Why we play the blues.

Just a few words tonight on why we play the blues.  It all started, as so many good things start, with a front porch pickin' party in Birthright, TX.  Which is more of a community than a town, it does have road signs marking it's location, but no post office.
Anyway, one night a friend brought a newcomer to the pickin' at our house.  The sounds this man played intrigued both Jack and myself.  I was a beginning guitar picker at the time and they showed great patience with me, he began teaching me the age old rhythm by stomping his foot while he played.  Of course, Jack caught on immediately.  He says he was born with the boogie woogie, so that may be why it came so easily for him.  The newcomer, an old white man,  also told us how the music he played had come to him from his granddad who got it from his granddad.  A line of river rats, he called his family.  And man, could he play the blues.
Jack and I had each heard the blues, but neither of us had gotten into the musical form in depth.  The rhythms we learned that night stayed with us and started us on our own musical journey.....he gave us just enough spark to light our own torch.....It quickly became our "thing."  Another way we related together.  The whole family joined in our interest, we began to seek out local blues players and Jack would play with them while the rest of us absorbed their presence.  Now, we're ruined...not a day goes by without us playing the blues, watching blues greats on video, and our ten year old son walks around reciting blues lyrics, especially those by Robert Johnson.
We started creating our own blues songs inadvertently.  While watching that horrible sight of New Orleans flooded after Katrina and hearing stories of survivors, I wrote a poem in a journal and left it laying on the coffee table.  Jack's boy picked it up and said "Hey, who wrote this song?"  The next thing I knew, the guys had put Flood Waters to music, and we began writing songs together.  The rest is the history of our blues.

"Honeyboy" Edwards, RIP

Today the blues world was saddened by the loss of  David "Honeyboy" Edwards, one of the remaining blues greats.  He passed on in to Heaven to join the Angel Band in the early hours of this morning, August 29, 2011, at his home at the age of 96.  Born on June 28, 1915, Honeyboy Edwards was the real deal.  He played and travelled with Robert Johnson, and generously related his tales of RJ to avid blues audiences.  In 2010, he was awarded a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement.  In 2008, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album.  He also received many accolades from the Blues Foundation, including an award for Keeping the Blues Alive.  He will be missed by blues fans throughout the world.

New Song. New Video

This morning we found that a very dear friend and member of BBP (substitute bass player, current videographer, constant producer) had put up a new song and video by Diamond Jack and the Birthright Blues Project.  The song, Mr. Johnson, refers to blues great Big Jack Johnson, who passed away this year.  Jack Holdsworth was fortunate to meet Big Jack Johnson on his first trip to Helena, AR's Arkansas Blues and Heritage festival, which is once again known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  The rest of us didn't get to meet Big Jack, but we have watched every interview and video of him we can get our hands on, he really opens up on Mississippi Spoonman's DVD.  I'll do a brief history of Big Jack Johnson and the Jelly Roll Kings tonight!  Enjoy the video at our facebook page www.facebook.com/birthrightblues

First Blog Post

Hello!  Thanks for taking the time to view my blog.  This is where you can get insights into what the Texas Blues Band, Diamond Jack Holdsworth and the Birthright Blues Project.  I am Diamond Jack Holdsworth's wife, co-writer, and bass player.  I will be blogging about our shows, experiences, new material, and more.  I also intend to include some serious blues history as well as blues festival information.  Check in often, check out our web page at www.birthrightbluesproject.com , and go to our facebook page and give us a Like at www.facebook.com/birthrightblues