The Blues Foundation supports music education initiatives, including a searchable database of Blues educators and artists-in-residence, a Blues bibliography, and a collection of Blues-based curricula compiled from educators around the country. The Foundation also fosters Blues in the Schools music education programs across America.
Locally, the Daytona Blues Society, a member organization of the Blues Foundation, promotes the Blues through various events and programs, including its weekly Wednesday night Blues Jams at Daytona's Bank and Blues Club at 701 Main Street. Activity in the local music scene confirms Daytona Beach as "Florida's Blues Capital."
The 31st annual Blues Music Awards have been handed out, and tw
o of the big award winners are headlining Daytona's Annual Blues Festival in the fall. The national Blues Foundation threw a two-day marathon event in Memphis recently, kicking off with the 2010 induction ceremony for the Blues Hall of Fame, and culminating with 26 Blues Music Awards, topped off by Buddy Guy's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Daytona event welcomes two honorees
Blues pianist Pinetop Perki
ns was on hand at the Memphis ceremony to present his namesake Piano Player Award to this year's winner Eden Brent (left), recipient of two 2009 Blues Music Awards and winner of the 2006 Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge. The Song of the Year was "Pearl River," written by Cyril Neville and Mike Zito (right). Both Eden Brent and Mike Zito are featured performers in the upcoming Daytona Blues Festival, which will take place the weekend of October 8 - 10 at Daytona's Jackie Robinson Stadium.
About The Blues Foundation
The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but wo
rld-renown as THE organization dedicated to preserving blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation has 3500 individual members and 185 affiliated local blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals around the world. Its signature honors and events -- the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards -- make it the international center of blues music. Its HA
RT Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance while its Sound Healthcare program offers musicians health insurance access. Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues scholarships expose new generations to blues music. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.
Recognizing the best of the Blues
The Blues Music Awards represent the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in the Blues genre. It is presented each spring in Memphis and is seen across America on noncommercial television stations.
Comments
Florida sure has lots of talented people here.
GLAD TO SEE THE BLUES MOVIN INTO THE DAYTONA ARIA. THE FIRST TURN PORT ORANGE, FEATURES SAM CHURCHES JAMS ON THURSDAY NIGHTS AND SOME GREAT BLUES SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD. PIRANA GRILL ORMOND BEACH FEATURES ANTHONY WILD DOING A JAM FEATURING DONNA SWEENEY DAYTONAS BLUES WOMAN, AND MANY TOP NOTCH BLUES MUSICIANS. THATS ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND ITS GREAT FUN.
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