on the Mayflower ..... and Robert still has that pioneering spirit. Robert has been helping at the Waterfront Blues Fest each year (except when he lived out of town for two years) by doing South Stage volunteer duties, hospitality duties, Booth duties and much more. He also has been on the CBA Board for several terms, and is vital to our annual CBA PICNIC! He was on many educational committees, and has always helped with BluesNotes mailings and distribution. His help with the paper distributions alone has been invaluable!
Robert urges all of us to "Get involved. Become more than just a spectator. There's plenty of work, and too few doing it! If the membership were more involved, the CBA would raise the 'standard' for Blues Associations even HIGHER! The CBA could top itself ... and just think of what that could mean" Robert says with a determined tone. "And, support music! Support live shows! Get out and listen to people," he adds.
Robert Johansen has a special community project he is working on called Big Brother & Big Sister Mentor / Scholarship Sponsor. If you are interested in learning more about this very worthwhile endeavor, please contact him at the following: Robert Johansen (503) 948-4293, PO Box 86188, Portland, OR 97286-0188.
The CBA continues to thank Robert for all his hard work over the years, and for his ongoing support.
Jack Townsend is a relative newcomer to the CBA, but not to the Blues. I met
Jack because of Blues music, and his desire to transcend his environment, and elevate his Spirit, through Blues music.
Jack is serving out the end of a Federal Prison term at Sheridan, and we began to correspond after he had listened to
Stu Kinzel and me perform on a KBOO program and reached out (thanks Danny!).
Later, Stu and I played at the prison, and also have been in close contact with
Jack, and several other inmates there. Their love for Blues at the REAL House 0' Blues is profound and so are the extraordinary advancements
Jack has helped to take place, on behalf of the Blues, and on behalf of the inmates that find so much of their lives defined in the song and verse of The Blues .....
Jack Townsend is originally from Dayton, Ohio. He tells me that his first memories of Blues are of playing them with his uncle, Fred Langston, back in the early '60s. (Jack is a wonderful harmonica player / vocalist!) Jack began to visit clubs all over his area, listening to Blues, and Rock/Blues. He moved to the Northwest in 1969 and it has been his 'home' since. Jack has been a performing artist, but holds Johnny "Tu-Tone" Sakos (The Wilygoats, see American Harmonica or Danny Wilson's Gig-List online) as his foremost mentor.
Jack is an avid supporter of the Blues and advocates the Christian path of temperance and humility. From his prison cell, Jack writes articles for Blues publications (Seattle Blues To Do's, American Harmonica, he was the SUBJECT of a Blues Access piece, and many others) about the positive power of the Blues in prison life. From his world of minute-to-minute living (that stretches ENDLESSLY), he has used the power of Blues to help organize Family Music Week, Black History Month Performances, and other musical shows that feature Blues artists. These shows are also some of the only times families can interact in a somewhat 'normal' fashion with incarcerated members. These shows offer joy, hope, and relief to the inmates. Jack has helped to provide harmonica lessons to many inmates, and there are now several bands at the prison, as well as classes for guitar. Jack also works at the prison (that's what you do when you're not sleeping in the Federal System) and sends the money that he earns (something like $6 a day) to several Blues Associations, including the CBA. He has been in prison for over ten years, but will be released soon. Jack has completed Drug Rehab, and, in fact, is considered to be a great success story by the Federal Correctional System.
Jack Townsend is extraordinary in his commitment to getting the Good Word to us all, even from a prison cell. His devotion to Blues extends to his heart and soul, and he finds redemption in promoting Blues, reporting the positive effect Blues made on him. Although Blues is just music, the 'faith' Jack and other inmates hold in a better tomorrow and their love of Blues, is sometimes all they have to hold onto. And it's always enough to get through.
My best wishes to Jack, Bobby, Tim, and the other guys at Sheridan. Not one of us is free of guilt, we've ALL done SOMETHING that could've ended in disaster .... the Blues community needs to support ALL it's members, even the ones in jail. I know for a fact that there are several great musicians at the Sheridan facility alone. How many of our numbers are languishing in prison with no hope, no contact from the outside world? What will they come back to?
I thank Jack for his "loose ministry" of God and Blues, and know he will continue to infect everyone possible with love for the Blues!
There will not be a "Behind the Scenes" inclusion in March, UNLESS YOU WRITE IT! Go ahead, give it a try! You might like it!
Until the Next Time
- LynnAnn Hyde
© 2001 Cascade Blues Association