Here I am at the Historic Daisy theater on Beale Street. My time in Memphis for the Jus Blues technology conference and 2008 Awards has been very interesting. It was good meeting some of those experienced in this music biz as well as hearing some wise words of the elders like Joe Simon and Al Bell. And I heard some talented performers from the South and West. Nice to see my fellow Chicagoan Nellie Tiger Travis showing her stripes here. Hope more Chicago musicians can be represented in Jus Blues. Times are tough up there as they are down here. Clubs are paying real blues and soul musicians very little. Some fine indigenous Mississippi bluesmen playing out on Beale street making only $20 in tips for the night.

Looking forward to meeting a lot of my musical brothers & sisters at the Jus Blues convention in Memphis Aug. 6-8. Blues is the root of our African American music and a lot of American popular music. Without us this would be a very boring country! Blues has got to regrow from its roots in the black community. I look forward to new collaborations with many talented people.

"Barrelhouse Bonni" McKeown will be coming to the conference with me. She is from W.Va. and has been working for more recognition and better pay for myself and black musicans in general. Check her website, she's a member of JusBlues too.