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GTCBMS GATHERINGS AND EVENTS OF NOTE

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LAUDATION FOR LEO WHITEBIRD

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Please Join us For:

An Afternoon of Exploring the Blues: Featuring the Talents (and
Celebrating the Contributions) of Leo Whitebird & Friends

Date: Sunday, September 25, 2005
Time: 3:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Place: The Coffee Grounds
1579 Hamline Avenue
Falcon Heights, MN
(651) 644-9959

In the sprint defined as "The American Experience", there is a growing unease among many Americans that at the contemporary finish line, we see ourselves living in a most cynical age. Here we find ourselves mired in the packaging, handling and commoditization of nearly every aspect of human interaction.

Fortunately, certain art forms, communities and artists have managed not only to survive, but to creatively thrive under these conditions. This is one of the most valuable qualities of Blues music in America - its influences are everywhere - yet one is hard pressed to find any true Blues musician played on a Clear Channel radio station, let alone situated on the Billboard charts. The Blues live off of word of mouth, the sharing of materials and the integrating of different styles and forms. Therefore, as much as the Blues is abused in the making of radio and television commercials, authentic Blues remains TRULY "underground". It lives in spite of market forces.

It is in this communal spirit that we celebrate our featured artist, Leo Whitebird. Leo has been an integral part of the Blues scene (and other music scenes) in the Twin Cities for almost thirty years. Although Leo is an accomplished musician (Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bass, Keyboards and Percussion), he is also an experienced and talented Producer/Engineer. Leo owns and runs POD Studios in South Minneapolis. POD is a gem in its own right. It exudes the Blues, and should be explored by any daring soul interested in music, atmosphere and god-knows-what-else. Do not expect the norm here.

The list of musicians Leo has played with and/or produced/engineered (Blues and otherwise) over the years is extensive. A brief sample of such musicians are Steve Kaul, Sonny Rodgers and Dakota Dave Hull. Additionally, Leo has been a tireless promoter and organizer for the Minnesota Resophonic Festival. He performs regularly at the Festival as well, and his guitar playing may be found on several of the Festival Highlight CD's that have been released. These CD's were mixed at POD Studio.

Leo helped engineer the Sonny Rodger's single, Big Leg Woman/Cadillac Baby, which was awarded the Best Single for the 11th W.C. Handy Blues Awards (1990). He has also released numerous CD's of bands he has been a part of over the years (Split Level, The New Grass Heads, et al). Most importantly however, Leo has been unselfish with his time, resources and talents in our community. He has shared what he has with people from all walks of life, with little fan fare or financial gain. It is this mentality that keeps the arts and local Blues scenes alive in the Twin Cities.

Please join Leo (and several other musicians he has assembled) on September 25, for a fun and entertaining event. Numerous types and styles of the Blues will be explored.

For those who couldn't make the event and those who want to read about it, GTCBMS shares the story.

APPRECIATION PICNIC

SOCIETY MEMBERS
& GUESTS

Saturday, August 20th
2:00 - 7:00 PM

Tom Asp's Backyard

RSVP Judy
By emailing us at
gtcbms@att.net

POTATO SALAD AND BRAUTS WILL BE PROVIDED.
If you want to share a dish, we welcome that.
Lynn will grill the brats and help set out the food.

Bring your own beverages of choice.
If you have a favorite lawn chair, bring that too.

MUSICIANS TAKE NOTICE ...

Musicians are welcome to bring along instruments for a jam.

The theme this year is the better half and we are inviting member-musicians to prepare a song, a comic act, a poem, tell a story, play music, etc. that will honor their better half. The significant other/husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/ of any musician who participates in the Better half Program will be lavished with attention and receive a very nice gift. All the gifts are different and they will be distributed randomly. The better half Program will begin at 2:30 so musicians who have gigs can easily have time to participate before they have to leave the picnic.

[Musicians - if you wish to sign-up to participate please call and ask to be put on the list. We need to have a count because we want to be certain to have enough gifts for every better half.]

Hope you can make it! Tom has some chairs and canopy tents in case of rain. We will have our usual raffle and everyone who comes will get a ticket for that.

THE ITALIAN PIE SHOPPE
THANK YOU CORPORATE MEMBERS.
REMEMBER.... IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF OUR SOCIETY OR A MEMBER OF THE BLUES FOUNDATION, YOU CAN GET A DISCOUNT AT THE COFFEE GROUNDS AND AT THE ITALIAN PIE SHOPPE.

Dear Blues Fan,

The Blues Foundation and the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise have partnered to offer our members a wonderful membership premium. All members in good standing on October 31, 2005 are included in the drawing for A FREE CABIN FOR 2 on the 2006 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. For each $25 of membership fee you get an entry in the drawing, e.g. if you join at the Friend level you get 4 entries in the drawing along with all the premiums that come at that level. So if you are not already a member, join today. If you are already a member, increase your membership level. There are several levels of membership: * Blues Fan $25 * Supporter $50 * Friend $100 * Patron $250 * VIP $500 * Blues Partner $1000 * Charter $5000 * Corporate $100 Click here to sign up today.
© Copyright 2003- The Blues Foundation.

Blues Events in the Twin Cities

A Message from Paul Metsa, May 30, 2005:

Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that I want to inform you of the passing of the one and only Percy Strother. Percy, for my money one of the greatest blues musicians of our time, passed away Sunday, May 29 at 11:50 am. He was surrounded by his son and Roseanna, his wife of 35 years. I visited with Percy on Saturday at his home in Minneapolis. He was in quite a bit of pain but was still able to converse. When I told him that his music would last for hundreds of years he looked at me and said, "well, I ain´t done yet." It is fitting to remember on this Memorial Day that he was a soldier until the end.

He did his last gig on April 15th at Famous Daves in Minneapolis. I was honored to sit in with him for the last few songs of his set. He arrived as usual, dressed to the nines. He looked about 35 lbs lighter than the last time I had seen him and before the set had told me that the doctors had just told him he had liver cancer. He told me before he went on, " I can handle it and I am fine with it as well." He played a wonderfully powerful solo set. He had his family and band in the audience. His lovely granddaughter Eboni came up to the stage during the set and said, "Grandpa play some blues, I have the blues!" Percy laughed, looked at her and said, "No, you are too young to have the blues. It is your Grandpa that has the blues." He then went on to ask the audience if there was anything in particular they would like to hear and would be happy to dedicate a song to anyone with a birthday in the audience. He was a complete professional and powerful musician to the end.

I visited him in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. He sat up in the bed and we talked about many things, including his love of fishing. I remember when I called him a couple of years ago. He answered his cell phone and I could tell he was outside. It was in October in the evening and it was snowing and colder than hell. Percy was fishing on the shores of Lake Minnetonka waiting to get his limit of bass. I spoke with Curt Obeda (who Percy always called "OBedia") and Curt told me a great story of running across Percy fishing by a creek in St. Paul dressed in his ever present hat, cape, and snakeskin boots. That was Percy, always looking like a million bucks.

At the hospital he was writing on a notepad. Percy had this wonderful penmanship and I noticed he was working on a blues number. He told me "I think this is one the people will really enjoy." He was the consummate entertainer and even while bedridden was working on new material. This should be a lesson to the rest of us. Never give up and put the pleasure of others even ahead of our own pain.

He is survived by his wife Roseanna, four children (two boys and two girls), and four grandchildren. Percy was 58 years old.

Percy didn't have health insurance. His wife took almost two months off work to care for him and, of course, he wasn't able to do any gigs after April 15th. He was supposed to play at the Famous Dave's Barbeque and Blues Fest on June 11th at Peavey Plaza. We will honor him by playing his music through the PA during his set. We will also be doing a Memorial gig for him on June 30th at Famous Dave's (3001 Hennepin Av., 8pm, $5 minimum donation, show time 8pm)

We are also in the process of setting up a PO Box for donations, all of which will go to the Strother family to cover medical, funeral, and living expenses. We will have that information together tomorrow, at which time we will get all of you a formal press release. The family is in the process of making funeral arrangements.

I always told Percy he was like the big brother I never had. I loved him dearly and thought that that 900 lb voice of his was really a gift from God and truly the cat's pajamas. He was one of the most hard working musicians I have ever met. He always arrived on time, played his ass off, gave 150%, and always looked really good while doing it.

I can honestly say, knowing Percy Strother was one of the true highlights of my life. Both as a musician and person, he was as good as it gets. I will never forget him. God Bless all of you on this Memorial Day and say a prayer for the GREAT Percy Strother.

Peace,
Paul Metsa

The Blues Society participated in a birthday party that JR organized for Cornbread Harris May 1st at Neumann's. The party was complete with a birthday cake shaped as a piano, poster-art gift and a homemade card. The homemade card was created by Gregg Harcus and circulated for weeks prior to his party. Cornbread Harris turned 78 April 23rd.

Cornbread Harris
Cornbread Harris and ?

Photos by Renee Rolland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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page last updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2020

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