Saturday, June 23, as I walked up to the arena at the fair grounds in Monterey, I ran into one of the founding directors of the 16th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Gus Lewis. "I am so proud to be part of an effort like this," he said, beaming. "We donate the profits to local youth and organizations that promote youth and the arts, with an emphasis on music. I've been here since the beginning, and we're still growing."

This festival provides us with a three-day celebration of an exclusive American art form, the blues. I first heard bluesman Johnny Copeland, The Texas Twister, on St. Mary's Street in San Antonio. I followed him to the Brazos River Bottom Blues Festival in San Antonio and to a Houston show. He agreed to be a founding director of the Texas Heritage Music Foundation. His heart gave way in 1997, but his soul lives on in his daughter, Shemekia.

I had been listening to her strong music on Alligator Records, a label known for house-rocking blues, but I first watched her perform on Sunday, June 24, in Monterey, California.  She was third in a run of Texas performers that included W. C. Clark, (recently played the Arcadia in Kerrville!), Sonny Rhodes and her. W. C., the "godfather of Texas blues," is also the supreme voice in the history of Texas blues. I first heard him in Ft. Worth, Texas and have followed him ever since. This man, cool in his hat and sitting low on a stool, gives us the naked truth about blues. The Monterey talent committee had the good vision to move him on to the main stage, after a rousing appearance on one of the other smaller stages. 

W. C. has stories of a stint with Stevie Ray Vaughan, W. C. has stories of the Austin music scene. This man is a musicologist as well as a performer. He told me that his website had lots of historical information on it. www.wcclark.com.  Check it out.

His soulful voice ranges between traditional blues and soul music. "Changing my life with your love," never sounded better as a line in a song. And his version of a Willie Nelson tune reminded us that music does change shapes in front of our eyes.

This festival is a true feast of color, clothing, and costume. Not to mention all the great and exotic food. I knew I wanted to "dress up" a bit, after my first afternoon there. Women in flowing colorful kaftans with heads wrapped in the same material, men sporting nappy suits and hats were the sign of the festival. Lots of sequins and shine. I was reminded of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

I heard a Kansas City woman, Kelly Hunt, wail her songs on the Garden Stage, and I danced (yep, I got right up there) to a performer with the warmest smile of the festival, Al James. Oh yes, he rocked right along with that smile. And his lead guitar player just might have studied with our own Stevie Ray. What a day. 

Sonny Rhodes, signature turban in place, took the stage after W. C. and gave us an entirely different flavor of the blues. I talked with him backstage and couldn't take my eyes off his soft green suit. He came on stage dressed in electric orange. (See photo in last week's column for a good look at Sonny.) Playing a lap steel guitar, he thrilled the large crowd gathered in the arena on a warm Sunday afternoon. Raised in Smithville, Texas, he now lives in Florida. Wish we had him on a Texas circuit.

He had me take of photo of him with this "goddaughter, Shemekia." He watched proudly as this 22 year old diva of the blues hit her stride. The crowd knew Etta James was closing the day, but Shemekia stole our hearts with her rousing set of songs. 

I loved her sassy attitude. I remembered my talks with her dad; he was always proud. I remembered how he bragged on Texas. This powerhouse of a woman may live in New York, but she carries Texas in her soul. The photos tell all. Accompanied by a strong band, she bantered with her lead guitar player, teased the bass player as he took leads, and danced with the drummer. All the while, dressed in a deep orange leather dress, Shemekia ruled. 

With three Handy Awards, a Grammy nomination and a song of the year, Shemekia, at 22, has an interesting road stretching out ahead of her. I joined all the other women, screaming for more, as Shemekia said, "I'm going to play you some funky, nasty, low-down, can't stand you, don't want to look at you blues!" And she did.

She challenged the ladies to "put a hand on your hip, get ugly with attitude." She was beautiful as she took the stance. She dedicated a song to her dad, one that said, "I'm just lookin' old child, in this so-called free land." She sang the chorus from both sides of the stage, sans microphone. A unique statement about the power of the song.

One last bit of information: she has played music with the drummer, Gary, since she was 11 years old. I also heard Little Richard at this event. That story will have to wait for another column. Yes, he still rocks at 68 (or 70). 

Sorry I missed Drew Ryan last weekend at Latitudes. Up and coming, for sure. I know the music is happening now in Kerrville. I'll be in Santa Fe as you read this, attending a gathering of people who work with PIP, an educational program that uses stories as a way to learn. 

Free Leonard and down the road. 

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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