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MISSION
To promote the appreciation, awareness and enjoyment of the blues in all of its forms in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.
MANDATE
To work with the blues community in expanding awareness and appreciation of the blues.
To help support local, national and international blues artists.
To publish a newsletter to inform members of upcoming events and items of blues interest.
To provide timely blues related information via a website and email.
To expose our youth to the blues as an art form via an annual Blues in the Schools program.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Al Butter - President
Murray Armstrong - Vice-President
Tom Boyle - Treasurer
Directors
Ray Bukovy
Phil Hordy
Susan Lester
Henry Miazio
Joan Stevens
Donna Wright (Memberships)
Ange Sponchia (Newsletter)
Left to right: Phil Hordy, Tom Boyle, Donna Wright, Ray Bukovy, Susan Lester, Murray Armstrong, Al Butter, Joan Stevens, Henry Miazio
THUNDER BAY BLUES SOCIETY
BACKGROUND
The Thunder Bay Blues Society is a not for profit organization that was formed in the summer of 1998 for the purpose of promoting and increasing the awareness of blues music in Thunder Bay and the surrounding district. To date the society has:
Held 2 very successful events at The Office featuring local musicians (about 2 dozen at each event).
Sponsored an evening featuring 4 local blues bands at the Brown Street Station (Westfort Hotel).
Sponsored the appearance of blues legend James Cotton at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.
Held 7 very successful smoke-free dances in the Ryan Hall of Confederation College. These events were held in partnership with Confederation College, Port Arthur Rotary Club and (for one event) Habitat For Humanity. These dances were made possible by a lot of hard work by the society and its volunteers as well as the generous financial support of our presenting sponsor, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, the local business community and individuals. Through these dances the Society has been able to put about $20,000 dollars back into Thunder Bay. The money has gone to support Confederation College, local charities (through the Port Arthur Rotary Club) and Habitat For Humanity. The bands featured at the dances were:
Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants – fall 1999
Blue Chamber featuring Big John Dickerson- spring 2000
Lamont Cranston Blues Band – fall 2000
The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings – spring 2001
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones – fall 2001
The Groove Hogs – fall 2003
Renee Austin – spring 2004
Other venues including the PA Prosvita, The LU Ouptost and Scuttlebutt's Bar & Grill have been the scene for more exciting bands.
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials – fall 2004
Tinsley Ellis – spring 2005
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops - fall 2005
Anthony Gomes – spring 2006
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience - fall 2006
Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys - spring 2007
Fruteland Jackson - fall 2007
Liz Mandeville & the Blue Points - fall 2007
The Nighthawks - fall 2007
Sherman Robertson - spring 2008
Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang - fall 2008
In partnership with the Thunder Bay Blues Festival Association and Harbour Lights Productions, the Society also held the sold out All-Star Blues Bash at Lakehead University’s The Outpost on November 29, 2002. The event featured over 20 of Thunder Bay’s finest blues musicians.
In 2004, the Thunder Bay Blues Society initiated a $500 bursary with the music department at Lakehead University which is awarded to an entrance music student, graduating from a high school in Thunder Bay or Northwestern Ontario.
The Thunder Bay Blues Society brought the Blues in the Schools (BITS) program to Thunder Bay in the fall of 2003 with Reverend Robert Jones. BITS continued in the fall of 2004 with the return of Robert Jones and in May of 2005 with Roy Young & the James Anthony Band. In October 2006, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience performed "Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydedo" for 2000 local students. Fruteland Jackson, followed two weeks later by Liz Mandeville & the Blue Points, presented Blues In The Schools to 2250 students in October 2007. October 2008 brought Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang performing their Blues In The Schools to approximately 3000 local and district students. As of the fall of 2008, over 10,000 students have participated in the Thunder Bay Blues Society's BITS program!
The society publishes a quarterly newsletter, “Nothin’ But the Blues,” which includes CD and performance reviews, profiles of bands and individual musicians, historical articles and upcoming events. The society currently (as of October 2009) has 350 members.
The Thunder Bay Blues Society and its members can take pride in what they have achieved in a relatively short time. The success of society events and the increase in the number of other performances in the city which have featured blues music indicates an increased popularity and awareness of the music in Thunder Bay. It has helped the community financially. It has also played a significant roll in getting the Thunder Bay Blues Festival going. This is a major happening that had had significant positive financial benefits for the city, supported the various charities and brought its citizens together on our magnificent waterfront for a weekend of fun.
