"Year of the Blues"

As we celebrate the "Year of the Blues", let's salute the originators of blues music, the Afro American musicians that created the heart beat of American culture - the blues.

Blues music wakes people up in the morning and lulls them to sleep at night. We hear blues in all forms on American music - rock, pop, hip-hop, country, folk, rap, punk, funk, jazz, etc. The common thread is the BLUES and it's on call 24/365, just turn on your radio, TV, cell phone, Internet.... or just open the window and listen!

What would the United States be without blues music? Less tolerant, less funky, less money, less opportunity, less hope, less love! Blues music was, is and always will be America's heart beat.

Below is the resolution that is both interesting and informative. It just left out one thing...  for blues lovers, every year is the "Year of the Blues!"

HCON 13 IH 108th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 13

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 27, 2003 Mr. FORD submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of blues music, and for other purposes. Whereas blues music is the most influential form of music indigenous to the United States, providing the roots for contemporary music heard around the world such as rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, and country, and even influencing classical music;

Whereas the blues is a national historic treasure, which needs to be preserved and studied for the benefit of future generations; Whereas blues music documents twentieth-century United States history, especially during the Great Depression and in the areas of race relations and pop culture; Whereas the various forms of blues music trace the transformation of the United States from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrialized country; Whereas the blues is an important facet of African-American culture in the twentieth century; Whereas every year, people in the United States hold hundreds of blues festivals, and millions of new or reissued blues albums are released;
Whereas blues musicians from the United States, whether old or new, male or female, are recognized and revered worldwide as unique and important ambassadors of the United States and its music; Whereas it is important to educate the young people of the United States so that they understand that the music they listen to today has its roots and traditions in the blues; Whereas there are many living legends of blues music in the United States who should be recognized and have their stories captured and preserved for future generations; and Whereas the year 2003 would be an appropriate time to recognize the importance of blues music since it is the centennial nniversary of when W.C. Handy composed the first blues music to be released throughout the United States:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress--
(1) recognizes the importance of blues music with respect to many cultural developments in United States history;
(2) calls on the people of the United States to take the opportunity to study, reflect on, and celebrate the importance of the blues; and (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe the importance of the blues with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and educational programs.

Willie Dixon: The Master Blues Composer Performed by Willie Dixon. For guitar and voice. Format: guitar tablature songbook. With guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar notation legend, introductory text and black & white photos. Blues. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. 288 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.660178) See more info...

Willie Dixon- I Am The Blues DVD Willie Dixon. Composed 4-15-05. Published by Music Video Distributors. (MVD10008) See more info...