Charles Mitchell is CEO and founder of Jus` Blues Music Foundation Inc., and an avid supporter of blues music, artists and music education. On July 31, 2014, the Jus` Blues Music Awards will be held at the Horseshoe Bend Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. Rolling Out spoke with Mitchell about his organization, blues music industry and of course, the blues.
Describe your role as CEO.
As CEO and chair of the Jus`Blues Music Foundation, I lead our board in making decisions that involve ways to better improve awareness of our organization, attract funders for scholarships into our Blues Got a Soul program, create special events for blues music awareness and fundraising, and always developing relationships with artists, blues associations, corporations, nonprofits and important publications who are excited about the preservation of blues music.
What is the mission of your organization?
The Jus` Blues Music Foundation’s mission is to continually strive to promote blues music’s cultural heritage through the arts, education, business and our philanthropic efforts. We do blues preservation by nurturing the soul of the blues amongst youth and performing artists around the world.
Tell us about the 2014 Jus` Blues Awards. What events will be occurring?
The Jus`Blues Music Foundation is hosting our 14th annual summer event spectacular, the 2014 Jus`Blues Music Awards Conference. This year the Jus`Blues Music Awards Conference is energized with a renewed vitality and a great new venue; the fabulous Horseshoe Casino Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi, for three remarkable days of festivities — July 30 through August 2.
The 2014 Jus` Blues Honorees are: Blue Lovett & Gerald Alston (The Manhattans), G. C. Cameron (The Spinners, The Temptations), Ann Peebles (“I Can’t Stand the Rain”), Cash McCall (When You Wake Up), Tutu Jones (guitarist), Marie Dixon (Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation), industry professional Logan Westbrooks, John ‘Jab’o’ Starks (drummer with James Brown), Melvin Jackson (Bandleader/Sax player/MC with B.B. King), Craten Armmer Sr. (GM, Shelby County Schools Radio and TV), and The Hi Rhythm Section (Willie Mitchell/Royal Studio’s house band).
Some of this year’s events include:
July 30 Blues Got a Soul Youth Retreat
July 31 2014 Jus`Blues Music Awards “Night of the Living Legends”
August 1 Blues Got a Soul Technology Conference
Jus`Blues Legacy Ball “The White Affair”
(Hosted by Detroit’s Dance Master Bobby Green)
August 2 Jus`Blues Juke Joint Party Starring Latimore
Who are three of the main artists you are honoring this year and why?
Blue Lovett & Gerald Alston of The Manhattans are receiving the 2014 Jus` Blues Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding contributions to blues and soul music.
Melvin Jackson (Trumpet/Sax player, former bandleader for Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland and current Sax player/MC with B.B. King) is receiving the 2014 Jus`Blues Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland Ambassador of the Blues Award for his outstanding contributions to blues music.
Guitarist Tutu Jones is receiving the 2014 Jus` Blues Albert King Guitar Award for his outstanding blues guitar playing and contributions to the genre.
What are the benefits to being a member of your organization?
Networking with like minded others through corresponding and special events whom support this country’s only original art form, the blues. Developed and originally performed by black musicians, the blues is now emulated worldwide to and by international artists to most cultures.
What are the estimated yearly sales of blues music according to Soundscan or other industry measurements?
Sales and airplay are generally reported by geographical area and then broken down by demographics. I am not aware of the numbers but through observation, the blues is not often played on radio. However, there are some satellite blues stations and numerous Internet stations. Additionally, in just about every major city there is a popular blues music club. All across America in small towns, “juke joints” exist to feed the entertainment passions of people.
How do you utilize social media to give yourself business advantages?
We find that most of our members, the artists that support us, as well as slues and Southern soul fans are an older demographic not using much social media. We have a broad based email list and regularly send out newsletters. We do utilize Facebook and Twitter and can probably do a better job using social media. However, our success has been mostly from direct contact with the consumer.
How has the blues changed throughout the years from an audience and talent perspective?
An important component of the blues is that its universal nature cuts across most genres of music particularly jazz, folk, country, gospel, and rock ‘n’ roll. While there are technical differences between blues and other forms of music, I think music overall will continue changing with new instruments and new talents with unique styles. Cable and satellite, the Internet and new music venues have helped broaden the appeal base to blues music.
I think the ‘art’ of making music has changed over the years due to the demise of music programs in the schools. As a result, young wannabe musicians are utilizing software for their recording. Our Blues Got a Soul program is a blues in the schools program. However, the blues is always performed with “live” instrumentation, not tracks. That’s a major difference regarding many of today’s top pop artists. It’s probably more subjective to describe what makes the blues special.
The blues express raw passion-having sprung from raw human emotion. Often that emotion is sad (“blue”), but it can also be happy, or irate, or downright funny.
The blues tell vivid stories-Though originating from the sorrow of slavery, it has come to address every facet of the human experience. The storytelling of the Blues is often very clever and colorful.
The blues birthed rock ‘n’ roll- Many of the things people love about rock ‘n’ roll came from the blues, often in a more pure, quintessential form.
Name your 3 Favorite Blues musicians and why?
Willie Dixon (deceased) – Writer, producer, arranger, performer at Chess Records of some of the greatest blues songs of all time.
Lucky Peterson – Prince of the Blues and a music prodigy. One of the most uber talented musicians and audience attention holders that I’ve ever met and seen perform.
Theodis Ealey – An incredible artist that plays a great mix of traditional and contemporary blues music in his live performances.
What up and coming artist should we look out for?
You’ve got to be on the lookout for Mr. Sipp, “The Mississippi Blues Child.” He is a young, talented yet consummate guitar performer who’s just hot! He is also cast in the upcoming James Brown biopic, “Get On Up!”
What would you like to say to our readers in closing?
The Jus` Blues Music Foundation desires your support. The blues really is America’s only original art form; created, developed and performed by black musicians. The JBMF’s goal is to apprise people, especially black people, of their proud heritage of creating a music that has not only withstood the test of time but is also emulated by many popular artists all over the world. Many have forgotten the musicians, artists and industry pioneers from back in the day that literally opened the door through their trials, tribulations and triumphs for every black performer today.
The annual Jus` Blues Music Awards is a tribute to those blues and soul music pioneers, living legends, current artists, breakout artists and blues music fans and we have a funky good time.
For more information on what Jus` Blues is doing, how we’re doing it, when we’re doing it and where we’re doing it, please visit our website at www.JusBlues.org. Thanks much to rolling out for their support!
