The first show begins with a number of artists sharing their personal definition of the blues. I thought it was important to establish what the blues is, through the eyes of those who live and play this music.
The musician profiled in this show is Sonny Rhodes. This segment was shot at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto in the year 2001. Sonny Rhodes used to wear a turban on his head as a tribute to Chuck Willis but since September 11th, he has put away his turban. (Apparently, some people did not take too kindly to Sonny wearing a turbon on his head.) He has played with people like Freedie King and Albert Collins to name a few but he has gone on to establish himself as one of the great "disciples of the blues".
The music video is one I did with Jack de Keyzer and his band, called "King of the Blues" which is on his "Six String Lover" CD. (Please note: The song is not about Jack overthrowning B.B. King as the King of the blues. It is far from it.) Jack de Keyzer is one of the best Canadian blues artists who has been playing his music for almost 30 years. This video was also shot at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto (in fact, a lot of what I have shot was actually shot there.) Jack was recently awarded the "Blues with a Feeling" Lifetime Achievement Award by the Toronto Blues Society. Like so many of the great blues musicians out there, Jack is a class act.
Blues is...(part 1)
Profile
Sonny Rhodes
"King of the Blues"
Jack de Keyzer music video
Blues is...(part 2)
